A life-sized replica of a Tyne and Wear Metro train is set to wow audiences at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal this week.
The mocked-up Metro prototype, carriage 4001, in its familiar 1980s colour scheme, is the centrepiece for Gerry and Sewell – a play which tells the story of two Gateshead lads who are desperate to see their team, Newcastle United, play at home.
The Metro themed set has made the switch to the bigger stage after starring at the Live Theatre last year.
The Metro train, along with its famous Metro logo and station cube, make up the set for Gerry and Sewell, a production, which is running at the Theatre Royal all this week, 2-5 October.
First told in Jonathan Tulloch’s book, The Season Ticket, then in 2000’s film Purely Belter, the tale of two lads from the wrong side of the Metro tracks who will do whatever it takes to bag a pair of passes into St James’ Park has written itself into the cultural almanac of the North East.
Lynne Dickinson, Station Delivery Manager at Nexus, said: “We’re thrilled to see that the replica Metro train has made it on to the big stage at the Theatre Royal.
“Metro is such a famous and well-known local brand. It’s part of every day life in North East England.
“The life-sized Metro carriage looks great on the bigger stage. The set designers, and the team that built it, have done an outstanding job yet again after we saw it during the play’s run at the Live Theatre at the end of last year.
“It’s a huge buzz to see the Metro carriage along with our familiar logo and iconic Metro station cube on that famous Theatre Royal stage. We hope audiences enjoy seeing it while the play is on all this week.”
Marianne Locatori, Newcastle Theatre Royal Chief Executive, said: “Gerry & Sewell is a true Geordie tale and as Metro is such an integral part of the region’s identity, it was only fitting for it to be included in the set.
“The life-sized carriage looks really impressive on the stage and fits in perfectly amongst the other set pieces including a replica Angel of the North. We have enjoyed a long association with Metro through the fantastic free travel scheme which enables theatregoers to travel to and from Monument station on the day of their performance and we’re delighted that the iconic carriage takes centre stage and has its own moment in the spotlight.”
Set towards the end of Mike Ashley’s turbulent Toon tenure, and under the management of Steve Bruce, the plot of Gerry and Sewell follows the lads as they work their way through a dossier of dodgy schemes to reach their goal, all the while distracting themselves from an existence where addictions, abuse, illness, poverty, violence and prison are endemic.
But it’s way beyond their means in an age of Premiership football. The lads, low on funds but high on cheek and ingenuity, must resort to other means.
Gerry and Sewell plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Wednesday 2 October to Saturday 5 October. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.
Image credit: Nexus
