A CLASSIC story of class divide and forbidden love in Edwardian times in the North-East will be brought to the stage next week.

Catherine Cookson’s The Fifteen Streets is the latest production of the experienced local amateur drama group, Dryburn Theatrical Workshop.

Set in the harsh working class community of the Tyne Dock, in Jarrow, in 1910, The Fifteen Streets tells the story of the O’Brien family, overseen by a heavy drinking father figure, whose hard-working son falls in love with a middle-class school teacher.

Workshop chairman Malcolm Quinn said while the novels of prolific North-East author Catherine Cookson are always well-received across the region, The Fifteen Streets is considered to be among her most popular stories.

“It provides us with the opportunity to bring to life the popular characters, period detail and powerful storyline, against the hardships of work and life on Tyneside, at the beginning of the 20th Century.”

Mr Quinn said the workshop, formed by stage enthusiasts among staff at Durham’s former Dryburn Hospital in 1978, has a long history of successful performances, bringing together a talented local cast, impressive productions and loyal audiences from across the city, Chester-le-Street and the wider region.

The show, staged at Park View Theatre, off Church Chare and Roman Road, in Chester-le-Street, runs from Wednesday to Friday (September 9 - 11), with curtain up each night at 7.15pm.

All tickets cost £8 and can be booked via dryburntheatricalworkshop.ticketsource.co.uk, or by ringing 0191-388-3362.