The North East is blessed with a raft of great theatres, but, perhaps unusually, we also have a couple of genuinely lovely amateur spaces. I had my first trip to The Little Theatre in Gateshead earlier this year, and it’s a gorgeous venue that hosts an interesting range of shows.

Last night was a return visit to another fave of mine, The People’s Theatre, which has built a rep for staging quality amateur productions offering the kind of production values (and in a venue) many professional companies can’t match. (It’s worth going just to see the super chill and shabby chic bar!)

Steel Magnolias is best known for the 1989 film, based on Robert Harling’s play of the same name, which starred a host of big names with equally big hair, including Julia Roberts, Sally Field and Dolly Parton. This tale of small town sisterhood might seem an odd choice for a North East theatre, but its themes – of friendship, family and loss – are universal enough to carry.

[Image description: Emma Jane Robson as Truvy Jones]

Photo credit: Ginny Leigh

Truvy Jones (Emma Jane Robson) runs a hair and beauty salon where the women of the town gather, with varying degrees of friendliness. All are excited by the upcoming wedding of young Shelby (Minnie Dobson), but when Shelby’s decision to become a mother puts her fragile health at risk, things take a darker turn.

A strong cast (which also includes Alison Carr, Ashton Matthews, Anna Dobson and Moira Valentine) manages both the humour and emotional beats, even if the Southern accents aren’t always 100% convincing. They are well served by Sands Dobson’s stylish set (one thing The People’s does exceptionally well: everything always looks great.) The production has a lot of fun with the hair and fashion (I love the fact that not only is the splendidly named Wiggy credited as head of hair, Sally Cooper is listed as ‘hair support’).

Mark Burden directs with warmth and sensitivity, and never lets the final act slip into being maudlin. If there are any faults, they perhaps lie more with the material itself, which doesn’t quite feel like it gives grief the space it needs, in favour of an overly tidy resolution.

Overall, though, this is another solid offering from a theatre that rarely misses – a warm, witty piece that unapologetically centres women’s lives.

Steel Magnolias runs till the 14th. You can read more about it and about upcoming offerings here.

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