The Red Lion at Live Theatre
The shirts of The Red Lion FC, the fictitious northern local league club in the play of the same name which has just opened at Live Theatre bear name of local printers Potts Print UK in a special shirt sponsorship deal.
The Red Lion, written by Patrick Marber, and starring DCI Banks lead Stephen Tompkinson, John Bowler from Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Journal Culture Award Best Newcomer Award nominee Dean Bone, runs at the Newcastle quayside based theatre until Saturday 6 May 2017.
The play is set in the dressing room of a northern lower league football team, with football kit being an integral part of the play and worn by some of the characters on set. Director Max Roberts wanted the football shirts to bear the name of a local company as sponsor. Live Theatre approached its print supplier, Potts Print UK with the opportunity to sponsor the team shirts, and they were delighted to get involved by supported the printing of leaflets, posters and programmes for the play as well as the shirts themselves.
Director Max Roberts said:
“I am so pleased to have been able to give Potts Print UK a unique opportunity to be involved in the production of The Red Lion, especially given their commitment to grass roots football in the North East.”
Beck Owen, Contracts & Communications Specialist at Potts Print UK said:
“Potts Print have worked alongside Live Theatre for many years and are extremely proud to be part of such a fantastic production of The Red Lion.”
Set in the ultra-competitive twilight world of semi-professional football, The Red Lion is a powerful, funny and touching drama that reaches beyond the beautiful game, exploring contrasting ideas about loyalty, ambition and what it takes to win, from three different generations. Dean, (pictured in the shirt) stars as young hopeful, Jordan who has ambitions to play football professionally.
The Red Lion has been specially adapted by Oscar nominated writer Patrick Marber for Live Theatre and the North East, and is directed by Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Max Roberts. Patrick Marber was a writer and performer on The Day Today and Knowing Me, Knowing You… with Alan Partridge. His plays include Dealers Choice, winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy and Closer, both at the National Theatre.
The cast themselves are all football supporters with Dean, John and Director Max Roberts supporting Newcastle United and Stephen Middlesbrough F.C.
In a Football Panel Discussion after the 7.30pm performance on Wednesday 3 May (after the 7.30pm show) sports writers Harry Pearson (The Far Corner) and George Caulkin (The Times) and former Newcastle Utd and Seaham Red Star player Steve Harper who now coaches for Newcastle United Academy join director Max Roberts to discuss the importance of amateur football in the North East and issues raised in the play. All the post show talks are free, but must be pre-booked.
Live Theatre is fully accessible and offers a range of additional assisted interpretation at specific performances of The Red Lion. These include British Sign Language Interpretation at the performance on Wednesday 26 April, 7.30pm, Captioning on Thursday 27 April, 7.30pm and Audio Description on Saturday 6 May, 2pm. A Free Touch Tour on Saturday 6 May, 1pm is a ‘hands on’ tour of the set describing props, costumes, characters, and the visual style of the show ahead of the performance with additional audio description.
The Red Lion is suitable for ages 16+ and is at Live Theatre, Newcastle until Saturday 6 May 2017. Tickets for The Red Lion cost between £10 and £26 with concessions from £6. Football teams coming to the play can take advantage of Live Theatre’s group booking offer in which for every ten tickets booked, the 11th ticket is free. For more information or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232.
