THE world premiere of David Walliams’ Awful Auntie reaches the stage of Sunderland Empire next month and a hoot of show is promised.

Awful Auntie, a production by the Birmingham Stage Company – the award-winning West End producers of Gangsta Granny – tells the story of Stella, who when she sets off to visit London with her parents has no idea her life is in danger.

Waking up from a coma three months later, only her Aunt Alberta can tell Stella what has happened.

But not everything Aunt Alberta tells her turns out to be true and Stella quickly discovers she’s in for the fight of her life against her very own Awful Auntie.

Walliams’ amazing tale of frights, fights and friendship features a very large owl, a very small ghost and a very awful Auntie!

Timothy Speyer (The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox and The BFG) plays Aunt Alberta, Stella’s awful auntie and Georgina Leonidas will play Stella Saxby, and audiences may recognise her as Harry Potter’s fellow quidditch player, Katie Bell when she appeared in three of the Harry Potter films.

Awful Auntie follows the BSC’s record-breaking tour of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny and we are delighted to welcome back to the Sunderland Empire stage Ashley Cousins (Soot) and Richard James (Gibbon), Ashley and Richard recently appeared at the venue in the triumphant run of Gangsta Granny.

Families around the country will not want to miss Awful Auntie, which promises to be awfully thrilling fun for everyone over 5!

  • Awful Auntie, Sunderland Empire, June 28- July 1. Tickets are avilable from the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844-871 3022* or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*
  • Calls cost 7p per minute plus your plus your phone company's access charge. Booking and transaction fees may apply.
  • We have a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) for the opening night of Awful Auntie, on Thursday, June 28, at 7pm.

To stand a chance of winning, simply tell us:

Stella, the principal character in Awful Auntie, is travelling to which city before her adventure begins?

Send your entry to ents@nne.co.uk, with Awful Auntie Competition in the subject line. Please remember we need your full name and telephone number; it would also be nice to know what part of the region you are entering from.

Alternatively, mail/deliver your entry to Awful Auntie Competition, The Northern Echo, PO Box 14, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF.

Entries must reach us by 5pm on Monday, June 4.

Tickets are non-transferable and no monetary value will be given.