FROM fast-rising playwright Clara Brennan and starring Rosie Wyatt comes the UK tour of critically lauded, award-winning play, Spine, which reaches Live Theatre, Newcastle, next week.

Taking in an initial 13 theatres around the UK, the tour showcases Soho Theatre’s commitment to touring and sharing the best work with the widest possible audience around the country.

Spine charts the explosive friendship between a ferocious wise-cracking teenager Amy and a mischievous activist pensioner. Glenda is hell-bent on leaving a political legacy for her community and saving Amy because "there’s nothing more terrifying than a teenager with something to say". In an era of political disillusionment and generational divides, has politics forgotten the people it represents? And, what price do we put on knowledge? Amy is about to find out.

The production has scooped a string of awards and plethora of critical acclaim since debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014, including a Fringe First Award, The Stage Award for Acting Excellence and a Herald Angel Award.

Rosie Wyatt is an award-winning actor who has previously performed in the National Theatre’s One Man Two Guvnors and Soho Theatre’s Blink. She has since scooped numerous accolades for her portrayal of Amy in Spine. Playwright Clara Brennan has established herself as one of the most exciting new voices in theatre. Clara was Soho Theatre’s Channel 4 Playwright in residence, in 2014, and was shortlisted for the Verity Bargate Award for her play The Vendor in 2013.

Spine is co-produced by Francesca Moody, who previously co-produced Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s acclaimed play Fleabag with Soho Theatre which went on to be adapted by BBC Three.

Throughout the tour various cities will host workshops for A Level, B Tech and University students as well as young people interested in education, performance, writing, public speaking and politics. Lead by director Bethany Pitts, the workshops will teach participants a segment of the text followed by further engagement through discussion and group activities.

Workshops include: Newcastle Central Library, Wednesday, September 21, followed by Q and A

Tour dates: Tuesday and Wednesday, September 20-21, Newcastle Live Theatre live.org.uk