A new version of Eugene O’Neill’s ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’ – widely considered as the Great American Tragedy – is touring the region this May.

And excitement is high for this new take on Eugene’s O’Neill’s classic play because it’s coming to us courtesy of Elysium Theatre who, in recent years, have worked their magic on the likes of ‘A Doll’s House’ and ‘Othello’. If you’re not au fait with ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’ then you should know that the Pulitzer Prize winning, semi-autobiographical masterpiece takes place over the course of a single day. It’s August 1912 and the Tyrone family have gathered at their seaside summer home. After years of separation they are reunited again, full of hope for the future. But as the day grinds on, their love is tested to the utmost as the ghosts of the past come to haunt them. It’s a piece that usually plays to packed houses in London’s West End and on Broadway, so it’s great that Elysium are bringing one of the 20th century’s key works to audiences right here in the north-east. GM

Long Day’s Journey into Night:  12 May, Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham; 13 May, Southpaw Dance Studios, Sunderland; 14 May, Town Hall Theatre, Hartlepool; 15 May, Northern Stage, Newcastle; 18 May, Ushaw House, Durham; 19 May, Gala, Durham; 21 May, Alnwick Playhouse; 25 May, Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm; 26 May, The Witham, Barnard Castle; 27 May, Washington Arts Centre. Times and ticket info etc from: elysiumtc.co.uk