Tynemouth Priory Theatre

Upcoming Performances

17/9/18 - 22/9/18
Entertaining Angels

Entertaining Angels

by Richard Everett

“A very English dramatic comedy filled with healthy irreverence, probing wit and tremendous emotion”.

Directed by Hayley Moy

17th – 22nd September 2018

(Adult themes)

‘I’ve poured two hundred thousand cups of tea, made four thousand six hundred medium-sized quiches and personally baked two tons of light crust pastry. And for what?’

As a clergy wife Grace has spent a lifetime on her best behaviour. Now, after the death of her beloved husband Bardolph she is enjoying the new-found freedom to do and say exactly as she pleases. In the depths of her grief, she talks to her dead husband “Bardy” (much to the alarm of their daughter Jo, a psychotherapist) who appears in his beloved garden mostly via the potting shed. As Grace is grieving for her dear departed husband, Sarah, the new incumbent vicar arrives to view the vicarage. The prospect of losing her home as well as the man she loved causes Grace to reflect on her life and marriage and to question whether the sacrifices she made in order to support her husbands’ work have been worth it. The return of Grace’s earthy missionary sister Ruth from Africa (to support her younger sister in her time of need) leads to the disturbing revelation that Ruth and Bardy had a brief liaison which produced a son who is now 30 years old. When Grace learns that her husband died without ever confessing the guilty secret she descends into the depths of vulnerability and grief.

Meanwhile, Sarah the new vicar, unexpectedly reveals her own personal traumas to Grace’s daughter Jo. Jo is going through (marital) problems of her own and becomes exasperated and upset by her mother’s bitterness and increasingly strange behaviour as she mourns her father. As the relationship between her mother and aunt descends into bitterness and animosity Jo becomes a calm and convincing intermediary, attempting to navigate a way through their deteriorating relationship whilst coming to terms with her own grief and personal life

Through it all ‘Bardy’ appears at various times to counsel his bereaved wife and help her come to terms with his past indiscretion. As the play progresses we learn of Grace’s frustrations with the man she loved and the path he had chosen, but, as further secrets are revealed, ultimately the strength of the love they shared.

Directed by Hayley Moy

05/11/18 - 10/11/18
The Pitmen Painters

By Lee Hall

“Based on a true story, The Pitmen Painters is a funny play that also addresses serious issues about a group of ordinary men, who went on to achieve extraordinary things”.

A group of miners from Ashington, who were determined to better themselves, employ Robert Lyon, a Master of Painting at Kings College Newcastle, to teach them art appreciation. With the evening classes getting off to a shaky start, due to neither side being able to understand each other, the Mr Lyon encourages the miners to make art themselves, beginning with linocuts and moving on to paintings drawing on life in their own community. Within a few years the most avant-garde artists became their friends, their work was taken for prestigious collections and they were celebrated throughout the British art world; but every day they worked, as before, down the mine.

Directed by Vicki Lockey and Jo Cosgrove

04/01/19 - 13/01/19
Aladdin

by Damian Trasler, David Lovesy and Steve Clark (tlc Creative), and John Dowell

“Our annual pantomime”.

Directed by Beccy Gilmore

25/02/19 - 02/03/19
Run For Your Wife

by Ray Cooney

“A fast-paced, physical farce”.

Taxi driver John Smith has managed to marry both Mary and Barbara. By keeping an extremely tight schedule he has been able keep this secret from both of the women for some time. When he is injured while trying to prevent a mugging he has to involve his neighbour Stanley to help him stop two detectives, from different police stations, discovering his secret.

Directed by Dave Cooper

15/04/19 - 20/04/19
Great Expectations

by Hugh Leonard

adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens

Directed by Christine Coaster

03/06/19 - 08/06/19
Not Dead Enough

by Peter James

Adapted by Shaun McKenna

Directed by Ali Broughton & Ann Leake