Michelle Heaton on Her Newcastle Theatre Royal Debut in Gerry & Sewell
Gerry & Sewell is back - but on a far bigger stage
Blyth-born Jamie Eastlake’s adaptation (based on Jonathan Tulloch’s novel The Season Ticket and the cult Geordie film Purely Belter) will entertain audiences at Newcastle Theatre Royal for a week in October, following sold-out performances at Laurels and Live Theatre.
The story follows two Gateshead lads who dream of securing season tickets for Newcastle United. But that dream, and life in general, is a struggle – until they decide they’re getting those season tickets, no matter what. It’s hard-hitting but with a hilarious script filled with Geordie passion. Co-produced by Newcastle Theatre Royal, Gerry & Sewell will also see Wor Flags bring the spirit of St James’ Park to the theatre.
The play is heading to its biggest stage yet, with a talented Northern cast including Newcastle-born multi award-winning actor Bill Ward (known for his roles on Corrie and Emmerdale) as Mr McCarten, and BRIT award winner, actress, campaigner and Liberty X star Michelle Heaton, who hails from Gateshead, as Mrs McCarten. Erin Mullen makes her return to the Theatre Royal having been a member of the first ever cohort of students at Project A – the theatre’s full time in-house actor training course. This will be her first professional appearance on its stage when she plays Bridget McCarten.
They join original cast members Dean Logan and Jack Robertson who are reprising their roles as Gerry and Sewell, and Geordie favourite Becky Clayburn who’s playing Tyneside. All three are make their Theatre Royal debuts this autumn, as is Michelle.
Sitting in on rehearsals was a treat. The script is brilliantly funny and Dean, Jack and Becky bring so much joy to Jamie’s work (with a lot of strong language that Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences aren’t necessarily used to – we’re talking the C-word). But there are plenty of emotional moments too, which Michelle and Bill handle sensitively. Songs were skimmed over during the read-through but we’re looking forward to seeing how it all comes together on stage.
As well as being a member of Liberty X, Michelle is a published author and has appeared as a presenter and panellist on TV as well as on Dancing on Ice and SAS Who Dares Wins. She’s thrilled to be back on stage at home, and this is her Newcastle Theatre Royal debut. When we catch up following the read-through, she’s feeling excited.
Her role of Mrs McCarten deals with abuse and illness. ‘Doing the read-through again, after sitting with the script for the last week, I’ve definitely learned more about where Mrs McCarten is coming from and the struggles that she’s had in life. Then dealing with the flash-backs has been really interesting,’ she says. ‘[It’s] bringing the character from that abusive state back to when things were slightly normal and just being a mum, but always in the back of her mind that “I’m probably not going to last forever” and “this is my life, but let’s not let this be my kids’ lives”.
‘The whole concept of my character and where she goes is dark. She’s gentle and kind but also strong and has to be robust to be able to put up with it, but she’s accepted that this is her life. I think that’s also a weakness in her, a massive weakness. It’s easy for people looking at abusive relationships to say “why don’t you leave him?” This is a perfect example of how it’s not that easy and when you’re in that abusive relationship, you cannot see a way out because that’s what you’ve learned to accept.’
Michelle has been able to draw on her own life experiences to convey emotion in her role. ‘My experience hasn’t been abuse but I was an alcoholic addict and I have been three and a half years in sobriety. I remember how I felt in addiction and how I couldn’t get out of it – I couldn’t see any way out,’ she explains. ‘No matter how many people around me were telling me they loved me and to stop drinking, I wanted to, I wanted to get better, but I couldn’t. That’s how I relate this.’
Acting was Michelle’s first dream, before she appeared on the TV show Popstars and found fame with Liberty X. ‘I can’t believe it! I’m buzzing,’ she says, reflecting on her Theatre Royal debut. ‘All throughout my childhood my mam and dad would bring me to the pantos at this theatre and I remember saying to my mam “that’s what I want to do, I want to do this, I want to be on that stage”. My career has never brought me to this stage. It’s brought me to the Tyne Theatre, the City Hall and the arena but never on this stage… until now. I’m super happy, and I’m very proud.’
Reflecting on her own journey, Michelle would encourage any budding performer to follow their dream. ‘This play in particular is about having a dream and not giving up on that dream,’ she says. ‘It sounds really cliché but I had a dream since I was 12 to be on stage. I always wanted to act, perform and make people feel good about themselves when they’d left watching whatever I’d done. I knew that that was my thing. How I got there wasn’t important to me when I was younger, I just had this dream and I think when you feel so passionately about something you can make these things happen. There are ways to do things. I didn’t have everything presented to me. I didn’t go to stage schools. I didn’t have dancing and singing lessons. I just knew what I wanted to do, studied, worked hard and went to any audition I could. Nothing’s beneath you. If there’s one thing you might not get, that same director or producer could think about you for the next thing, so just go to any audition you can.’
Theatre director and writer Jamie Eastlake is the mind behind Gerry & Sewell and he’s equally excited to share his work with Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences. ‘It’s about making a bit of a statement that work can be made in the North East that can be translated on these bigger stages,’ he says. ‘That’s my biggest thing. As a region, because of its social and political history, we have been broken down over the years and we lack a bit of ambition sometimes. I think we need to scrap that idea and, definitely in theatre, we can be as ambitious as possible. I genuinely do believe that we’re going through almost a Manchester[-style] ‘90s resurgence with the football club, Sam Fender, the DJ scene, Fullwell’s studio – it does feel like the North East is about to explode. Hopefully this translates that in theatrical form.
‘Audiences at the Theatre Royal are who I want to appeal to. I wanted to make this for the working woman and working man, and I think they’ll appreciate it even more so here. I hope so! [The cast] are all brilliant – every single member of the creative team. It’s a big scale-up for so many members of the team and the support of the Theatre Royal has just been amazing.’
What’s the best show you’ve seen in the North East?
I’m going to say The Full Monty. Obviously Bill Ward was in that, as well as my friend Jake [Quickenden]! Purely because of the eye-candy…
Is there another play you’d like to star in after this one?
I’ve always wanted to play Roxy in Chicago. That’s on tour soon with my friend Faye [Brookes]. I’d love to do something maybe a bit more gritty. When I say gritty I mean something a little bit more like Shakespeare. When I was at college in Newcastle, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream would be stuff we’d have done at the Tyne Theatre and Newcastle College. It’d be really nice to get back to something like that. [Gerry & Sewell] is definitely the most gritty and serious acting role I’ve taken on so I’m on the right path.
What are your hopes and plans for the future after this?
I’m back home for a month then I go to South Wales for pantomime season. Then, me and Liberty X have got a few gigs coming up next year, and hopefully more acting!
