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The past plays a part in two free talks at Teesside

28 June 2010

 

Middlesbrough-born Wally K Daly will trace his early days in Grangetown to writing for some of television’s best known shows in a free lecture here at Teesside.

Wally’s free public lecture Tall Tales But True can be heard in the University’s Centuria Building, off Victoria Road, Middlesbrough, at 2.00pm on Friday 9 July.

Meanwhile the history of Teesside University is the focus of a separate free public lecture which can be heard in the same venue earlier in the week.

Linda Polley, a senior lecturer in history at Teesside University, will present her talk Building a University: a history of architecture and education from 6.30pm to 7.45pm on Wednesday 7 July in the Centura Building.

Celebrating 80 years While Linda’s visual presentation will focus on the architectural history of the campus as the University celebrates its 80th year, Wally’s talk will focus more on his own memories of the place he called home.

The Teesside University honorary graduate first sought fame in London’s theatre land after completing an apprenticeship as an electrician at Dorman Long steelworks. He worked as a stage manager, then as an actor, before deciding his real passion was in writing.

His first radio play Whistling Wally, set in Vaughan Street, Grangetown, was later recorded for television as a Play for Today and produced as a stage play. He has gone on to produce over 100 plays for radio and television, along with over 30 sitcoms and episodes of popular television shows such as Casualty, Juliet Bravo and Byker Grove.

A collection of archive work relating to Wally is currently housed at Teesside University. The Wally K Daly collected was deposited with the University in June 2005 by the author.

Linda PolleyThe majority of the collection comprises draft and finished proposals for theatre, radio and television projects, scripts and short stories, mainly produced between 1975 and 1998.

Suzanne Heywood, Senior Information Officer, Library & Information Services, said: 'Wally’s talk will include his early days living in Grangetown and how he has gone on to become an internationally known writer. He is a very entertaining speaker.'

Although entry to both talks is free, places are limited and must be booked by emailing alumni.office@tees.ac.uk.

Wally’s talk is being held as part of the Middlesbrough Literary Festival. More details at www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/litfest.


 
 
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