Jarrow Marches: A Play & Songs celebrates 90 years since the Jarrow Crusade

News October 2026 Theatre

·5 October 2026

A FANG-TASTIC HALLOWEEN AWAITS AT ELDON SQUARE

The Customs House brings the story of the Jarrow Crusade back to the heart of Jarrow with a new play and live music this weekend at The Alberta Social Club.

The Customs House will mark the 90th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade with Jarrow Marches: A Play & Songs, a new work by acclaimed local poet, writer and songwriter Tom Kelly, directed by local actor and creative Andrew Dawson.

For Tom, the story is also a deeply personal one. He is a relative of Jarrow marcher John Kelly, one of the 200 unemployed men who walked from Jarrow to London in 1936. His family connection, alongside his longstanding interest in the history of Jarrow, has helped inform the development of this new work.

Tom said: “These were ordinary men. They believed something should be done about Jarrow.

“The Jarrow Crusade is a story that belongs to the people of Jarrow. It is about work, community, dignity and people standing together when they felt they had no other choice. Having a family connection to one of the marchers, John Kelly, makes the story especially meaningful to me. Bringing those stories back into the Alberta, in the heart of Jarrow, feels particularly special.”

Performed at The Alberta Social Club in Jarrow on Saturday 10 October at 11am & 2pm, the production brings the story of the 1936 Jarrow Crusade into conversation with Jarrow today, using drama, humour and song to explore why the story of the marchers still matters 90 years on.

The production has been developed through research by Andrew and Tom, drawing particularly on recorded conversations and interviews undertaken by Tom in 1973, capturing memories and stories from people connected to the Jarrow community and the Crusade.

In 1936, 200 unemployed men walked approximately 300 miles from Jarrow to London to petition the government for work. They were ordinary working men facing extraordinary circumstances, but they refused to be beaten.

Jarrow Marches begins in the present day, as Robert and his family meet at The Alberta Social Club and conversation turns to the story of the Jarrow Crusade. From there, the experiences of the marchers are brought to life, connecting the history of the town with the people and communities who continue to live there today.

The production is a celebration of Jarrow, its people and its extraordinary history, while also asking what the story of the Crusade can tell us today.

The show features five talented local actors: Jessica Brady, Eleanor Chaganis, Micky Cochrane, Steven Stobbs and Mitchell Wilson, alongside musician Ian Sankey.

Andrew said: “The Jarrow Crusade is such an important part of the history of this town, but at its heart it is a story about ordinary people. Through the research Tom undertook in the 1970s, we have been able to connect with voices and memories that bring the story much closer to home. Tom’s own family connection to one of the marchers, John Kelly, makes that connection particularly powerful. We wanted to make something that feels rooted in Jarrow, that celebrates the people who marched, and that allows audiences to think about what their story means 90 years later.”

The production is part of The Customs House’s commitment to creating work that celebrates local stories, talent and communities, and has been made possible through the support of Arts Council England’s Place Partnership with South Tyneside Cultural Partnership.

Kelly Anders, Chief Executive of The Customs House, said: “The Jarrow Crusade is part of the story of South Tyneside, and it is incredibly important that 90 years on we continue to tell it in ways that feel relevant to the people and communities of the area today. The Customs House is proud to support work that gives a platform to local stories, and we are delighted to celebrate 90 years since this historic moment in the lives of the men of Jarrow and their families.”