12:35AM, Fri May 18, 2012

Live Theatre Presents ‘Geordie Sinatra’

By India Adams Location: Newcastle

Video: Anthony Cable plays Geordie and his alter ego, Frank Sinatra

Audiences are being invited to kick back, snap a Dunhill and let Frank ‘The Voice’ Sinatra serenade them until the wee small hours.

Well, that’s what’s going on in the character of ex-club singer Geordie’s head anyway, in the Live Theatre’s new play ‘Geordie Sinatra’.

Written by Sunderland born, Fiona Evans and directed by Chris Monks, the play explores the loving, yet tangled relationship between father and daughter, Geordie and Nancy.

Geordie is living with dementia and as a result has frequent hallucinations that see him take to the stage to belt out some classic Sinatra songs in what he believes to be the stylish cabaret bar of the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas.

In reality he can be found in the scruffy cabaret cellar bar of the fictional Sands Hotel in Whitley Bay, a run-down joint that hasn’t seen a reveller or a lick of paint in years.

Writer, Fiona Evans, was inspired to write the play by her own experiences with dementia after her father was diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

Also known as Lewy body disease, the neurodegenerative form of dementia shares mental symptoms, such as confusion and loss of memory, with Alzheimer's disease and motor symptoms, such as gait and slow movement, with Parkinson's disease, however, it also often causes patients to have vivid hallucinations.

Fiona said: “Dementia is a difficult subject to deal with dramatically. I wanted to write a play that was entertaining, funny and touched people’s hearts.

“The music adds another emotional dimension and having just heard the read/sing through I couldn’t be happier.

“Geordie Sinatra is the first play I’ve written with music, so rehearsals are doubly exciting this time round.

“I’m delighted to be working with such a talented and knowledgeable musical team. It makes me wish I’d stuck in at playing the violin.”

Anthony Cable is taking on the role of Geordie and his alter ego Frank Sinatra.

Heather Saunders is playing Geordie’s daughter, Nancy, a disgraced Daily Mail columnist and Jill Myers is taking on the role of Joan, Geordie’s partner who is often mistaken for Frank’s mum Dolly.

Kraig Thornber is also taking to the stage as the Community Support Officer who returns Geordie to his family following an unfortunate episode at the local supermarket as well Geordie’s old pal Sonny and Frank’s close friend Jimmy Van Heusen.

Geordie Sinatra will be showing at the Live Theatre, Newcastle, from Wednesday, April 18 to Saturday, May 12.

Tickets cost from £10 to £18. Following Live Theatre’s run, Geordie Sinatra will transfer to the Stephen Joseph Theatre on Wednesday, May 16 and play until Saturday, June 2, 2012.

To find out more about Geordie Sinatra or to book tickets, please call the Live Theatre's box office on (0191) 232 1232 or visit www.live.org.uk