THE Customs House should be very proud of this production. Set amid the Anzac contingent in First Word War Turkey, it’s as captivating as Oh What A Lovely War and Journey’s End.

The fact that it features a South Shields lad called John Simpson Kirkpatrick makes it of huge interest locally, but this story is equally resonant anywhere in the world, especially given Kirkpatrick is a national hero in Australia where he gained a posthumous Victoria Cross for bravery.

Writer Valerie Laws has done a cracking job bringing this tremendous story to the stage.

From the time Kirkpatrick looked after the donkey rides as a kid on Shields beach, to him finding a stray donkey in Gallipoli and rescuing many injured comrades – in the face of incessant machine gun fire – his life was something less ordinary.

A merchant shipman who jumped ship in Australia, he enlisted there as a means to get a holiday pass home.

Always hungry and a devoted son (he sent home half his wages), he was fearless and anti-establishment.

Jamie Brown plays Kirkpatrick and is excellent. His is the only consistent character throughout, but without a consummate and hugely talented cast playing multiple support characters this piece could have stuttered along.

Russell Floyd, James Hedley, Viktoria Kay, Gary Kitching and Jacqueline Phillips were all superb.

The standout aspect of this production, however, has to be Jackie Fielding’s direction. The sandbag set, exploding bombs, moody lighting and persistent rattle of machine guns set the tone for what is one of the most remarkable true life stories of World War One.

The piece zips along and we are unconsciously drawn into the action. The standing ovation said it all. This production deserves a life elsewhere.

Ed Waugh

* Until Feb 12. Tickets 0191-4541234 customshouse.co.uk