Review: Sunday for Sammy Celebrates 25 Years in Newcastle
A huge celebration of northern talent, Sunday for Sammy returned to Newcastle's Utilita Arena to huge anticipation and Living North is proud to have supported its return
The biennial entertainment extravaganza held in memory of the late actor Sammy Johnson was first held in 2000, raising funds for creative, talented and enthusiastic young performing artists from the North East – and it continues to do just that.
Chairman of the charity, local legend Tim Healy, began the show with some powerful words about what Sunday for Sammy means to the region and that sentiment was carried throughout each sketch, song and stand-up performance.
The line-up of acts is always kept a secret and the audiences at both shows were in for a treat. Hosted by Kelly Rickard, highlights included a duet from stars of stage and screen Jill and Chelsea Halfpenny, a sketch from Metroland Comedy, stand-up from I, Daniel Blake’s Dave Johns, silliness in the audience from the one and only Miss Rory and Waterloo Road star James Baxter, an homage to the Angel of the North by Scott Tyrell on its 28th anniversary, a cover of Oh What a Night from Rosie Ramsey, and not one but two Auf Wiedersehen, Pet sketches from Tim Healy, Christopher Fairbank and Tim’s youngest Louis.
Weaved throughout these star-studded performances were an emotional performance from Savannah Lily (a beneficiary of the Sunday for Sammy trust) and an original song from Ernie and Imogen & The Knife, and act two began with some of the best bits from Gerry & Sewell, fresh from the West End (and returning to Newcastle Theatre Royal in June).
Geoff Wonfor, who was the show's director and producer for many years, was celebrated in a tribute voiced by Jill Halfpenny and when it was time for Tim’s son (and frontman of The 1975) Matty Healy to take to the stage with his friends, he was clearly emotional, apologising to fans and explaining he ‘really missed Geoff’. What followed was an acoustic set from Matty that was the gift that just kept giving, from a stunning cover of There She Goes by The La’s to the opportunity to shine a light on a song he listened to on a CD when he was younger by Hexham singer-songwriter Jonny Kearney. It’s called The Ticketman, it’s brilliantly clever and well worth a listen, and it was interesting to see a different side to Matty who seemed to lose himself in the moment listening to a song that clearly inspired him for years. As the set went on, I don’t think anyone expected one of Matty’s guests to be Lewis Capaldi, who performed his first number one single Someone You Loved to huge applause. The evening show welcomed another famous face – Sting!
Ending on a high, the audience joined with the cast (including Denise Welch, Steph McGovern and Brenda Blethyn as Vera) in Lindisfarne’s Run for Home.
An incredible celebration of our region and the talent we boast, Sunday for Sammy remains key to the region’s cultural calendar – and we’re already looking forward to the next show in 2028!
