119. This is Not Fiction - with Dave Johns and Davey Nellist

Break Out Culture With Ed Vaizey by Country and Town House

We’re talking about the first ever stage adaptation of Ken Loach’s and Paul Laverty’s multi-award winning 2016 film I, Daniel Blake. The production, which is touring the UK, opened at Northern Stage Newcastle to rave critical reviews and passionate audience reactions.

Dave Johns, who adapted it for the stage, played Daniel in the original film, winning Best Actor at the British Independent Awards and Best Newcomer at the Empire Awards for his performance. Davey Nellist, who plays Daniel in this new stage version, is best known for his roles as Mike Stamford in Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and more recently in the TV series Stonehouse with Matthew McFadden.

Dave and Davey tell us how the play is deliberately being hailed as non-fiction and a very real story about poverty and homelessness in Newcastle today. The city had one foodbank in 2016 but now has seven. Dave also tells us how he landed the part in the movie, having been a comedian and formerly a bricklayer.

I, Daniel Blake tours till mid-November to Birmingham, Manchester, Exeter, Liverpool, Durham, Leeds, Oxford, Edinburgh, Stratford, Northampton, Coventry and Guildford, before returning to Northern Stage in September. For dates and full details see here.

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