THE forgotten works of one of the North-East's favourite playwrights will be performed for the first time this month after they were painstakingly pieced together from scraps of paper and old scripts.

The Prison Plays were inspired by Tom Hadaway's time as the first writer-in-residence at Durham Prison in 1986.

They were rescued from obscurity by actress and University of Sunderland drama lecturer Val McLane.

Determination in pulling together a mix of materials allowed The Prison Plays to be published by the University of Sunderland Press last month.

The two full-length and two short plays, Yesterday's Children, Long Shadows, The Vicious Circle and Postcard from God, will be performed in the region this month.

Mr Hadaway is perhaps best known for his work on the 1970s series When the Boat Comes In.

Ms McLane will introduce extracts from the plays at free events at North Tyneside Central Library, in Northumberland Square, North Shields, from 1.30pm to 3pm on Wednesday, January 26; at Newcastle Arts Centre Studios, in Black Swan Court, Westgate Road, Newcastle, from 1.30pm to 3pm on Thursday, January 27; and from 1.30pm to 3pm on Friday, January 28, at the City Library, in Fawcett Street, Sunderland.

Tickets are free, but must be booked on 0191-515 2694.

Published: 08/01/2005