Charlie Hardwick (Emmerdale) and Joe Caffrey (The Last Ship, Northern Stage/UK Tour); The Girls, West End) will star in Clear White Light by Olivier Award nominated writer Paul Sirett. The world premiere of this modern Gothic story, set at St. Nicholas’ Hospital in Gosforth, will take place at Live Theatre this Autumn.
Inspired by Alan Hull’s time working as a psychiatric nurse at St. Nick’s, and set against the backdrop of cuts to the 70-year-old NHS, the play features many of the hit songs Hull wrote for Lindisfarne at that time, including Winter Song, Lady Eleanor and Clear White Light. These will be performed by an amazing live on-stage band whose performers include Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell of Lindisfarne.
Clear White Light is a modern interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Fall of the House of Usher. Originally commissioned by Max Roberts, Live Theatre’s Emeritus Artistic Director, it is the first play at Live Theatre to be directed by its new Artistic Director, Joe Douglas, with Max and Joe working closely together to bring the play to life.
Charlie Hardwick says, “I am over the moon to be performing at Live Theatre after 16 long years away. Clear White Light is a belter of a play and I get to sing the brilliant songs of Lindisfarne’s Alan Hull. How could I resist? I first saw Live Theatre in my home town of Wallsend in 1980 and they inspired me to become an actor. In 1988 I landed my first job with Live Theatre and went on to perform in over twenty glorious productions. Some of my happiest times have been working in that intimate little jewel of a theatre on the Quayside. I can’t wait to be there again.”
Writer Paul Sirett will give a free post show talk after the 2pm show on Saturday 20th October and Musical Directors Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell will take part in a post-show talk after the 7.30pm performance on Wednesday 24th October. Both talks are free for ticket holders for that performance and will be recorded and available to listen again at www.live.org.uk/talks.
Clear White Light is at Live Theatre 18th October to 10th November 2018.
