Culture Digest 04.10.24
Our weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East we think should be on your radar
MOBO Awards book a date with Tyneside
Newcastle has been chosen as the host city for the MOBOs in February 2025.
MOBOs founder, Kanya King made the announcement at an event at Newcastle Civic Centre this week, where North East artist, Kay Greyson also performed.
As well as the big event, there will also be a MOBO Fringe Festival leading up to the ceremony.
Generator, The Glasshouse and Northern Roots are already busy sorting that out with the Council. Exciting stuff.
A hot offer from Chilli Studios includes an exhibition and auction
If you fancy a stroll with a purpose this weekend, head for the Ouseburn and an exhibition celebrating 20 years of Newcastle-based Chilli Studios.
The aim when Chilli Studios was set up in 2004 was to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing through creativity and it must have achieved that many times over with its regular artist-led projects and sessions.
Work produced by those who benefit from its services is of a high standard, as you’ll see if you head for its anniversary exhibition in the pop-up gallery at The Bottleworks, 8 Riverside Walk, Ouseburn NE6 1LX.
The exhibition is on until Tuesday (Oct 8). Then on Friday, October 11, from 6pm to 9pm, there’s to be a 20th Anniversary Celebration at The Toffee Factory, Ouseburn, NE1 2DF.
On offer is “a night of art, music and fun” including a fundraising auction of artworks created and donated by artists including Chilli Studios members, volunteers and staff.
For details and to secure a ticket, visit eventbrite here.
Pumpkins light the way for new trail
We can smell a new Halloween tradition emerging down in Bishop Auckland.
Starting tonight (Oct 4), weekends throughout October will see a trail featuring upwards of 600 hand-carved pumpkins lighting up the gardens and grounds of Auckland Castle.
Read the full story and see photographs from a preview evening, on our website.
Read more: Review - Gerry & Sewell at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Special items feature in Woodhorn’s new Pitmen Painters exhibition
This year of marking the 90th anniversary of the Pitmen Painters – otherwise known as the Ashington Group – ends at the beginning with an exhibition at Woodhorn Museum reflecting on the very early years.
It brings together some of the items that assumed iconic status with Lee Hall’s play, The Pitmen Painters, including the projector which art lecturer Robert Lyon is seen setting up in one of the opening scenes.
Visitors can all hear a fascinating BBC programme called Private Passions that was broadcast in 1939 in which some of the pitmen artists talk to Robert Lyon.
Read more on our website… and look out for David Whetstone’s interview with artist and curator, Dr Narbi Price early next week.
Early bird tickets on sale for Screenwriting Weekender
A three-day feast of industry talks, workshops and networking opportunities aimed at feeding the ambition of new screenwriters has been booked for Jan 31-Feb 2, 2025 by New Writing North.
The event is being held at Live Theatre in Newcastle and will see talks from leading screenwriters like Peter Straughan (Wolf Hall, Tinker Tailor, Soldier, Spy) and Tony Schumacher (The Responder) as well as advice from the top bods at production companies like Clerkenwell (Baby Reindeer) and RED (It’s A Sin).
The Early Bird ticket offer - which runs to October 7 - is £80 + booking fee, which includes access to everything (obvs), first dibs on breakout sessions and lunch plus refreshments. Full price tickets will be £100 + booking fee.
The full programme will be released on October 24 and a limited number of bursary tickets will be made available at that point. Book tickets here.
Read more: Staying true to its (folk and) roots - Beyond the Moor 2024
Dialling up the folk in Hartlepool
Hartlepool Folk Festival gets underway tonight (October 4) with an impressive lineup well, lined up for the rest of the weekend.
Kate Rusby, Peggy Seeger, Kathryn Tickell, The Breath, The Wilsons, Alistair Anderson, Jez Lowe, Frankie Archer and Lady Maisery are just come of the acts taking to the stage for the three-day event at The Headland.
As well as on-stage action, there are also workshops, pop-up performances and a free outdoor family festival to get amongst.
Meanwhile there will also be a series of events including screenings, concerts and discussions commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike.
For full programme details and bookings, visit the festival website.
Maximo Park treat shoppers to a set
North East music makers, Maximo Park performed an acoustic set in Newcastle’s Grainger Market yesterday (October 3) ahead of a record signing session at Newcastle’s RPM store and a special screening event at Tyneside Cinema tonight.
The band are celebrating the release of their new album, Stream of Life.
Led by Billingham’s Paul Smith, this week’s performances serve as a taster for a duo of sold out gigs at Newcastle’s Boiler Shop on October 26 and 27. You can try for returns here.
Art and wellbeing are the focus as Rude Health gets underway
The month-long Rude Health festival of theatre, dance and music has begun at The Tute, the former Miners’ Welfare Institute in Cambois, Northumberland, run by playwright Alex Oates and dancer Esther Huss.
It will bring big names to the village in the coming weeks, each of which has a different theme (Mental Health this week, to be followed by Ageing & Isolation; Women, Health & Equality; and finally Planetary Health).
Read the full story here and enjoy David Whetstone’s interview with Alex and Esther here where they talk more about what they’re trying to do at The Tute. Inspiring stuff.
Read more: A bird’s-eye view of history - Historic England open up their overhead archives
Do you think you’re funny?
North East comedy collective, Felt Nowt have put out the call for comics-in-the-making to come forward.
Their New Act of the Year heats will be taking place at the Town Wall pub in Newcastle throughout November and December, with the finals taking place on a date TBC in January.
Basic rules are that you get five minutes to do your thing; you must have started stand up AFTER January 2022 and you must live in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear or Durham.
Dates and details for entry can be found here (and if you don’t fancy performing, you can go along to watch the heats for free).
Last chance to soak up Middlesbrough Art Week
Tomorrow (October 5) is the final day of Middlesbrough Art Week, which has been embracing its 2024 theme In the Now and the Far across 25 locations in the town.
Now in its seventh year, the programme has included a raft of free events, conversations and creative activities.
On its final day, there are no less that 24 things to get involved with including the UPROOT Collective’s meadow at Pineapple Black in Hillstreet Shopping Centre.
Check out what’s on offer here.
New book release from David Almond
Award-winning North East author David Almond has unveiled his latest book, Kevin and the Blackbirds.
Illustrated by a fellow award-winner, P J Lynch, the story is a “heartfelt retelling of an ancient Irish tale”, featuring a young boy who finds his freedom through the blackbirds who find a home in his hands. Recommended for readers aged 5+.
Read more: Hatton Gallery exhibition sees Mali Morris ‘Returning’
Saint Maud on screen
Tyneside Cinema are putting on a special screening of movie, Saint Maud to coincide with the premiere run of Live Theatre’s stage adaptation.
Director Jack McNamara will be on hand to introduce the 2019 psychological horror and talk about why he and Sunderland writer, Jessica Andrews have turned it into a play (which opens at Live on October 10 for three weeks.
Tickets for the screening here and the play here.
Read David Whetstone’s interview with Jessica and Jack here.
balletLORENT trail the arrival of family show
North East dance company, balletLORENT will be unveiling their new family-friendly dance theatre production of Snow White.
Directed by Liv Lorent, the story has been retold by former Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and features costumes by Libby El-Alfa.
The production will open at Northern Stage (November 1-3) before touring to Hull and Sadlers Wells East in London. Tickets for the North East dates here.
North East artists Artists Applications open for North East Artist Award
Artists from the region are being invited to put themselves forward for the next cohort of the North East Emerging Artist Award at Seaton Delaval Hall.
Launched in 2021 to showcase site-specific contemporary art in a historic context (namely, Seaton Deleval Hall), final year and recently graduated art students working across artforms including music, sound, theatre, film, fashion, literature and design as well as fine art are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for applications is December 6. More details here.
Anglo-German classical collaboration brings young people together in Durham.
A special joint concert featuring young musicians from the Buxtehude Youth Symphony Orchestra in Germany and Durham Music Youth Orchestra will take place later this month.
The upcoming performance (on October 12) is the second collaboration between the two orchestras following a sellout concert in 2016.
Andreas Désor, oboist and one of the orchestra’s founding members, said: “We’re really looking forward to returning to the North East. Our trips help our group of musicians bond and develop both musically and socially.”
The performance will take place at St Godric’s Church and proceeds from the event will benefit the Durham Martyrs' Parish Support Fund, which assists families in the local community facing short-term financial hardship, and the Mark Jon Bolderson Percussion Foundation, which provides financial support to young percussion students in the North-East for tuition, instruments, and sheet music.
For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the Northern Secrets website.