Culture Digest: 06.09.24
Our weekly round up of the arts and culture stories from across the North East which we think should be on your radar
North East production company unveils Radio 4 comedy
The antics of an amateur paranormal investigator (Chris Relish) intent on proving he once had a romantic dalliance with a ghost is the subject of Gateshead indie production company MOTIF’s comedy series, which kicked off on BBC Radio 4 this week (Sept 4).
Set in the fictional North East town of Kibble, Follow The Rabbit is written and produced by James Boughen from Stockton, with each of its four episodes offering a new instalment of Chris’ DIY podcast as he investigates a variety of cases.
These include a hoarder who believes a poltergeist is tidying her house; a farmer who claims he’s had a very close encounter with an alien; and a woman who says she’s got a tiny demon living in a biscuit tin.
WIth a cast including comedian Tom Lawrinson, Jo Enright (Life’s Too Short), Chelsea Halfpenny (Emmerdale), Beth Mullen (After Life) and James Baxter (Alma’s Not Normal), Follow the Rabbit airs on Wednesdays at 11pm and will also be available to download/stream on BBC Sounds.
Tees Folk returns for 2024
Following a successful debut last year, one-day event Tees Folk is back this weekend (Saturday, September 7) at Stockton Globe.
Promising to bring world class folk and acoustic music to Teesside, the festival boasts an all Scottish line up for 2024 featuring acts including award-winning trio Lau, singer Siobhan Miller and her six piece band; Glasgow quartet Gnoss; and BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2018, Hannah Rarity.
Tickets and more details from the website.
From the CNE website: They’re back in their eternal quest for season tickets. David Whetstone reports on the promotion of Gerry & Sewell to the theatre premier league. Read more
New David Almond book in the offing
The latest release from celebrated North East author, David Almond will be hitting bookshop shelves from September 12.
The Falling Boy is the Tynemouth-based writer’s new novel for young people - telling the story of Joff whose appetite to escape his daily life (ill dad, working mam, a new kid in town) is fed by the off-limits Chapel of Doom and its legend of the Falling Boy.
Billed as a ‘brilliant coming-of-age story about hope, friendship and conquering your fears’, fans of Almond’s incredible storytelling - who span the globe - will be excited.
The Sheep are baaaaaaack
The popular Illuminated Sheep Art Trail is up and running once again at sites across Hadrian’s Wall Country.
Presented by Queen’s Hall Arts and Hadrian’s Wall Partnership, artist Deepa Mann-Kler’s exhibition encourages us to #FindTheFlock - all the while exploring the rich landscape and heritage of the area from Maryport to Arbeia.
The flock - which have all been customised by local community organisations and businesses - are now out at their various locations, waiting to be found by visitors.
You can download a full list of locations here and have until September 26 to find them before they are brought together for the Urban Adventure at three locations in October.
The illuminated multi-coloured light display will appear at the Toffee Factory (Oct 3); Segedunum (Oct 11); and Newcastle Cathedral (Oct 22-24).
From the CNE website: A plan has been hatched to put Horden’s name in lights and its people on the stage. David Whetstone meets the man behind new County Durham theatre company, Ensemble ‘84. Read more
A new chapter of The Lindisfarne Story
Spring 2025 will see former Lindisfarne members, Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell take a new incarnation of their popular show, The Lindisfarne Story on the road.
Chapter VI: No Time To Lose will see the much-loved pair exploring Lindisfarne’s debut album, Nicely Out of Tune via music, stories, photographs and film clips.
As you would expect, the North East is well served with tour dates including gigs at Alnwick Playhouse, The Customs House in South Shields, The Queen’s Hall, Hexham, Durham’s Gala Theatre, The Witham in Barnard Castle and Whitley Bay Playhouse.
Billy said: “Ray and I really love touring with this show. Our fans love the stories, the rare video and the stripped-back acoustic versions of their favourite Lindisfarne songs. We can't wait to get back out there.”
For full tour dates and tickets, visit www.lindisfarnestory.co.uk
Arts project has a spring in its step after new funding confirmed
Arts Council England has awarded The Cultural Spring £333,000 to continue its work using creativity to support communities in Sunderland.
The award will secure the project’s stability through to March 2026 when the next major round of funding decisions will be made.
Working with partners University of Sunderland, Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture Trust, The Cultural Spring Charity and Young Asian Voices (YAV), The Cultural Spring aims to increase the number of people taking part in all kinds of arts and culture activities.
County Durham theatre prepares for reopening
The Empire Theatre in Consett is set to open its doors next week following months of essential repairs to its roof.
It’s fair to assume everyone is 100% sure the works are all finished… as the theatre - which is more than 100 years old - is scheduled to reopen on Friday the 13th (of September).
The venue’s cafe, The Empire Lounge will be ready to welcome customers, while the cinema will be showing the much-anticipated sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The first theatre production will be The Full Monty from October 1-5, which kicks off a busy autumn season running through to this year’s pantomime, Cinderella.
For more what’s on information, visit their website.
From the CNE website: Baltic’s Open Submission soon to close after a busy summer. Read more
Futureheads announce wall to wall bangers release and tour
Tickets are now on sale for some special tour dates from Sunderland smashers, The Futureheads.
Booked to follow the release their new collection, Decent Days and Nights: The Singles (scheduled for release on November 29), the four-piece will be bringing the live version to UK venues, finishing up at Newcastle’s Boiler Shop on March 2, 2025.
The album brings together classic tracks such as The Beginning of the Twist, Decent Days and Nights, Beeswing, Good Night Out and - of course - their iconic cover of Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love.
Tickets from the website.
Scary curtain-raisers to prime Live Theatre audiences for Saint Maud
To nudge ticket holders to the edge of their seats before ‘curtain up’, Live Theatre has assembled some top talent to read ghost stories ahead of certain performances of its forthcoming production of Saint Maud.
The play has been adapted by Sunderland-born novelist Jessica Andrews from the highly praised 2019 film of the same name.
Hair-raising pre-show tales are offered free to audience members before five of the 7.30pm performances.
Actor Stephen Tompkinson will read The Keeper by David Rudkin ahead of the October 19 performance.
Cult author Eliza Clark will read a story from her forthcoming new collection, She’s Always Hungry, on October 22.
Actor and writer Samantha Neale will read Blue Knickers by Benjamin Myers on October 23.
Celebrated author David Almond will read his new ghost story, Sinclair’s Hell, on October 24.
And last but no less scary, on October 25 horror writer Matt Wesolowski will read his own Pretendy-Mammy.
Find more details about Saint Maud from the Live Theatre website.
From the CNE website: Fancy a delve into our rich history? Then Heritage Open Days is for you. David Whetstone has the details and plucks a few favourites from a capacious lucky dip. Read more
New comedy show for former BBC Newcastle presenter
Comedian Steffen Peddie is drawing on his experience as a late-night phone-in radio host for his latest live show.
Better Call Steffen will encourage audiences to share their problems with the much-loved comic… who promises to do his best to find the answers as well as lots of laughs.
The mini tour kicks off at Stockton Arc on September 7. There are also gigs at Ashington AFC - a fundraiser (Sept 13) and Lockerbie (Sept 14).
For details and tickets, visit Steffen’s website.
From the CNE website: North East sculptor John O’Rourke is working on The Northumbrian Miner, a towering sculpture in Corten steel envisaged as standing over 12 metres high on a site near Bedlington, overlooking the River Blyth. Read more.
Turner exhibition drawing to a close at the Laing
One of the year’s highlight exhibitions has enjoyed a successful run at Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery where more than 24,000 people had seen it at the start of last month, according to Tyne & Wear Museums & Archives.
Not bad for an exhibition with an admission charge – but Saturday (September 7) is the last day so if you haven’t been yet, hurry along but expect not to have the gallery to yourself.
Turner: Art, Industry & Nostalgia was fashioned around the artist’s 1839 masterpiece The Fighting Temeraire, on loan from the National Gallery which is marking its 200th anniversary, but it features 20 works by Turner (1775 to 1851) and many others recalling our maritime past.
Spread over two Laing galleries, the exhibition also features work by Tacita Dean, Chris Killip, L.S. Lowry, and James McNeill Whistler.