Culture Digest 02.11.24
Culture Digest 02.11.24
A weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East which have caught our attention
Hairy Biker Dave Myers celebrated in new BBC documentary
The late and much-loved TV star, Dave Myers will be remembered by his on-screen partner and off screen best mate, Si King in a one-off documentary next month (Dec).
The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone, will see Si picking out key moments from 25 years of inimitable TV cookery shows which saw the pair become beloved household names and spawned any number of best-selling recipe books.
The programme also follows the 45,000 bikes that joined Si on a memorial journey from London to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness in April this year, a couple of months after the 66-year-old died from cancer.
Si said: “It was a very special show to pull together. Full of nostalgia, laughs and celebration of my best friend and his life.”
The hour-long special is due to air just before Christmas.
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£2m anniversary boost for The Glasshouse to benefit young musicians
The Glasshouse has announced a £2m donation from The Foyle Foundation towards expanding its work with young people under the banner of a new Music Academy for the North East.
Gateshead’s international music centre turns 20 in December and in 2025, its 20th anniversary year, will officially launch a new £20m fundraising campaign – kickstarted by the donation – to support its ambitions as it moves into its third decade.
One of its principal aims concerns young people and The Glasshouse, a music charity, is also launching a new campaign called ‘Music makes me feel’ which celebrates the transformative impact of music education.
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Hit show with ‘Gwyneth Paltrow’ that’s downhill all the way
Remember that crazy court case involving a collision on a ski slope between Gwyneth Paltrow, Goop founder and sometime movie star, and retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, from Utah?
It was the stuff of the movies made real and it certainly caught the eye of Linus Karp and Joseph Martin.
The resulting show, Gwyneth Goes Skiing comes to Live Theatre in Newcastle later this month.
Louise Young to go Feral at Tyne Theatre
North East stand up, Louise Young has booked a big home turf date at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House for spring 2025.
The announcement comes on the back of sell out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and London’s Soho Theatre.
The show she’s bringing, Feral, earned a Best Newcomer nomination at the Fringe thanks to Louise finding the funny around themes of class, chaos and coming out.
Feral will come to the Tyne Theatre on March 14, 2025. You can book tickets here.
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Jonny to jolly up 700 years of history at former prison
Artist Jonny Hannah has been commissioned to brighten up Hexham Old Gaol – but there aren’t any inmates to benefit these days. Its use as a lock-up ceased in 1820 and in 1980 it first opened as a museum.
The two-year commission is made possible with a £40,000 award to Museums Northumberland, the county museum service, from the Art Fund charity as part of its Reimagine programme.
It will see the extraordinarily prolific illustrator and printmaker returning to the scene of past glories.
Read more here.
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Spectacular crib reappears in Bishop Auckland for Christmas
Of all the art treasures now gathered in Bishop Auckland as part of The Auckland Project, arguably none is as jaw dropping as the rare 18th Century Neapolitan Nativity.
It’s Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus amid a teeming mass of corporeal and celestial life. Forget the intimacy of the stable. This was a virgin birth in a carnival atmosphere.
The crib, which some call a crèche and in Italy is known as a presepe, is coming out of storage again as the centrepiece of the Christmas at the Palace experience (at Auckland Palace, formerly known as Auckland Castle).
Read the full story here.
Deadline approaching for regional Royal Television Society Awards
Film and TV makers from the North East and the Borders have until November 8 to enter the upcoming Royal Television Society Awards.
The ceremony will take place at The Hilton, Newcastle Gateshead on February 15, 2025 and will reward the best of the region’s production talent.
Categories include Broadcast Factual, Comedy, Drama, News Programme, Presenter, Drama Performance, On Screen Journalism and Newcomer. There are also awards recognising professional excellence.
For more information and entry criteria, visit the website.
A bit of Argie Bhaji at Wylam Brewery
The best of North East spicy street food will be battling it out next weekend (Nov 8 and 9) at a two-day-long event in Newcastle.
As ever, Argie Bhaji, the popular and very tasty instalment of the ‘food battle’ series, will take place at Wylam Brewery in exhibition park - bringing more than 15 specialist vendors as well as dessert stalls, gin bars and wall to wall tunes.
Participating food outlets including Big Fat Indian Kitchen, Mivesi, Snackwallah, My Delhi, Funky Indian Wali, Thali Tray, Chakh Dhoom, The Bombay Express and Paninaro Sud Africano.
The winners will be decided by those who attend after they’ve sampled a variety of dishes and revealed a week after the event.
For more information, visit the website.
Exhibition spotlights untold stories of County Durham’s children
A new exhibition at heritage venue, The Story in Durham, has unearthed tales of young people from across County Durham’s past.
Opening this weekend (Nov 2) Welcome to our County: The Children of Yesterday and Tomorrow has been devised and created by Durham Youth Council.
The display draws on objects and documents from The Story’s extensive collections, with stories from the Roman Empire, Medieval times, Victorian era and more featuring.
From a miniature uniform made for a little boy to match that worn by his father serving in the First World War, to beautifully illustrated Victorian diaries – each object has been selected and researched by the young people.
Sam Treweeke, 19, a Durham Youth Council councillor, said: “We, as a youth council, hope everyone leaves this exhibition having thought about their own story of childhood – whether that be their past or present – and of course, appreciate and enjoy learning about history through the lives of children.”
Find out more from The Story website.
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BBC Comedy networking event design to fuel the funny
A gathering of comedy talent has been booked for later this month (November 13).
Hosted by BBC Comedy, the event at the Tyneside Cinema will offer the chance for comedy creatives to come together and hear from ‘industry gatekeepers’.
The idea is for writers, producers and directors to gain valuable insight from panelists including BBC commissioners and producers as well as successful production companies including Newcastle-based Schnoobert Productions - run by comedian and writer, Jason Cook.
As well as informal networking, there will also be the chance to pitch a script.
The event takes place from 4pm to 7pm at The Coffee Room and is free to attend. Register and find out more here.
Film festival award for Northern School of Art graduate
Meg Wallace, who studied at The Northern School of Art has been given the Best Costume Design award at this year’s Jane Austen International Film Festival.
She received the honour for her work on Torn, a short film exploring the early life of Elizabeth I, and how she was born to be Queen.
“The win was an absolute surprise. I was in the queue for a water ride at Chessington when the director called me to let me know,” said Meg.
“I was over the moon as the Tudor period is a great love of mine as are Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn as historical figures. To win for a short film in a time period I’m passionate about and with characters I love was quite special.”
Read more here.
Tyne and Wear Museums boss recognised in international influencer list
Keith Merrin, the chief executive of Tyne and Wear Museums has been named in the top 50 most influential museum leaders in the world.
Announced on October 31, the Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List highlights key individuals whose innovation and creativity have been integral to developing today’s museums.
Keith is the only representative from the North East of England featured on the list.
He said: “I am pleased to have been included in the Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List for 2024 alongside an impressive bunch of people from round the world.
Read more here.