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Papatango have announced the full cast of Chris Foxon’s adaptation of The Watch House, based on the novel by Robert Westall. George Turvey directs Donald McBride (Arthur/Geordie), Catherine Dryden (Fiona/Prudie/Da Souza/Timmo) and Aoife Kennan (Anne).
The 12-venue engagement opens at Alnwick Playhouse on 24 October, touring to Poole, Dorchester, Swanage, Lyme Regis, Plymouth, Exeter, Leeds, Marsden, Hexham and Middlesbrough before completing its run at Cullercoats Watch House on 16 November, with a special staged reading as a fundraiser for the Grade II listed life brigade look out, now community hub, part of the local Tyneside maritime network which inspired Westall’s novel.
Published by Methuen, The Watch House premiered at Laurels in Westall’s native North Tyneside in December 2023, enjoying a sold-out run. The production was made with support from Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade – an iconic heritage centre and setting of the story, which has a significant place in the UK’s maritime history as the forerunner of today’s Coastguard.
THE WATCH HOUSE
Adapted by Chris Foxon
Based on the novel by Robert Westall
Director: George Turvey; Set and Costume Designer: The Set Guise; Lighting Designer: Simon Cole; Composer: Beccy Owen
“There’s a legend about the Watch House. Scrape beneath the whitewash and you’ll find terror. You’ll find him.”
Once a coastguard station renowned for daring rescues, the old Watch House is now all but abandoned. Just like Anne, dumped here while her parents sort their divorce. She’s never felt more alone. But she isn’t…
Sunk deep in the past is a secret which threatens everything. Only Anne can stop it. Catapulted on an adventure through graveyards, discos and shipwrecks, she and her eccentric crew must uncover the truth before it’s too late.
Olivier Award-winners Papatango present a funny, thrilling adaptation of Robert Westall’s classic ghost story.
Donald McBride plays Arthur/Geordie. His theatre credits include A Nightingale Sang in Eldon Square, Tales from the Back Yard, The Last Post, Twelve Tales of Tyneside, Laughter When We’re Dead, Oh What a Lovely War, Close the Coalhouse Door, A Proper Job, Kiddars Luck, Come Snow Come Blow, In Blackberry Time and Green Fingers (Live Theatre); The Pitmen Painters (Live Theatre/ National Tour); Romeo and Juliet, The Two Noble Kinsmen and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Royal Shakespeare Company); Keepers of the Flame (Live Theatre/RSC); A Nightingale Sang (Octagon Bolton); Aladdin, Get off at Gateshead, Beamish Boy, Talkin’ Heads and The Likely Lads (Gala Theatre, Durham); A Christmas Carol (Northern Stage); Beautiful Game (Theatre Royal, Newcastle); Between Two Worlds, Pericles, Nothing Like the Wooden Horse, Bobby Robson Saved My Life, Dan Dare, Tom and Catherine, Cuddy’s Miles, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose, Pickets and Pigs and Aladdin (Customs House, South Shields); and productions for Nottingham Playhouse, Harrogate Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, The Orchard Theatre and the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Film credits include Billy Elliott, Bliss, School for Seduction and The Old Oak. Television includes Spender, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Casualty, Byker Grove, The Bill, Harry, Crocodile Shoes, Emmerdale, The Tide of Life, George Gently and Danny and Mick.
Aoife Kennan plays Anne. Her theatre credits include Scratches (Arcola Theatre), The 4th Country (Park Theatre) and For Services Rendered (Jermyn Street Theatre). Film credits include Blue Jean. Television includes Vera, The Dumping Ground and Victoria. Aoife is also a writer – her play Scratches premiered at VAULT Festival and was nominated for an OFFIE and VAULT Festival Award. She was also one of the winners of the Sky Comedy Rep writing scheme in 2023.
Catherine Dryden plays Fiona/Prudie/Da Souza/Timmo. Her theatre credits include Wor Bella (Newcastle Theatre Royal & Omnibus Theatre), The Pitmen Painters (National Tour), Mary Stuart (Almeida Theatre) and The Play That Goes Wrong (National Tour & West End). Her television credits include Vera and Traces; and for film, Some Rules, Love In The Time of Coronavirus and Make My Boyfriend Better.
Robert Westall (1929 – 1993) made his debut with The Machine Gunners in 1975 – winning the Carnegie Medal and establishing his name internationally. He won the Carnegie Medal for a second time in 1982 with The Scarecrows, becoming the first writer to win the award twice. He also won the Guardian Award in 1990 for The Kingdom by the Sea and a Smarties Prize in 1989 for Blitzcat. His books have been translated into many languages and adapted for television. The story of his childhood is told in his autobiographical writings The Making of Me.
THE WATCH HOUSE Listings
Alnwick Playhouse
24 October
https://alnwickplayhouse.co.uk/event/the-watch-house/ / 01665 660550
Lighthouse, Poole
26 October
www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-watch-house/ / 01202 280000
Dorchester Arts
27 October
https://www.dorchesterarts.org.uk/2024/04/16/sun-27-october-the-watch-house/ / 01305 266926
The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage
29 October
www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/swanage/the-mowlem-theatre/the-watch-house/e-lbaola / 0333 666 3366
Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis
30 October
https://www.marinetheatre.com/the-watch-house/ / 01308 424901
Barbican Theatre, Plymouth
1 – 2 November
Barnfield Theatre, Exeter
5 – 6 November
https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/the-watch-house/ / 01392 72 63 63
Leeds Playhouse
8 – 9 November
www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/the-watch-house/ / 0113 213 7700
Marsden Mechanics
12 November
www.marsdenmechanics.co.uk/events/papatango-presents-the-watch-house/ / 01484 844587
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
13 – 14 November
https://www.queenshall.co.uk/whats-on/the-watch-house / 01434 652477
The Crypt, Middlesbrough Town Hall
15 November
www.middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk/event/the-watch-house / 01642 729 729
Cullercoats Watch House
16 November
