Grand National play by South Tyneside writing duo to have 25th anniversary performances
A play that started life in South Shields is set to mark its 25th anniversary.
A play that started life in 2002 in South Shields and later toured nationally will be performed again on its 25th anniversary
Good To Firm is by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, the duo whose plays later went on to national and international success. They wrote the comedy for the Customs House and it premiered to record-breaking crowds for drama at the venue in June 2002.
The play is about two couples who share Grand National weekend in South Shields and asks the question “Do you ever forget your first love?”
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‘An incredible time’
Good to Firm played the Customs House twice more and toured nationally.
Ed said: “We started writing it in January 2002 and were told in April by Ray [Spencer], who was director of the Customs House and starred in the show, that it was going on in June.
“We did loads of promotion in those six weeks: leafleting, postering and even raced a pantomime horse on race day at Newcastle Racecourse, who gave us tremendous support.
“The first show of the four-day run was on a Wednesday evening and attracted 150 people, but word of mouth spread and by the Saturday the 400-seat venue was sold out. It was an incredible time.”
The duo had three shows produced at Newcastle's Theatre Royal: Dirty Dusting, Waiting For Gateaux and Alf Ramsay Knew My Grandfather. The latter premiered at Gala Theatre, Durham.
Good to Firm is playing at Hyde Little Theatre, just outside Manchester, in March 2027.
‘Means a lot’
Trevor, who is now an award-winning author, said: “It's a top amateur company and lovely that our work is still being produced 25 years after we wrote it. Being our first, it means a lot."
Ed's play Wor Bella, which sold out in London and Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2024, is back next March and tours the region, calling in at Westovian theatre in South Shields.
Ed said: “Where have the last 25 years gone? Good to Firm also spawned successful follow-up plays: Raising The Stakes and Photo Finish.
“The great thing is Trevor and I are still writing North East stories that tens of thousands of people nationally and internationally are interested in. We'll have a lot to talk about at our annual Christmas re-union in December.”