I, Daniel Blake

Promotional poster for the theatrical premiere of the film 'I, Daniel Blake', featuring a man with glasses and a scarf, raising one arm and holding a can in the other, against a dark background with text.

Dan is a carpenter.  A Geordie through and through.  Just on the mend after a heart attack.

Katie has just arrived from London. Finally got a council house for her and the kids.  A fresh start.

I, Daniel Blake is one of the most important stories of a generation.  A glimpse behind the headlines and the stark reality of what happens when the political system is stacked against you.  With 14.5 million* people living in poverty in the UK, this is not fiction.  It is reality.

A touching and vital story of how people come together in the face of adversity and how sometimes creating a family to support you just isn’t enough.  The show was adapted for stage by Dave Johns who played Daniel Blake in the BAFTA and Palme D’or award winning 2016 film.

Excellence In Touring Award winner at the UK Theatre Awards 2023
Best Performing Artist and Writer of The Year winners at North East Culture Awards 2023
Best Performance of The Year and Arts Council Award nominees at North East Culture Awards 2023
Best Supporting Actress nominee at What’s On Stage Awards 2023

*Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2022 Poverty Report.

If you’re interested in producing a theatre show or stage adaptation or, if you’re interested in purchasing a playtext for I, Daniel Blake, please email info@tinydragonproductions or fill out this form.

People working at a food bank donation station with a large sign overhead reading 'Foodbank Donations' and listing needed items.
Two women on stage, one sitting on a bag of clothes and the other standing, engaged in a dramatic scene. The seated woman holds a piece of paper, wearing a coat with a fur-lined hood, and has an expressive look. The standing woman wears a purple jack
A woman standing on a stage resembling a grocery store, holding a plastic bag, with empty shelves and a dark backdrop.
A woman with dark hair, dressed in a green parka, stands on a stage with a brick background and bookshelf, illuminated by stage lights. A large screen above her displays a text about universal credit and poverty. There is fog or smoke to the right.
Three people having a conversation on stage, two women sitting on chairs and a man sitting on a chair, in front of a metal bookshelf with a framed picture and green storage bins, in a dimly lit theatre scene.
Three people at a table. The woman on the left has dark hair, a brown cardigan, and ripped jeans. The woman in the middle is in a green shirt, smiling, with a plate in front. The man is wearing glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants, reaching toward t
A woman standing on stage with a distressed expression, holding a can of baked beans, surrounded by plastic bags, with a dark background and purple lighting.
Group of six actors standing on stage under purple lighting with a large projected text above them.
Two people emotionally embrace on a stage, with the woman leaning into the man's chest and the man holding her close, expressing a moment of sadness or comfort.
Two people are seated at a table on a stage, engaging in conversation with a laptop in front of them. The stage has a dark background with a torn paper projection and purple stage lights overhead.
Two men, one in a brown beanie and glasses, the other in a teal cap, stand on stage with a large sign behind them that reads 'Unleash Britain's Potential'. The man on the right holds a small bouquet of flowers, and the scene appears to be part of a t
Two men are having a conversation in a dimly lit room. The man on the left is holding a notebook, wearing glasses, a jacket, and a sweater. The man on the right, with a beard and wearing a dress shirt and tie, is gesturing with his hands. Behind them
A man stands on a table with his arms raised in a celebratory gesture, while another person in dark clothing stands nearby with an arm raised, in a dimly lit room with purple stage lighting. Behind them, a large screen displays spray painted text.
A man and woman on a stage, with the man comforting the woman who appears distressed, clutching her arms. The woman is sitting on a stage platform, wearing a jacket and sneakers, with a backpack on the floor beside her. The background includes empty
Theatre stage scene with five actors, shelves, and a large screen displaying text that reads 'empowering work empowering you'.
A man sitting on the floor with a smile, holding a framed picture, in a room with chairs, a backpack, and a metal shelf, with brick walls and stage lighting.
A man wearing glasses, a beanie, and a jacket standing on stage below a banner that says 'Unleash Britain's Potential' and 'Register to vote' in black and blue text.
Theater stage with a man standing on a table pointing at a large screen that displays "1. DANIEL BLAKE," and a woman standing nearby holding a folder, with empty chairs and shelves around an industrial-style backdrop.
A man is standing on a table on stage, with a large screen behind him displaying handwritten text. The stage is set with metal shelves, chairs, and a brick wall backdrop, with theatre lighting and smoke effects.
Theatre scene with three actors: one man sitting on the left, a woman sitting at a table in the middle, and another woman standing on the right, all smiling and interacting on stage, with shelves and decorations in the background.
A man with glasses and a distressed expression carries two black plastic bags over his shoulders, with two women behind him looking concerned, in a dimly lit setting with orange lighting in the background.
A woman standing on stage holding a purple object, with a large handwritten note projected behind her on a black background.
People working at a food bank with a large banner overhead that reads 'Foodbank Donations' and 'Emergency food for local people in crisis'. Two women are in the foreground, one wearing a Foodbank apron, and a man is in the background handling food it
A stage scene with two people sitting at a table, one woman and one man, in front of shelves and with large advertising billboard above on a dark background. The billboard promotes career opportunities with the text "New Career Opportunities".
Two women sit close together on a bench, holding hands and engaging in an emotional conversation on a stage, with a metal shelf in the background.
Two men are having a conversation in a room with dark walls; one is standing and leaning on a metal shelf, smiling, wearing a camouflage-patterned t-shirt and athletic pants, while the other is seated in a green plastic chair, wearing glasses, a brow
Two men on a stage engaging in a comedic act, one laughing with head back and hand on stomach, the other pointing with a serious expression, surrounded by shelves, chairs, and a cardboard box.
A young man with short curly hair and dark skin sitting on a table, engaged in a conversation with another person who is partially visible. The young man is wearing a blue camouflage t-shirt and black pants. There is a laptop on the table and a dark
Three people engaged in conversation on a stage, with bags of belongings on the floor in front of them. A large digital sign above them reads 'LANDLORDS NEED LEASES PAXTONS DELIVER THEM' and a small caption below their heads says 'No really, it's oka
The image depicts a stage with three actors performing. One man is sitting on a platform, wearing a brown jacket and beanie, looking contemplative. Two are seated at a table in the background; one is holding , engaged in conversation, and the other
A man with a beard wearing a beanie, dark jacket, and sweatpants stands on stage with arms outstretched, speaking passionately. Behind him is a torn poster with the words 'VOTE', 'FOR', 'CHANGE', and 'NEED LEASES' visible, and a large screen displayi
A man stands on a table with arms raised, on stage with purple lighting, in front of a large screen displaying text, with another person in front of him with an arm raised.
A woman kneeling on the floor, holding a can to her mouth, with an expression of distress, in a dark room with shelves and green crates behind her.
Stage set with purple lighting, bookshelf shelves, a woman sitting at a table with a laptop, and two people standing nearby. A large digital screen outdoors the stage displays a social media post.

Reviews

“Heartfelt performances centre a powerful adaptation of the Ken Loach film that feels more relevant than ever.” The Stage ★★★★★

“An adaptation of the Ken Loach film that both moves and provokes…the show repeatedly reminds us of the gulf between political rhetoric and life as it is lived.” The Guardian

“A stunning adaptation that is fiercely political.” Fairy Powered Productions ★★★★★

“A knockout production.” Chronicle ★★★★★

“Stirring and enraging.” The Times

The Observer ★★★★

“Raw, relevant and heart-breaking.” Theatre & Tonic ★★★★★

The Reviews Hub ★★★★★

“A tangible thread of anger runs through this production. The Dans and Katies have not gone away. Far from it.” Whats On Stage ★★★★

“It is a story of love, empowerment, and community in the face of the cruellest adversity. A story for everyone.” InNewcastle ★★★★★

“A heart-warming story of people uniting in the face of adversity, the standing ovation at the end was well deserved.” British Theatre Guide

A woman and a man sitting together; the woman is reaching out and the man is holding a white mug with a blue rim, wearing glasses and a dark jacket.
Two women having a serious conversation at a table, with one speaking and the other listening and resting her arm on the table.
People standing in a line during dance rehearsal in a studio with graffiti on the wall.
Two men are engaged in a conversation in front of blue shelves, with others in the background.
A black and white photo of two men, one facing away from the camera wearing a white t-shirt and the other facing towards the camera with a smiling face, bald head, and a beard, wearing a hoodie and jacket, in an indoor setting.
A woman with blonde hair talking and gesturing with her hands, sitting at a table with three other women, in an indoor setting with blue shelves in the background.
Woman with short dark hair and gold hoop earrings speaking, and two women listening, in a setting with blue metal shelving units.
Three people in an indoor setting with colorful graffiti art on the wall. Two men in the foreground look at a device, one holding it. A woman in a hoodie stands in the background.
A woman with light skin and reddish-brown hair, wearing a beige hoodie, black pants, white sneakers, and white socks, sitting on a stool or box in what appears to be a warehouse or industrial setting. She has a thoughtful expression, with one hand re
A smiling man with short curly hair wearing a black t-shirt, standing among several other people in a room with blue shelves in the background.
A young man in a black t-shirt gestures with his hands while talking to a man with a beard and a backwards blue cap in a dimly lit room. Two women are visible in the background.
A man with short hair and a gray T-shirt stands with his back to the camera, watching four people in a room with blue shelves. The people on the other side of the shelves are slightly out of focus.
Two men in a room with one touching the other's shoulder. The man on the left has dark skin and short black hair, wearing a gray t-shirt. The man on the right has light skin, gray hair, and is wearing a black shirt, with a distressed expression.

Creative Credits

Director – Mark Calvert
Adaptor - Dave Johns
Designer - Rhys Jarman
Music - Ross Millard
Sound Design - Roma Yagnik
Lighting Design - Simisola Majekodunmi
Video Design - Matt Brown for PixelLux
Movement Director - Martin Hylton
Assistant Director - Siobhan McAuley
Wardrobe Supervisor - Naomi Daley
Production Photos - Pamela Wraith

Cast & Stage Management

Daniel Blake - David Nellist
Katie Jenkins - Bryony Corrigan
China / Ensemble - Kema Sikazwe
Daisy / Ensemble - Jodie Wild
Sheila / Ensemble - Janine Leigh
Floor Manager / Ensemble - Micky Cochrane
Production Manager - Skip Francis
DSM - Lizzi Adams
Wardrobe ASM - Alice Winter
Produced by Tiny Dragon Productions