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The Prize true stories of Olympians and Paralympians

The Prize, an exciting new play revealing the real life stories behind the struggle for Olympic and Paralympic success runs to Newcastle’s Live Theatre until Saturday 8 September.

The play draws on interviews with past Olympic and Paralympic athletes and aspiring first time competitors. Writers Steve Gilroy and Richard Stockwell interviewed over 30 elite athletes for the play and audiences can find out true stories of sacrifice, tragedy and touching humour. London 2012 Paralympic Games competitors featured in the play include Tyneside club thrower Stephen Miller and power lifter Ali Jawad, wheelchair fencer Simon Wilson and rower Nick Beighton.

The play had a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, gaining four star reviews.

The stories of many of the Olympic competitors developed during the Olympic Games including that of Olympic Gold-medal winning rower Kat Copeland, Edinburgh AC athlete Freya Murray, and rower Jessica Eddie.

Writer Steve Gilroy, who also directs the show, said:

“Richard and I spent the last two years interviewing over thirty athletes to discover their personal journeys and stories that have led them to compete in the world’s greatest competition. Because the play coincides with the Olympics and Paralympics some of these stories are completing as the show is running.“

The cast are Chris Connel (Close The Coalhouse Door, The Pitmen Painters), Helen Embleton, (Motherland), Seroca Davis (Dr Who and That Mitchell and Webb Look), Carl Kennedy performer with North East comedy favourites The Suggestibles and newcomer Melissa Johns.

The Prize is a co-production between Live Theatre and Murmur. The Prize has also been awarded the prestigious Inspire Mark, which recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A special FREE Meet the Team event on Saturday 8 September at 4pm in which the creative team will be joined by the cast and some of the interviewed athletes to explain how the transformed real life stories into an inspiring theatre performance.

For more information & tickets ring (0191) 232 1232 or www.live.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Live Theatre .