LEAH BELL

RISKY BUSINESS – in conversation with writer, actor & theatre producer Alison Stanley

/ Alikivi

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!

Alikivi   August 2025

Links to previous interviews >>>

DREAM CATCHER – in conversation with writer & performer Alison Stanley from Newcastle based theatre company, Life of Riley. | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

DREAM CATCHER #2 in conversation with Alison Stanley from Newcastle based theatre company, Life of Riley. | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

COME AGAIN in conversation with writer & actor, Alison Stanley part 1/2 | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

NOTHING LIKE SHOW BUSINESS in conversation with writer & actor Alison Stanley 2/2 | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

YOU NEED TO SAY SORRY – new play by writer & actor, Alison Stanley | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

WISECRACK with playwright & theatre producer Ed Waugh

/ Alikivi

Working in media and entertainment can be a risky business and after Covid it only increased. Picking up a couple of jobs but then nothing for a while has been a regular pattern for me these past few years. It’s a struggle but I wouldn’t change it for the world, I’ve loved every minute of it since my first video commission in January 1997.

I remember the day well. I was in a community centre in Hetton le Hole, Durham talking to a group of former miners who were interested in making a video when someone burst into the room with tears in her eyes “You never guess what’s happened?” We all turned around thinking the pipes have burst, there’s been an accident, someone’s died, what’s happened? “Kevin Keegans left Newcastle United”!

South Shields theatre producer Ed Waugh

I was interested how others working in the creative industry have managed so I got in touch with South Shields playwright and theatre producer Ed Waugh. Ed is part of the North East based Wisecrack team who use theatre to document working class history. I asked him about his past year.

‘Where did 2024 go? The whole year passed like a whirlwind. We’d come off a busy 2023 but from January 1 we were focused on Wor Bella, which was transferring to the wonderful Newcastle Theatre Royal in April. If that wasn’t enough to organise, we did a pre-show run in London to get the production on its feet’. 

‘Wor Bella is about North East women footballers in WW1 and the interest was massive. We had full pages in The Guardian and Daily Telegraph as well as tremendous coverage in other national publications. The upshot was London sold out’.

‘Coming home to the Theatre Royal was magnificent – three sold-out houses and just as in London standing ovations after every performance. It was my fifth show at the most prestigious venue in the region, a record for a local writer, so you can imagine how it swelled this Geordie’s heart with pride’.

(Link to interview with actress Catherine Dryden who starred in ‘Wor Bella’).

WOR BELLA HITS LONDON – the incredible story of heroic North East women footballers during WW1. | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE

‘I’m just so honoured to be working with a top-class, professional and dedicated Wisecrack Productions team. We have director and actor Russell Floyd and other brilliant actors, technicians and hugely important people behind the scenes who allow us to put excellent stories on stage. It’s a true team effort’.

‘We’ve now sold around 800 Wor Bella scripts, so that’s canny. Many more thousands of people now know the story of these selfless working class women who saved the WW1 war effort’.

‘My book Geordie Plays Volume 1 has also almost sold out – the last few remaining first editions at Newcastle City Library are now officially collectors’ items’.

‘2024 ended with a triumphant tour of our play The Cramlington Train Wreckers. It’s about the General Strike of 1926 and how miners in Northumberland inadvertently derailed the Flying Scotsman during the nine-day strike before it was sold out by the TUC and Labour Party leaders. Word of mouth – the only marketing that really matters – was phenomenal and every venue sold out’.  

‘We’re looking to get The Cramlington Train Wreckers out again in May 2026 to mark the centenary of the 1926 General Strike – the biggest rupture in British society since the civil war in the 1640s’.

‘In February 2025, Hadaway Harry – produced by and starring Jamie Brown – is touring the region. Hadaway Harry is about champion Tyneside rower Harry Clasper who was a forgotten Geordie legend’.

‘When he died in 1870, 130,00 lined his funeral procession in Newcastle. It will be the play’s 10th anniversary. I can’t believe a decade has gone by!’ 

‘Then in June, Carrying David will play Newcastle Theatre Royal. My sixth show there. Carrying David is about Glenn McCrory’s rise to becoming the first North East world boxing champion. It is being produced by and stars Micky Cochrane. Don’t miss these plays, you’ll be spellbound!

(It’s worth checking out both ‘Hadaway Harry’ and ‘Carrying David’ reviews on Google).

Actress & Theatre producer Leah Bell

Dirty Dusting, of course, continues to tour nationally – and internationally – and that play is touring venues in the UK in October under the guidance of the inimitable Leah Bell’.

(Link to interview with actress & theatre producer Leah Bell from July 2021)

TAKE A BOW – writer, actress & theatre producer, Leah Bell | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE

‘The old warhorse Waiting For Gateaux – written, like Dirty Dusting with Trevor Wood – will be performed in New Zealand this year. Having these four plays produced in 2025 by other people means I can take the year out to write. I’m working on a few new ideas that will hopefully see the light of day in 2026 and beyond’.

ITV news reader Ian Payne & former BBC journalist & presenter Jeff Brown

‘I’ll also be doing my talks throughout the region, which amounted to around 40 last year, and I’m producing a series of talks with Ian Payne and Jeff Brown … “the two lads off the telly”. They are happening in April and May’.

‘We’ve done four of these ‘Evenings with’ before, and they sell out quickly. The lads are always good crack and the event is great fun. Loads of other stuff but I was only allowed 500 words for this post and I’ve used up over 600 already! Have a great 2025’.

For some it may be challenging times but Wisecrack continue rolling on. For further information, tour dates & video contact the official website >>>

Home | Wisecrack Productions

Alikivi   January 2025

THE NAME OF THE GAME with Writer & Theatre producer Alison Stanley

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‘2024 has been an absolute rollercoaster. I’ve met and worked with some truly amazing people and for that I’m very grateful’ said Alison as she reflects on a productive year.

Alison (3rd from left) nominated at the North East Culture Awards 2024.

‘I started working with Laurels Theatre in Whitley Bay as their Director of Participation and that has brought new opportunities and challenges. Based on the Glasgow version, I started a new initiative called ‘Play & Pasty’ – it’s really took off’.

‘It was to encourage people to walk through theatre doors and see new writing. Every week actors have a script in hand reading and everyone gets a drink and a pasty from our favourite bakers Greggs’.

New writing is important to keep theatre fresh and encourage new audiences. Also, in these times when people are looking to come together the Play and Pasty initiative is providing an important and vital service.

‘These events have become firm favourites with people meeting friends and seeing theatre. This project is really helping not only increase theatre footfall but also combat social isolation and provide a safe, warm space’.

Dealing with challenging subjects is something Alison doesn’t shy away from to a point where her work has been recognised by the North East Culture Awards and organisations in the public sector.

‘I’ve been proud that my play ‘You Need to Say Sorry’ is being used by Social Services and the Police in their domestic abuse training. It’s amazing that something I wrote is in a small way helping in the fight against domestic abuse. I’ve also made the Culture Award’s 2024 finals as writer of the year with this’.

‘With fellow directors Maggie Martin and Polly Brennan I’ve also set up a community interest theatre company called Stanley Creatives. This has enabled us to produce theatre and music events bringing productions into the heart of the community’.

‘Stanley Creatives are also launching the Women We Are project. It’s a great project where we go into community centres and use drama as therapy with women who have experienced trauma through domestic abuse or cancer’. 

Alison is fully determined to bring people together and use creativity as a positive driving force, with that she feel’s next year is shaping up to be a big year on the Stanley calendar.

‘I’ve some amazing stuff lined up. ‘Living the Life of Riley’ written by myself and Leah Bell is doing a UK national tour. I’m really looking forward to touring with this as we have former Coronation Street actress Vicky Entwistle starring plus my son is in the play. I also have my new play ‘Tits Up’ debuting February 18th to March 1st at Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay’. 

‘Film production is another avenue I’m interested in getting into so we’ve been working on a short film for a festival entry, it’s based on my stage play ‘Hard’ – I’m really looking forward to doing this’. 

‘Our film ‘Bonny Chip’ with Lesley Saint John (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet) Deboa Meki and Rosie Fox – is still sweeping the boards at film festivals, we’ve had great nights at the film awards, plus of course the ABBA Girls with Kelly Lofthouse is going well – that train is still rolling’. 

Alison with Kelly Lofthouse in ‘ABBA Girls’.

Alikivi  2024