A North East ghost story for Halloween
JOE QUINN’S POLTERGEIST – A NORTH EAST GHOST STORY FOR HALLOWEEN
The spookiest time of year is fast approaching and to celebrate Live Theatre is presenting a mesmerising live reading of David Almond’s graphic novel Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 October. Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist is a spine-chilling and deeply personal tale of haunting and grief, written by David Almond and illustrated by Dave McKean.
Joe Quinn tells everyone about the poltergeist in his house but no one believes him. No one, that is, except Davie! He’s felt the inexplicable presence in the rooms and seen random objects fly through the air. And there’s something else…a memory of Davie’s beloved sister, and a feeling deep down that it might just be possible for ghosts to exist.
Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist will be read by rising North East talent Ryan Nolan, who featured as Private Malky in Sam Mendes’ Hollywood epic 1917 and recently in internationally acclaimed Becoming Elizabeth (Starz). On stage, Ryan was most recently in the 35th anniversary production of Road at Northern Stage and will join the cast on One Off, Live Theatres major autumn production. The performance will be accompanied with live music from the sensational Me Lost Me, who according to The Guardian ‘strips folk back to its bones while letting its future echoes bleed out’.
David Almond OBE is a much-loved multi-award winning author of Skellig, Kit’s Wilderness, Bone Music, The Dam, My Name is Nina, The Tightrope Walkers, The Savage, A Song for Ella Grey, and many more novels, stories, picture books, plays and songs. His work is published in over 40 languages and is a welcome return to Lives Theatre’s stage since the adaptation of The Savage (**** The Guardian) in 2016.
David Almond said: “Live Theatre is the perfect venue for the reading of this tale. Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist, like most of my work, is set right here in the North East, and is very close to my heart. The rehearsal readings sound just wonderful. And I’m also looking forward to my writing workshop. I love to work with and inspire other writers. We all have the roots of fine stories within us and all around us. I aim to show how we can discover and nourish these stories, how to create an authentic sense of place, how to develop a true writing voice, how to grow in confidence and to cope with self-doubt.”
Live Theatre is delighted that the author will also be leading a writing masterclass, A Sense Of Place on Saturday 22 October. Perfect for writers of all disciplines this is a rare opportunity to learn directly from the great North East author himself about how to write for and about place.
With beautiful language, stunning performances and a haunting soundscape, the thrilling live reading is suitable for those aged 14 and above. Grab your tickets, priced at only £10, before they disappear from www.live.org.uk or from Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.
