A funny thing happened on the way to Durham
Two of the region’s top playwrights have been commissioned to pen a play to celebrate the exhibition of the Lindisfarne Gospels in Durham in the summer of 2013.
Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, the Tyneside-based writers whose work includes the recent hugely popular Amazing Grace, will be adding a play about the history of the region’s famous manuscript and St Cuthbert to their canon of national and international hit plays. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham” will premiere at the Gala Theatre in Durham on 2 July 2013, followed by a regional tour.
Trevor Wood said: “We are really pleased to be asked to write this play. While we will have utmost respect for the subject matter we can assure everyone it will be very funny. We have some amazing material to work with and there will be 1400 years of North East history crammed into one unmissable production.”
Melanie Sensicle, Chief Executive of Visit County Durham said “As the title suggests this is a lighthearted and fun performance which takes a humorous look at the story of the Lindisfarne Gospels, featuring St Cuthbert, St Aidan, the Venerable Bede, the Kings of Northumbria, 390 cows and of course the Viking invasion of 793.”
The Lindisfarne Gospels and St Cuthbert Gospel, Europe’s oldest surviving bound book will be on loan from the British Library as part of a partnership with Durham University, Durham County Council and Durham Cathedral. The Lindisfarne Gospels will be on show in world-class exhibition facilities on Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1 July to 31 September 2013.
For more information on Lindisfarne Gospels Durham go to: www.lindisfarnegospels.com
Tickets for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham are on sale now. Contact Gala Theatre box office on 0191 3324041 or book online at www.galadurham.co.uk
