Singer-songwriter Nadine Shah has described taking the chance to work in theatre this summer as a "no-brainer" as she prepares to make her Live Theatre stage debut in Newcastle.
The South Tyneside-born talent, who has a new album Kitchen Sink now out, will be spreading her wings and earning more acting credentials when she takes the starring role at Live Theatre in a show inspired by her first album. It promises to be a double treat for fans as the news follows the recent announcement that Nadine will be taking part in the Quayside theatre's 50-year birthday celebrations by co-writing a play called To Be A Young Man.
It is now revealed that she will take a starring role in it too when it opens at the Quayside theatre in May. Nadine - who has acted before, making her debut in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Northern Stage in October 2022 - admitted: "Acting doesn’t come easy to me but sadistically I enjoy the challenge!"
Read more: Sting to visit Live Theatre to celebrate its milestone birthday
Nadine also will be taking part in question-and-answer session on April 6, talking about her play as well as her music and influences. To Be A Young Man will pay tribute to a friend who took his own life ahead of her first album Love Your Dum and Mad and it takes its title from one of the album's signature tunes. When she takes to the stage on opening night it will mark 10 years since its release.
The Mercury Prize-nominated artist, described as one of the most original voices in contemporary music, is collaborating in her first playwriting project with Jackie Thompson, writer of award-winning short film The Girl is Mime, after Live approached her with the idea of creating a 'theatrical response' to her debut album. The result - which will feature four characters meeting at the wake of a friend - will be seen at Live Theatre from May 4, with the play running there until May 20 before touring to the Brighton Festival and then on to London’s Southbank.
The theatre describes it as a rare example of "one art form beautifully reshaping itself into another", with the play being haunted by the ghost of the music. Its artistic director Jack McNamara said: “When I first approached Nadine with the notion of finding a theatrical form for her album, I had no idea what direction it would take nor how personal it would become."
He said Jackie is a close friend of Nadine's who really understood her world and work and he added: "Together they have gone so deep into where this amazing album came from and found its narrative so naturally. It’s a rare privilege to watch an artist go back to that very first creative expression and find a new life for it through a different lens.
"Having Nadine in the production as well completes the whole picture perfectly, bringing it right into the present tense. It will be a very exciting thing to witness and be part of.“
The show will be the second premiere of Live's birthday season, following the play Love It If We Beat Them which is running there until Saturday, March 25. Other upcoming highlights of the programme include visits by Sting and Jimmy Nail in April.
Nadine added: “I’ve been an admirer of Live Theatre for years and for years I’ve been desperate to find some opportunity to make something with my friend, the writer Jackie Thompson. This seemed a no-brainer and the perfect chance to collaborate with this brilliant place and my incredibly talented friend.
"It’s a total honour." For tickets to see the play, whose other cast members are due to be announced soon, see here.
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