Remembering the Centenary of the 1926 General Strike with Ed Waugh Play at Newcastle Theatre Royal

This year marks the centenary of the 1926 General Strike - the biggest rupture in society since the civil war of the 1640s - and Wisecrack Productions are following up their national successes of Wor Bella, Hadaway Harry and Carrying David with a show at Newcastle Theatre Royal that commemorates that momentous occasion that took place exactly one hundred years ago.

On Sunday 12th July 2026, following its sell-out North East run of seven theatres in November 2024, The Cramlington Train Wreckers is transferring to Newcastle Theatre Royal. The play follows the eight Northumberland miners who were imprisoned for 48 years for inadvertently derailing the Flying Scotsman during the General Strike until a huge and sustained campaign by the labour movement got them released early. 

The show, written by internationally produced Geordie playwright Ed Waugh, features 2025 Performer of the Year (North East Culture Awards) winner Micky Cochrane.

Ed said: "The Theatre Royal is the most prestigious theatre in the North East. It will be our seventh play at the venue and we are delighted they are prepared to host a show about working-class history." 

For more information visit www.cramlingtontrainwreckers.co.uk or to book tickets visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/cramlington-train-wreckers.

Image: The Cramlington train derailment, Courtesy of the Working Class Movement Library