Yahoo News Replica Metro train set for Newcastle's Theatre Royal stage after wowing audiences at Live Theatre
A life-sized replica of a Tyne and Wear Metro train is set to take to the stage at Newcastle's Theatre Royal this week.
The mocked-up Metro prototype, carriage 4001, in its 1980s colour scheme made its debut appearance at the live theatre in Gerry and Sewell at the Live Theatre in 2023. And now that the play has moved to the Theatre Royal, so has the Metro.
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 will do whatever it takes to bag a pair of tickets into St James' Park has written itself into the cultural almanac of the North East.
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Set towards the end of Mike Ashley's turbulent Toon tenure and under the management of Steve Bruce, the plot follows the lads as they work their way through a dossier of dodgy schemes to reach their goal, while distracting themselves from an existence where addictions, abuse, illness, poverty, violence and prison are endemic. Actors Dean Logan and Jack Robertson are joined on stage by former Coronation Street villain, Bill Ward, aka Charlie Stubbs who was murdered by his wife Tracey Barlow.
Marianne Locatori, Newcastle Theatre Royal chief executive, said it was fitting for "such an integral part of the region's identity" to be included in the play. She said: "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."
Lynne Dickinson, station delivery manager at Nexus, added that she was thrilled to see the replica Metro train on stage at the theatre royal. She said: "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."
For tickets to Gerry & Sewell's October 2-5 run see here or call 0191 232 7010.
