Dylan Thomas died before putting the finishing touches to his famous radio play to be performed by the People's Theatre.
One of the great works of literature is to get an airing as the actors of the People's Theatre tackle Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas.
The Welsh poet, as well known for his drinking and chaotic love life as his poetry, had a way with words that few have ever matched.
Under Milk Wood is "a play for voices" which was comissioned for the radio by the BBC.
There's a narrator who reveals the dreams and thoughts of the inhabitants of a fictional Welsh village called Llareggub, which you need to read backwards to understand Dylan Thomas's thinking.
The poet who was born in Swansea in 1914, had many of the characters in his head for a long time.
A piece he wrote at school is believed to have of the characters in his head for a long time.
It has enchanted readers and listeners down the years with its descriptions - as in the "sloeblack, slow, black, crowbalck, fishingboatbobbing sea" - and its rich characters, dozens of them including Organ Morgan, the church organist, undertakerEvans the Death, Mr Willy Nilly the postman and the bobby, PC Attila Rees.
My late grandmother, born in Risca, not many miles from Thomas's birthplace, had few vinyl LPs but one was of the BBC recording of Under Milk Wood with Richard Burton as the narrator.
I can still rememberthe perfect match of workds and voice, not soporific but musical and mesmerising. "
Dylan thomas delivered a draft of Under Milk Wood to the BBC in September 1953 before he went to America, intending to revise it on his reeturn. But a couple of months later, he died in New York, aged 39 - having lapsed into a coma after a drinking bout and the wosening of a chest condition due to air pollution.
In the People's production, membersof the amateur company will play the actors who come together in a BBC radio theatre in 1954 to mke a recording of the play for voices, bringing to life the colourful inhabitants of Llareggub.
The performance will be performed to the original musical setting of composer Daniel Jones - who was Thomas's friend and literary trustee.
Under Milk Wood runs from Tuesday, June 13 to Saturday, June 17 at the People's Theatre on Stephenson Road in Newcastle NE6 5QF.
Tickets: www.peoplestheatre.co.uk or tel. 0191 265 5020
Audience members will also be able to see the first exhibition resulting from a new partnership between the People's Theatre and the Biscuit Factory art gallery in Shieldfield.
Under the arrangement the gallery's charitable arm, The Biscuit Factory Foundation that will sponsor the arts programming at the People's Theatre which is undergoing an impressive revamp.
Rachel Brown, general manager at The Biscuit Factory, said: "The gallery is looking to support other independent arts organisations in the locality and ultimately contribute to the development of the cultural landscape of the city for artists and art appreciators alike.
"Our new foyer and gallery space now provides a spectacular backdrop for exhibitions and, with The Biscuit Factory's support, our exhibiting artists have access to a wider audience and commercial expertise."
The first exhibition, featuring work by members of the Knightsbridge Art Club, Gosforth, is called New Perspectives.
It will run at the People's Theatre until July 29 and be open to view on show nights - or on other nights to groups who should email gallery@peopletheatre.co.uk