Culture Digest 18.04.25
Our weekly pick of arts and culture stories from around the North East that caught our attention
Steph McGovern taps Boro star Faye Marsay to voice debut thriller
Steph McGovern has revealed that fellow Middlesbrough native and acclaimed actress Faye Marsay will narrate the audiobook of her debut thriller, Deadline.
Sharing the news on Instagram, the broadcaster said she was “buzzing” that Marsay -known for roles in Andor, Ten Pound Poms and Netflix’s Adolescence - agreed to bring the novel to life.
“As soon as I was asked who I’d like to do the audiobook I screamed FAYE MARSAY!” Steph wrote. She praised Marsay’s talent and Teesside roots, adding: “Who better to bring it to life than a proper Middlesbrough lass?”
Deadline - which Vera creator Ann Cleeves says is 'A pacy, witty, engaging thriller, entertaining and delightfully authentic, but hard-hitting and thought-provoking too’ - will be published on July 3, but you can pre-order now from Pan MacMillan.
"If you’ve got a dream to work in the performing arts, we want to hear from you"
Aspiring performers from across the North East are being offered the chance to secure funding to boost their careers, as the Sunday for Sammy Trust opens its latest round of grant applications.
Read more: Ethel Smyth, composer, firebrand, suffragette
Oscar-winning writer joins Live's Unearthed Festival line-up
Newcastle’s Live Theatre is set to host an 11-day celebration of fresh voices and creative risk-taking as it launches its new Unearthed Festival, running from May 20 to 31.
Dedicated to new writing and artist development, the festival will bring together high-profile names and rising talent from the North East and beyond.
Among the highlights is a live online Q&A with Moonlight screenwriter and Oscar-winner Tarell Alvin McCraney, and a masterclass with acclaimed playwright Alistair McDowall (Pomona, X).
Pop star Jade assembles for unfiltered TV interview
North East singer Jade Thirlwall is set to be one of the first guests on The Assembly - a refreshing series that offers a new take on celebrity interviews.
The ITV show, which was piloted on the BBC last year with a episode featuring Michael Sheen, will see a panel of autistic, neurodivergent, and learning disabled bringing their own perspectives, curiosity, and sense of humour to each interview.
First osprey eggs laid at Kielder for Easter
Female osprey KX7 has produced the goods at Northumberland’s nesting colony – just in time for Easter.
T*ts Up returns to Laurels Theatre after sold-out run
Alison Stanley’s acclaimed play Tits Up returns to Laurels Theatre in Whitley Bay for two encore performances on August 30 and 31.
Set in the sterile confines of an oncology waiting room, the play offers a raw and honest portrayal of three women grappling with breast cancer diagnoses. Unfolding in real time, the audience are invited to sit beside the characters as they wait, reflect, and reveal.
Stanley’s script, informed by real experiences of women in North Tyneside, emphasises solidarity, humour, and human connection, reminding us that even in the bleakest of waiting rooms, there’s still room for laughter and compassion. You can read our review here.
Tickets for the summer performances are available now from the Laurels website.
Read more: Curated Culture 15.04.25 - our latest what’s on recommendations
Newcastle teacher's Elizabethan thriller
It’s a question asked of many a newly published author: “When are you going to give up the day job?”
Podcast series brings Tyne Derwent Way history to life
All episodes of a new podcast series, Telling Tales, which explores the rich history of the River Tyne through the voices of local people and historians, are now available.
The six-part series focuses on the nine-mile Tyne Derwent Way, stretching from Gateshead to the National Trust’s Gibside estate in the Derwent Valley.
Funded by Historic England and created through community workshops involving over 150 people, the podcast blends storytelling with historical insight.
Baby goslings hatch at Kynren
Kynren – An Epic Tale of England has half a dozen new recruits following the arrival of six baby goslings just in time for Easter.
The adorable new cast members will join the show’s beloved gaggle of geese, who appear alongside donkeys, horses, cows, sheep, and Icelandic chickens in the award-winning outdoor spectacular in Bishop Auckland.
The goslings are being cared for by Laurie Robinson, director of cavalry and estates, and her team. “They always make me smile,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have them join the Kynren family.”
The engineer returns: Robert Stephenson statue pulls into Shildon
The historic bronze statue of great engineer Robert Stephenson, has gone on display at the Locomotion, the railway museum in Shildon, County Durham.
Pawsitively perfect Easter day out for dog lovers at Kirkleatham Museum
If you're looking for a fun, family-friendly activity this Easter - with a side of tail-wagging charm - A Dog’s Life at Kirkleatham Museum and Grounds in the Tees Valley is the perfect day out for dog lovers of all ages.
Running until June 29, the exhibition celebrates the deep bond between humans and their four-legged companions through art, design, and creativity. Featuring work by international artists, photographers, illustrators, and designers, the show explores how dogs have inspired everything from sculpture to ceramics and textiles.
There’s plenty for visitors to get involved with too with quizzes, interactive games, doggie portrait displays and a digital dog selfie station. We’re intrigued… and definitely going! Entry is free.
Lit & Phil's anniversary writing challenge
As part of its bicentenary celebrations, Newcastle’s Lit & Phil has set a creative writing challenge in a bid to draw one of its more mysterious figures out of the shadows of history.
Lost medieval panel found in Hexham Abbey?
High tech work by a heritage scientist may have tracked down the missing image in a Northumberland series of medieval paintings.
A wooden panel, found in Hexham Abbey, could be the missing part of a run of panel paintings called the Dance of Death.
Four surviving paintings dating to around 1500, illustrate Death visiting powerful figures, including a cardinal, a king, an emperor, and the Pope.
The possible existence of a fifth painting in the series had been discussed for hundreds of years.
Weeds gone so what now for Jesmond Dene landmark?
People from near and far are taking a close interest in the grade II listed Banqueting Hall in Jesmond Dene, a notable building with a chequered history.
The King and Queen attend Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral
The King and Queen attended the Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral on Thursday (April 17) - the first time the service has been held there since 1967.
Marking the Thursday before Easter, the centuries-old tradition saw the monarch present specially minted Maundy money to 152 recipients - 76 men and 76 women - chosen from the Diocese of Durham and across the UK in recognition of their Christian service and contributions to their communities.
Crowds gathered on Palace Green from early morning, with music from the Durham Miners’ Association Band. The service, led by The Lord High Almoner, featured readings, traditional nosegays, and music from the Durham Cathedral Choir and His Majesty’s Chapel Royal.
Afterward, the King and Queen viewed rare Magna Cartas in the Deanery and met guests.