Live Theatre has revealed the powerhouse cast set to star in Dogs On The Metro, an electrifying new drama by North East Playwriting Award winner Emilie Robson. The production opens on Thursday 1 May and runs until Saturday 17 May 2025.
Taking centre stage in this poignant two-hander are Sarah Balfour (Dead Canny) and Dean Logan (Gerry & Sewell), who will bring to life Robson’s compelling portrait of friendship, fractured memory, and the rhythms of life on the Metro.
Directed by Maria Crocker, Dogs On The Metro follows Jen and Dean as they traverse the tracks and tunnels of Newcastle’s Metro system—and the memories that run alongside them. As the train hurtles through time, the friends confront the ghosts of lost youth, shared laughter, and a single life-altering event that redefines everything.
Sarah Balfour, originally from South Shields and a graduate of ALRA South, takes on the role of Jen. Her recent screen credits include Dead Canny (DAVE/UKTV), Slow Horses (Apple TV), and PICA (BBC Radio 4), alongside stage appearances in Christmas Crackers at Live Theatre and Mary Stuart in the West End.
Playing opposite her as Dean is Wallsend-born Dean Logan, a former Live Youth Theatre member and seasoned performer across stage, screen, and radio. His credits span Gerry & Sewell (Theatre Royal Newcastle, Live Theatre, Laurels), Coronation Street (ITV), and Homefront (BBC Radio 4).
Live Theatre’s Artistic Director, Jack McNamara, hailed the production:
“From its very first line it’s clear that Dogs On The Metro is written by a major new voice. The dialogue is electrifying and deeply rooted in the region. To pull something off this sharp and intense, you need a star director and two star actors—and we’ve got them.”
Director Maria Crocker added:
“As soon as I read Emilie's play, I knew I had to direct it. The writing is razor-sharp, weaving humour and heartbreak with honesty and care. These characters feel so real—so North East—and yet their story speaks far beyond this place.”
Writer Emilie Robson shared her excitement:
“I’m absolutely delighted that Dogs On The Metro is being produced by Live Theatre. I couldn’t imagine a better team or a better venue to debut this story.”
Dogs On The Metro runs at Live Theatre, Newcastle, from 1–17 May 2025. Tickets are priced from £10 to £25 and are available now via www.live.org.uk. Don’t miss this gripping new work from one of the region’s most exciting emerging voices.
