On Mr Kelly’s Doorstep
(or how a play
grew up over the garden wall)
Love Songs
South Shields Customs House - Monday 15 October 2018
Arts Centre Washington - Thursday 18 October
2018
Middlesbrough Theatre - Tuesday 23 October 2018
Seaton Delaval Arts Centre - Saturday 27 October 2018
October 2018 sees the premiere of a new play by celebrated
North East writer, Tom Kelly. Baby Love Productions
are touring his new play Love Songs
to 4 venues in the region, premiering at The Customs House, South Shields on 15
October.
Tom Kelly is well-known throughout the region for his plays and musicals. His work is often
featured at the Customs House, where his most recent works The DollyMixtures and Geordie The Musical, played to rapturous houses, justly
earning standing ovations every night. His one-man play, I Left My
Heart In Roker Park also played to packed houses, winning a WOW award, and
Tom was a finalist in the Writer of the Year category in the Journal Culture
Awards for Geordie. In 2016 Baby
Love Productions toured his play with 60s songs, Baby Love, which was a
favourite with audiences. As North East Theatre Guide said, “Baby Love benefits from an insightful
script, good music and charismatic acting.”
The new play also features an array of classic songs, such
as Bridge Over Troubled Water,
Somewhere, True Love Ways, Love Me Tender & Will You Still Love Me
Tomorrow. These songs are
performed by the two protagonists as part of a 60s tribute tour.
The play deals with themes of
mental health and domestic abuse as the two lead characters face up to their
own demons to have a chance at building a life together. Meanwhile the play
features the quirky characters that people the tribute tour, some of them
unable to separate themselves from the icons they portray, with often comical
consequences.
 |
| Jonathan and Helen Cash with playwright Tom Kelly |
Tom wrote the play for his friends,
and next-door neighbours, real-life married couple, Helen and Jonathan Cash,
after initially working with them on a revival of his play, Baby Love. Jonathan, who both directs and acts in the
play, explained, “We had a great time working with Tom on Baby Love and
had the joy of experiencing at first hand the emotional impact his writing has
on audiences. It’s the authenticity of his characters and the depth of feeling
he brings to his writing that makes his work so satisfying, both to watch and
to perform. There’s always a mix of drama and comedy that makes the work real
and engaging. When he said he was writing a new piece especially for us, we
were, naturally, delighted. It’s a privilege to have a play written for us by
one of the region’s foremost playwrights. We’re just extremely lucky he happens
to be our friend. Also living just next door makes it really easy to get
together for rehearsals.”
Jonathan admits the play has its challenges, “We
have to perform songs made famous by the greatest singers of the 60s, including
Dusty Springfield, Elvis, Gene Pitney and Marvin Gaye, plus we’re taking on the
notoriously challenging Bridge Over Troubled Water. No small task, but really rewarding. It’s the
mix of the powerful script and these terrific songs that I think will make the
show so satisfying for audiences. We also get to play some lovely comic
characters along the way.”
Tom Kelly said, “I’m delighted my
new play will premiere at The Customs House, my favourite theatre and spiritual
home. It’s also playing at 3 other super venues around the region in Washington,
Middlesbrough and Seaton Delaval. After the success of Baby Love’s tour,
I wanted to write something to capitalise on the talents of Helen and Jonathan
and, as they are both singers as well as actors, it seemed a shame not to use
that. Also, I love these songs and tribute tours are the bread and butter of
many of our local theatres nowadays. It seemed very current to use that as a
background to address subjects like mental health and the impact of domestic
abuse in a believable and ultimately positive way. I believe audiences will
respond to that. ”
On The Web:
Click here to see a short video sampler of the play
produced by Unified Media.
Website: https://babyloveproductions.co.uk
Tickets:
South Shields Customs House on Monday 15 October, https://www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre/love-songs-/
Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 18
October, http://www.artscentrewashington.co.uk/production-details.aspx?id=1193
Middlesbrough Theatre on Tuesday 23 October https://www.middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk/shows/love-songs/
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