THE timing of these performances about Harry Clasper couldn’t have been more perfect, with Harry Clasper, previously for many of us, an unsung local rowing legend, receiving a Blue Plaque on High Level Bridge. The packed audience was behind this all the way and it’s really exciting to see a locally-produced work frothing with raw energy receiving such a grand reception.

The show, written by local writer Ed Waugh is packed with the sort of local details which the audience love – jokes that one usually only gets in a pantomime, theories on the entymology of ‘Geordie’ and some knockout performances from Jamie Brown as Harry Clasper and Wayne Miller as an assortment of others.

Brown, particularly, has a tricky job, switching strokes from rugged rowing hero Clasper to a more erudite style of narration, but he glides through this potentially choppy water with ease. Miller is very funny and from the starter’s orders they both had the crowd eating out of their hands.

The show has minimal set; two enormous posters featuring details of Harry’s Races, with his brothers, against London Rowers and a well-thought out selection of projected paintings from the town, giving this an authentic feel and making the audience burst even more with pride, for their towns and the achievements of this hero, our hero.

The transition from South Shields Boathouse, where the work received its world premiere in 2015 to the Theatre Royal has not yet been fully completed, in my opinion. The work would benefit from at least one more character on stage, allowing the drama to develop more onstage and the lengthy boat race in Act 2 featured a sound cue which was repeated ad nauseam.

But the rapturous applause and many leaping to their feet reveals that this project is a real winner.

Sarah Scott