Olympic stories take to North East stage

Realising a dream to compete at the London Olympics requires dedication and hard work. Now the struggles of aspiring athletes has been captured in a new play premiering on Tyneside.

The Prize is a co-production between Newcastle's Live Theatre and new theatre company Murmur, supported by Northumbria University.

Drawing on interviews with past Olympic medal winners and first time competitors, it tells the true stories of those competing at the 2012 Games through their own words.

The play has been created by Steve Gilroy and Richard Stockwell. They interviewed athletes from all over UK, including many from our region, using their answers to create the dialogue.

Gilroy, who is also be directing the show, said: "Richard and I have spent the last two years interviewing over thirty athletes to discover their personal journeys and stories that have led them to compete in the world's greatest competition."

Richard Stockwell pointed out that equity is a major theme of the play. "We have disabled performers and able bodied performers and they all play a mixture of able bodied and disabled parts because we dont differentiate between capability. They are all exceptional athletes."

After a preview on Tyneside this week the play will head to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival so it will run at the same time as the games in London.

The Prize has also been awarded the prestigious Inspire Mark, which recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Lord Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: "We want to use the power of the Games to inspire change. The Inspire programme is recognising the work our partners all round the UK are doing to help us achieve this.

"I congratulate everyone involved in The Prize for securing the Inspire mark and wish you every success with your work."