THE GIRLS ARE BACK!

Following overwhelming public demand and sell out performances across last year’s national tour, Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph are back on stage in “The laugh a minute production” of Birds of a Feather, and this time they’re visiting Newcastle Theatre Royal 28 May – 1 June. Birds of a Feather ran on BBC1 for nearly ten years throughout the 1990s becoming a massive hit right from the word go. It remains not only a classic comedy but also, as a female-centred long-running series, a truly rare gem. Set in Chigwell, it chronicled the misadventures of sisters Sharon Theodopolopoudos and Tracy Stubbs (Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson) and their man-eating neighbour, Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph). Now the fondly remembered sitcom comes to the stage with all three original leading cast members reunited to recreate their adored characters. Following Birds of a Feather, Pauline Quirke has enjoyed success both on and off screen and will most recently be remembered as Hazel Rhodes in ITV1’s Emmerdale and Susan Wright (or was it Elaine Jones?) in hit ITV drama Broadchurch. In 2008 Pauline Quirke celebrated 40 years in the entertainment business and launched the hugely successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, with over 30 academies across the United Kingdom, including a site here in Newcastle. Proof of the academys’ success, is Charlie Quirke, Pauline’s son who joins her on stage in this production. Charlie learned his craft at one of the Pauline Quirke Academies and has since went on to act alongside her in the recent 17 weeks tour, and in BBC’s Thieving Headmistress. However, he has also enjoyed solo success in Alfie The Wonderkid at the Bristol Old Vic and recently starred in John Godbers award-winning production Bouncers. Linda Robson continued her successful TV career in Jobs For The Girls, Grumpy Old Women and The Bill, not forgetting her dip into the jungle in “I’m a Celebrity get me out of here…” last year. She also ventured onto the stage in Grumpy Old Women, A Passionate Woman, The Food Chain and Telstar in London’s West End. Lesley Joseph has recently been touring in the hugely-successful Calendar Girls and her collated a vast array of other theatre work includes Sir Peter Hall’s production of Home, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Piaf, The Miser, Annie, Hot Flush, Office Suite and a successful one-woman show, Singular Women.  Lesley’s TV work includes the ITV soap Night And Day for two years, as well as a host of other shows and a plethora of light entertainment shows, including a regular spot on This Morning. Sean Michael Verey (Dead Man Running and Hot Potato) and Louis Dunford (Home of Their Own), make up the cast of six. Birds of a Feather is produced on tour by The Comedy Theatre Company, producers of the highly successful tour of Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies, in association with Quirky Media Stuff. Full tour information can be found at www.birdsontour.com Birds of a Feather appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from 28 May – 1 June 2013 (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees: Thursday 2pm and Saturday 2.30pm). Tickets are available from £9.00 and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or book online and select your own seat at www.theatreroyal.co.uk