Preview Edgecity at Live Theatre, Newcastle

Sleaford Mods' Jason Williamson to Bring Powerful New Homelessness Stories to Newcastle Live Theatre

Jason Williamson, the unmistakable frontman of the internationally acclaimed post-punk band Sleaford Mods, is set to take the stage at Newcastle’s Live Theatre for a unique three-night performance this September. Known for his raw vocal delivery, sharp social commentary, and no-nonsense presence, Williamson will lend his voice to Edgecity, a bold new production spotlighting the realities of homelessness in Britain.

Photo: Jack Neville

A Raw New Collaboration

Edgecity is the latest work from gobscure, a radical North East playwright and artist whose distinctive ‘brokenword’ writing style challenges conventional storytelling. The six monologues that form Edgecity, with titles including Mind The Reality Gap, Die Like Chekhov, and yu cants start revolutions sitting on yr arse, draw directly from gobscure’s own lived experiences of homelessness across the UK. These stories capture life at the margins through stunningly fragmented, poetic language — shining a light on the people and places often overlooked by society.

Joining Williamson on stage will be two other performers and Geordie turntablist Mariam Rezaei, whose live music will underscore the raw emotional power of the performance.

gobscure, who uses plural and non-binary pronouns, explained:
"We've written our whole life. The only thing making sense in the circumstances is having a voice. To have Live Theatre and Jack McNamara recognise these narratives now, and to work with a musician and performers we genuinely respect and admire, makes us so proud."

About Sleaford Mods

Emerging from Nottingham, Sleaford Mods have carved out a unique place in modern British music over the past 15 years. Known for their stripped-down beats, confrontational delivery, and biting social critiques, they’ve become one of the most important voices on class and austerity in the UK. Their songs, including underground anthems like Jobseeker, Tied Up In Nottz, B.H.S., UK Grim, and Jolly F-cker, speak directly to working-class frustration and the hypocrisies of modern Britain. With a sound that fuses minimalist punk with relentless spoken-word vocals, the duo — Williamson and musician Andrew Fearn — have attracted a fiercely loyal following and high-profile fans including Iggy Pop and Robert Downey Jr.

Jason Williamson’s natural charisma and intensely physical performance style have also made him a sought-after actor, with recent appearances in Peaky Blinders and the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries Landscapers starring Olivia Colman.

About gobscure

gobscure is an award-winning playwright, artist, and performer whose work consistently champions the marginalised and challenges social stigma. With a multidisciplinary practice that spans theatre, visual art, sound, and literature, gobscure uses art as a tool for activism and recovery, often drawing from personal experience of homelessness, mental health struggles, and life on the fringes. Their voice is unapologetically political, often infused with sharp humour, defiant resilience, and a drive to centre stories that typically go unheard.

Director’s Vision

Jack McNamara, Artistic Director of Live Theatre, directs the production. Reflecting on the project, McNamara said: "We are truly stoked to welcome Jason to Live Theatre to give voice to these amazing pieces by one of the most genuinely radical North East writers I have come across. Jason and gobscure are both artists who have glimpsed hell and know how to talk about it, but their approach is full of unexpected insight, brutal honesty and gallows humour. This collaboration is something very special."

McNamara and Williamson previously collaborated during lockdown on an Alan Moore audiobook for purgexxx records, which sparked the connection that has led to this project.

Tickets:

Edgecity runs at Live Theatre, Newcastle, from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 September 2025, with performances starting at 7.30pm each night.

For tickets and more information, visit: www.live.org.uk