Customs House dates followed by community tour announced for inspiring play about girls’ football
Only The Beginning...
South Shields Customs House: Friday 1st November - Sunday 3rd November 2024
The Unionist Social Club: Wednesday 6 - Thursday 7 November, 7.00pm
South Shields Football Club: Friday 8 November, 7.00pm
Jarrow Hall: Saturday 9 November, 2.00pm
Perth Green Community Association: Sunday 10 November, 2.00pm
The Customs House and ThickSkin have announced the community tour of Only The Beginning…, a dynamic new play celebrating the passion and resilience of women in football. This production, funded by Arts Council England's (ACE) Place Partnership Investment, explores the struggles, hopes, and triumphs of a grassroots girls’ football team in the North East, with themes that resonate beyond the pitch.
Written against the backdrop of a crucial match for England's Lionesses, Only The Beginning... tells the story of a local girls' team on the brink of collapse. With limited resources, worn-out equipment, and a coach whose faith in the sport is faltering, the team faces immense challenges. But with so much at stake for the players, their families, and their coach, this is more than just about winning goals—it’s about reclaiming their love for the game and proving that girls belong on the field.
This inspiring production is a tribute to the women who have fought for a place in the world of football, from the grassroots to the international stage. It's also a reminder of the obstacles that still exist, from financial struggles to outdated attitudes like those expressed by the FA in 1921 when they declared the sport ‘unsuitable for females’—a ban that lasted nearly 50 years.
After its run at The Customs House, Only The Beginning... is set to embark on a community tour, bringing this important story to local audiences across South Tyneside:
The Unionist Social Club: 6-7 November, 7.00pm
South Shields Football Club: 8 November, 7.00pm
Jarrow Hall: 9 November, 2.00pm
Perth Green Community Association: 10 November, 2.00pm
Supported by South Tyneside’s Cultural Partnership group, this tour reflects a deep commitment to bringing high-quality arts and culture to local communities, ensuring that everyone has access to transformative storytelling like Only The Beginning....
About The Play
Only The Beginning... is a love letter to women’s football, celebrating the players, coaches, and parents whose unwavering passion sustains the grassroots game. With moments of humour, heartbreak, and triumph, it’s a moving portrayal of how much more there is to football than meets the eye—particularly for those fighting for recognition.
Neil Bettles, Artistic Director at ThickSkin said, ‘I am incredibly excited about developing this show with the team at The Customs House. The visceral energy of a game of football captured in a theatre production sounds like a brilliant challenge to me. There is a huge amount of interest in the women’s game at the moment, and I hope we can make something that reflects the energy and dynamics of the game as well as the stories of the people who are at the heart of the sport.’
Kelly Anders, Chief Executive, The Customs House has said, ‘we are delighted to be able to take this work into venues at the heart of our communities, into spaces which have meaningful relationships with the girls’ game, while proving an opportunity to see brand new work that is inspired by the stories of young women from South Tyneside.’
Presented by The Customs House and ThickSkin | Supported by South Tyneside Cultural Partnership | Funded by ACE’s Place Partnership Investment
Tickets:
Tickets for Customs House: https://www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre/only-the-beginning/
Tickets for the community tour are available at each venue at one hour before the show, or via The Customs House website: https://www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre/only-the-beginning-tour/
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