Emerging writers in Sunderland share their stories
Image: Beer Goggles, written by Jo McCullock and performed by Christina Berriman
Sunderland Culture are spearheading a new series of online plays written by local playwrights, with the aim of exploring unheard voices across the city.
The six week run of performances will begin on Tuesday 9th June, and will be streamed via Sunderland Culture’s YouTube channel and social media every Tuesday at 8pm. The themes covered in the plays are diverse and thought-provoking, with topics including dementia, murder, break-ups and – inevitably – Covid-19, with the monologues performed and filmed by professional actors in their own homes.
“Sunderland has so much untapped talent and I am delighted that we are able to shine a light on just a few of the emerging writers in the city with the Sunderland Stories project.” says Helen Green, Head of Performance at Sunderland Culture. “The range of ideas submitted was fantastic – funny, sad, absorbing and thought provoking, these stories bring to life Sunderland characters.”
The six monologues chosen for the project have never been shown in public before, giving a vital voice to emerging writers on Wearside.
The running order for Sunderland Stories is:
Tuesday 9th June – Parting Shot by Alan Parkinson, performed by Paul Dunn
Tuesday 16th June – Beer Goggles by Jo McCullock, performed by Christina Berriman
Tuesday 23rd June – Gaps by Julie Wilson, performed by Jackie Phillips
Tuesday 30th June – How to Bumble Like A Boss by James Whitman, performed by James Hedley
Tuesday 7th July – Keep Granny’s Clock by Catherine O’Neill, performed by Judi Earl
Tuesday 14th July – Nasty Pasties by Thomas Kelly, performed by Corinne Kilvington
Sunderland Stories will be streamed every Tuesday at 8pm from Tuesday 9th June-Tuesday 14th July via Sunderland Culture’s YouTube channel, on Facebook via Sunderland Culture and Arts Centre Washington, and on their website
