Life of Brian in stage show
PRODUCTION OF THE DAMNED UNITED TO BE PUT ON IN CITY
A play about legendary manager Brian Clough is coming to Sunderland – the city where his playing career was so tragically cut short.
Clough was only 29 when an on-pitch collision on Boxing Day 1962 ended his days as a striker. He had moved to the Black Cats from his hometown club Middlesbrough in 1961 and went on to score 63 goals in just 74 appearances.
Always controversial, Clough became a hugelysuccessful manager, lifting the European Cup twice, as well as the League Cup (four times) and winning the First Division title with both Derby County and Nottingham Forest.
Anders Lustgarten’s play The Damned United charts his turbulent 44 days at Leeds United and will be performed at The Royalty Theatre on Tuesday, November 13 and Wednesday, November 14 a 7.30pm.
A sell-out success when it received its world premiere in 2016, The Damned United is touring nationally for the first time and is being brought to the city by Sunderland Culture through its Sunderland Stages programme.
The play features Luke Dickson as former Hartlepool UnitedmanagerBrianClough, David Chafer as Peter Taylor and Jamie Smelt as Sam Longson and other roles.
The play’s director, Rod Dixon, said: “It’s a footballing city and obviously has close links to Clough so I’m excited about delivering the play.”
The play is about Clough’s attempt to rebuild his managerial reputation after he resigned from Derby County, where he had been very successful and had then gone on to manage third division Brighton and Hove Albion.
It was a major surprise when Clough announced he was to become manager of Leeds United, a team he had previously strongly criticized. His stated aim was to win the European Cup with his new team. Without his usual sidekick, assistant manager Peter Taylor, Clough lasted 44 days before he was sacked.
The play is adapted from David Peace’s best-selling novel and presented by Red Ladder Theatre. For tickets, go to www.sunderlandstages.com.