The opera came to the Glebe Centre in Murton in October 2003.
Getting in some practice before the show were Connie Kunkle, John Foley and Joan Taylor on the piano.
Dave Arkley saved the day in 2007.
The Echo reported how he supplied a keyboard in a grand piano case for Lionel Richie who was performing at Newcastle Arena, after the original blew up.
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.