A North Shields author, inspired by legendary North East stage and TV writer Tom Hadaway, is bringing his first play to the town.
Terry Patterson’s ‘The Redundant Blade’ tells the story of family life on the Meadow Well, known then as The Ridges, in the 1980s.
Set against the backdrop of the Thatcher years and miner’s strike, the poignant production tells of the decline of the fishing and shipbuilding industries.
Hadaway encouraged Terry, a former international boxer, to write after a chance encounter as a youngster, taking time to read some of his work.
As a former Ridges resident and apprentice on the Fish Quay, he was further inspired to write what could be considered a follow up to Hadaway’s The Filleting Machine after gaining the blessing of his daughter Pauline.
Terry said, “I’ll never forget Tom’s words at North Shields Library as he stood there in his wellington boots, ‘keep writing kidda, you’ve got talent’”.
The Redundant Blade will be performed at North Shields Customer First Centre on Tuesday 11th December at 7.30pm.
Tickets for the 90 minute play cost £6 each and can be booked in person at North Shields Customer First Centre or by calling 0191 643 5270.