Famous names lined up

Gordon Barr, Evening Chronicle

HUSBAND and wife actors Edward Woodward and Michelle Dotrice will appear together on a Tyneside stage later this year.

They will star in Love Letters at Whitley Bay Playhouse on October 23 and 24 as part of the venue’s jam-packed re-opening season.

The theatre is also playing host to local amateur groups and one of the highlights looks set to be the Whitley Bay Theatre Company’s take on Fawlty Towers – although audiences will have to wait a year for that!

Before then, in November, Whitley Bay Operatic Society will present the smash-hit musical Crazy For You.

Other productions heading for the venue include Clive Baldwin's Jolson Show (October 18), Hi-5 Surprise Party (October 30 and 31), Jim Jeffries The Hits (November 18), Roll Out The Barrel (November 18) and John Hylton as the Real Diamond (February 13).

These are in addition to shows already announced, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

Love Letters seems an apt production for Woodward and Dotrice, who have been married since 1987 after falling in love when cast in a play together.

Woodward is probably best known for the title role in Callan in the 60s and 70s and later for his part in The Equalizer, while Dotrice will always be best remembered as Betty from Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em.

For her part, she still looks on in astonishment at some of the things Betty got up to.

The theatre is currently undergoing an £8m refurbishment.

For more details on the new season at Whitley Bay Playhouse, visit www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk