The star of @IDanielBlake and established comic @DaveJohnsComic performs for 1 night only @Theatreroyalnew.

DAVE JOHNS AT THEATRE ROYAL

 FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

Fresh from his critically acclaimed turn in Ken Loach’s multi award winning film I, Daniel Blake, Newcastle comedian Dave Johns brings his hit one-man show I, FILLUM STAR to Newcastle Theatre Royal for one night only on Sunday 1 October 2017.   


It’s the stuff of fairytales – a stand-up comic is plucked from the circuit by a world famous film maker and cast in the title role of one of the most acclaimed British films in recent years.  For Dave Johns, the last two years has been a rollercoaster ride of red carpet surrealism. In his new stand-up show he supplies a gripping and down-to-earth account of how an affable Whitley Bay lad ended-up as the toast of the Cannes Film Festival, winning BAFTAS and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Woody Allen, Stephen Spielberg and Meryl  Streep. 

Following a hit run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Dave brings his I, Fillum Star show to the city closest to his heart, where the film I, Daniel Blake is set and his own career began.

In 1989 Johns’ launched the Comedy Café on Westgate Road and invited  the emerging Jack Dee and Jo Brand to appear, but realising they needed an MC stepped-up and did it himself.  Finding he was rather good at it and pricing tickets at £3.75 including soup and a bun, the club became a city hot spot and Dave went on to host many more comedy stars including Eddie Izzard, Steve Coogan, Harry Hill and nervous 14 year old lad called Ross Noble who went on to do rather well for himself.

So Johns became a successful comedian, touring throughout the UK, a regular with the Comedy Store Players and appearing on much loved TV shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 Out of Ten Cats. 

But just when he was thinking of giving-up comedy and running donkey rides on his beloved North East beaches he sent a speculative, jokey text to the casting director of I, Daniel Blake.  Twelve months later he was shocked to pull in multiple Best Actor awards as the film secured a plethora of international plaudits and the Cannes Festival’s Palme d’Or. 

A must-not-miss opportunity to see a Newcastle legend telling his fairytale story in his hilarious own words for one night only.



Dave Johns appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Sunday 1 October 2017 at 7.30pm. Tickets £19.50.  Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Film Review: I, Daniel Blake

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I, Daniel Blake

Directed by Ken Loach

This is an unusual film in that it is filmed in Newcastle but it doesn’t go for the classic bridges background. Nor does it go for the “it’s grim up north” stereotype. It centres its narrative on a dysfunctional welfare system that isn’t fit for purpose.

A great cast shows pride in the face of adversity, and bureaucrats following orders. Dave Johns is the carpenter who has paid into the system his entire working life and, after a heart attack and under doctors orders, he expects some support. His incredulity at being rejected and assessed as being fit for work by a faceless “health care professional” who ignores the advice of his doctors is well placed.

He meets up with Katie (Hayley Squires) who has been forced to relocate to the area in order to access somewhere to live with her young family. She is sanctioned as she did not know the way to the job centre and Daniel offers to help her.

Sharon Percy

Photo: Carliol Photography

Gavin Webster plays a former workmate who still looks out for Daniel and Sharon Percy is the job centre employee, Shiela, who doesn’t appreciate that not everyone has access to the internet.

Digital by default they are told. No, Daniel is human by default. This is an impressive film. Each generation has a film that causes it to wake up and realise there is a need for change. Thought provoking. Highly recommended.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for Carliol Photography (https://twitter.com/CarliolPhoto). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Carliol Photography on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/carliolphotography.