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The world is Ed and Trevor's stage
Two playwrights are planting the region firmly on the map with a string of top plays. MARISSA CARRUTHERS caught up with Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood to find out how their work is creating a storm across the globe.
With a new play hitting the stage in Durham next month, another kicking off in London's West End and another taking to the theatres in Australia, things couldn't be better for the two playwrights.
Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather is the latest smash hit show to come from the dynamic duo.
The rip-roaring comedy tells the extraordinary true story of how a group of lads from West Auckland took on the world – and won.
In April 1909, a bunch of blokes from West Auckland, most of whom had never even been outside County Durham, had to sell their furniture and possessions to pay for a trip to Turin to play in the very first world football championship.
Away from their wives and out of their depth – culturally, financially, and sportingly – the underdogs took on the professionals and their determination and resolve paid off.
And now, almost 100 years to the day since their triumphant win, the story of Charlie "Dirty" Hogg, Tucker Gill and the rest of the men who went to Italy as just miners but came back as heroes is retold.
Ed, from South Shields, said: "It's a real comedy. We call it Auf Wiedersehen Pet with balls. It really is a funny piece and we're so proud of it."
And the play has already proved popular, with 13,000 tickets selling within days to be seen at the Gala Theatre.
The duo's second coup is their controversial Maggie's End making it onto the West End stage.
The play is heading to the capital next month to mark the 25th anniversary of the Miners' Strike.
Sponsored by NUM North East, the RMT, Unison, Unite and the GMB, the dark comedy, which starts with the death of Margaret Thatcher, will be performed for two weeks from April 7, at Shaw Theatre.
Maggie's End premiered at the Gala theatre in Durham last October and attracted nearly 2,000 people to its sell-out performances.
The play was inspired by press reports that the New Labour Government is making plans to give Baroness Thatcher a state funeral when she dies.
Trevor said: "When we first heard these reports we thought they were a bit of political kite-flying and that the idea would be quietly buried.
"But they've since resurfaced.
"There's little doubt that most Labour supporters would see a state funeral for Margaret Thatcher as the ultimate betrayal by their party and that to acknowledge her in this way would reopen many of the sores of the 1980s.
"We wanted to explore what the possible repercussions of this could be, particularly in the north of England, where many communities were decimated during the Thatcher years."
A third play of Ed and Trevor's, Dirty Dusting, is being taken to Liverpool's Royal Court next week before touring Australia.
The comedy follows a trio of hard-working pensioners who face the axe from their cleaning job.
In a bid to keep the cash coming in they set up a phone sex service – and that's where the fun begins.
Ed said: "These are all great achievements in our work and it's great to get the North East out there and known around the world."
Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather premieres at the Gala theatre, Durham, from April 16 to 26.
Tickets cost 13, conc 12 and can be bought by phoning 332 4041.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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