Member Article

Amphitheatre adds to the appeal of South Tyneside

THE PAST and the present united in South Tyneside with the launch of a new £300,000 tourist attraction.

The Heritage Lottery Funded (HLF) Amphitheatre - part of the Animating the Visitor Attraction project at Bede’s World, Jarrow - was officially opened by 16-year-old gold medal paralympian Josef Craig MBE along with South Tyneside Mayor, Cllr Ernest Gibson.

Along with unveiling the new amphitheatre, which will be used for a range of live performances, Cllr Gibson also drew comparisons between two of South Tyneside’s favoured sons – despite the fact they were born 1300 years apart.

“ I am delighted to have had the opportunity to celebrate the opening of this amazing new amphitheatre at Bede’s World which is going to be a fantastic asset to the museum and to South Tyneside and that Josef has been able to join us,“ said Cllr Gibson.

“1300 years divide the achievements of the Venerable Bede and Josef, but they are in the same vein. Both inspirational characters, firmly rooted within the local community of South Tyneside and both achieving amazing things which have brought them and the borough global recognition.”

The 150 seater amphitheatre has been built to mirror the Yeavering Auditorium which was believed to have been part of a large Anglo-Saxon royal palace in Northumbria.

The ambitious six month-long project will mean that performances will now take place at a site of great historical and archaeological interest and the hope is to attract visitors from across the region and beyond.

Speaking at the launch, Josef said it was “ a great honour“ to be compared with someone as revered as the Venerable Bede.

“It’s an absolute privilege for me to be asked along for this event and for people to say I’m an inspiration,” he said.

Youngsters from a range of schools across the borough were also in attendance and took the opportunity to ask Josef questions before he joined the Mayor to carve part of a commemorative stone plaque which is to erected at the site.

The amphitheatre will be hosting its first performance on July 19, with a staging of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Durham written by local writing team, Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood.

For more information about the amphitheatre or to book tickets contact Bede’s World on 0191 4892106 or visit website www.bedesworld.co.uk

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