AS police continue the search for missing Madeleine McCann, a North-East theatre has defended plans to stage a play about the abduction of a five-year-old girl.

Next week, Newcastle venue Northern Stage will host a production of Ruby Moon, an Australian drama in which a family falls apart after the disappearance of their young daughter.

The theatre's artistic director, Erica Whyman, said she stood by the decision to stage a play with such sensitive themes in light of the heartbreaking events in the Algarve.

She said: "We were very troubled that the play was so close to the real event, but the actors and myself felt that it mattered we told this story.

"It is suddenly very timely in a way that none of us could have predicted.

"We have obviously talked about it endlessly and been very affected by the coverage of what has happened, but it seems to us more important that a play like this is done because it investigates the damage done to parents, both by the event itself and the attention they receive."

The McCann family's nightmare began when their daughter disappeared from her hotel room in the Portuguese resort of Praia Da Luz.

Earlier this month, Coronation Street scriptwriters scrapped plans for a major storyline involving the abduction of a baby.

But Ms Whyman, who took charge at Northern Stage 18 months ago, said staff at the theatre felt it was important to stage Ruby Moon because the play explored many of the issues facing the McCann family.

She said: "Ruby Moon is really a play about grief so, in many ways, I think it will make it a touching and troubling thing to come and see.

"Somebody else asked me how do I feel in relation to Coronation Street pulling its storyline, but I feel that television is a completely different thing and very much about naturalism and presenting a slice of life.

"Theatre is a place for debate and asking difficult questions, as well as entertaining and engaging people."

Ruby Moon runs from May 29 to June 9 at Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle.