Member Article

A Ghostly Mitford memento for theatre stars

Stars of the hit musical Ghost have gone potty to create one of the film’s most iconic scenes.

Rebekah Lowings and Josh St.Clair visited Mitford Pottery at the North East BIC in Sunderland, one of the area’s few working potteries, during their media duties to promote Ghost’s showings at Sunderland Empire and Darlington Hippodrome.

Alan Dunnighan, founder of Mitford Pottery, hosted the stars of the musical at his studio and recreated the memorable pottery scene from the original 1990 Ghost film, before the pair were also given the opportunity to experience pottery first-hand and make their own vase together.

Alan set up Mitford Pottery three years ago after watching the popular TV show ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ and developing a real passion for the craft.

He said: “My interest in pottery came from my obsession with the show. I thought, it must be a good idea to have a studio with wheels, so people can experience the potter’s wheel and hopefully become as passionate about it as I have.”

The pottery visit was a part of the star’s press tour while promoting the Sunderland run of Ghost the Musical at the Sunderland Empire.

During the visit, Rebekah and Josh worked together to create a vase, which Alan plans to glaze and send to them at their final North East performance in Darlington in a few weeks’ time.

As a memento of their time at the studio, the stars also left with souvenir mugs, one of Alan’s signature creations - agateware mugs featuring beautiful, swirled patterns.

Alan, who balances his pottery business with his day job in IT, is aiming to make Mitford Pottery his full-time profession added: “It’s an expensive hobby at the minute, but with experiences like this and the support from the BIC, I’m hoping to take the next step and do what I love full time.

“It was fantastic publicity for my small business and for the larger North East BIC site. I hope it inspires more people to come down, have a go on the wheel, and just see how fun and rewarding pottery can be.”

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