'Tough' - Gritty South Shields story finally set for big screen release date
South Shields film set for release - and here’s where to find it.
The team behind a feature film set and filmed in South Shields are preparing for its release.
Filming of Wenlock Road began in 2024 with the film’s full release coming at a series of upcoming showings a short journey from the titular street.
A public showing of the film is due to take place at the Customs House in South Shields on Saturday, May 16.
It has been a labour of love for writer and director George Heron, whose story the film depicts.
“I ran away to sea, which is basically what the story is about” explains George, who is now 63.
“I had a very tough upbringing, my father was very abusive. I was bullied, teachers said I’d never amount to anything but I always knew there was more to it.”
The autobiographical film shows the story of George’s troubled teenage years in Simonside as he looks to escape by joining the Navy.
After ten years at sea in real life, he returned to South Tyneside work work in the police force.
With George starring in the film portraying his own father, he is finally ready to show the result to the public after years of work.
“We’ve had to use locations across the North East, we’ve used actors who have day jobs and school in the case of the children actors.
“I’m a little bit nervous about it going up on the big screen!”
In addition to George, who also wrote, directed and recorded the music for the film, Welbeck Road involves the work of local actors.
The feature stars Harris Miller from Murton who plays the young George and Riley D. McGuire from County Durham, and George explained how this may be the springboard for North East talent: “Many of the actors had never been on TV before, as a result of Wenlock Road at least six of them have now got London based agents”
Bookings for the public showing, which will come a week after a private showing to guests and those who worked on the film, are available to make through the Customs House’s website.