³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

For the first time ever, Metro stations and trains across Tyneside and Wearside will be taken over by singers, dancers and musicians as they record their performances for Tyne and Wear Metro The Musical.

With the help of the public, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in the North East has commissioned a filmed musical to mark the 30th anniversary of the Tyne and Wear Metro.

The musical will feature North East people in Metro stations and on trains telling their stories to music – and with plenty of dancing!

Approximately 150 members of the public have signed up to take part in the production, which includes two choirs, Ellington Colliery Band, clog and street dancers and a Northumbrian piper.

"Public participation has been overwhelming – open auditions in Newcastle and Sunderland late last year helped us to find some great talent and I can't wait to see them all together in the studio," says composer Benjamin Till.

Rehearsals have already begun with choir rehearsals taking place at The Sage Gateshead this Friday evening (28 January) from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and then on Saturday (29 January) at the same time.

The following week sees the musical's soloists rehearse in the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's studios in Newcastle – with a final choir rehearsal at The Sage on Friday 4 February from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Recording begins on Wednesday 6 February at The Sage from midday onwards (choir) and then on 7 and 8 February for the soloists.

On Friday 18 February, from about 5pm, filming will begin at a metal recycling plant located near to Sunderland's Pallion Station. This will provide an atmospheric evening setting for Ellington Colliery Brass Band and a soloist with shots in the background of passing Metro trains.

Later in the evening, street dancers from Newcastle's Dance City will dance their shoes off all over Sunderland Station, and in the early hours of Saturday morning, Gateshead Metro Station will host the cast and crew for more filming.

The front carriage of a Metro train will be taken over for the filming of performances on Sunday 20 February – beginning at the Airport at 10am and working down to South Hylton. More cast will then get on board at Tynemouth from about 2pm.

Filming will continue around Metro stations on Tuesday 22 February. And on Thursday 24 March, the premiere of the musical will be hosted by the The Sage Gateshead.

The premiere will broadcast live into ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Look North's evening bulletin – with a radio premiere on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Newcastle's Breakfast show with Alfie and Charlie the next day (25 March).

Broadcasts of the musical will also be shown across the region over the weekend of 26 and 27 March.

RF