Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Sophie Doughty

How budding actors can land a role in the new Sayers brothers film

Budding actors are being given the chance to star in the forthcoming Sayers film.

A New Breed of Criminal tells the story of the Newcastle brothers' journey to becoming Tyneside's most notorious criminals.

Filming will begin later this year, and film-makers are now looking for help to fund the project.

Read more: "We will spend our lives fighting for our children": Parents of Jack Woodley's teen killers claim their sons are innocent

A page has been set-up on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo and people are being asked to back the film by making a donation, booking tickets for the premiere or pre-ordering a copy of the film.

But budding actors can also pay to land themselves a part in the movie.

(handout)

A spokesman for production company Lytton Bros Pictures said: " Since the first set of auditions for the film in 2020 we’ve been inundated with people wanting to get involved and be part of this exciting project. We have decided to give people an opportunity to put themselves forward for cameo roles in the film.

"It's a tried and tested format used by successful franchises such as Rise Of The Footsoldier and this film certainly falls into that genre."

A New Breed of Criminal is based on the book Operation Sayers.

Actors Melly Barnes, Steve Wraith and Alfie Dobson (handout)

The script, that was penned during lockdown, follows the life and crimes of now reformed criminal Stephen Sayers and his brothers John Henry and Michael.

Earlier this year we reported how the script had been given a seal of approval by Ian La Frenais , the writer behind Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and The Likely Lads.

Stephen met with Le Frenais in 2015 to discuss the film and says he is excited to see filming begin.

He said: "It's been a long process but it has been worth the wait. I just can't wait to see the actors on set bringing the characters to life. "

And Director Richard John Taylor added. "I have been involved in a few good crime films over the years but this story really appealed to me on so many levels. This really is like Get Carter meets Rise of the Footsoldier."

The Sayers brothers, from Elswick in Newcastle, earned a reputation as one of the North East’s most notorious underworld families in the 1990s.

But in 2015 Stephen revealed that he was turning his back on crime for the sake of his family.

His autobiography was published that year.

Gateshead actor Steve Wraith will play Stephen in the film.

Melly Barnes who appeared in Our Friends In The North, has been cast as Michael, Alfie Dobson will take on the role of John Henry, Jayne Mackenzie has been cast as the brothers' mum Yvonne.

Read next:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.