Sunderland musical heads to New York’s Central Park

The show, Public Record, was commissioned and produced by the National Theatre, Sunderland Culture, and the Sunderland Empire, and last year wowed packed audiences at The Fire Station in Sunderland.

Described as a “musical portrait” of Sunderland, Public Record featured more than 100 community members who performed alongside professional musicians and dancers.

Director Emily Lim said: “Dan and I have been working hard on this for some time now and while it’s been quite a wild experience trying to make it happen across the other side of the pond, it’s proving a very wonderful process.

Public Record, a theatre production inspired by Sunderland’s people and heritage, is set to be staged in New York after success in the UK (Image: LUKE WADDINGTON)

“Everyone is so excited about its potential to say something really important and meaningful about the community and values of New York.

“We’re thinking of the incredible Sunderland community all the time and cannot express enough how grateful, lucky and inspired we feel to be continuing this journey which we began with you all.”

The show transformed The Fire Station into a live recording studio, where the cast helped to create an album celebrating life in the city and its people.

Now, a reimagined version of the production is heading to the United States under the title Public Works.

Just like the North East original, the New York adaptation will bring together a cast of more than 100 people, including community members, musicians, and dancers.

Public Works aims to capture the spirit of New York through music, movement, and storytelling, with the result a live album created on stage in real time.

The New York version will be performed at the Delacorte Theater in September as part of the city’s Shakespeare for the City celebration.

A subsequent album will be preserved by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Nick Malyan, chief executive at Sunderland Culture, said: “We’re thrilled that Public Record didn’t start and finish in Sunderland.

“It was a wonderfully warm, inspiring, and moving production forged from the talents of Sunderland creatives and people living and working in our communities.

“Emily and Dan were a delight to work with, and we hope New York’s Public Works has the impact on audiences that Public Record did.”

Marie Nixon, theatre director at the Sunderland Empire, said: “Public Record, and now Public Works, could not have happened without the brilliant partnership between Sunderland Culture, National Theatre, and the Empire.

“Public Record was evidence of a confident, ambitious city – and one now exporting culture to a global cultural hub.”

The original production in Sunderland was part of the National Theatre’s Public Acts programme, which delivers large-scale participatory theatre in partnership with venues and community groups across England.

Performers in Public Record came from four local groups: Back on the Map, the Connect Company from the Sunderland Empire, The Odyssey Alumni group, and the Sunderland Nigerian Family Group.

Two additional “cameo” groups also took part: Dance JAM street dancers, led by Jennifer Oswald (also known as Pinky), and the Young Musicians Project, led by Laura Brewis.