Curated Culture 03.12.24

Our weekly round-up of what's on recommendations from venues and attractions all over North East England

Dec 03, 2024

Another week, another jam-packed CNE newsletter bursting with stuff we think you might like to get in front of.*

*This is the most jam-packed it has ever been…it may have got completely out of hand… Christmas, innit? Rest assured, we’ll be back to more manageable levels next week.

Dropping every Tuesday evening (although granted, it’s been nudging Cinderella o’clock on occasion) Curated Culture is the place where we gather together a shedload of listings of varying sizes, within various timeframes for your perusing and planning pleasure.

As ever, throughout the coming screens, you’ll find:

A selection of featured things which you’ll be able to get amongst during the next fortnight (We’ve just picked a handful this week - see above note re general jam-packedness);
A reminder of everything which has graced Curated Cultures gone by, but is STILL SHOWING; and
A collection of signposts to shows, events and other lovely things which are happening further into the future.. but which are NOW BOOKING.

In addition to all of the above, this week, we are completing our festive trilogy, serving up CHRISTMAS SHOWS: PART THREE… meanwhile we’ve also rounded up all the Christmas shows from parts ONE and TWO which either ongoing or still to come.

Although this is our last official season of goodwill round up, don’t hesitate to LET US KNOW if we haven’t mentioned something you think we should have done… there are plenty of newsletters between here and Christmas for special jingle bell shout outs.

Now then. For this week’s newsletter prizedraw - which offers Cultured. North East subscribers an exclusive chance to win tickets to something great - we’ve got a pair of tickets for Christmas at the Cathedral, the annual and much-loved festive fundraiser which brings together a bill of entertainment talent from the North East and further afield for an evening of music, comedy and goodwill. It’s happening on December 12.

As ever, more information and details of how to enter can be found at the end… but don’t rush past all the other excellent stuff you’ll see on your way down there.

See you soon (and happy advent calendar week)

Sam and Dave*
*Like Chas and Dave but with less hair and better accents

PS: If you haven’t liked/followed/high fived us on our socials, you can rectify that on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter…
Note: we’ve also signed up to Blue Sky but haven’t got around to making our debut yet… you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression etc etc.

COMEDY: Laffs for Kids
Where: Utilita Arena, Newcastle
When: December 15
Bookings and info: www.utilitaarena.co.uk

Laffs for Kids launched in 2015 with audiences encouraged to ‘pay’ for the show with Christmas presents for children who wouldn’t be getting any.
In 2023, the event collected 18,500 gifts over two performances at Newcastle O2 City Hall… but earlier this year it was announced that the event was moving to the Utilita Arena and that organisers - led by its founder, comedian and writer, Jason Cook - were aiming for 50,000 presents for Christmas 2024.
The line-up almost doesn’t matter - but if you need nudging: Chris and Rosie Ramsey, Clinton Baptiste, MC Hammersmith and Carl Hutchinson are among the many who have signed on.

THEATRE: You Need to Say Sorry
Where: Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay
When: December 5 and 6
Bookings and info: Laurels Theatre website

Alison Stanley's play returns to the Whitley Bay venue where it premiered in 2023.
Tackling the challenging subjects of the rising rate of domestic violence in older people and the potential dangers of online dating, audiences will meet Viv, a middle aged widow who has thrown herself into the world of social media and 'that net carry on'... where she meets Bill.
On the face of it, Bill seems great. Charming, funny, a gentleman.
Viv is making sure she's careful - meeting Bill for the first time in a busy cafe, during the day and keeping her daughter updated as to where she is.
So far, so good, until it becomes clear that there is a lot about Bill which is unknown to Viv.

EVENT: The Great Ouseburn Caper
Where: Various venues in Newcastle’s Ouseburn
When: December 7, 12pm-11pm
Bookings and info: thecaper.co.uk

A special all-day event is taking over the Ouseburn this weekend. Following previous successful Capers in Gateshead and Sunderland and the like, the latest event looks set to continue the trend.
Paul Smith (Maximo Park) and Simon Donald (comedian and Viz founder) are performing.
There will also be Silent Discos; 90s throwback raves, Lip Sync and Dance contests; Dog Gymkhana; Christmas Karaoke; and loads of tasty food and drink options. Gutted I didn’t know about this when we were organising festive nights out… so if you’re nicely disorganised - you’re sorted!

MUSIC: Midge Ure - Catalogue The Hits Tour
Where: The Glasshouse (Sage One)
WHen: December 4
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org

Anyone seen the BBC iPlayer documentary about the making of Band Aid in 1984? (Fun fact - my late dad Geoff, who was an excellent film maker, is ALL over it) - if so, you’re probably feeling nostalgic for the eighties. And Elnette hairspray.

Sam’s Dad (circled) at Band Aid in 1984 - making a film for The Tube

Anyway, one of Band Aid’s founding fathers, Ultravox star, Midge Ure is playing The Glasshouse this week, celebrating 50 years of making award-winning and unforgettable music.

COMEDY: Robin Morgan - The Spark
Where: The Stand Newcastle
When: December 8, 5pm
Bookings and info: thestand.co.uk

You may have seen him on Mock The Week (R.I.P) or heard him on Radio Four’s The News Quiz. You may have laughed at jokes he’s written for Have I Got News For You or enjoyed his hosting of the topical panel show What Just Happened? (if you listen to BBC Radio Wales).
You might not have seen him live though - this latest tour is his biggest to date.
Previous shows have seen him mine his personal life (proposals, marriage, kids, a vasectomy) for laughs. This time he’s delving into the question of how to keep those life-spanning sparks alive.

CHRISTMAS SHOWS: PART THREE

Until Jan 4: The Christmas Chill (relaxation space), Queens Hall, Hexham
Dec 4: Dear Santa Live, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Dec 4-19: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation screenings, Tyneside Cinema
Dec 4-11: Cinderella, Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Dec 4-24: It’s A Wonderful Life screenings, Tyneside Cinema
Dec 6-Jan 4: Snow White, Middlesbrough Theatre
Dec 7, 8, 10 and 12: Andre Rieu’s 2024 Christmas Concert screening, Jam Jar Cinema, Whitley Bay (Showing at other venues too)
Dec 7-23 (selected dates): Storytime with Santa, Gosforth Civic Theatre
Dec 7-8: Home Alone in Concert, The Glasshouse
Dec 7: The Funk Before Christmas, ARC, Stockton
Dec 8: Santa’s Christmas Cracker, The Witham, Barnard Castle
Dec 9 and 10: Fairytale of New York, The Glasshouse, Sage One and Dec 14 at Stockton Globe
Dec 10: Cumberland Christmas with SHE Choir, 4.30pm, Cumberland Arms, Ouseburn
Dec 10: Messiah, Hexham Abbey
Dec 10-21: Little Miss Christmas, Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle (16+)
Dec 14: Wunderland Carnival of Festive Delights, ARC Stockton
Dec 16: A Jazzy Christmas - Paul Edis and Friends, The Fire Station, Sunderland (also at Queen’s Hall, Hexham on Dec 17)
Dec 16: Jez Lowe’s Lost Christmas, Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Dec 19-21: Who Stole the Christmas Pud? Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
Dec 28-31: New Year Specials, The Stand Newcastle
Dec 31: Jason Cook’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Club, The Customs House, South Shields

Read more: Review - Wolf! at Northern Stage

CHRISTMAS SHOWS: PARTS ONE & TWO (Rewound)

Until Dec 6: A Viennese Strauss Christmas Gala, Forum Theatre Billingham
Dec 6: Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir Festive Party, Gosforth Civic Theatre
Dec 6-Jan 4: Peter Pan, Playhouse Whitley Bay
Dec 6-Jan 4: Snow White, Middlesbrough Town Hall
Dec 6-Jan 5: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tyne Theatre and Opera House
Until Dec 7: Pinocchio, Seaton Delaval Arts Centre
Tinsel, Washington Arts Centre
Dec 7-15: Alice in Wonderland, People’s Theatre, Newcastle
Dec 7-22, Cinderella, Phoenix Theatre, Blyth
Dec 7-22: Blitzen on Tyne, Live Theatre, Newcastle
Dec 7-31: The Adventures of Sinbad, The Maltings, Berwick
Dec 7-Jan 4, Jack and the Beanstalk, Queen’s Hall, Hexham
Dec 9 and 10: Fairytale of New York, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Dec 9: Christmas with Anton Du Beke, Stockton Globe
Dec 10: Messiah, Hexham Abbey
Dec 11-24: Peter Pan, The Little Theatre, Gateshead
Dec 12: Jess Gillam’s Christmas concert, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Dec 12-14: The Stand Christmas Special, The Stand Newcastle
Dec 12-30: Little Red Riding Hood, Alnwick Playhouse
Dec 12: Christmas at the Cathedral, Newcastle
Dec 13-Jan 5: Jack and the Beanstalk, Sunderland Empire
Dec 13: The Suggestibles - Impro Pantso, Queen’s Hall, Hexham (also Northern Stage on Dec 19 and 20)
Dec 13-14: Christmas with the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band, Gosforth Civic Theatre
Dec 14: Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Durham Cathedral
Dec 14, 15 and 21: The Big Family Christmas Show, The Stand Newcastle
Dec 14 and 22: The Snowman by the Ever Ready Band, Alnwick Playhouse and The Fire Station Sunderland, respectively. (Two performances at each venue)
Dec 15: Handel’s Messiah, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Dec 15-21: Jack and The Beanstalk, Rainton Arena, Houghton-le-Spring
Dec 16-17: Aladdin, The Witham, Barnard Castle
Dec 16: Sankta Lucia, Hexham Abbey
Dec 17: Toyah and Robert Christmas Party, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Dec 19 to 21: Who Stole the Christmas Pud?, Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
Dec 20 to 22: The Velveteen Rabbit, Gosforth Civic Theatre
Dec 21: A Ukulele Christmas with the D’Ukes of Scarth, The Witham, Barnard Castle
Dec 22: Martin Stephenson’s Jumpin Hot Club Xmas Party, The Cluny, Newcastle
Dec 22-24: The Snowman, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Dec 23: Christmas Ceilidh with The Monster Ceilidh Band, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Dec 27-29: Christmas Rocks, Newcastle City Hall
Dec 30: Elf the Musical, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Until Dec 21: Present, Live Theatre, Newcastle
Until Dec 24: Dickens By Candlelight - A Christmas Carol, Alderman Fenwicks House, Newcastle
Cloud Man, Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington
Cinderella, The Exchange 1856, North Shields
The Light Princess, ARC, Stockton
Until Dec 31: Cinderella, Empire Theatre, Consett
The Night Before ChrisMouse, Queen’s Hall, Hexham
Sleeping Beauty, Darlington Hippodrome
The Sorcerer’s Suitcase, The Customs House, South Shields
Beauty and the Beast, Gala Theatre Durham
Until Jan 4: WOLF!, Northern Stage, Newcastle
A Christmas Carol, Northern Stage, Newcastle
Until Jan 5: Cinderella, The Forum Theatre, Billingham
Boulevard Christmas Spectacular, Boulevard, Newcastle
Mother Goose, The Customs House, South Shields
Cinderella - The Rags to Riches Pantomime, The Forum, Billingham
Jan 10-25: Hansel and Gretel - A Pantomime, Washington Arts Centre
Until Jan 12: The Little Mermaid, Newcastle Theatre Royal

STILL SHOWING

Theatre: Slava’s Snowshow, Sunderland Empire, until Dec 7
Screen: Smoggie Queens, BBC Three and iPlayer
Screen: Mycelial, online screenings, until Dec 17
Event: AGLOW at Auckland Palace, Bishop Auckland, until Dec 31
Classical: Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour, various North East venues, until Dec 5
Books: Newcastle Noir, Newcastle City Library, Dec 4-7
Books: Wild Thing - A Life of Paul Gauguin, Lit and Phil, Newcastle, Dec 4
Dance: Romeo a Juliet, Dance City, Newcastle, Dec 5-7
Music: Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Newcastle 02 City Hall and Stockton Globe, Dec 5 and 8, respectively
Theatre: Seagulls and Sad Sad Stories, Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay, Dec 9-23
Exhibition: We all came here from somewhere, BALTIC, until Feb 9
Exhibition: Sheila Fell - Cumberland on Canvas, Tullie House, Carlisle, until Mar 16, 2025 (coming to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens after it closes
Exhibition: Framing Fashion, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until Mar 2, 2025
Exhibition: Romance to Realities: The Northern Landscapes and Shifting Identities, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, until April 26, 2025
Exhibition: Hannah Perry - Manual Labour, BALTIC, until Jan 19, 2025
Screen: Prima Facie: National Theatre Live, various North East cinemas, until Dec 5
Exhibition: Ted Holloway - A Bevin Boy Remembered, Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland, until June 8, 2025
Exhibition: Mali Morris - Returning, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle, until Jan 11, 2025

NOW BOOKING

Dec 18 and 19: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours with the Transatlantic Ensemble, The Fire Station, Sunderland

2025

Jan 21: Sophie Duker, Gala Theatre Durham
Jan 25: Totally TINA! Middlesbrough Theatre
Jan 26: The Magic Numbers, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Feb 5: Craig David, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Feb 13-Mar 8: Champion, Live Theatre, Newcastle
Feb 22: Maisie Adam - Appraisal, ARC, Stockton
March-April: The Lindisfarne Story, various venues across the North East
Mar 1: The John Martyn Project, The Glasshouse (Sage Two)
Mar 6: An Evening With Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Mar 7: Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites Illuminated, Durham Cathedral
Mar 26-Apr 5: TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, Sunderland Empire
Apr 2: Michael Ball and Alfie Boe - Together at Home, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Apr 12: Megson, ARC Stockton
Apr 26 and 27: Richard Herring - Can I Have My Ball Back?, Gala Theatre Durham and The Stand Newcastle, respectively
May 1: Roger Daltrey - Alive and kicking and having fun! The Glasshouse (Sage One)
May 15-31: The Sunderland Story, Sunderland Empire
May 19: Nish Kumar - Don’t Kill My Vibe, The Stand Newcastle
Jun 2-7: & Juliet, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Aug 12-23: SIX, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Oct 10-12: Busted vs McFly, Utilita Arena, Newcastle

COMPETITION TIME

Welcome to our latest newsletter prizedraw, offering our subscribers an exclusive opportunity to win tickets to see or do something great.

This week, we’ve got a pair of tickets for Christmas at the Cathedral on December 12.

The festive charity event, which raises money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which raises money to help detect and treat cancer, is returning to Newcastle Cathedral for its 11th year.

We can’t tell you much about who will be taking to the stage - and what they’ll be doing (even though we do know a bit and it sounds fab) - because it’s always a night full of surprises.

What we can tell you is that previous Christmas at the Cathedral events have seen performances from the likes of Stephen Tompkinson, Tim Healy, Melanie Hill, Denise Welch, Jimmy Nail, Maximo Park’s Paul Smith, Billy Mitchell, Chelsea Halfpenny, Charlie Hardwick, Rachel Unthank, Steffen Peddie and Viktoria Kay… you get the idea.

It’s a North East entertainment feast and you (+1) could be there.

HOW TO ENTER:

To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: HOWAY IT’S XMAS before midday (12pm) on Friday, December 06, 2024.

The winner, who will be selected at random, will be notified within 24 hours of the entry deadline.

Terms and conditions: Only subscribers to the Cultured. North East newsletter are eligible to enter the Newsletter Prize Draw competition. Prizes are as stated - subject to availability - and non-transferable. No cash alternatives will be offered. You must be over 18 years of age to enter. The Editor’s decision is final.