Preview: Stepping Out, People’s Theatre, Newcastle

Audiences are set for a toe-tapping good time this week as the comedy Stepping Out returns to Newcastle’s People’s Theatre – and the lovely people at the, er, People’s have given us tickets to give away.

Richard Harris’ comedy charts the exploits of the Mavis Turner Tappers, a class of amateur hoofers who meet once a week in a scruffy church hall and who are forced to raise their game and work as a team when they are invited to take part in a big charity show.

It’s a play so popular with People’s members and audiences that two of its cast are returning for a third time.

Anne Havis returns as acerbic pianist Mrs Fraser, while Roger Liddle reprises his role as the only man in the class, the rather hapless Geoffrey.

They are joined by eight actresses brand new to the play, and in some cases brand new to tap-dancing.

Julie Bowman, Head of Dance at Central Newcastle High School, who has worked with the cast since March, said: “it has been great fun to teach tap to the cast.

“They have worked very hard to learn and perform. I am delighted to be part of this company, and am looking forward to the show.”

Discussing the mix of characters in the show, director Sally Cooper says “the people that we meet are so diverse and fabulous. They’re each juggling the traumas we all face in our daily journeys through life. Just about every problem of family, work, self-esteem, self-confidence and the decisions we make are represented.”

For your chance to win a pair of tickets to see the show, answer to the following question:

Who wrote Stepping Out?

Send your answers to [email protected] by 1pm on Tuesday 17 June. Please also specify the day you would like to see the play: Tuesday or Wednesday.

Stepping Out runs at the People’s Theatre, Newcastle from Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st June. Tickets are available from the Box Office on 0191 265 5020 and online.