A
FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO DURHAM
Two of the
region's top playwrights have been commissioned to pen a play to celebrate the
exhibition of the Lindisfarne Gospels in Durham in the summer of 2013.
Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, the Tyneside-based writers whose comedy work includes Dirty Dusting, Waiting For Gateaux, Maggie's End , Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather and the recent hugely popular Amazing Grace, will be adding a play about the history of the region’s famous manuscript and St Cuthbert to their canon of national and international hit plays. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham has been commissioned by destination management agency, Visit County Durham, with production partner Gala Theatre Durham, and will premiere in Durham on 2 July 2013.
Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, the Tyneside-based writers whose comedy work includes Dirty Dusting, Waiting For Gateaux, Maggie's End , Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather and the recent hugely popular Amazing Grace, will be adding a play about the history of the region’s famous manuscript and St Cuthbert to their canon of national and international hit plays. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham has been commissioned by destination management agency, Visit County Durham, with production partner Gala Theatre Durham, and will premiere in Durham on 2 July 2013.
Trevor Wood said:
"We are really pleased to be asked to write this play. While we will have utmost
respect for the subject matter we can assure everyone it will be very
funny. We have some amazing
material to work with and there will be 1400 years of North East history crammed
into one unmissable production."
Melanie Sensicle,
Chief Executive of Visit County Durham said "Lindisfarne Gospels Durham will be
a catalyst for a celebration of the region’s cultural and artistic
heritage. There will be a host of
events around the region and one of the most exciting and original will be this
play. As the title suggests
this is a lighthearted and fun performance which takes a humorous look at the
story of the Lindisfarne Gospels, featuring St Cuthbert, St Aidan, the Venerable
Bede, the Kings of Northumbria, 390 cows and of course the Viking invasion of
793.”
Robin Byers, Programming and Operations Manager at Gala Theatre said: “We are really pleased to have Ed and Trevor on board, as they are synonymous with the North East and have produced loads of successful and very funny plays, many of which have been staged at Gala. We are delighted that A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham will have its first performance at Gala in July 2013 before embarking on a regional tour.”
The production is being directed by Gareth Tudor Price, former Artistic Director of Hull Truck Theatre Company. Gareth’s numerous theatre credits include Bouncers, Every Time It Rains, Up on the Roof and A Big Day for the Goldbergs.
Robin Byers, Programming and Operations Manager at Gala Theatre said: “We are really pleased to have Ed and Trevor on board, as they are synonymous with the North East and have produced loads of successful and very funny plays, many of which have been staged at Gala. We are delighted that A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham will have its first performance at Gala in July 2013 before embarking on a regional tour.”
The production is being directed by Gareth Tudor Price, former Artistic Director of Hull Truck Theatre Company. Gareth’s numerous theatre credits include Bouncers, Every Time It Rains, Up on the Roof and A Big Day for the Goldbergs.
The Lindisfarne
Gospels and St Cuthbert Gospel, Europe’s oldest surviving bound book will be on
loan from the British Library as part of a partnership with Durham University,
Durham County Council and Durham Cathedral. The Lindisfarne Gospels will be on show
in world-class exhibition facilities on Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site from
1 July to 31 September 2013.
For more information on Lindisfarne Gospels Durham go to:
www.lindisfarnegospels.com
Tickets for A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham are on sale now. Contact Gala Theatre box office on 0191
3324041 or book online at www.galadurham.co.uk
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