Culture Digest 20-09-24
Our weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East we think should be on your radar.
Billingham to host Thrifty weekend
Two days filled with outdoor arts performances, live music, expert talks, art installations and market stalls aplenty get underway in Billingham this weekend (Sept 21 and 22) as the Festival of Thrift returns for 2024.
A feast of free activities take place from 11am to 5pm each day meanwhile the event’s co-founder, Wayne Hemmingway MBE will be back and talking to Billingham’s own Paul Smith of Maximo Park as well as presenting the Best In Show thrifted fashion awards.
The site, which can be found in the town centre and John Whitehead Park features areas including The Imagined Meadow, The Allotment Patch, Camp Thrift, Slow Fashion Alley and The Bandstand. There’s also a Fix-it Café in Billingham Library as well as all the aforementioned stalls selling ethically-produced goods and food and drink.
For full programme details, visit the website.
Young performers are Fed Up in Germany
Members of Live Theatre’s Youth Theatre have been performing their powerful piece, Fed Up at an international youth theatre festival in Germany.
Exploring issues surrounding food poverty and how hunger affects children and young people in the North East, the show was created by the ensemble themselves using research, testimony and their own words.
Since premiering in the spring, Fed Up has been performed at Live Theatre, Newcastle Cathedral, Newcastle United Foundation and the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
This week, the cast and creative team were in Gelsenkirchen to take part in InterTWINed, an International Youth Theatre Festival, where they received standing ovations.
Read more: Northumberland exhibition opens from artist not set in her ways
The Groovetrain returns to Gateshead
The third instalment of live music fundraiser, Groovetrain pulls into The Glasshouse this weekend (Saturday, Sept 22) for an evening soaked in funk, soul and disco.
Organised by North East entrepreneur, Michael Lavery - who is one of the three-strong consortium who have just taken over venue Hoochie Coochie in Newcastle - the evening will see Edinburgh fuck rockers High Fade and powerhouse choir Northern Harmonix take to the stage.
And then there’s the Groovetrain supergroup featuring Hairy Biker Si King, Johnny Blue Hat and Michael himself.
All proceeds from the event will go to The Graham Wylie Foundation and the Teenage Cancer Trust. Read more here
The Sunderland Story: A new chapter
It brought every audience to their feet when it premiered last year, and now many more people will have the chance to enjoy The Sunderland Story.
Sunderland Empire and Sunderland AFC have announced an updated version of the popular production will return to the stage from May 15-31, 2025. Read more here.
UNITY Festival comes in two parts
The return of the free music and arts festival, which seeks to celebrate creativity, diversity and social action, will take place at two of the region’s popular attractions next month (October).
Created with diverse community groups across the region, the fourth UNITY Festival will bring a programme of performances and exhibitions to the Great North Museum: Hancock from October 18-20; and the Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar from October 26-27.
Its theme: Hidden Worlds invites festival visitors to “explore the often-overlooked aspects of humanity and nature”, promising a journey of “hope, discovery and connection”.
Featured artists include opera singer and performer Katie Oswell as Harkling, Kenyan musician and performer Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno, Ghanaian musician and performer Nii Kwarty Owoo, and Turkish sand artist Bilal Kose each commissioned to create exciting, original work specifically for the festival.
Claire Webster Saaremets, artistic director of Newcastle-based charity, Skimstone Arts, which is behind the event, said: "UNITY Festival 2024 will build on the successes of previous years, providing opportunities for people from all walks of life to come together and be part of a creative community.
“We will explore what we want to say about humanity and the natural world through music, performance, and exhibitions while considering how we can make a difference."
Read more: Artist to launch colourful solo exhibition at the Dockside
Christmas show which brings the funny
Newcastle comedy club, The Stand has confirmed The Big Family Christmas Show will return to the venue in December.
Brought together by the team who also look after The Stand’s annual pantomime (Lee Kyle, Hannah Walker, Elaine Robertson and Kelly Rickard) audiences are being promised “the stupidest hour of alternative family comedy you’ll see all year”.
Performances are booked for December 14, 15, 21 and 28. More details and bookings via the website.
Here it comes again…
Hit Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again will be back in the region next year, having booked a run of shows at the Sunderland Empire from February 11-15.
Brimming with Dolly classics including Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream, I Will Always Love You and Here You Come Again the show tells the story of a diehard fan whose imagined version of Dolly Parton gets him through trying times.
Tickets on sale from the Empire website.
Starry nights in the North Pennines
Making your own lantern to use in a tour of a lead mine is one of the many activities and events in next month’s celebration of the dark skies of the North Pennines National Landscape.
The eighth North Pennines Stargazing Festival, which will run from October 25 to November includes an event held at Nenthead Mines, near Alston, on October 29 from 4pm to 8pm.
A workshop will teach participants to make their lanterns to walk in the footsteps of miners past in an underground tour of the mine led by volunteers from Nenthead Mines Conservation Society.
Activities include dark sky astronomy and stargazing nights at Grassholme Observatory, a star camp weekend, a guided dark skies run, and a stargazing train on the Weardale Railway.
A stargazing supper at the High Force Hotel will be followed by a walk to the famous waterfall, where the scenery will be illuminated for photographs.
This event will be run and presented by Graham Darke, president of Sunderland Astronomical Society. See the full programme at www.NorthPenninesStarFest.org
Read more: Poetic tribute to the lost tree of Sycamore Gap
New performance space for Tyne Theatre
The Tyne Theatre and Opera House in Newcastle has been awarded half a million pounds to fund the creation of a new space for performances and community engagement.
Bosses say the development will allow the Tyne Theatre to “broaden the spectrum of its arts and culture offering” while also increasing the potential for community involvement as the new ‘black box’ space will be used as a hub for meetings, rehearsals and workshops as well as performances.
The money has been awarded as part of Creative Central NCL, long-running project funded by the North East Combined Authority and Newcastle City Council with a remit to develop creativity and culture in the city centre. Read more here
AGLOW tickets on sale for Christmas in Bishop Auckland
The festive light trail which spotlit Bishop Auckland will be back this November and December with a range of new installations and updated route.
AGLOW at Auckland Palace, organised by The Auckland Project, takes places from November 22 to December 31 and will feature 22 glittering installations guiding visitors of all ages through the parkland.
There will also be a new indoor festive event inside the historic confines of Auckland Castle. Christmas at the Palace will see 12 of the Castle’s rooms sporting elaborate festive decorations.
Visit The Auckland Project website to book tickets.
Plays, Pies and Pasties back on the menu at theatre
Afternoons filled will new writing, delights from Greggs and drinks of your choice will be firing up again in Whitley Bay next month (October).
Play, Pie & Pasty readings kick back off at Laurels Theatre on October 12 - offering the chance for audiences to see the first outings of new plays as well as the odd script-in-hand readings of come classics… all for a fiver.