The play, ‘Wor Bella’, which details the story of working class women footballers and munitionettes during the First World War, is to tour the North East, including a cameo from former England footballer, and Newcastle-born, Alan Shearer.

Written by Ed Waugh and produced by Wisecrack Productions, the team behind Hadaway Harry, Mr Corvan’s Music Hall, The Great Joe Wilson, Wor Bella, and The Cramlington Train Wreckers, Wor Bella is an one-woman play detailing the role of women in society and the selfless acts of women footballers during the First World War.

Wor Bella covers “Wor” Bella Reay, the Blyth Spartans centre forward who scored an incredible 133 goals in 30 matches for Blyth Spartans Women in an 18-month period. Blyth Spartans Ladies achieved cup glory in 1918, whilst Bella went on to represent the England national team. Bella Reay has been described as “the Alan Shearer of her day”; a fitting accolade as the former Newcastle and England striker makes a to-camera cameo in the play.

Fittingly, the show is touring the North East in March 2027 to celebrate International Women’s Month.

TOUR DATES, MARCH 2027

March 3, Hexham Queen’s Hall.

March 4 & 5, Phoenix Theatre, Blyth.

March 7, Glasshouse Gateshead.

March 9, The Tullie, Carlisle.

March 10, Witham, Barnard Castle.

March 11, Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

March 12, Gosforth Civic Theatre.

March 13, Westovian Theatre, South Shields.

For further details and to book tickets, please visit the venues’ websites or here.