- Play Hard
- 1st May 2025
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Two gripping shows are coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal this May
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Newcastle Theatre Royal is set to welcome two major theatrical productions this May, both bringing critically acclaimed writing, star-studded casts and intense drama to the stage.
If you’re a fan of thrilling crime stories or hard-hitting social realism, these standout shows are for you.
Both are running for a limited time only, so don’t put off securing your tickets.
Picture You Dead: A Peter James Thriller Comes to Life
Tuesday 13th May to Saturday 17th May 2025
Tickets from £15.00
The world premiere stage adaptation of Picture You Dead, based on the bestselling novel by Peter James, lands in Newcastle for a five-night run. With over 23 million books sold worldwide and a hit ITV series to his name, James’ Brighton-based detective Roy Grace is one of crime fiction’s most enduring characters.
This gripping new production features an all-star cast including Peter Ash (Coronation Street), Fiona Wade (Emmerdale), George Rainsford (Holby City), and Jodie Steele (Wicked, Heathers, SIX).
Set against the backdrop of Brighton’s art world, DSI Grace finds himself drawn into a chilling case where a dream car boot sale discovery spirals into deception, danger and murder.
Inspired by James’ meeting with real-life art forger turned copyist David Henty, the story delves into the underworld of high-value forgeries, as a couple’s unexpected find leads to deadly consequences. Stylish, suspenseful and sharply written, Picture You Dead is a must-see for fans of twisty thrillers and edge-of-your-seat drama.
Boys from the Blackstuff: A Powerful Tale of Survival and Solidarity
Tuesday 20th May to Saturday 24th May 2025
Tickets from £15.00
After sold-out runs at Liverpool’s Royal Court, London’s National Theatre, and the West End’s Garrick Theatre, James Graham’s critically acclaimed stage adaptation of Boys from the Blackstuff is coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal.
Based on Alan Bleasdale’s BAFTA award-winning 1982 television drama, this timely and emotional story follows five working-class men navigating the harsh realities of 1980s Liverpool unemployment.
Chrissie, Loggo, George, Dixie and Yosser are desperate to provide for their families – but in a world of redundancy, benefit cuts and bureaucratic pressure, hope is hard to come by.
Bleasdale’s writing – laced with wit, compassion and searing political commentary – still resonates today, and Graham’s stage adaptation brings it to life with fresh urgency and emotion. A powerful reminder of the human cost of economic hardship, Boys from the Blackstuff is a bold, brilliant piece of modern theatre that’s not to be missed.
Tickets for both shows are available online now, or call the box office on 0191 232 7010.
VISIT NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL’S WEBSITE
Newcastle Theatre Royal, 100 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6BR
Rachael Ellis
Creative Solutions Manager
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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