There’s always a sense of anti-climax once a production has finished. Several weeks of growing excitement reaches a wonderful climax (oo-er madam) and is suddenly replaced by a vacuum. Normally this lasts for quite a while but with Raising the Stakes going into rehearsal on Monday we don’t really have time to mope.

The final performance of Good To Firm at the Customs House on Saturday was a joy. A full house, terrific performances and a clearly delighted audience, what more could you ask? There are a couple of posts on the Customs House Facebook page which sum up the reaction. The cast did a brilliant job and the whole thing was put together superbly by the director Mark Wingett and the Production Co-ordinator Jackie Fielding.

Mark was working at the Customs House for the first time but you would never have known it, he’s a real gentleman and has charmed everyone there. I’m certain he’ll be back in the future. It was lovely to see his family in the audience on Saturday night and I’m sure they enjoyed the rest of their weekend in the North East as they headed off to Seaham Hall for a bit of luxury pampering.

Jackie is overseeing all three plays in the trilogy, she’s a real perfectionist  – the copy of the Daily Mirror  used in the play was the actual edition from Grand National Day in 2003 when the play the set. Such attention to detail undoubtedly made Mark’s job much easier, giving him less to think about and the chance to work more closely with the actors.

There was a bit of a Maggie’s End reunion on Saturday as Melanie Hill came to see the show. Mel starred with Mark in the London production of the play and it was great to get together again. Despite her Sunderland roots she’s a grand lass! Mel’s coming back to the North East in October to start rehearsals for Inheritance, a new play at Live Theatre in Newcastle

We’ve now got a handful of days to actually try and do some writing before the next production starts and have to work out what our priorities are. We’ve got a couple of film ideas we want to develop and an idea for a new play that we’ve started to kick around but the BBC have just announced a new sitcom competition that has a very tight deadline which we might just have something for. Decisions, decisions.

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The play, which opened on Wednesday night in front of a packed Customs House audience, was described in the Evening Chronicle as ‘a prize-winning performance by any standard.

The Northern Echo reviewer was equally impressed: “Incredibly funny throughout but with some real touching moments of drama”

The What’s On Stage website review praised the performances of lead actors Ray Spencer and Angela Szalay, describing the play as “a firm favourite…absolutely first past the post”

Good to Firm, brilliantly directed by former star of The Bill, Mark Wingett, runs at the Customs House until Saturday September 10. It’s sequel, Raising The Stakes opens on October 6^th and a brand new play Photo Finish will complete the trilogy when it premieres at the same venue from October 28^th to November 6^th.

Tickets are available from the Customs House box office on 0191 454 1234 or online at www.customshouse.co.uk

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The play, which runs from Wednesday September 8 until Saturday September 11^th, stars original cast members Ray Spencer and Angela Szalay as Bob and Shirley Fletcher, whose life is turned upside down by the arrival of Bob’s first love Phillipa during Grand National weekend.

The play is the first in a trilogy which will all feature at the South Shields venue in the next three months. The second play in the trilogy, Raising The Stakes returns for only its second-ever production from October 6-9^th and a brand new play Photo Finish will complete the story when it premieres at the same venue from October 28^th to November 6^th.

Tickets are available from the Customs House box office on 0191 454 1234 or online at www.customshouse.co.uk.

There is a special deal available for anyone buying tickets for all three shows.

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A fast-moving comedy about headaches, heartaches and horse-racing. Hopeless gambler Bob Fletcher finds his life turned upside down when his first love returns to town during Grand National weekend.

He can’t help comparing the wealthy, beautiful Philippa with Shirley, his long-suffering wife of nearly thirty years.

As long-held secrets are revealed can Bob resist the lure of the first woman he ever loved?

Good To Firm was first performed at the Customs House, South Shields in June 2002. Due to public demand it returned again in September 2003 and reappeared for the third time in September 2010 as part of the theatre’s 15^th anniversary celebrations.

Reviews

“A laugh-a-minute, jam-packed extravaganza that’s an odds-on box office winner” Evening Chronicle

“I didn’t laugh so much during all six episodes of Auf Wiedersehn Pet… a rumbustious comedy packed with ribald gags” The Journal

“You’re backing a winner… if this play was a race horse you’d bet your house on it” Sunderland Echo

“A gem – funny, clever and perfectly played… the dialogue is peppered with some great one-liners… a real joy to watch” Shields Gazette

“The audience loved it, roaring with laughter from the off.” The British Theatre Guide

“Breathlessly funny… hilarious” The Crack

“A treat… will have you laughing your socks off.” The Shields Gazette

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