A little after midnight on Friday 6 October 1854 a fire broke out at Wilson's worsted factory on Hillgate Quay in Gateshead. Crowds gathered to watch as the building was reduced to rubble in less than an hour. The flames then spread to Bertram's warehouse, jammed full of highly combustible materials, causing a huge explosion.

In one of the most dramatic and tragic events in the history of Tyneside, many people perished, and hundreds more were left homeless and destitute on both sides of the river.

As part of the celebrations surrounding the Tall Ships race, Newcastle-based theatre company, StageFOCUS, presented Burning Ambition, a new play, which focuses on the events leading up to the tragedy.

Following exhaustive research, writer Andrea Sutherland recreated a vibrant cross-section of Victorian Tyneside society. Featuring a mix of history, comedy and live music courtesy of Northumbrian folk outfit, Death at the Leek Show, Burning Ambition is recommended to everyone interested in theatre and the North East's rich heritage.