Member Article

MY UNCLE FREDDIE CAST TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AT BEAMISH

The cast of My Uncle Freddie have been soaking up the atmosphere at Beamish Museum, where the original radio play was recorded.

The Radio 4 classic has been adapted for the stage for the first time by acclaimed Jarrow writer and fellow of The Customs House Academy, Alex Ferguson.

It will be directed by Gareth Hunter and performed at The Customs House in South Shields from Tuesday, July 17, to Saturday, July 21.

Set in 1930s Jarrow, it follows the adventures of 10-year-old Lecky (Andrew Finnigan, Broken Biscuits, Drip) and his family, including his imaginative Uncle Freddie (Chris Connel, The Pitman Painters, Emmerdale, Byker Grove, Inspector George Gently).

The play, which celebrates the human spirit, humour and community of the north east, also stars Georgia Nicholson (The Cinder Path, The Dolly Mixtures) as Mam, Paul Dunn (I Left My Heart in Roker Park, Seriously Dead) as Dad and Jill Dellow (Horrible Histories, Tracy Beaker Returns, Hollyoaks, Hospital People, Vera) as Aunt Bella.

The cast visited Beamish recently to take part in a photoshoot for the production and also soak up the atmosphere in the 1900s Town, Colliery and Pit Village.

Gareth said: “We chose Beamish because My Uncle Freddie was originally recorded in one of the cottages in The Pit Village, so it was taking it back to where it all started. “We also wanted the photos to have an authentic feel, rather than ones done in the studio, and Beamish provided the perfect backdrop.

“It’s a fantastic and fascinating place to visit and to be able to use it for our publicity images was great. It was challenging, as it was open to the public at the same time, so we had to take the pictures quickly.

“Normally we would have got funny looks doing photos in public, but at Beamish, the cast just looked like they were meant to be there!”

My Uncle Freddie was first broadcast in 1997 as a hilarious and heart-warming trilogy of tales from a 1930s childhood in Jarrow, starring Shaun Prendergast, Colin Maclachlan, Alex Ferguson and Janine Birkett.

Julie Wilson, Head of Communications at Beamish, said: “We were delighted to be able to help out with locations for The Customs House photoshoot, especially as the original Radio 4 plays were recorded here – almost 21 years to the day!”

Karen Cummings was responsible for the hair and make-up on the shoot and the photographer was George W Knox.

In keeping with the theme, Paul Dunn, who was unable to attend the Beamish photoshoot, had his publicity images taken at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery.

Tickets for My Uncle Freddie are priced from £15 and available from the box office on (0191) 454 1234 or online at www.customshouse.co.uk. Performances start at 7.30pm, with a 2.30pm matinee on Thursday and Saturday.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nicky Mckeen .