Preview: Land of Our Fathers at Newcastle Live Theatre

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Extra performance of Welsh mining drama Land of Our Fathers added at Live Theatre due to popular demand

Land of Our Fathers

Newcastle Live Theatre

Wednesday 27^th to Saturday 30^th January 2016

Presented by Theatre503, Tara Finney Productions and Wales Millennium Centre

Written by Chris Urch

Directed by Paul Robinson

Photo: Polly Thomas

An extra performance of critically-acclaimed play Land of Our Fathers, has been added at Live Theatre, Newcastle in January due to popular demand. A matinee performance has been added at 2pm on Thursday 28 February, as tickets for the other performances between Wednesday 27 and Saturday 30 January 2016 have almost sold out.

Starting it’s English tour at Live Theatre, after a successful tour in Wales last year Land of Our Fathers which follows six Welsh miners trapped underground, is a funny and deeply moving Welsh mining drama packed full of blistering comedy and echoes a generation of lost voices.

Photo: Polly Thomas

It’s May 1979 in South Wales. Thatcher is county her votes, Sid Vicious is spinning in his grave and six Welsh miners are trapped down a coal mine. As the men await their rescue, secrets emerge and accusations fly. Within two weeks, everything they believe in and everything they know will have changed.

Photo: Polly Thomas

Max Roberts, Artistic Director, Live Theatre said: “We have been delighted at the popularity of Land of our Fathers and have added an additional performance so more audiences can see this powerful drama when it starts it’s English tour here at Live Theatre at the end of January. The story of miners in the play will have a strong resonance here in the North East with our shared mining heritage, and with Live Theatre’s audiences after our success with plays such as The Pitmen Painters and Close the Coalhouse Door.”

Land of Our Fathers has been described by The Guardian as ‘undeniably powerful’ and The Times as ‘a high voltage production’.

Photo: Polly Thomas

Paul Robinson, Artistic Director of Theatre503 and Director, Land of our Fathers said: “The response so far has been thrilling and we’re delighted to be bringing the production to some fantastic venues in England in the New Year. The story is so universal with characters that you can’t help but fall; in love with, and we hope the play will continue to bring laughs and tears as it continues its journey.”

Photo: Flavia Fraser-Cannon

Tara Finney, Co-producer, Land of our Fathers said: “I am delighted to be taking Land of Our Fathers on tour, enabling more people around the country to see this beautiful play. I have no doubt it will continue to enthral people as we move from the Welsh to English venues.”

Original cast members Joshua Price (Llwyth/Tribe) and Taylor Jay-Davies (Great Expectations – West End, The Passion) reprise their roles as Mostyn and Chewy. They are joined by John Cording (Pobol Y Cwm, Da Vinci’s Demons), Tomos Eames (Pride, Resistance), Cornelius Booth (Pride & Prejudice) and Robert Jezek (The Bodyguard – West End).

Two free events will accompany the shows at Live Theatre. Meet The Cast takes place after the show on Thursday 28 January, when the audience can discuss the making of the play with the creative team and cast.  A Post Show Discussion will take place on Saturday 30 January after the 2pm matinee, when Ian Lavery MP for Wansbeck and former President of the National Union of Mineworkers joins Max Roberts Artistic Director of Live Theatre to discuss issues raised in the play. Both events are free, but booking is essential.

Read the original North East Theatre Guide Preview:  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/preview-land-of-our-fathers-at.html

 Tickets:

For more information on Land of Our Fathers which is at Live Theatre between Wednesday 27 and Saturday 30 January 2016 and to buy tickets costing between £22 to £12, over 60s concessions from £22 to £16 and other concessions £15 to £10 call Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232 or see www.live.org.uk.