The stage adaptation of 2016 film I, Daniel Blake has opened to audiences at Newcastle’s Northern Stage.

The film exposes the harsh reality of the benefits system as protagonist Daniel Blake befriends a young mum called Katie who both face struggles at the job centre.

Now the first stage adaption of Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or and Bafta winning film, written by Dave Johns who plays Daniel Blake in the film version, has opened to audiences in Newcastle.

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The first performance took place on Wednesday (May 31) evening with the entire run at Northern Stage’s Stage 2 until Saturday June 10 a sell-out. A second run from September 12 to September 16 has already been announced.

Dave Johns said: “I was thrilled to be asked to adapt Paul Laverty’s screenplay.

“But I didn’t just want to put the film onstage, I wanted to update the story for 2023, making it contemporary and exploring more of single mum Katie’s journey and the family unit she forms with Daniel.

“To show the kindness, compassion, humour, and hope that can help us through the toughest of times.

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“Sadly, during my research it was disheartening to find not much had changed since the film's release.

“The story is still as relevant as it was in 2016; maybe even more so now with the cost-of-living crisis making it even harder for those who are already struggling.

“Daniel and Katie’s story could be anyone’s.”

David Nellist stars as Daniel Blake. He appeared as Mike Stamford in BBC One’s Sherlock and  recently Stonehouse on ITVX.

Cullercoats-born Bryony Corrigan stars as Katie Jenkins.

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Director Mark Calvert added: “It’s a big responsibility to honour the film but also to find ways to raise awareness of the hardship huge numbers of people in our country are facing right now.

“And the cost-of-living crisis affects even more people now than when the film was released in 2016.

“For me I, Daniel Blake frames the working-class experience in modern Britain - there’s hope, humour and humanity in the story, but audiences should feel angry and outraged; I know I am.”