The Whitley Bay Film Festival is currently showcasing a selection of works that pay tribute to the legacy of the late Tom Hadaway, one of the North East’s most influential dramatists. Among the highlights is a program featuring plays based on Hadaway’s scripts, including “The Filleting Machine,” which was published by IRON Press and recently performed in Newcastle.

Hadaway, who passed away in 2005, was renowned for his authentic portrayals of working-class life in Tyneside, particularly within fishing communities. His work has remained a touchstone for regional theatre, resonating with audiences and writers alike for its strong narrative and emotional impact.

One of Hadaway’s unfinished projects, a play inspired by the 1950s visit to Tyneside by the famed American comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, has drawn particular attention. A celebrated photograph captures the pair standing on the balcony of the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth, waving to an eager crowd of children below. The incomplete play, 90% finished at the time of Hadaway’s death, has sparked interest in a possible completion by his daughter, Pauline Hadaway, herself an established playwright. Pauline, who has previously collaborated with her father on several works, is reportedly considering the challenge as she prepares to return from Liverpool to her native Tyneside.

Festival attendees have expressed enthusiasm for the potential revival, viewing it as a fitting tribute to Hadaway’s enduring influence on local culture and theatre. The presence of the play in the festival lineup underscores the ongoing appreciation for his contribution to the North East’s artistic heritage.

“The Filleting Machine,” alongside works by fellow late North East writers C.P. Taylor and Leonard Barras, formed part of a sold-out programme at the Gulbenkian Studio in Newcastle. The production was later performed at Live Theatre in Newcastle, where it received high praise from notable figures in the arts community. Melvyn Bragg, in attendance for one performance, remarked that the play delivered more impact in thirty minutes than many BBC productions.

Hadaway’s dramatic portrayal of working-class communities continues to inspire, and efforts to complete and stage his unfinished projects demonstrate a commitment to preserving the cultural fabric he helped shape in the region.