Curated Culture 08.10.24
Our weekly signpost to a selection of picks from what's currently on offer from venues and attractions across North East England
Hello and welcome to our latest hand-picked listings rundown, shining a light on some of the stuff we think should be under consideration when you’re planning your diary over the next couple of weeks.
As ever (we know we’ve only been going a month, but we’ve been consistent so far!) you’ll also find a round-up of things we’ve highlighted in previous Curated Culture mailouts, which are STILL SHOWING as well as a collection of things a bit further ahead in the calendar, which are NOW BOOKING.
Thanks again for all your back-pat messages and suggestions. Rest assured we read and consider them all.
As well as pointing you in the direction of things we think you’ll appreciate, we also do our best to give our subscribers an exclusive chance to win tickets to something excellent.
This week’s there’s a pair of tickets for Doomgate, which is playing at Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay from October 29 to November 2. More information and details of how to enter can be found at the end.
Thanks as ever for helping us spread the word about Cultured. North East’s mission to spread the word about North East culture. What a team!
See you soon
Sam and Dave*
*Like Chas and Dave but with less hair and better accents
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FESTIVAL: Durham Book Festival
Where: Gala Durham, Clayport Library and Collected Books
When: October 10-13
Bookings and info: newwritingnorth.com
It’s that time of year again when a crowd of exciting figures from the literary world descend on Durham for a packed festival programme (read our previous preview, here).
Pat Barker, Helen Fielding, Rebecca F. Kuang, Tery Deary, Jodi Picoult, Alan Hollinghurst, Tracy Chevalier, and David Peace are just some of those taking part in the 35 events scheduled to take place over four days.
There are also creative writing workshops, children’s story time sessions and the opportunity to explore the wonders of the cosmos. And don’t worry if you can’t make it in person… you can join in online.
EXHIBITION: Romance to Realities: The Northern Landscapes and Shifting Identities
Where: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
When: Until April 26, 2025
Bookings and info: laingartgallery.org.uk
A wide-ranging survey of northern landscape painting is the latest ticketed exhibition at Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery.
Curated in partnership with The Fleming Collection of Scottish art, the exhibition includes works by pioneers of British landscape art such as John Knox, Alexander Nasmyth and John Martin along with more modern creations by Anne Redpath, LS Lowry and Joan Eardley.
Read David Whetstone’s feature review, here.
COMEDY: Larry Dean - Dodger
Where: The Stand Newcastle and ARC, Stockton
When: October 12 and 19, respectively
Bookings and info: larrydeancomedy.com
Larry Dean has been nominated for the big Edinburgh Comedy Award three times and you may have seen him on comedy TV staples like Mock The Week (RIP), House Of Games and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.
He’s apparently been spending lots of time with his gran of late and is ready to report back. Expect material on identity, heroes and ‘the benefits of being a dafty’.
MUSIC: Becky Hill
Where: Utilita Arena, Newcastle
When: October 13
Bookings and info: utilitaarena.co.uk
Double BRIT award-winner, Becky Hill will be on Tyneside at the weekend for a date with a big audience at the Arena.
After coming to prominence on ITV talent show, The Voice in 2012, Becky has enjoyed success with an array of dance-pop tracks including collaborations with Rudimental, Oliver Heldens and David Guetta. We wouldn’t imagine there will be much sitting at this gig.
EXHIBITION: Brian Hutchinson: A Retrospective
Where: ARC, Stockton
When: October 10-November 16
Bookings and info: arconline.co.uk
Oil paintings by eighty-six-year-old Stockton artist, Brian Hutchinson will be on show at ARC later this month.
A student of graphic art at Sunderland College of Technology, the former art teacher has spent time taxi driving, fruit picking and plastering during his working years… but he’s been an artist through it all.
MUSIC: The Pretenders
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead
When: October 17
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
The rescheduled date from February’s postponed gig, Chrissie Hynde will lead the Pretenders back to Gateshead.
The tour was booked on the back of the legendary band’s latest album, Relentless. As you might imagine for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, it’s going to be a busy one.
At the last look, there were two tickets available… so cross your fingers (or register your interest for returns)
THEATRE: Showstopper - The Improvised Musical
Where: Newcastle Theatre Royal
When: October 17
Bookings and info: theatreroyal.co.uk
With 15 sell-out Edinburgh Fringe runs, two West End stays, an Olivier Award and a BBC Radio 4 series under its sparkly belt, we feel very confident in recommending Showstopper to anyone looking for a good night out at the theatre.
The premise sees the audience introduced to a writer of musicals who is on a deadline and needs their help in the form of suggestions as to its setting, style and title. Then they can sit back and watch the cast and band create a brand new musical before their very eyes.
WORDS: Esther Rutter in conversation
Where: Culture Lab, Newcastle University
When: October 10, 7pm
Bookings and info: ncl.ac.uk
In her early twenties, Esther suffered a mental breakdown while teaching English in Japan.
In her highly praised book, All Before Me, published by Granta, she describes how a year at Dove Cottage in the Lake District, home of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, helped her to recover.
Jack Arthurs, who worked at Granta and knows Dove Cottage well, will be talking to Esther in this Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts event.
MUSIC: The Undertones
Where: The Fire Station, Sunderland
When: October 11
Bookings and info: thefirestation.org.uk
Derry legends, The Undertones are Wearside bound with 50 years of classic tracks in their punk-pop locker, including Get Over You, Jimmy Jimmy and the iconic Teenage Kicks which ridiculously only reached number 31 when it was released in 1978.
The band are joined at The Fire Station by special guests, London rockers, The Ruts DC.
EXHIBITION: The Human Spaceship – Sea of the Edge
Where: VANE, Orbis Community, 65 High Street, Gateshead
When: October 10-26
Bookings and info: www.vane.org.uk
A solo exhibition by British American artist Helen Schell, coinciding with World Space Week and continuing her project, The Human Spaceship, which she launched in 2008.
Her work, using bold geometric patterns and colour manipulation, reflects visually the challenges posed by space travel, including altered gravity and the concept of wormholes.
The artist will give a talk about her work in the gallery on October 23 at 6pm.
WORDS: The Forward Prizes for Poetry
Where: Gala Theatre, Durham
When: October 10, 7pm
Bookings and info: newwritingnorth.com
The winners of the coveted poetry prizes will be announced at this event, getting this weekend’s (aforementioned) Durham Book Festival off to a flying start.
There’s North East interest with Nasim Rebecca Asl, from Washington (though now living in Glasgow), on a shortlist of five for the Jerwood Prize for Best Single Poem, hers being Choose Your Own Adventure.
The awards ceremony is to be hosted by Joelle Taylor and will feature poet Kayo Chingonyi and Craig Charles, of BBC Radio 6 Music, who chaired the judging panel.
COMEDY: Sarah Keyworth - My Eyes Are Up Here
Where: Tyne Theatre and Opera House
When: October 15
Bookings and info: tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
Stand up and TV regular, Sarah Keyworth brings her latest tour to Newcastle promising a “joyous show about family, acceptance and a pair of big (well, not super big) losses”.
It picked up the Most Outstanding Show Award at the prestigious Melbourne Comedy Festival 2024. Unsurprisingly, there are only a few tickets left.
STILL SHOWING
Music: HowayFest 2024, various Tyneside venues, until Oct 19
Theatre: Othello, various North East venues until Oct 20
Theatre: Wicked at Sunderland Empire, until Oct 20 (read our review, here)
Theatre: My Name Is Rachel Corrie, Alphabetti Theatre, until Oct 26
Theatre: Saint Maud at Live Theatre, Oct 10-Nov 2 (read our preview here)
Books: Berwick Literary Festival, various venues, Oct 7-13
Events: The Pumpkin Forest at Auckland Castle, until Oct 31
Comedy: Matt Forde - End of an Era, Middlesbrough Town Hall, Oct 9
Music: Rachel McShane and the Cartographers, Newcastle Arts Centre, Oct 10
Theatre: My Mother’s Funeral, Northern Stage, Oct 11-12
Fundraiser: Blacks, Dogs and Irish, Pop Recs, Sunderland, Oct 12
Music: Beyond the Moor 2024, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Oct 12
Events: The Glittering North, Raby Castle, Oct 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 30, 31 and Nov 1-3
Music: Billy Mitchell and Bob Fox - 5 Star B&B, various venues until Oct 13
Festival: Williams Shield Festival, Lit and Phil and other venues, Oct 15-Nov 28
Comedy: Ed Byrne - Tragedy Plus Time, The Witham, Barnard Castle and Queen’s Hall, Hexham, Oct 16 and 17
Comedy: Gavin Webster - An Evening of Swearing and Shouting, Queen’s Hall, Oct 18
Exhibition: Joanne Coates - Middle of Somewhere, BALTIC, until Nov 17
Exhibition: Hannah Perry - Manual Labour, BALTIC, until Jan 19, 2025
Screen: Prima Facie: National Theatre Live, various North East cinemas, until Dec 5
NOW BOOKING
Oct 26-27: Comic Con North East, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Oct 28-Nov 2: Chicago, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Oct 29-31: Dennis and the Franken-Tyne Monster, The Customs House, South Shields
Oct 29-Nov 2: Rambert Dance - Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, Sunderland Empire
Oct 25 and Nov 15: Steve Luck’s Atmospherica Concert Series, 36 Lime Street, Ouseburn
Oct 30 and 31: Shaun Ryder, Whitley Bay Playhouse and The Forum, Billingham
Nov 15: Susie McCabe - The Merchant of Menace, The Maltings, Berwick
Nov 21-22: Jason Byrne: No Show, ARC, Stockton
Nov 23: China Crisis, ARC Stockton
Dec 9-23: Seagulls and Sad Sad Stories, Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay
Dec 9 and 10: Fairytale of New York, The Glasshouse, Sage One and Dec 14 at Stockton Globe
Dec 15: Laffs for Kids, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Dec 20: Smoove and Turrell, The Glasshouse, Sage Two
2025
Jan 26: The Magic Numbers, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Feb 5: Craig David, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Feb 22: Maisie Adam - Appraisal, ARC, Stockton
March 4 and 6, Alison Moyet, Stockton Globe and The Glasshouse
Mar 7: Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites Illuminated, Durham Cathedral
Mar 25-Apr 5: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Mar 26-Apr 5: TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, Sunderland Empire
May 23: Grace Petrie, The Glasshouse, Sage Two
Nov 6-9: Opera North (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Ruddigore and The Magic Flute) at Newcastle Theatre Royal
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 to Doomgate, which is on at Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay from October 29 to November 2.
Another production from the Richard Jenkinson Commission finals (its shortlist stablemate, Subterranea recently wrapped a successful run at the theatre), Doomgate is ‘an anthology of dark comedy plays’ all set on the same street in a Northumberland village called Mould-on-the-Wall.
Perfectly programmed to occupy the Hallowe’en slot in Laurels’ spooky attic space, audiences will find out what happens when you let a door-to-door salesman into your home; the true cost of giving your friend a kidney and why a middle-aged man can’t leave his train set alone.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: BOO before midday (12pm) on Monday, October 14, 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.