The city of Newcastle is about to be transported back in time, its streets transformed into the very fabric of Edwardian London. It's a cinematic coup that will leave audiences enthralled, as the upcoming film adaptation of Virginia Woolf's 'Night and Day' brings the past roaring back to life. And it's not just the era that's being recreated – it's also the location. The entire production has been cleverly staged in North East England, with many of its period London settings meticulously replicated using some of the region's most iconic landmarks.
The story follows Katharine Hilbery, a free-spirited young woman played by Haley Bennett, as she navigates the societal pressures of love and marriage against the backdrop of strict patriarchal expectations. With her fierce passion for astronomy and determination to forge her own path, Katharine is the ultimate rebel of Edwardian England. The all-star cast also includes Lily Allen as suffragette Mary Datchet, Jack Whitehall as William Rodney, and screen veterans Timothy Spall and Jennifer Saunders as Katharine's parents.
At the heart of this production is the innovative use of Northern English locations to double for 1910 London. Local director Tina Gharavi has been on a mission to uncover the hidden gems of Tyneside, and she's found some real treasures. The Lecture Theatre in Newcastle's historic Common Room is one such find – its circular, wood-panelled interior still boasting an untouched Edwardian authenticity that left Gharavi breathless. To ensure maximum period accuracy, certain modern paintwork was even temporarily altered for filming.
From the Grade II-listed Lit & Phil library to Gateshead's Tanfield Railway, a 5km heritage route dating back to 1725 – one of the oldest railways in the world – each location has been carefully chosen to bring the era to life. But it was the Ryhope Engines Museum in Sunderland that stole Gharavi's heart, its Jacobean-style façade and two Victorian beam engines making it a true time machine for the characters.
This commitment to historical accuracy is what makes 'Night and Day' such an unromantic comedy – and a compelling watch. As the production delves into the technological advancements and societal context of early 20th-century London, audiences will be transported back in time, immersed in the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of a bygone era.