Well, I had to go and see my daughter, Laura, perform with The Shining Levels again. This time was an afternoon event as part of the Durham Book Festival in partnership with Live Theatre. The performance was “A world-exclusive dramatic live reading from Benjamin Myers’ acclaimed novel, Cuddy, performed by the award-winning stage and screen actor Toby Jones alongside actress and writer Samantha Neale” and took place at the Gala Theatre Durham. Toby Jones is well known for his roles in film series including The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, and TV series such as Sherlock.
Cuddy (published by Bloomsbury, 2023) is the “experimental new novel from Benjamin Myers, the Durham-born author of The Gallows Pole, The Perfect Golden Circle, and The Offing. Cuddy is on the shortlist for the Goldsmiths Prize 2023. The novel evokes the spirit of St Cuthbert and traces the stories of ordinary people connected over 1,500 years to Cuthbert’s final resting place in Durham Cathedral.” (From the Durham Book Festival programme).
The performance consisted of Toby Jones and Samantha Neale reading extracts from Cuddy, interspersed with new songs written especially to accompany the book by The Shining Levels. This worked extremely well and the hour-long performance seemed to pass in an instant. Testimonies from the Book Festival programme describe the nature of the event below.
Benjamin Myers said: “To be able to bring my literary interpretation of the life and legacy of St Cuthbert back to the very cobbled streets on which the novel is set feels like an achievement, but to have one of the greatest and most versatile actors of his generation deliver it is beyond a dream come true. What a way to celebrate a saint, a story and a city.”
Rebecca Wilkie, Director of Durham Book Festival, New Writing North, said: “Durham Book Festival has a rich history of commissioning work that celebrates the literary history of Durham. When we read Durham author Benjamin Myers’ glorious and ambitious new novel, Cuddy, we knew we had to commemorate it at this year’s festival. It’s a love letter to County Durham, inspired by the enduring influence of St Cuthbert and the lives of people real and imagined, connected to Durham Cathedral across many centuries. It’s wonderful to be working with Jack McNamara and Live Theatre to dramatise an extract from the book and to see it brought to life by brilliant actors Toby Jones and Samantha Neale.
Jack McNamara, Artistic Director/ Joint Chief Executive Officer, Live Theatre, said: “Live is thrilled to partner with New Writing North and Durham Book Festival to bring a fragment of this magnificent North East novel to audiences. And who better to give St Cuthbert a voice than the always brilliant Toby Jones, who we’ve developed a very special relationship with over the last few years. Plus, bringing him together with amazing North East talent in Samantha Neale and The Shining Levels will be quite something witness. All hail St Cuddy!”
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “It’s an honour to have Toby Jones join us at Durham Book Festival. We’re excited to see how the team will bring Benjamin Myer’s Cuddy to life, especially given the significance the story of St. Cuthbert for the County Durham community.”
A truly exquisite event with great new songs by The Shining Levels. I already own a signed copy of Cuddy purchased courtesy of Waterstones. Many thanks to Chris for taking the pictures.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by A performance of Cuddy, by Benjamin Myers. Toby Jones, Samantha Neale and The Shining Levels, Gala Theatre Durham 15 October 2023 – ryetursblog's Blog on October 16, 2023 at 4:01 pm
[…] A performance of Cuddy, by Benjamin Myers. Toby Jones, Samantha Neale and The Shining Levels, Gala T… […]
Posted by Prof_Alistair on October 16, 2023 at 10:35 pm
‘Cuddy’? Now there’s a word I’ve not heard in many a long day! Thanks. I may have to try to introduce it to the South Australian community. 🙂
Posted by vintagerock on October 17, 2023 at 11:10 am
Thanks Alistair. To be honest I wasn’t sure what Cuddy meant! For some strange reason I thought it might outside toilet, not short for Cuthbert! Apparently the book is fantastic. The readings were certainly very interesting as was the music Peter
Posted by ciarant1step on October 19, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Sounds like a lovely night and great to see that this collaboration went so well. A saint, a story and a city! Can’t ask for better!
Posted by vintagerock on October 20, 2023 at 9:59 am
Hi Ciaran. Yes the performance worked very well best wishes Peter