AWARD-WINNING WRITER BRINGS
RE-WORKED VERSION OF CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED
COMEDY
TO THE CUSTOMS HOUSE
End of the Pier
South Shields Customs
House
Tuesday 22nd - Saturday 26th August 2017
Award-winning
playwright Neil Armstrong is busy putting the finishing touches to his latest
show at The Customs House in South Shields.
The Washington-based
writer, actor and director is bringing a bigger, better version of End of The
Pier to the South Shields theatre for a five-night run in August.
The all-new
production of the critically-acclaimed comedy promises even more laughs after
proving a hit with audiences in June last year.
Set in a tatty end
of the pier dressing room in Edwardian England, End of the Pier tells the story
of Lionel and Edith Bosh, a music hall double act known as The Lovebirds.
They’ve been married
for 25 years, but the love has gone and their only desire now is to kill each
other, with each plotting to do so on the same night. Unfortunately things
don't go according to either of their plans when an unexpected guest arrives in
their dressing room.
 |
| Neil Armstrong reviews his script for
End of the Pier in The Customs House
theatre in South Shields.
|
Neil, who has been
writing comedy for theatre and television for over 25 years, said: “I am really pleased the
play is going to be staged at The Customs House. I think a lot of theatres
overlook comedies as somehow ‘lesser’ works, but thankfully The Customs House has
always provided a home for them. I think making people laugh is important
- in a funny way.”
He added: “This production will be a new version
of the play. I'm currently re-writing the play to fit our new larger
environment.”
End of the Pier’s previous outing was a touring
production with Cloud Nine Theatre Company, taking in Wallsend
Memorial Hall, The Exchange in North Shields, Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre,
Arts Centre Washington and Durham’s Gala Theatre over six nights.
Gareth Hunter,
artistic director of Ion Productions, was keen to bring it to The Customs
House, where the cast will include Neil and Zoe Lambert as Lionel and Edith.
He said: “I saw the
show last year and really loved it, so I was keen to bring it to a bigger
venue. We have revamped it to make it
even funnier and because it is in one location now, we can scale the setting
and the lighting up to make it look bigger and better. I am looking forward to
working with Neil again. He directed Educating Rita last year at The Customs
House for me and did a fantastic job on what was a great show.”
Neil’s work has been
nominated for awards by BAFTA, The Writers Guild of Great Britain and The
National Comedy Awards. His last play, Remember Jim, won Best Show at the 2014
Sunderland Culture awards. He is also co/director, writer and chief pantomime
villain of the Gala Theatre pantos.
He added: “I was over the moon when
producer Gareth decided to revive the play. I love performing at The
Customs House. The audiences are always up for a laugh and hopefully we
can supply them with plenty.”
Tickets:
End of the Pier runs from Tuesday 22nd
August, from Saturday 26th
August 2017,
with shows at 7.30pm and a 2.30pm matinee on Thursday and
Saturday.
Tickets are £18, or £15 early bird and Friends of
The Customs House. Contact the box office on (0191) 454
1234 or visit www.customshouse.co.uk.
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