Midland Vibes

I was up at 6am to finish the landmark BBC 2 Our Friends in the North series and wondered how the stage version would pack three decades and nine hours of TV into one hundred and ten minutes.

More significantly, how relevant is the storyline in 2026?

Fuelled by an evolving polotical landscape, the gritty drama’s adaption by original author, Peter Flannery, puts the spotlight on two pivotal years - 1979 and 1984.

Brilliant staging and design depict the North East’s tough and challenging socioeconomic backdrop where the fate of the four central characters unfolds.

Unleashing a deluge of raw emotions spanning anger, resentment, unrequited love and worthlessness, we relate to the obstacles they face in a world where power corrupts, idealism is quashed - and political and police corruption are endemic.

All are tested to their limits as their lives move in different directions. The ambitious, idealistic Nicky stands for election and is mired in a smear campaign. Mary, the most selfless, is a force for good making sacrifices and putting family before everything.

The fortunes of Tosker - a vein, womanising, self-made entrepreneur riddled with insecurities - shift like the Tyne. Geordie, the biggest loser and heavy boozer, becomes embroiled in Soho’s sordid criminal underworld, plunging into a spiral of self-destruction.

Central to the plot is the Tyneside miners' strike which raged from March 1984 to March 1985, creating bitter divisions and closing collieries. Excellently re-enacted technically and theatrically, the brute force violence when heavy handed Met police were drafted in to ‘restore order’ is harrowing.

It is a given to say the TV cast Christopher Eccleston (Nicky), Gina McKee (Mary), Mark Strong (Tosker) and Daniel Craig (Geordie) are a hard act to follow.

For me, their stage counterparts Ryan Nolan (Nicky), Sam Neale (Mary), Jack Robertson (Tosker) and Scott Turnbull (Geordie) smashed it – especially Turnbull.

The entire cast excelled, delivering a maelstrom of raw emotion sparked by hardship, betrayal, injustice and wasted ambition that went to the pit of my stomach.

Particularly worthy of mention are Trevor Fox as narrator, an excellent touch, and Felix, Nicky’s hard-bitten dad who is incapable of showing his son affection. His prowess as a dementia sufferer is excellent.

Chris Connel is wonderul as the caring, dedicated labour MP Eddie Wells navigating a shifting political scene - compared to the cold, patronising Tory MP, Claudia Seabrook, perfectly played by Jude Nelson.

A shout out also to Robert Punchard as Anthony, a policeman struggling with a moral dilemma when witnessing fellow officers brutally attack striking miners.

The production is superbly directed by Jack McNmara. Heather Scott’s video design and animation realistically transport us back to the period and Amy Watts design and costumes are fabulous – as is Drummond Orr’s lighting.

Far from being outdated, the deep-rooted themes of parenthood, morality, community, loyalty and the bonds of friendship lie at the heart of our values - and how we live out our lives today.

Our Friends in the North depicts a compelling story of resilience and survival against the odds with its roots fiercely embedded in the North East.

The performance is a co-production between Live theatre, the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne and the theatre producers Eastlake Productions.

It plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Saturday, 24th October 2026. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.