Surreal Comedy Meets North East Soul: Scott Turnbull's Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area Hits the Road
There’s (flash of thunder and lightning)... something unexpected in the bagging area!
Award-winning actor, writer, theatre-maker, and 2024 Tees Valley Artist of the Year Scott Turnbull is taking his brand-new comedy-theatre show, Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area, on a riotous six-date tour across the North East this May. Blending surreal humour, physical theatre, and an affectionate dose of Teesside grit, Turnbull’s latest work is a must-see for fans of boundary-pushing live performance.
Kicking off with a sharing at GIFT Gateshead on Saturday 3 May 2025, followed by performances at ARC Stockton from Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 May 2025, and concluding at Live Theatre Newcastle on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 May 2025, this absurd and darkly comic play promises “singing sausages, life-sized cockroaches and an escaped killer on the loose” — all set inside a spooky 24-hour garage on the edge of town.
Turnbull describes the show as “a story of familial love played out using contemporary folklore and pop culture references.” At its core are two siblings, Our Mark and Ken, doing everything they can to keep their dead dad’s local business alive — even if that means tangling with big tech, secret sauces, and supernatural chaos.
“I use comedy alongside my creativity as an emergency exit from the brutal reality of living in… Stockton-on-Tees,” says Turnbull. “I love where I live, and I couldn’t think of anywhere better or worse to ply my trade… I’d like to share those stories through my own unique comedic lens in the very surroundings of where my work comes to life.”
With a style that’s been likened to The Mighty Boosh meeting Vic and Bob for a pint at The Sun Inn, Turnbull’s signature blend of heartfelt absurdity and working-class celebration is on full display. Expect physical comedy, live music, and plenty of wild surprises in this immersive performance co-produced by ARC Stockton in association with Live Theatre and GIFT, and supported by Arts Council England and Tees Valley Combined Authority.
Catch Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area at:
🛒 GIFT Gateshead
Station East, Hills St, Gateshead
Saturday 3 May 2025, 6pm
Pay What You Decide (Suggested Donation £8), 18+
More info
🛒 ARC Stockton
Wednesday 21 – Friday 23 May 2025, 7pm
Pay What You Decide, 16+
More info
🛒 Live Theatre Newcastle – Unearthed Festival
Thursday 29 – Friday 30 May 2025, 7.30pm
Are you ready to clock in for the strangest night shift of your life?
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