Kay Mellor Archives - North West End UK

10Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Syndicate – Hull New Theatre

Hull New Theatre was far from full on Tuesday evening, as it hosted the world premiere of Kay Mellor’s stage adaptation of The Syndicate, a BBC TV series that ran for four seasons. As the curtain rose, a realistic stage setting showing the interior of a small supermarket greeted us, giving a colourful first glimpse of proceedings. Manning the till is Denise (Samantha Giles of Emmerdale fame), a motherly figure who dutifully collects the lottery money each week for the syndicate she and her four co-workers have joined. While Denise goes about her business serving customers, single mum Leanne (Rosa Coduri-Fulford) half-heartedly sweeps the floor. This peaceful scene is interrupted by the arrival of shop manager Stuart (Benedict Shaw) who rushes in, barging into the manager’s off...

12Jun

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Syndicate – Sheffield Lyceum

We all dream of the big lottery win but The Syndicate at the Sheffield Lyceum just falls short of hitting the theatre jackpot. Written by the supremo of creating relatable characters Kay Mellor completed the writing of this just before her death in May 2022. The Syndicate is directed by her well known daughter, Gaynor Faye, who also plays Kay, the Lottery representative. One winner from this production is the set and costume designer Bretta Gerecke. The first Act set is the shop building the characters are employed at and has multiple playing areas that allow for mood and tone. It is full and detailed and effortlessly transforms into the more clinical house interior of Stuart’s swanky new home in Act Two. A definite nod to the loss of comfortable familiarity to a harder less embracing new...

20May

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

The Syndicate – The Lowry

Can you imagine winning the lottery and becoming a millionaire overnight? Well… you’ve got to be in it to win it! Written by the late, great Kay Mellor, The Syndicate is based on the hit BBC series of the same name. Critically acclaimed, Mellor was renowned for her string of hit television dramas, such as Band of Gold, Fat Friends, Playing the Field and of course The Syndicate. Her sharp, true to life writing of ordinary people, usually set in the North of England, have been much loved by us all over the years. The stage adaptation of The Syndicate follows five supermarket workers (Denise, Bob, Jamie, Stuart and Leanne), each with their own story to tell and, perhaps predictably, all with reasons for needing money. Their jobs are all in threat as the supermarket is set to close and ...

15May

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

The Syndicate – Floral Pavilion

Have you ever wondered what it would be like, if you won a share of £24 million? For fans of the late, great Kay Mellor’s television series ‘The Syndicate’ this is the perfect chance to see a new version of the show, created especially for the stage. A story that follows previous series, but with different characters and twists along the way. We are introduced to Denise, Leanne, Jamie, Stuart and Bob who work at a local supermarket, that has just been bought out by a larger chain. In typical The Syndicate style, Stuart is late on his payments for the staff syndicate, and this is mentioned on numerous occasions throughout the first act. Brothers Jamie and Stuart are both struggling for money – Jamie for drug-related purposes and Stuart due to his expanding family. They decide to rob the...

22Apr

By Phoebe Olivia Sian HobsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Syndicate – Leeds Grand Theatre

The Syndicate, what a treat! The most upbeat performance portraying the troubles of real life in a new light, a simple but extremely sweet storyline that keeps you fixated to your theatre seat. The anticipation drives no intention for an ice cream break, as soon as the curtain fell for the interval, the audience wanted nothing more than to be back in the presence of Jamie. Oliver Anthony captured the character of Jamie perfectly, his performance was relatable in so many ways, it’s fair to say that everyone knows someone as charismatic as Jamie and he established that cheeky chap so well. Kay Mellor took the shop in everyone’s daily routine and made it into a fascinating show, having Yorkshire locals thirsty for cash because of their working-class lives, and providing an insight into what ...

Tess Seddon talks about staging Kay Mellor’s first hit play, A Passionate Woman, at Leeds Playhouse

16May

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Tess Seddon talks about staging Kay Mellor’s first hit play, A Passionate Woman, at Leeds Playhouse

30 years ago Leeds Playhouse staged A Passionate Woman by local playwright Kay Mellor who went onto pen massive TV hits like Band of Gold and Fat Friends. The play is set in the 1990s with glimpses back into the 1950s as Leeds woman Betty reconsiders the decisions she’s made, and the roads she’s left untravelled. Now this troubled woman at the heart of the play is returning to the same stage – the Courtyard – in memory of the much-missed writer who died a year ago. It’s directed by Tess Seddon, who lives in Leeds, trained at Leeds Playhouse and runs her own company, TheatreState, in the city. Tess Seddon explains why A Passionate Woman, with Emmerdale star Katherine Dow Blyton as Betty, is making a comeback three decades on. Why choose this play to direct? Kay was such an i...

3Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends The Musical Starring Lee Mead to Tour The UK and Ireland

Following a highly successful sell-out tour in 2017, producer Joshua Andrews is delighted to announce that Kay Mellor’s smash hit FAT FRIENDS THE MUSICAL will return to tour the UK and Ireland opening at Dartford Orchard Theatre on 14th January 2022. With original music by Nicholas Lloyd Webber, the show will star Lee Mead as ‘Paul’ with further casting to be announced soon. The tour will visit venues including Cardiff New, Leeds Grand, Edinburgh Festival, Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre, The Lowry, Salford, Southampton Mayflower, Wolverhampton Grand, Canterbury Marlowe and Newcastle, Norwich and Plymouth Theatre Royals. Full tour schedule below. This hugely entertaining musical is based on the hit ITV show Fat Friends,&n...