I’ve been wearing quite a few of my many different hats recently (actor / writer / producer / artistic director / etc), which has been fun and exciting, if not a little bit exhausting. Last night I got to don the writer/performer hat, as the Grin Up North team performed our second live sketch show at the glamourous and exclusive Newcastle Labour Club.

Sandwiched between four superb stand-up comedians, the Grin Up North All-Stars (which is how we’re now officially known!) performed a 45-minute set of all-killers-no-fillers to a packed audience.

The material was written and performed by the nine of us (l-r in the photo: Sarah Hayton, Paul Dunn, Hannah Sowerby, Jack Johnson, Vanessa Karon, Simon Beckwith, Kelly Rickard, David Foster, Viktoria Kay) plus others in the team of writers. Dean Moore appeared in his guise as the Boro Pub Expert. Steffen Peddie hosted, and Steve Drayton produced.

The whole performance was recorded by the BBC, of course, and it will be broadcast later in the year. (I’ll be announcing when it’s available.) You’ll be able to hear it on BBC Newcastle and BBC Tees, or around the world on the BBC Sounds App.

But for now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to writing my brand new Easter panto for under-7s, Bertie & Gertie’s Egg-cellent Adventure! Where’s my writing hat?….