Gangster comedy drama premieres in South Shields

A dark comedy about gangsters makes its premiere at The Customs House in South Shields tonight.

The Big Time follows Jerry and Jacks who do odd jobs working for a local gangster to pay off a debt.

But the pair get above their station when they decide to pull off a kidnapping to get further up the ladder in the ‘organisation’.

Their slapdash approach sees them in hot water when they snatch the wrong girl and find themselves facing the wrath of their boss.

The Big Time was written by Wayne Miller, an actor and writer form South Shields, who was inspired by John Favreau, Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino crime films “with a humorous slant.”

He said: “I wanted to create something for the stage when the idea for a comedy about disorganised crime came to me.”

“I’m a huge fan of Tarantino’s writing of character dialogue, his rhythm and great use of a pause. Then again I find that the same with the work of playwright Harold Pinter!

“They have been a huge influence on this piece along with a little of classic theatre farce thrown in.”

Miller also directs the play, in which he appears alongside North East actors Craig Richardson, Paul Dunn and Zoe Hakin.

He added: “It has given me the chance to put together a cast of top North East acting talent who have appeared various plays and comedies around the region and the country.

“Zoe, Paul and Craig will have the audience in fits of laughter, that I’m sure of!”

Miller, who was behind The Comedy Bunker shows in South Shields, is adapting the play into a six-part sitcom, and also hopes to take the show to next year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Big Time runs at The Customs House, South Shields from 29 to 31 August. Tickets are £13/11.