Projects
Walk Like A Man - Stage Play (2025 Run)
We now have our first 2025 dates in the diary for our stage play, Walk Like A Man. The first shows will run at Laurel’s Theatre in Whitley Bay between 9th and 20th of September. Keep you peepers peeled for tickets going on sale.
After the casting call we’re delighted to announce two new cast members for this year. Jonny Larman will take over the lead role of Jack Garrett, and Gary Abraham will be playing Jack’s confidant “Uncle” Derek Owen. We’d like to extend our gratitude to the original actors, Luke David Martin and John Torrance, from whom Jonny and Gary will be taking over. Their dedication and professionalism last year were a big part of the show’s success.
Jonny Larman
Jonny is bringing his vast experience to the role of Jack Garrett in Walk Like A Man.
A multi-disciplined actor, he has credits for feature films, short films and television, as well as many stage roles. Jonny’s skills as a dancer and singer are a perfect fit for the role of Jack in Walk Like A Man, as the show now has some original songs and dance sequences, and will become a full-blown musical in 2026.
Gary Abraham
Gary is taking over the role of Derek Owen for the upcoming shows. Like Jonny, Gary brings a lot of experience to the cast with many roles in TV, films and theatre. He is also a graduate in Theatre and Performance, and one of a number of Actors Forge alumni in the cast. We can’t wait to see Gary bring Derek to life in the upcoming run.
The shows this year will hopefully build on the success of the run at Gosforth Civic Theatre in August 2024, which was a resounding success. Audiences and critics alike, loved it, and the response and feedback was amazing.
“It’s a play that has everything – it has grit, it has real heart, authentic and charismatic performances from its cast.”
“Walk Like A Man is a proper Geordie triumph”
“Soulful, relatable and so instantly recognisable, Walk Like A Man made a triumphant debut at Gosforth Civic Theatre.”
“Artistically speaking, the play brilliantly explores acceptance and the variety of ways in which working class men express their love and support.”
“The humour, the dialogue and the interactions between characters are as clean a representation of Geordie subculture as you’ll see on stage.”
“Walk Like a Man offers a modern insight into working class northern life with some laugh out loud moments.”
“I’d previously never felt like reaching for a pen and paper mid-play, to just note the lines being exchanged.”
The fantastic reviews for the show were a huge reward for the cast and crew, who had worked tirelessly for months to make the show successful.
Walk Like A Man - The Musical (planned 2026)
A musical version of Walk Like A Man is planned for 2026. A number of the songs are already written, and some of them are recorded and ready to go. Keep an eye on our Projects page for dates and casting announcements later in the year.
Watermelon Sunrise - short film
Watermelon Sunrise is a short film that uses the song of the same name by blues/rock band Blue River Road to help tell its story. It tells the tale of how two young people fall for each other, despite the horrors taking place in wartime. The story spans a few decades, starting during the Second World War, then moves into the dramas that post-war life dealt them.
We are really excited to be making a period piece like this and are certain it will make a great spectacle, particularly with the power of the music behind it. In early 2025 we’ll be looking for cast and crew to get involved with shooting Watermelon Sunrise. Keep checking back for details, or drop us an e-mail to info@blackstarmaniacs.com to express interest. Please use “Watermelon Sunrise” as the subject in your e-mail.
Within - Short Film
Within takes a deep look at things that might have been, forks in the road and self-sabotage. Is it fate? Is anyone to blame? If so, who? The answers are all Within.
We started shooting Within in 2023 and then had to put it on hold while other projects took priority. Shooting will recommence in the last quarter of 2024.
Go to the project page for casting details.
Pigs! - Short Film
After a series of home intrusions where families have been tied up, beaten and robbed, the great and the good in the up-market areas of town are getting uncomfortable. High flying exec Jan Wilkes is no different, but when her husband Charlie takes their protection into his own, very capable hands to deal with an intruder, things turn dark. Very dark.
Pigs! got as far as rehearsals and test shots, but eventually the draconian government lockdowns claimed the project. Mothballed since, it’s pencilled in for the return of the dark nights late in 2024/early 2025.