A hit North East play about WW1 women footballers and munitionettes is to return early next year. Wisecrack Productions’ Jane Harker said: “We are delighted to be bringing ‘Wor Bella’ back. It is a terrific story about forgotten, heroic women. Demand is incredible. This will be the third time in only five years it has been produced.”
Bella Reay
‘Wor Bella’ premiered in 2022 and subsequently sold out nine venues in the North East and London before transferring to Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2025. The play received standing ovations after every performance and now plans are in place to tour the region this coming March to celebrate International Women’s Month.
Jane continued…“Set in 1918 during WW1 ‘Wor Bella’ is a timeless story about women’s struggles, which more than 100 years later is still relevant. Hundreds of football teams were formed nationally and dozens in the North East. We want each new generation to know about these fantastic, heroic working class women. This is their incredible story. I can’t think of a more appropriate story to tell during International Women’s Month.”
The play is told from the viewpoint of “Wor” Bella Reay, the Blyth Spartans centre forward who in an 18 month period scored an incredible 133 goals in 30 matches. They achieved cup glory in 1918 and Bella went on to represent England.
Jane added: “Bella Reay has been described as ‘the Alan Shearer of her day’ –a fitting accolade as the former Newcastle and England star makes a to-camera cameo in the play. He’s very supportive.”
Wor Bella was written by Ed Waugh, who also includes the hit shows ‘The Cramlington Train Wreckers’, ‘Carrying David’ and ‘Hadaway Harry’ in his extensive canon of work.
‘WOR BELLA’ tour dates 2027
March 3, Hexham Queen’s Hall
March 4 & 5, Phoenix Theatre, Blyth
March 7, Glasshouse Gateshead
March 9, The Tullie, Carlisle
March 10, Witham, Barnard Castle
March 11, Bishop Auckland Town Hall
March 12, Gosforth Civic Theatre
March 13, Westovian Theatre, South Shields
For further details and to book tickets visit the venue websites or visitwww.worbella.co.uk
In 2022 vocalist Paul Woods and multi-instrumentalist David Brewis released Autoleisureland’s debut album ‘Infiniti Drive’ – now they are ready to release their second album ‘New Road Movie’.
Paul explained“I guess our hopes for the album are just to reach a wider audience. We’re building a little bit of a community of listeners through Last Night From Glasgow, also having a number 1 on Mike Read’s Heritage Radio with our single ‘All the World Over’ has helped too. We’re just getting our music and name out there and then see what happens.”
Back in the 80s David and Paul were founding members of chart regulars The Kane Gang who formed in Seaham, County Durham in 1982 and signed to Kitchenware & London record labels.
Alongside vocalist Martin Brammer, the group racked up UK and European hits including Closest Thing To Heaven,Respect Yourself and Gun Law. They also scored a US pop hit with Motortown and a US dance No.1 with Don’t Look Any Further. And still spinning in 2026 the debut album released in 1985 ‘The Bad and Lowdown World of The Kane Gang’.
“Martin is busy with us in The Kane Gang. That’s the other great thing happening for us” said Paul. “In the last year or so the KG played two shows at Sunderland’s Fire Station, and at Dingwalls, London, and St Luke’s, Glasgow, aided and abetted by Field Music, We’re also writing and recording a new album with Field Music that we are a good way into. It’s all good”
Autoleisureland’s new release ‘New Road Movie’ is packed with effortless vocals by Paul Woods blended with David Brewis’ deep pop sounds and hooky tunes all wrapped up in an eazy-breezy West Coast feel. Are there any plans to take it out on the road?
Paul added “At the moment we have no plans to play live. We want to concentrate on writing and recording as many albums as we can. Things can change though.”
The 11 track album is released by Last Night From Glasgow on Transparent Amber vinyl, Transparent Red vinyl, CD & digital formats on 15 May 2026.
Newcastle band White Heat released three singles and recorded one album, signed for Virgin records in 1980, opened for Judas Priest and headlined London’s Marquee. People remark of a band that ‘shudda made it big’. They set alight to the Tyne but sadly not the Thames.
Previous interviews on this site with guitarist Alan and vocalist Bob Smeaton detail the journey of White Heat and The Loud Guitars who followed.
Bob went onto a successful career in TV & Film while Alan told me ‘The Attention Seekers were formed around 1999, our first album was released in 2002, we have released six albums and a seventh is in the final stages’.
For the past 10 years Alan has also toured as a session musician with American singer/songwriter Jesse Terry.
Alan and Jesse backstage Newcastle Cluny 2023.
‘However, to my surprise, at a number of gigs in the Netherlands audience members shouted out requests for White Heat songs. Nervous Breakdown and 21 and Wasted were hastily added to the set. Our songs had travelled far further than White Heat ever did.’
‘I look back on my time with White Heat and The Loud Guitars with great affection and have revisited and re-recorded a number of songs from those heady days. Promo videos are on You Tube for Chain Reaction, Is It Too Late?, A Long Way From Home, Do Me A Favour and Out Of Me.’
‘Recently I travelled even further back in time to the pre- White Heat days when we were playing under the name ‘Heartbreaker’. I always felt that the song Hard To Lose should have been recorded. My former band members were more than happy for me to reinvent this live favourite and Your Poster On My Wall is the result.
‘In 2017 I was approached by Newcastle Utd to develop a new version of anthemic song The Blaydon Races. My version The Fans – The Blaydon Races was accepted and I was informed they would be using it till the end of the season. It’s now 2026 and still being played at every home game. It’s now officially the most downloaded-streamed version in digital history. As a Newcastle supporter I am beyond proud.’
‘Pre 2017 Newcastle United were a club underperforming and floundering under a curse. A number of theories including ’The Gypsies Curse’, The Witches Curse’, ’The Burial Ground Curse’ were all to blame for this continuing pattern of failure. However, I think the problem lay closer to home.’
‘The version of The Blaydon Races the club were playing pre 2017 was recorded and performed by musician Alan Price (The Animals). I have it on good authority that Alan Price was an ardent Sunderland supporter. This was the problem hiding in plain sight.’
‘It’s no coincidence that since 2017 we have retained our Premier League status returned to the European Champions League and after 70 years in the wilderness have won silverware. Yes, indeed it’s all down to The Fans version of The Blaydon Races and not a Sunderland supporter within sight. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.’
‘The relative success of The Blaydon Races has allowed me to independently fund recording studios and top end musicians – who aren’t cheap. It gives my songs the best chance of having radio appeal. Iconic station Radio Caroline named The Attention Seekers track The Prudhoe Song, song of 2025. Many thanks to presenter Steve Anthony.’
Multiple media outlets have used recordings from The Blaydon Races sessions including Amazon Prime, BBC, ITV, The Bauer Media Group and the 2024 SELA Quayside 3D light show event. An unofficial Saudi version is on YouTube.
Both The Blaydon Races and the Carry me home outro from The Attention Seekers song Seven Bridges were used creatively on the Carabao Cup ITV video as the soundtrack to the historic Victory Parade.
‘This has raised the profile of the song and recently Newcastle United have asked me to develop a bespoke mix of Seven Bridges to integrate into their half time playlist. It’s now being played. As a lifelong Newcastle United supporter I’m on cloud 9!’
‘One of the highlights of 2025 was performing Seven Bridges with City Of Newcastle Male Voice Choir, Some Voices Choir and St. Teresa’s Primary School Choir as part of their Christmas Charity Concert.’
‘I’m presently working with City Of Newcastle Male Voice Choir, developing a choral arrangement of Seven Bridges to be included in their repertoire and to be recorded and released. It’s quite a departure from the days of White Heat.’
Promo shot of White Heat with Alan on the left and Bob Smeatonon right of picture.
‘The first release of 2026 for The Attention Seekers is Sweet Anna Brown. While unsuccessfully trying to track down an old friend and finding myself disappearing down numerous rabbit holes it occurred to me that this would make an interesting topic for a song.’
‘We step into the controversial world of social media and whether we like it or not it looks like it’s going to be with us for the foreseeable future. The character Anna Brown is one long mystery and doesn’t appear to have any social media presence.’
‘I’m rapidly closing in on a new album to be released later this year. Music continues to colour my life and long may it continue.’
Sweet Anna Brown is now available to stream-download via all usual platforms. The Attention Seekers – Alan Fish – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Trevor Brewis – Drums, Tony Davis – Piano, Organ, backing vocals. Produced by Alan Fish, engineered by Tony Davis. Recorded at Cluny Studios, Newcastle.
After a sold out stage tour in 2024 Cramlington Train Wreckers is back. The inspiring story of working class solidarity will be staged at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Sunday 12th July 2026to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the national strike in 1926.
The strike was the biggest rupture in society since the English civil war. Miners were asked to take a pay cut to ‘improve productivity’ – really just to maintain the profits of the bosses. North East actor Micky Cochrane played one of the main roles on the tour and is revisiting the play at Theatre Royal.
“The audiences were really good in ‘24. Lots of bums on seats and a great response. A lot of people come with high expectations for Ed’s plays and love what he does.”
Written by Ed Waugh (Wor Bella, Carrying David, Hadaway Harry) the story of the striking miners who accidently derailed the famous Flying Scotsman train in Northumberland is told by former actor and director Russell Floyd (The Bill, Eastenders), and after a very successful Carrying David and Billy Elliott the musical, the afore mentioned Micky Cochrane.
“I had worked with Russell on Carrying David and The Great Joe Wilson. I know how he works and what he brings out of actors. We work really well together.“
“I also won the North-East Culture Awards Performing Artist of the Year. It was a great reward for the fantastic plays and big roles I played last year” said Micky.
Also starring is Alex Tahnee who was in Romeo & Juliet and Alice in Wonderland “I knew Alex. She was great. The play has lots of information so we had to be on it. We had to help each other out”
“I had heard of the Cramlington Train Wreckers but I didn’t know the full story and main players so it was another chance to learn more about the history of the area.” explained Micky.
Tickets for Cramlington Train Wreckers at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Sunday 12th July 2026 available from >>>
May 4, 2026, marks the centenary of the first full day of the 1926 General Strike where millions of British workers withdrew their labour and challenged the establishment. They believed a better world was possible.
To mark this historical event the same team that brought successful plays Wor Bella, Carrying David and Hadaway Harry are staging Centenary at the Glasshouse.
“We have a great team and the show will be fantastic. We did a very popular show about four years ago called ‘Boris Out’, and look what happened to him!” said playwright and Theatre producer Ed Waugh
“One hundred years ago millions of workers and their families went on strike. A General Strike poses the question of state power, the 1 per cent – the privileged Establishment or the working class – those who actually create the wealth in society.”
“Despite the heroism and sacrifice of the trade union rank and file, the union leaders in the TUC realised the question of state power was at stake – the Russian Revolution nine years earlier had sent shockwaves throughout the world. These TUC cowards sold out the strike unconditionally after only nine days.”
Ed added “Their pusillanimity led to a carnival of reaction against the trade unions and workers by the Tory government. The miners continued their strike for another six months but were starved back to work. We haven’t had a general strike in this country since. But we’ve been close”.
“We have to learn the lessons of 1926 for the next time, which is on the horizon. The 1926 General Strike was a hugely important period in working class history.”
‘Centenary’ will include songs, comedy, stand up and recitations to celebrate the nine day strike. A big addition are musicians Paul Weller (The Jam) Alan Hull (Lindisfarne), Tom Robinson and Paul Simmonds (The Men They Couldn’t Hang) have personally given permission for their music to be played at the show.
“We are delighted to have been given personal permission from these great songwriters. It will be an evening of brilliant musical and comedic entertainment and inspiration.”added Ed.
Tickets are available for ‘Centenary’ at The Glasshouse, Gateshead at 4pm or 8pm on Monday May 4th 2026.
A lot is made of being in the right place at the right time to help bring success. But you can’t get past the sheer amount of hard work put in, every time giving 100% and never complaining. There is no substitute for rehearsal and when the opportunity presents itself you’ve got to be ready to take it. A snapshot of a story taken from Sting’s autobiography Broken Music hits the mark. This all happened within a few heady months during 1978.
The Police went out on a UK tour to open for Spirit led by guitarist Randy California. They won over a hippy audience and released their single Roxanne. Their record company A&M fully supported the record but money wasn’t rolling in yet.
To pay rent on his London flat Wallsend born Sting was still filming a few adverts and bit part in films. The Great Rock n Roll Swindle was one, although his scene ended up on the cutting room floor. ‘I was grateful, however, for the 125 quid at the end of the day’ said Sting.
He also went for a part in Quadrophenia filmed in Brighton. ‘I know that they’re seeing half of London for this role, but somehow I know it’s mine’.
After finishing on the film set in Brighton the record company hired a private car to whisk Sting off to Gatwick airport and jump on a flight to Manchester, finally arriving at the BBC TV studios where The Police were due to appear on the Old Grey Whistle Test. Sting remembers ‘It’s still raining when we land in Manchester. Yet another car and driver waiting to take me to the studio, where we have a sound check. The performance tonight is live’.
After a successful TV appearance a tour of the east coast of America was booked. Second night of the tour The Police are in Poughkeepsie theatre with only six people in the audience. Do they cancel? No. Sting brings the audience down to the front and introduces each other. Then ‘give a blistering set we will ever manage, encore after encore’.
The audience are invited back stage where it turns out three of them are DJ’s. The next day Roxanne makes its debut on USA radio. Within a couple years The Police are one of the biggest bands in the world. Now how did fellow Tynesider Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits knock them off their perch?
(pic. Gavin Webster, Centurion bar, Newcastle. Alikivi Sept. 2025)
I first met Gavin back in 2021 where we are today in the Centurion bar in Newcastle Central Station. He talked about being brought up in Blaydon during the 1960s and breaking into alternative comedy in the early 90s.
I missed out on the workingmen’s club circuit. But there was still a buzz for the whole comedy scene. I’ve been doing this for 33 years, I’m 56 now.
We talked about TV shows we watched as kids – Wheeltappers and Shunters Club, The Comedians and Minder.
It was great. It seemed there was chaos and a caper everyday down London. I wanted to move down there and get to know these types of people, hustling and bustling during the days, loved it.
Scene from Sunday for Sammy in 2018.
In 2004 I was at Newcastle City Hall watching an afternoon of Geordie entertainment. Sunday for Sammy concert was organised by Auf Wiedersehen Pet stars Jimmy Nail, Tim Healy and Lindisfarne drummer Ray Laidlaw.
Among the TV, theatre and music talent on stage was AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson ripping into Nutbush City Limits. A great afternoon. Played to packed houses the show returns to Newcastle every two years.
Yeah about 20 years ago I done a Sunday for Sammy show at Newcastle City Hall. Originally, I think Ray Laidlaw phoned me up about it. I really enjoyed it. In fact, I done it twice, the first time was with the lads from Viz. There was myself, Simon Donald, Simon Collier plus a couple of actors and I think the boxer Glenn McCrory done a part. We done a Sid the Sexist sketch. The next time I done my stand-up routine.
There were two shows. A matinee and a show in the evening. The matinee went well and at the later show I went on early because I had another show to do at The Stand in Newcastle. I had played the City Hall with 2,500 people there, a full house, but only about a dozen people turned up at The Stand. That has happened twice in my career.
At the Edinburgh Fringe in 2003. It was a benefit gig for an HIV/AIDS charity at the 3,000 seater Festival Theatre on Nicholson Street. It was a star studded line up and I did a 10 minute slot. My parents came up for the day. After the show I took them down to my other gig where only 11 people turned up. You get brought down to earth with a bump.
My agent at the time told me to go to the Oranji Boom Boom Club in London as it’s a good place to go, people get down there. I played the club on a Wednesday night and did a good decent job, worked hard, took it seriously. But in front of only a dozen people. However, a few year later I done some TV work on Channel Four and the producer came up to me and told me that he saw me at the Oranji Boom Boom Club.
During the past few interviews I’ve asked how do you survive in the arts?
Sometimes it’s been tough. I met a shock jock type of comedian from Australia his father was very rich. He was well supported. He would tell wild stories about how people walked out of his gigs. Now if I done that, I wouldn’t be able to pay my rent. It’s alright if you have unlimited funds coming in.
There has been times without work but I get by. I’ve done some voice over work, small comedy/drama parts. I’ve been in two Ken Loach films. I had speaking parts in I, Daniel Blake and Sorry I Missed You.
I done some of the animal voices on a children’s TV show called Walk on the Wild Side with Jason Mamford. We recorded that in a studio in Wardour Street, London. The set up is you watch the video on the big screen and read through the script. I got to write some of season three. Sarah Millican done it, Jon Richardson, Rob Gilbert, Mark Benton – loads of comics done voices on it.
I totally understand when some actors can end up working in shops and restaurants cos you need a regular income or you can end up skint. Actors need TV shows like Eastenders and Emmerdale. The films and voice overs don’t happen all the time – stand up has kept me going.
What am I doing now? I do a pod cast called Bazookaaah, small stand-up tours, regular gigs at Edinburgh Fringe and the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle. This new show on 21 November is called Glory Be its Gavin Webster. It’s stuff from Edinburgh with some new stuff that I’ve added. I always write a new show every 18 months or so.
Last time at Tyne Theatre was January 2024. For this show I arranged it and done a deal with them just for the one night so it’s not a massive commitment for them. Really looking forward to it.
We’re sitting in the Centurion bar at Newcastle’s Central Station where I first met Leah back in 2021 where she talked about learning her craft in North East workingmen’s clubs from the age of 15, working with Bobby Thompson, touring with Ken Dodd in the ‘70s and appearing in panto with David Jason.
Now, after nearly 60 years in the business I was interested to find out just how did you survive in the arts?
This industry has always been tough for working class. I do promotion and acting, I’ve been writing with Alison (Stanley who featured in previous post) I’m busy all the time. When you’ve asked me is there weeks when I have nothing on, well no, I’m always busy.
Like when I started a production company in Jersey about 30 year ago. We would do plays or musicals but if we went on tour I would always play a role in it keeping an eye on things making sure there were no issues. You take on a couple of roles. That’s how I survive.
You can never say I’ll be working 52 weeks a year. But there was a time you’d wonder where you’ll be for summer season. I remember going to Jersey in March and not coming back till October. Whereas now it’s I wonder if I’ll get a summer season.
Some people take shows out to Europe. My niece Hariet has her own production company and she does a lot of work abroad. Although you’ve got to be careful who you work for.
In the 1970s I took a contract for South Africa when apartheid was in full flight. When I look back, I didn’t understand what apartheid was all about then. You couldn’t pick your phone up and read about it.
It was a total culture shock at 19 year old – like wow here we are in Durban. Then I ended up working in Rhodesia – it’s not called that now. The agent asked me to drive from Rhodesia to Cape Town – a very long way and I did it by myself. My mother didn’t know. I look back and think how did I do that and why!
Comedy and singing musical theatre was what I was doing on the Crazy Horse saloon circuit. It was quite unique for a female to be performing on stage, plus there were plenty other English acts going out. I think some British guys had bought into the Crazy Horse clubs and subsequently tapped into the UK club market.
Back then there were hundreds of entertainers plus it was a real show it wasn’t just a few singers getting up we had all the costumes and gear for a proper show.But as I’ve said back then you couldn’t pick your phone up and read about apartheid. I mean, I lived in Benwell all me life.
I remember flying back home and me ma’ and da’ met me at Newcastle airport. ‘I’m home at last’ I said as I flung myself at them ‘You must be the only lass who’s happy to be in Benwell’ said me Da.
I travelled a fair bit. I went to Australia twice a year for six years in the 80s. I just loved their lifestyle. I also performed at the American military bases in Germany. I remember the agent John Rae from Spennymoor here in the North East organised one tour. There were a few of us and he drove us around in a mini bus. He had all the responsibility and the things we done he must have wanted to kill us sometimes.
All this experience of understanding an audience has helped when I’m putting a show together. You see the show differently from actors who only see it from their point of view.
I remember doing Catherine Cookson’s ‘The Cinder Path’. I had Nicky Cochrane in it who played Steve McDonalds brother in Coronation Street. He was playing Ginger Slater, essentially the baddie. I gave myself a character called the fishwife who kept the story going and throwing a few laughs in as it was heavy going.
One show we were doing a matinee at Billingham Forum. I was waiting with Nicky to go on stage for our scene when he turned to me ‘Leah, this is a tough crowd’. I replied ‘Farringdon Social Club was a tough crowd this is a walk over’. A bunch of pensioners on the front row who might nod off would not present a problem.
Club audiences had a reputation for being tough but that was only because they weren’t there prepared to put up with anything. You had to be good. You had to know your stuff. That’s been a great backbone for work that I do now. How to read an audience. They’ve paid their money and tickets can be pricey for a whole family so you have a responsibility. That crowd need to be entertained.
I was brought up in variety but now I only do one variety show a year that’s the Silver Bells Christmas variety show for three nights at the Phoenix Theatre in Blyth. Looking around there were a lot of young people coming up but their take on variety was different from mine. I was old school. I’m not saying it was better in my day just different. So, I thought to keep working I’d just change what I’m doing. I’m going to step up. I went and done panto as well that led me to acting which I really enjoyed.
For the Blyth variety show we do sketches and a few gags a typical show I really enjoy it. I use the pantomime cast so there’s a lot of us on stage and this year it’s with Tommy Cannon who is a good friend. The poster said Cannon & Bell but when it was done large the Bell looked like Ball!
Tommy and his wife were up recently and we got watching some of the old TV shows like Wheeltappers and Shunters Club and yes it was a laugh but we were saying we wouldn’t dare say that type of joke now. Time has moved on. And so it should.
What am I doing now? ‘Dirty Dusting’ written by Ed Waugh is on tour in October. We’ve got my good friend Chrissy Rock (Benidorm) in it with Vanessa Karon and Paul Dunn. Can you believe the show still sells out. It was originally performed over 20 years ago. First time I did it was 12 years ago and it’s been on tour at least twice a year every year.
From late November through December, we have ‘Sleeping Beauty’ panto at Consett Empire with Marcus Collins from X Factor then next year Alison Stanley and I have ‘Tit’s Up’ going out on tour. That play is about the relationship between three ladies as they wait in the Oncology department in hospital.
It’s sharp, it’s funny, we wrote it together. Some of the shows funnier bits are added on the spur of the moment and Alison tells me to write them down for the next show cos ‘you might forget it’. My character is nosey she wants to know everybody’s business, she thinks she’s gone for a day out.
We’ve just done a short tour and it’s done well at the box office. On the first performance me and Alison were nervous because some ladies from the Cancer Society were in the audience.
Mentally and physicaly I feel better now than when I was 40. I’m 72 now but I’ve always been energetic and kept busy and turn up early for work. I’m happy to have made the move from variety to acting. The world has moved on and so it should. Would I ever retire? No chance.
South Shields born Vinny Edwards has featured on this site a few times. Type his name in the search bar for previous write ups about his time in the music biz including international chart hit Back Where We Started From which reached #2 in the USA and #8 in the UK. Recently he got in touch and told me another story about one of his songs.
I was living in a flat in Wandsworth in London when I wrote and recorded I Can’t Turn Back Time in 1967. It was my second solo single for United Artists after The Answers broke up. We recorded the A and B side The Lively One at Olympic studios within three hours can you believe!
The B side was used for a commercial for Texaco petrol in the UK and USA. I Can’t Turn Back Time was played mostly on the pirate radio stations London and Caroline. I believe it charted on both stations it also broke into some Northern Soul charts.
In America it was released under the name Tim Love on the Ascot label so I would not be confused with the American actor Vince Edwards who played Dr Ben Casey in the TV series. It was just after this I changed my name to J Vincent Edwards. The ‘J’ I took from Jarra or Jarrow if you were posh.
Later there were two more records on United Artists – County Durham Dream and Aquarius then along came the musical ‘Hair’ and a new record company CBS. They were crazy happy days for a 22year old lad from South Shields’ Ocean Road school.
Link to the American release on the Ascot record label of‘I Can’t Turn Back Time’
Have you ever wondered how working class people survive in the arts and creative industry? From my own experience I can tell you it’s hard. Very hard.
In the early days of the 1990s I had a weekly diet of baked tatties. I’d go to me ma’s for me Sunda’ dinna. I got by.
It’s surprisingly full for a Tuesday morning in Newcastle’s Central Station bar The Centurion when I spot Alison. Looking resplendent in her beret while finishing off a bacon sarnie we find a quieter place to talk. She throws back her head and laugh’s out loud when I ask her have you ever had a proper job?
Yes, I was at the Inland Revenue for years. When I was there, I thought of myself as a resting writer, a resting actor but really found it soul destroying.
Sometimes you have to take jobs that you wouldn’t choose to do to survive in the creative industry. You have to get by. I’ve been lucky that my husband who doesn’t work in the arts, has a full time job and supports me fully as do all my family.
An opportunity to work as a library assistant in North Tyneside Council came up. I love the smell of books so the idea of being surrounded by them was great. I loved being involved when schools came in, I would read stories for the kids and put on various events.
The job was part time so it gave me more time to focus on what I should be doing – writing. I became busier in my creative work and was being offered jobs that I couldn’t turn down so had to decide if I was working in a library or an actor. You have to take the leap, you have to believe in what you are.
I’ve been acting now for about ten years. A freelance creative has always been my career choice that’s in all of my disciplines that I’ve worked in from actor to writer to theatre producer now film making.
I decided years ago to go out and make my own work rather than wait for someone to knock on the door and offer something – that doesn’t happen. You’ve got to get your name out there to increase your network. That would be my advice to anyone starting in this business. You’ve got to take chances. This is what I do. It’s a mind set.
I consider myself as a socio-economic playwrite. I write about subjects that are relatable to people, quite pertinent and pushing boundaries seeing how far you can go. If it makes people laugh, cry or squirm I’ve done my job. It’s important to me to be challenging and turn a spotlight on real issues.
I’ve got a few projects that I’m working on now. Lately we’ve been touring ‘Living the Life of Riley’ around the North East which was great and that is going out again in February 2026. ‘Life of Riley’ has been in the works since 2016.
And another short North East tour for ‘Tits Up’ co-written with Leah Bell. That’s planned for another tour next year. Really pleased with that as it’s sold out now.
That’s a play about three women who meet when they are diagnosed with cancer and how it impacts on them and how they deal with it. Unfortunately, we live through a time where if it’s not breast cancer it’s some form of cancer that lives are touched by. The play is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
In ‘Tits Up’ there is someone who is diagnosed with cancer and there is the carer who she couldn’t manage without. That is real stress. You’re worried about the situation and the endgame that might be coming.
Of course, we all fall off our seats laughing with the actor Leah Bell but there is a serious side which comes through. There is a balance we have to get right.
My ambition is to produce more plays outside the North East and tour nationally, which ‘Living the Life of Riley’ is already doing and we are working towards that with ‘Tits Up’. We have taken ‘Hard’ to London and it’s definitely something we want to pursue more.
Screenwriting is something else that I’m starting to do. I filmed a scene from ‘Hard’ over two days on a shoestring budget and I loved it plus it has been awarded three times in UK film festivals so that spurs you on.
I’m interested in using latest phone technology for film making and being creative with it, keeping it fresh. I roped in Leah Bell and Tony Hodge (Byker Grove) to be involved. Really looking forward to more. I’m excited about it.
Have I got time for anything else? Me mother Rose was a talented writer but didn’t have anything published. When she passed away last year, I started a writing competition for Working Class Women Over 35. The first winner is announced in October this year and next year the play is produced at Laurels in Whitley Bay.
Also, it’s early stages at the minute but I’m writing a few fictional stories about events that happen in a town. That’s maybe for a book. I’m really enjoying it there is no deadline so it’s sort of like a hobby but we’ll see where it goes. Owt really that stops me getting a proper job!
