Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

North East - Victorian Stage Machinery Gets an Update

The team restore some Victorian stage machinery, Suzie hears a story of injustice from apartheid South Africa, and wood lover Will gets to grips with the delicate art of marquetry.

In this episode, the experts lend their skills to a community project, hear the story behind a new treasure to be repaired, and visit a local crafting hero.

We head off to the North East, where Will and Suzie unearth a true hidden gem, one of the few theatres in the country to have retained its original Victorian stage machinery. After a devastating fire, this decades-long restoration project is nearing completion, so our resident master carpenter is going to lend a hand getting the various traps and lifts under the stage ready for their big debut.

In Northumberland, Suzie is meeting Anoop to pick up a backpack she鈥檒l take down to the barn to restore. It鈥檚 not just any bag though - it鈥檚 an emotionally charged reminder of his mother, who sent it as a gift after he had to flee apartheid South Africa. Anoop has travelled the world with this special bag, and it's starting to show its age, so will Suzie鈥檚 repairs to the lining and new straps make it fit to travel once again?

While in the north, woodworker Will stops by to get some tips and training from marquetry artist and restorer Victoria Walpole. It鈥檚 delicate and sometimes dangerous work, involving small slivers of wood and an extremely sharp saw or scalpel, but in the hands of a master like Victoria, can yield stunning results.

Release date:

43 minutes

On TV

Thu 20 Feb 2025 16:30

Credits

Role Contributor
Expert Suzie Fletcher
Expert William Kirk
Narrator Bill Paterson
Executive Producer Rob Butterfield
Executive Producer Hannah Lamb
Series Producer Dave Martin
Producer Tanveer Bari
Director Ingo Nyakairu
Production Company Ricochet Ltd

Broadcasts

  • Thu 20 Feb 2025 16:30
  • Fri 21 Feb 2025 07:15