Member Article

Hit musical West Side Story comes to NorthEast

A passionate story of forbidden love and bitter rivalry comes to the North East next week when curtains go up on the hit American musical West Side Story.

The iconic show has been brought to the North East by Day 8 Productions – the Whitley-Bay-based company which aims to professionalise amateur theatre – and features classic tunes from ‘Maria’ and ‘Somewhere’ to ‘I feel Pretty’ and ‘America’.

Inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is set in the mid-1950s and explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

The show, which will be performed at Playhouse Whitley Bay from April 24 to 28, tells of the heart-rending love affair between Tony, one of the Jets, and Maria, the sister of Bernardo, who is the leader of the Sharks.

The musical is being staged after Day 8 won support from the Royal Shakespeare Company as part of its Open Stages programme, which aims to develop and celebrate amateur theatre and re-forge the bond with the world of professional theatre.

Performances start at 7.15pm with tickets priced at £15. Tickets can be booked in person at the PLAYHOUSE Box Office or by calling 0844 277 2771 or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jonny Marshall .