A CaroleW Productions & Gala Durham co-production
Written by Jeff Brown
Directed by Olivia Millar-Ross

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The Bench, written by playwright and journalist Jeff Brown, former presenter of BBC Look North, is a heart-warming tale of love, loss and football.

 

‘The Bench’ is the second play by former BBC North East & Cumbria TV presenter Jeff Brown and, like the first, it delves into the underside of football. Unlike the first, ‘Cornered’, which was based on the true story of one man’s honest mistake, this is pure fiction: a tale of two young people, with the odds stacked against them, just trying to do the right thing.

 

A co-production with Gala Durham, ‘The Bench’ tells the story of complete strangers whose paths cross on a park bench. In the ensuing weeks, they find that - despite their very different lives - they have more in common than they think.

 

Vicky is struggling as a single mum and carer for her mother. Adi is an Afro-French footballer, the local team’s recent multi-million pound signing with the world seemingly at his feet. But he hides a traumatic past and appears unable to make friends – or score goals – until he meets Vicky. Many people are giving them advice, but in the end, Adi and Vicky must resolve the age-old dilemma of whether to follow their heart or their head.

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Jeff honed his playwrighting skills on a course at Newcastle’s Live Theatre. He is well known for supporting several local charities, one of which helped inspire the idea behind the play.

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Director Olivia Millar-Ross said: “The Bench is a beautiful story of finding love in unexpected places. I am really excited to be collaborating with the cast and creative team on this project, to bring Jeff’s play to life.”

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“The Bench is very different to my first play,” said Jeff. “It’s a work of fiction, and an attempt to show how hard it can be for young people to pursue their dreams and be happy these days. I hope it reflects our times, and that it’ll resonate with audiences. Being a patron of Sunderland Carers opened my eyes to the incredible resilience of the many youngsters who look after others, sometimes sacrificing their childhood as a result. I’ve also seen how hard it is for young footballers to ”up sticks” at a moment’s notice and start their lives over again in a different team, in a different town or even a different country. That can be tough, no matter how much money is involved.”

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Duration: Approx. 2 hours, including interval

Suitability: 14+

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Touring Late Spring 2025.
There are still a few dates on the tour left to fill. If you're interested and would like to find out more email Carole Wears, founder of CaroleW Productions, at carolewears@gmail.com

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