By Grace Hatchell
Right, love — before I dive into today’s delivery, a quick apology from your favourite theatre postie. I’ve been up in Yorkshire all last week (family, flat caps, and a frankly irresponsible amount of gravy), so this little gem has been satchel-side waiting for me to trot it down to you. But it’s here now, fresh, warm, and straight from the North East… with a detour through Leeds Bus Station.
Now then — let me tell you about the absolute belter I’ve got for you today: Gerry & Sewell is officially marching its way into the West End! A proper underdog story going from a 60-seat pub theatre to the blooming Aldwych. Talk about punching above its weight — even Rocky would’ve had a sit down after this climb.
Written and directed by Olivier Award-winner Jamie Eastlake, and co-produced with Newcastle Theatre Royal, this one’s based on Jonathan Tulloch’s novel The Season Ticket — aye, the same story that became the cult Geordie film Purely Belter. It follows two lads from Gateshead, Gerry and Sewell, who’ve got nowt but grit, cheek, and a burning desire to get season tickets for their beloved Newcastle United. Only problem? Years of austerity, a club sold off by some cockney bloke flogging sports tat, and enough radgie charvers to give any social worker a migraine.
What follows is a mission filled with scrapes, schemes, and that fierce North East friendship that can survive owt. It’s funny, it’s raw, and it’s got more heart than a Gregg’s on a Saturday morning.
And get this — the show itself has had a proper journey. It kicked off in 2022 at Laurels, a tiny pub theatre in North Tyneside, absolutely packed to the rafters. Then it bounced back the same year, hopped over to Live Theatre in 2023, stormed Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2024 (only their second co-pro in more than ten years, mind), and it’s even heading back home in June 2026 because the Geordies can’t get enough.
Expect live music, puppet dogs, Wor Flags, and even the odd star cameo. It’s basically a love letter to Newcastle wrapped in black-and-white stripes, with enough hope and humour to warm even the frostiest London critic.
Your cast? Original legends Dean Logan, Jack Robertson, and Becky Clayburn are all making their West End debuts, joined by Erin Mullen from the Theatre Royal run. More names are being popped through the letterbox soon — I’ll bring them as soon as Jamie sends them my way.
Jamie himself says the story’s all about chasing dreams and proving the little lads from nowt can end up somewhere. Honestly, that’s the North East spirit in a nutshell. And Marianne Locatori from Newcastle Theatre Royal is proper chuffed too, saying it’s vital that regional voices hit the national stage — and she’s dead right. We don’t all speak like BBC Sound Department, and thank goodness.
Critics already love it:
“A bold, brash opener delivered with guts and smarts,” says The Stage.
“Hard-hitting with the perfect dash of humour — and Geordie passion in spades,” says Living North.
And underneath all the scrapping, scheming, and daft adventures, it’s really about friendship, resilience, and daring to want more — even when the world shrugs and says, “Nah, pet.”
From a room above a pub to the West End… proof that the biggest dreams can come from the smallest places.
Right — that’s your mail for today. If you need me, I’ll be shaking the crumbs out me satchel and warming up with a cuppa. Yorkshire winds’ll do you in.
— Grace
https://ticketing.nederlander.co.uk/tickets/series/GERRYANDSEWELL
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