The first full-length film to be shot in Benwell since Get Carter is in production, earning the West End of Newcastle the tongue and cheek nickname of 'Benywood'.
Co-directed by Game of Thrones actor Ben Crompton, the new film 'Snow White: The Sacrifice' is a dark and gothic twist on the beloved fairy-tale, strictly aimed for audiences aged 16 plus.
The 80-minute film is a multi-camera screen adaptation of artistic director Liv Lorent's dance theatre show of the same name. Premiered first at Newcastle's Northern Stage on Halloween 2024, it is currently on tour around the UK.
Shooting took place at balletLORENT's studio at the John Marley Centre in a specially constructed black box film studio. Liv Lorent, artistic director at balletLORENT, said: "Benwell is a special community, full of lively, creative people. balletLORENT has been based here since 2021 and immediately felt right at home.
"It is our absolute pleasure to create a temporary film studio here to create our feature length film Snow White: The Sacrifice. Benwell is now 'Benywood' and hopefully our film will be the first of many produced in the local area."
The 21-strong cast includes nine-year-old Bridgewater Community Primary School pupil Willow as the young Snow White, Scotswood dance artists Geoff Hopson as the King and Natalie MacGillivray, who is 38 weeks pregnant, as the Doe.
With words by former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, the film is narrated by Sarah Parish, known for Mistresses, Cutting It and satirical BBC mockumentary W1A. Told from the point of view of the Wicked Queen, Snow White's murderous mother, it will explores some of the more adult themes within the centuries old story, including the killing of your own child, and the dread of aging.
Whilst co-director Alex Ayre is winner of a 2025 Royal Television Society North East and Borders award. Costumes are by Libby El-Alfy and Nasir Mazhar, music by Dr Who composer Murray Gold, stage design by Phil Eddolls, and lighting by Malcolm Rippeth.
Ten Newcastle children - six of whom live in the West End - appear in the production. Aged between nine and 12, all are members of balletLORENT's free Youth Academy which meets weekly at the John Marley Centre to take part in dance-based activities.
Willow, who plays the young Snow White, said: "I feel excited to be a part of this Snow White film because it's an opportunity that not many people have - especially not so close to their home. I can't wait to see how it turns out."
Hayden, 10, is a pupil at St Bedes Catholic Primary School in Denton Burn and has been a member of the balletLORENT Youth Academy since 2021. He said: "I feel really happy that I'm in this movie of Snow White: The Sacrifice.
"I've performed on the stage in front of loads of people at Northern Stage and now I'm performing in a movie for balletLORENT. It's really funny because I live not far from balletLORENT in Benwell and I just got to walk up the street from home to the studio and make a movie."
Get Carter, starring a 36-year-old Michael Caine as gangster Jack Carter, was partly shot on location in Benwell in 1971. In the film, Carter's brother's house was a Victorian terrace on Frank Street, with a view over the Tyne and Dunston Power Station. Frank Street, along with most of the surrounding roads, were demolished in the 60s and 70s.
Though 2020 release The Duke told the true story of a Benwell taxi driver who stole an Old Master painting from a London gallery, it was actually filmed in Leeds and Bradford.
'Snow White: The Sacrifice' is being made for theatre streaming platform Marquee TV and will be released in September 2025.
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