No More Sleeping
A groundbreaking new picture book and musical is waking up the North East. Created with pupils from across our Trust, collaborating with leading regional creatives, No More Sleeping brings our history, heroes and future to life in a bold, imaginative adventure.
The Story
No More Sleeping tells the inspiring story of Dot, a teenage girl struggling with the loss of her grandparents. Her world transforms when she receives Marra, a Multifunctioning Autonomous Robotic Resource Assistant — not just a machine, but a living archive of her family’s history and the untold stories of the North East.
Guided by Marra, she embarks on a mesmerising adventure, encountering historical figures from the heritage of the North East. Together, they uncover the region’s rich heavy industrial and cultural legacy, sparking a movement towards a future driven by arts, technology, sustainability and innovation.
Meet Marra
A picture book has been created in collaboration with pupils, proving that world-class creativity can begin in the classroom. Pupils have played a part in shaping this project, contributing their ideas, imagination and artistic skills to both the story and its illustrations.
From developing characters and suggesting plot ideas to creating artwork and visual details, the children’s creativity has been at the heart of the entire process, making this a truly shared and special achievement.
Copies of No More Sleeping are now available to pre-order at a cost of £10 per book.
Premiering on Wednesday 23 September 2026, No More Sleeping is more than a show — it is a movement to inspire the next generation of musicians, makers, storytellers and innovators.
Get ready to rediscover the past, reimagine the future and celebrate the North East.
Copies of No More Sleeping are available to pre-order at a cost of £10 per copy. To find out more, email [email protected].
Pre-order the Book
Be part of this exciting Trust-wide creative project and celebrate the imagination, talent and ambition of our pupils.
Email to pre-orderPartners
This extraordinary project is the result of a unique collaboration with acclaimed writer Richard O’Neill MBE, renowned musician and community leader Mike McGrother, illustrator Michelle Russell and Seven Stories — The National Centre for Children’s Books.
With special thanks to the University of Durham’s humanoid robot Alan, a Unitree G1 Edu humanoid designed specifically for education and AI research.
