When Hollywood came to Northumberland it was bound to cause a storm.  Local girl Grace Armstrong sets out to make a film about her idol Grace Darling but things don’t turn out quite how she expects.

This funny, heartfelt play pays tribute to the Northumberland heroine Grace Darling, who in 1838, with her lighthouse keeper father William, rescued 9 survivors from the wreck of the SS Forfarshire.

The play will include some original film footage shot as part of a unique partnership with Sunderland University.

Directed by Emma Roxburgh and produced by Wisecrack Productions in association with Alnwick Playhouse. Amazing Grace is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The wonderful poster and leaflet design (right) was done by Anthony Antoniou at www.designbyantony.com

Amazing Grace is touring across the North East in Autumn 2012. It premieres at Alnwick Playhouse on October 17. Full tour details are below. You can buy tickets from the relevant box office numbers below or if you click on the theatre’s name you will be directed straight to their website.

Alnwick Playhouse: 01665 510 785 Wednesday, October 17 – Friday October 19 7.30pm (plus Thursday matinee 2pm). Ticket prices: £11 (£10 concessions) £8 Schools

Consett Empire:  01207 218171 Saturday, October 20 (3pm and 7.30pm). Ticket prices £13 (£12 concessions) £8 Schools and students

Hexham Queen’s Hall: 01434 652477 Monday, October 22 and Tuesday, October 23 7.30pm (and 1pm Tuesday matinee)  Ticket prices:  £13 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students

Gala theatre (Durham): 0191 332 4041 Wednesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 25 7.30pm (and 2.30pm matinee Thursday). Ticket prices £13 (£12 concessions) £8 Schools and students

Hartlepool Town Hall: 01429 890 000 Friday, October 26 7.30pm. Ticket price £13 (£12 concessions), £8 Schools and students

Gateshead Old Town Hall: 0191 433 6965 Saturday, October 27  7.30pm. Ticket prices: £10 (£8 concessions)

Customs House (South Shields): 0191 454 1234 Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 7.45pm (and matinee Tuesday 2.30pm). Ticket prices: £13 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students

Blyth Phoenix theatre: 01670 367 228 Wednesday, October 31 7.30pm. Ticket prices: £13 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students

Berwick Maltings: 01289 330999 Thursday, November 1 and Friday, November 2 7.30pm (and Friday matinee 1pm)Ticket prices: £13 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students

Whitley Bay Playhouse: 0844 277 2771 Saturday, November 3 2.30pm and 7.30pmTicket prices: £14 (£11 concessions), £8 Schools and students

The tour would not have been possible without help from several organisations and companies. As well as the aforementioned Alnwick Playhouse and Sunderland University it has received support from Vic Young, Newcastle Racecourse, North of England P & I Association and www.daysoutinfo.co.uk

The prolific pair penned Amazing Grace to celebrate the achievements of the first Victorian heroine who tragically died in 1842 aged only 26, four years after her heroic deed off the Northumberland Coast between Bamburgh and Seahouses.

Grace Darling and her lighthouse keeper father lived on Longstone island when, in a storm on September 7, 1838, the SS Forfarshire struck the notorious Harcar rocks, a part of the Farne Islands. Of the 63 people aboard, nine managed to escape in the lifeboat while Grace and her father selflessly manned a coble to heroically rescue 13 people stranded on the rocks.

Queen Victoria bestowed the Silver Bravery medal on Grace, and, after Victoria, she became the most well know woman in 19^th centuryBritain.

The play will tell the story of Grace Darling through the eyes of a modern-day writer called Grace who wants to make a film about her famous namesake.

Trevor explained: “It’s a funny, modern take on a wonderful story and will appeal to everyone aged from 13 to 113. We want to celebrate Grace’s achievement whilst illustrating how the Hollywood machine can play fast and loose with the facts.

“Grace was the first working-class female celebrity – the Cheryl Cole of her time – and the play is a tribute to her achievement.”

Amazing Grace will include film of some famous Northumberland landmarks and is being co-produced by Alnwick Playhouse with the support of Sunderland University.

Jo Potts, manager of Alnwick Playhouse, said: “Alnwick Playhouse is excited to premiere this new play based on and around Grace Darling. Her unique story is rooted firmly in the Northumberland landscape and deserves to be told.”

Judith Hills, Associate Dean for Recruitment and Development at Sunderland University, said: “We are very excited to be involved in Amazing Grace. It’s a novel approach to a fantastic story which I’m sure will make a terrific piece of theatre.”

The three-week north east tour will begin at Alnwick Playhouse on Wednesday, October 17, taking in Berwick Maltings, Hexham Queen’s Hall, Blyth Phoenix theatre, the Customs House (South Shields), Gala Theatre (Durham), Gateshead Old Town Hall, Hartlepool Theatre, Consett Empire and end at Whitley Bay Playhouse on Saturday, November 3. Full dates for each venue are shown below.

You can buy tickets from the relevant box office on the numbers shown or online by clicking on the theatre name below. Some of the online facilities are not yet up and running but will be added here as as when they become available.

Amazing Grace is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Alnwick Playhouse  17-19 October  01665 510 785

Consett Empire  20 Oct  01207 218171

Hexham Queen’s Hall  22-23 Oct 01434 652477

Gala theatre Durham  24-25 Oct  0191 332 4041

Hartlepool Theatre   26 Oct  01429 890 000

Gateshead Old Town Hall  27 Oct  0191 433 6965

Customs House South Shields  29-30 Oct  0191 454 1234

Blyth Phoenix theatre  31 Oct  01670 367 228

Berwick Maltings  1-2 Nov  01289 330999

WhitleyBay Playhouse  3 Nov  0191 251 5484  or  0844 277 2771

The play will be performed at Darlington’s prestigious Civic Theatre from July 24-27  in aid of Darlington FC’s Youth Team. Four of the original cast, Dave Nellist, Wayne Miller, Rob Atkinson (all pictured above) and Dean Logan are returning to the team along with new signings Micky Cochrane and Iain Cunningham.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01325486555 or online at www.darlingtonarts.co.uk.  Tickets for the evening shows cost £20 and £15 and all tickets for the Thursday matinee cost £10.

As a kick-off to the week’s performances, there will be a “Celebrity Night” at the theatre on Monday 23 July. Details will be announced later.

ARKMG played to sell-out audiences at Durham’s 550-seat Gala Theatre in 2009 to celebrate the centenary of West Auckland’s  historic victory and later transferred to Newcastle’s 1200-seat Theatre Royal to much acclaim.

Shaun Campbell and Doug Embleton, spokespeople for the project, believe the play and other high profile events can raise significant funds for the Darlington FC Youth Team.

Shaun explained: “The Youth Team has been so integral to our current playing squad, particularly during this season, perhaps the most turbulent and dramatic in the club’s 128-year history. The ongoing survival of the Youth Team is vital for the future of the club”.

The fundraising will be achieved via a series of highly entertaining shows in Darlington this summer, involving Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather,  a celebrity night and other activities.

 Doug Embleton, a lifelong Darlo fan, added: “The response of football fans throughout the North East and beyond to the Save Darlington FC cause has been overwhelmingly generous but we are calling on the people of Darlington and of the North East to give that extra support to the Youth Team. Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather is a fantastic way to involve fans and people who want to help but who don’t necessarily come along to football matches.

“Craig Liddle’s work with the Youth Team has been inspirational. However, the Youth Team funding from the Football League will be discontinued from the 1^st July as The Quakers will by then have completed 2 years in The Blue Square Premier League. It is therefore both timely and fitting that the play will also run in July. All fans know just how dear the Youth Team is to Craig’s heart. It is a privilege to help this continue”.

Shaun continued: “Ed and Trevor not only agreed to give us the play, they also agreed to produce it, which means they have been able to call on original cast members as well as Sky Television’s Jeff Stelling”.

Doug added: “We are appealing to people to buy tickets as soon as possible. It’s a play for all ages so we are hoping families will come along together.”

South Shields (and Ed)  feature in a top Swiss television programme on Wednesday. The five-minute slot on Kultureplatz, a culture magazine programme on the channel Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF), was recorded this week in response to the recent release of the film The Iron Lady.

Reporter Richard Herold read an article about the play Maggie’s End in The Guardian and contacted Ed through this website.  Ed explained: “Richard asked if he could come over to South Shields to interview us about the play. I got Davey Hopper from the National Union of Mineworkers involved and we showed them around the devastation Thatcherism and the Tories had caused to the borough – places where shipyards and mines once employed thousands of people as well as long-gone former workplaces that were secondary industries.

“It wasn’t all doom and gloom, though. Richard was taken by the friendliness of the people he met when we took him to the beach and to the river and he was so impressed he’s seriously considering coming back for a holiday!

“Sadly, the official Tories couldn’t send anyone – despite being asked – along to debate with me but we managed to rope in a Thatcherite when we were filming in the Maltings pub, where the beer Maggie’s End is sold.”

Or that we would end up watching one of Ed’s oldest friends morris-dancing across the stage of the City Hall in Newcastle in front of 2,000 people.

Those two small snapshots illustrate the slightly insane nature of  the Sunday for Sammy charity event, funny, chaotic, a bit haphazard and completely unpredictable.

This was our first involvement in the event that raises hundreds of thousands of pounds to support young North East performers and it was an absolute hoot. We were asked to write a sketch for Denise Welch and Angela Lonsdale earlier last year and were delighted when our Community Service sketch was accepted for the show.  We were eagerly looking forward to rehearsals when, at the last minute, a gap appeared in the show and Ray Laidlaw, Lindisfarne legend, and one of the prime movers behind the charity, asked if we could help to fill it.  No pressure there then.

Somehow, three days later, we were sitting in the stalls at the City Hall watching a succession of stars play cameo roles in our hastily pulled together Speed Dating sketch. With the lovely Emmerdale star Charlie Hardwick leading the way we watched in awe as, in order of appearance, Brendan Healy, Pam Royle, Kevin Whately, Pete Peverley (twice), Les Robson, Ray Laidlaw, Chris Chittel, Billy Mitchell, Tim Healy, Ray Stubbs, and Chris Fairbanks all came on stage to pursue Charlie’s hand. We may have missed Brendan’s name out a few times there as he’s not a man who’s shy about reappearing at various unscheduled moments.

Quite how we got to that moment is still a bit of a mystery but it could only have been done with everyone pulling in the same direction and the commitment and ‘up for anything’ attitude of all the above and the show’s director Geoff Wonfor were major factors. The other major factor was our morris-dancing friend. The night before rehearsals we were told that we couldn’t have a morris dancer in the show as we had neither a spare man nor a costume. Several phone calls later a member of Hexham Morrismen had been tracked down and at 10 o’clock on Saturday morning a costume was duly delivered to the City Hall (thanks John!).  Now all we needed was a volunteer to wear it. Enter Les Robson, Ed’s oldest friend. Lured to the City Hall under slightly false pretences, having no idea that the show was on the next day and then finding out that the  costume was several sizes too big for him, Les threw himself into the role with some gusto and may well have stolen the show as you will be able to see when the video comes out. For now you can make do with this Sky News clip which captures the backstage ‘all-hands-to-the-pump’ vibe. Les is caught chatting to his new best friend Charlie Hardwick soon after the start (though sadly not in costume).

We’d really like to thank everyone involved for making it such a great laugh, Denise, Angela and Chelsea Halfpenny smashed the Community Service sketch – Denise was in great form all weekend especially given the media nonsense she’s had to put up with recently – and the Speed Dating went down a storm as noted in the reviews in the Journal and Chronicle.

Incidentally, for those who are interested in such things, Pam Royle opted for ‘willy’ at the matinee and ‘knob’ at the evening show.

The sold-out shows on February 12 are one of the highlights of the Geordie calendar and though the nature of the sketch and the performers involved is a closely guarded secret, Ed promises that it will be a hoot:

“I can’t wait to see it myself. We haven’t written a sketch before but when Ray Laidlaw asked us if we’d like to get involved we jumped at the chance. It’s a real honour to be a small part of such a great team and to contribute to a fantastic cause. The Memorial fund helped us when we were just starting out and it’s great to get the chance to give something back,” he explained.

The bi-annual entertainment extravaganza, held to raise money for the Sunday for Sammy Trust in memory of the late actor Sammy Johnson, will take place on February 12 2012.  A star-studded line-up of famous faces – and at least one surprise guest – will take part in the show – the proceeds of which will be used to support rising upcoming new talent in the region.Sunday for Sammy stalwarts include Benidorm star Tim Healy and Lindisfarne drummer Ray Laidlaw, who produces the show.

Tim, who is Chairman of the Trust, said: “Sunday for Sammy has become one of the highlights of my professional life and I’m really looking forward to the next show which will be our seventh.

“The 2010 gig was tremendous and we’re going to have to pull out all the stops to top it.  As usual, we won’t be revealing any names before the show but I can guarantee a brilliant cast and some great surprises. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Past participants in the show include Loose Women star Denise Welch, Brian Johnson of AC/DC and actors Kevin Whately, Jimmy Nail and Timothy Spall, who all co-starred with Tim in hit TV drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

To add to the glittering line-up, organisers wow the audience at each event with a mystery, big-name guest with Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler topping the bill in 2010.

Unknown performers looking for their big break are currently auditioning for the Trust in the hope of winning a grant to help with the cost of training.

Grants are awarded by the Trust twice a year and, since the Trust, formerly the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, was established there have been more than 180 recipients and almost £500,000 has been raised to support talented North East performers.

The Trust was founded following the death in 1988 of Sammy – real name Ronnie – Johnson, an actor who had worked alongside many of today’s famous faces on dramas like Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Catherine Cookson’s The Gambling Man.

Ray Laidlaw said: “Sammy was a great bloke and he’d be thrilled that these concerts in his memory have become such a North East institution. They are a logistical nightmare to organise but, without a doubt, my favourite gig of the year.”

He will be on a panel debating Margaret Thatcher’s contribution to society, chaired by Nicky Campbell.

As the co-author of Maggie’s End, which began with the death of the former Prime Minister, Ed has some fairly firm views on her ‘contribution’ which should make for combustible viewing – especially if he is sitting next to the inevitable Tory apologist. Sparks will undoubtedly fly.

Obviously the debate has been sparked by the opening of the new film The Iron Lady in which the milk snatcher and pit closer is portrayed by Meryl Streep.

The really big question is: Will Ed reveal his lifelong crush on Meryl Streep? (which was admittedly damaged by Mamma Mia)

Round 3 of Waugh v Thatcher will take place when Ed reviews The Iron Lady for the Shields Gazette which we will post here as soon as it’s done.

Alas, for those based in the Milecastles, situated every mile along the great wall, life is less exciting. No great luxuries are to be had here, especially at Milecastle 17 – Drizzlewort.

Built mainly from turf, Drizzlewort houses just seven men and a servant. With only a cold stream for bathing and a hole in the ground for a toilet, the inhabitants exist on a diet of beans, lentils and the occasional bits of pork. Worst of all for lads used to sunnier climes, is the weather; it rarely stops raining, unless, of course, it’s snowing. Oh yes, it’s grim up north!

Widely considered to be the worst posting of all for those Romans soldiers unfortunate enough to be serving the Empire in Britain, life in Drizzlewort not only consists of building the wall but also manning the gate, which acts as a customs post and access point for local traders, and where sentry duty mostly involves keeping out the deadly, if hard-to-pin-down Picts

The soldiers posted to Drizzlewort never stop complaining, and are generally the lowest of the low, most of whom would desert given half a chance. However, every cloud has a silver lining and, given the place’s strategic importance and isolation, there are always good business opportunities for people who can manipulate the system…

It’s Grim Up North is being developed as a radio sitcom. A pilot episode was recorded at Sunderland University directed by Jackie Fielding and starring Dale Meeks, Dean Logan, Gary Kitching, Mat Hobbins, Jackie Fielding and Karen Traynor.  It has since been commissioned by BBC Radio Cumbria as a five part comedy serial and re-recorded at the BBC Studios in Newcastle with the same cast plus Chris Connel. A broadcast date will be announced shortly. You can listen to the original full pilot episode here.

The jury’s still out on why Hadrian had the wall built. It was generally a time of peace in the Empire, so it’s not ruled out that “old warty face” just wanted to keep the lads of his legions busy and out of trouble.

Unfortunately for him, where the men of the milecastle at Drizzlewort are concerned, he failed miserably. They quickly identify the opportunities to make a few dinera trading with the locals and creating a black market – it’s amazing how stones meant for the wall find their way to the construction of villas for the Pict chiefs!

Of course, the auxiliaries always have to be aware of the activities of the local revolutionaries – the Boadecia Resistance Army (BRA) – but a few spears to help their insurrectionary cause greases the wheels of trade.

Building the wall is a chance for these plucky soldiers from Britain, Italy, Algeria and other far-flung corners of the empire to broaden their horizons and sample a new culture. The only problem is they are stationed in a ramshackle milecastle where it rains incessantly and the food is rubbish, hence their common refrain, “it’s grim up north”.

We’d like to thank Jackie Fielding who directed and starred in the pilot episode and the other brilliant actors involved for giving up their time to record the show. Take a bow Dale Meeks, Dean Logan, Gary Kitching, Mat Hobbins and Karen Traynor. We love you all. No really.

We’d also like to thank John Scott for helping Trevor with the post-production work.

The idea was developed in conjunction with the Customs House which, despite being hamstrung by the Arts Council cuts, is finding new ways to continue its role as the champion of new writing in the North East. To this end they are working with other partners and we are grateful to Sunderland University for their support on this particular project. We’d particularly like to thank Lesley Younger for helping to set this up; Fred Marden for letting us use the brilliant facilities in the radio unit there and Grant Lowery and Craig Oliphant for guiding us through any technical difficulties.

You can listen to the full pilot episode of It’s Grim Up North here. If you like the show, feel free to pass the link around, put it on your website or twitter or Facebook or whatever else it is you kids do today. If you’re our age then just tell your mates. If you don’t like it keep schtum or we’ll send the boys round. And we mean that literally, have you seen Ed’s boys?

Ed would like to say that the title of ‘It’s Grim Up North’ does not reflect the writers’ true views of the area. It’s actually totally lush -  a fantastic area with wonderful countryside and national parks, stunning coastal stretches and castles, award-winning architecture and internationally acclaimed World Heritage sites as described at http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/ . (Will that do mate, I’m starting to doze off?).

The play, which premiered at the Customs House in South Shields in 2003 and has toured constantly since then is about three pensioners who set up a telephone sex line after they get made redundant from their cleaning job.

Originally starring north east actors Helen Russell, Jean Southern and Gwen Doran as the trio of “Dirty Dusters” and Dave Whittaker as their bullying boss, the show has been one of the most successful plays to have emerged in the region since the war.

It has had more than 15 professional productions and had full tours of England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It has had two separate runs at a packed Theatre Royal in Newcastle and four sell-out runs at the 440-seat Customs House.

Trevor Wood  said: “We’ve had some fantastic times with this play:  A month’s run at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin where 30,000 people attended, a three-week run at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow which attracted 20,000 people – not forgetting to mention watching the original cast knock them dead at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle – twice!”

“Barely a week has gone by in the last eight years that we haven’t been contacted directly or via our website by someone wanting to stage the show. Now’s their chance!”

David Bownes, General Manager of Qdos Entertainment (Pantomimes) Ltd, is now overseeing Dirty Dusting’s national and international drive.

David, whose other projects include the international hit Stones In His Pockets said: “An advert for Dirty Dusting performing rights was placed in The Stage on Thursday and we immediately received nine requests from all over the world. I’m currently discussing with groups from the UK, USA, Spain, South Africa and there’s even been an enquiry from South Korea.”

Any groups interested in performing Dirty Dusting should contact David by email bright38@ntlworld.com or telephone 07778 338009