WHEN Geordie actor Sammy Johnson, best known for his role as 'Stick' in the hit TV series 'Spender', died suddenly in 1998, his friends and colleagues decided to create a lasting tribute to his memory.
His fellow North East actors, Jimmy Nail and Tim Healy, set up the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund to support young people from the region embarking on a career in the performing arts.
To do this, they needed to raise money and so, in 2000, they and a group of their friends – which includes some of the biggest names in showbusiness - decided to stage a concert at Newcastle City Hall. Theatres are traditionally closed on a Sunday so to make it easier for as many of Sammy's colleagues as possible to participate, the show was scheduled for a Sunday night. The event had it's title.
The show was a resounding success and the Sunday for Sammy concerts, which take place every two years at Newcastle’s City Hall, have become the hottest ticket in town as an ever increasing galaxy of stars from the worlds of TV, theatre and music takes to the stage.
As well as Tim and Jimmy, past performers have included Kevin Whately, Denise Welch, Timothy Spall, Brendan Healy, Brian Johnson, Charlie Hardwick, Billy Mitchell and Jill Halfpenny. Although many of the cast appear regularly in the show, the final bill is never made public and consequently the audiences have enjoyed many surprise guest appearances. In 2010 it was legendary Tyneside born guitarist and ex-Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler who walked on stage unnanounced.
More than 160 talented performers from the region have received grants from money raised by the sale of Sunday for Sammy concert tickets and DVD's since the shows began in 2000.ad M
Space is also made on the bill for some of the young performers who have received financial support from the Sunday for Sammy Trust, giving them the opportunity to share the stage with some of the North East's most high profile entertainers. Applications for funding are welcome at any time and auditions are held twice a year for the Trustees to meet the applicants, assess their potential and to consider supporting them with a grant.
