Curated Culture 26.11.24
Our weekly drop of what's on recommendations from venues and attractions all over North East England
Hello and welcome to our latest collection of suggestions featuring things to see and do from across the North East’s stages and cultural venues.
This is the multi-tasking newsletter which:
Rounds up a dozen-or-so listings which we think are well worth your time over the next fortnight;
Lists everything we’ve highlighted in previous Curated Culture mailouts, which is STILL SHOWING; and
Offers a window much further into the future to point you in the direction of shows and events which are NOW BOOKING.
As well as all of the above, last week we gave our CHRISTMAS SHOWS kazoo a big blow (it’s in the shape of a stripey walking stick) and served up PART ONE of our festive signpost extravaganza. There was tinsel everywhere.
(If you didn’t catch it, you can rummage around in the wrapping paper and find it here).
Call us old fashioned, but we decided to call this week’s cranberry sauce-dipped instalment CHRISTMAS SHOWS: PART TWO.
PLEASE TELL US if we’ve missed something you think should be included and we’ll see about getting it in next week’s PART THREE finale.
For this week’s newsletter prizedraw, which offers Cultured. North East subscribers an exclusive chance to win tickets to something great, we’ve got 4 x tickets for Beauty and the Beast at the Gala Theatre, Durham on December 7 at 6.30pm.
More information and details of how to enter can be found at the end… but make sure to enjoy a gentle scroll through everything you pass on the way!
As ever, thanks very much for all the likes, shares, sign ups and supportive messages. You’re a lovely, lovely bunch.
See you soon
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 and will start posting on there as soon as the app stops crashing on Sam’s phone!
COMEDY: Adam Kay - Undoctored
Where: Darlington Hippodrome
When: November 30
Bookings and info: darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
The UK’s ‘twelfth favourite doctor’ is bringing his best-selling Edinburgh Fringe and West End show to Darlington at the end of the month.
Laughter and tears are both on the cards as the former junior doctor behind the smash hit book and BAFTA-winning TV adaptation, This Is Going to Hurt continues telling his tales from life on and off the wards.*
*The de-gloving story is a given
SCREEN: Smoggie Queens
Where: BBC Three and BBC iPlayer
When: From November 28
Bookings and info: bbc.co.uk
Smoggie Queens, the sitcom which is set and filmed in Middlesbrough, will be unveiled at a dazzling pink carpet event at Middlesbrough Town Hall tomorrow (Nov 27) - the day before it gets its first showing on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.
The series tells the story of volatile Dickie (Phil Dunning - who also created and wrote Smoggie Queens) along with drag queen Mam (Mark Benton), ‘self-styled hun’ Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell), awkward Sal (Patsy Lowe) and newcomer Stewart (Elijah Young).
Of the series, Phil says: “Smoggie Queens focusses on a group of friends living in Boro and viewers can expect to be taken on spontaneous and ridiculous adventures with them. It’s a series with heart whilst also being really stupid and actually a bit weird.
“Wigs, stilettos and wonky eyebrows are all heavily featured. It might just be the most chaotic thing you’ll ever witness - unless you’ve been to Boro town centre on a Saturday night.”
THEATRE: Seagulls and Sad Sad Stories
Where: Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay
When: December 9-23
Bookings and info: Laurels Theatre website
The winner of the inaugural Richard Jenkinson Commission will hit the stage at Laurels this December.
Sarah Bond’s first playwriting effort was picked from a cast of more than 700 entries.
Featuring three teenage lads in South Shields and a Zoltar fortune telling machine which gives them more than they bargained for, the boys must decide whether to believe its predictions of misery and misfortune or fight for the future(s) they know they deserve.
Oh, and of course there’s a seagull, who’s determined to be part of the story too.
Note: Look out for Sam’s interview with Sarah ahead of opening night.
THEATRE: Slava’s Snowshow
Where: Sunderland Empire
When: December 3-7
Bookings and info: Sunderland Empire website
A multi-award-winning show that ‘overflows with theatrical magic’ and has clocked up more than 12,000 performances across 225 cities and 40 countries is making one of only three UK stops on its latest world tour on Wearside.
It’s the first time in seven years the show, which invites audiences into a whimsical world ‘where laughter and wonder collide’ has been on UK soil… sounds like a place we’d like to visit.
CLASSICAL: Home Alone in Concert
Where: The Glasshouse
When: December 7-8
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
Taking over The Glasshouse for a number of weekend performances, John Williams’ unmistakeable score will be unforgettably performed by the Royal Northern Sinfonia - providing a live accompaniment to the movie.
Voices of the River’s Edge - the venue’s choir for 18-35-year-olds will be singing the film’s main theme, Somewhere In My Memory… we think you may need a hankie somewhere in your pocket at this point.
At the time of writing there’s limited availability across the board… so if you want in, don’t tarry, ya filthy animals.
EVENT: Wild Thing - A life of Paul Gauguin
Where: Lit and Phil, Newcastle
When: December 4, 6pm-7pm
Bookings and info: litandphil.org.uk
A live event with Sue Prideaux will see acclaimed author talk about her most recent book - a “vital re-examination of the trailblazing and controversial artist Paul Gauguin”.
Released in September, Wild Thing: A life of Paul Gauguin explores the adventurous and complicated life of the French artist, known as one of the major figures of post-Impressionism.
CLASSICAL: Messiah
Where: Hexham Abbey
When: December 10
Bookings and info: Ticket Tailor website.
Touring company, Wild Arts is bringing its acclaimed production of Handel’s Messiah to Hexham Abbey.
Staged by director Tom Morris (War Horse) and featuring a company of eight singers accompanied by a chamber orchestra of internationally-renowned players, the Northumberland date is one of only eight UK performances - and the only one in the North East.
EXHIBITION: We all came here from somewhere
Where: Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshaed
When: Until February 9, 2025
Bookings and info: baltic.art
A new exhibition on the theme of welcome highlights Baltic’s status as an official Gallery of Sanctuary, a designation earned and conferred in 2022.
It includes a variety of artworks made in collaboration with communities Baltic works with.
It includes newly commissioned portrait photographs by Kuba Ryniewicz, a video work called Understanding the UK Asylum System: Myths and Realities, made by Zilan Kuzu, a banner by Tracy Affleck called Together with Refugees and work by North Tyneside schools of sanctuary
There’s also a new photographic portrait series called Asylum: A Long and Painful Process that was made by Sadia Sikandar (pictured) in collaboration with people helped by the Walking With charity that works with refugees and asylum seekers.
MUSIC: The Puppini Sisters
Where: The Fire Station, Sunderland
When: November 27
Bookings and info: thefirestation.org.uk
Celebrating 20 years and six albums together, close harmony queens, The Puppini Sisters are bringing their anniversary tour to Sunderland.
Classics and fan favourites from their back catalogue are promised, alongside some surprised and - one can assume - a smattering of tracks trailing their new album, due out in the new year.
Band founder, Marcella Puppini says: “We love to play dress up, sing old songs with a new spin or new songs with an old spin. Swing is infectious and cool, with its intricate syncopated rhythms and its echoes of fabulous dance parties. Harmony singing, in my opinion, resonates deeply with everybody – it’s as if it speaks directly to the soul.”
DANCE: Romeo a Juliet
Where: Dance City, Newcastle
When: December 5-7
Bookings and info: dancecity.co.uk
North East audiences are being invited to lose themselves in Ballet Cymru’s Romeo a Juliet this December.
The acclaimed production, set to Prokofiev’s iconic score, promises to “unfold Shakespeare’s timeless tale of love and conflict with a striking blend of classical grandeur and contemporary flair”.
COMEDY: Mo Gilligan - In The Moment World Tour
Where: Newcastle 02 City Hall
When: November 28
Bookings and info: academymusicgroup.com
He’s got three BATFAs, but he’s still killing it on the stand up stage.
One of the UK’s biggest comedy stars of the past few years, Mo Gilligan has peppered our TV screens via a series of comedy specials, The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan; The Brit Awards and The Masked Singer.
But he’s back out on tour to enjoy being in the moment.
CHRISTMAS SHOWS: PART TWO
Until Jan 5: Boulevard Christmas Spectacular, Boulevard, Newcastle
Nov 28: The Scummy Mummies Christmas Show, Tyne Theatre and Opera House
Nov 29-Dec 7: Pinocchio, Seaton Delaval Arts Centre
Nov 30 and Dec 1: Advent procession at Durham Cathedral
Dec 3-24: The Light Princess, ARC, Stockton
Dec 3-7: Tinsel, Washington Arts Centre
Dec 4-Jan 5: Cinderella, The Forum Theatre, Billingham
Dec 6: Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir Festive Party, Gosforth Civic Theatre
Dec 7-31: The Adventures of Sinbad, The Maltings, Berwick
Dec 7-15: Alice in Wonderland, People’s Theatre, Newcastle
Dec 9: Christmas with Anton Du Beke, Stockton Globe
Dec 11-24: Peter Pan, The Little Theatre, Gateshead
Dec 12-14: The Stand Christmas Special, The Stand Newcastle
Dec 12: Jess Gillam’s Christmas concert, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Dec 13-14: Christmas with the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band, Gosforth Civic Theatre
Dec 14: Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Durham Cathedral
Dec 15-21: Jack and The Beanstalk, Rainton Arena, Houghton-le-Spring
Dec 16: Sankta Lucia, Hexham Abbey
Dec 17: Toyah and Robert Christmas Party, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Dec 21: A Ukulele Christmas with the D’Ukes of Scarth, The Witham, Barnard Castle
Dec 22-24: The Snowman, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Jan 10-25: Hansel and Gretel - A Pantomime, Washington Arts Centre
STILL SHOWING
Screen: Mycelial, online screenings, until Dec 17
Theatre: Only Fools and Horses: The Musical, Sunderland Empire, until Nov 30
Event: AGLOW at Auckland Palace, Bishop Auckland, until Dec 31
Theatre: WOLF!, Northern Stage, Newcastle, until Jan 4
Festival: Books on Tyne, various venues in Newcastle, until Nov 30
Theatre: A Play and A Pasty, Laurels Theatre, Nov 28
Classical: Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour, various North East venues, Nov 29-Dec 5
Dance: Departing at 18:25, The Georgian Theatre, Stockton and Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington, Nov 29 and 30, respectively
Comedy: Rob Newman - Where the Wild Things Are, The Witham and Queen’s Hall, Hexham, Nov 30 and Dec 1, respectively
Books: Newcastle Noir, Newcastle City Library, Dec 4-7
Music: Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Newcastle 02 City Hall and Stockton Globe, Dec 5 and 8, respectively
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: Brian Hutchinson: A Retrospective, ARC, Stockton until Nov 16
Festival: Williams Shield Festival, Lit and Phil and other venues, until Nov 28
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 11: Sam Ryder, Stockton Globe
Dec 15: Laffs for Kids, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Dec 17-Jan 2: SIX, Stockton Globe
Dec 18-19: Transatlantic Ensemble - Fleetwood Mac, The Fire Station, Sunderland
2025
Jan 2-5: Les Miserables, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Jan 14-18: And Then There Were None, People’s Theatre, Newcastle
Jan 25: Carl Hutchinson - Today Years Old, The Witham, Barnard Castle; Darlington Hippodrome (Feb 7); Queen’s Hall, Hexham (Mar 7); The Fire Station, Sunderland (Mar 17); Alnwick Playhouse (Mar 28)
Feb 1: Hue and Cry, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Feb 1: David O’Doherty - Piano Man, Tyne Theatre and Opera House
Feb 7: Smoove and Turrell, The Forum Darlington
Mar 25-Apr 5: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Apr 18: Lee Kyle - Throwing Bottles into The Sea, Tyne Theatre and Opera House
Apr 22-27: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Musical, Sunderland Empire
May 8: Bryan Adams, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
May 18: Peggy Seeger - 90th birthday farewell tour, Gosforth Civic Theatre
May 22-23 and June 2, Gary Barlow - The Songbook Tour, Stockton Globe and Newcastle 02 City Hall, respectively. Tickets on general sale Nov 29.
Jul 22-Aug 9: The Book of Mormon, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Oct 13: Grayson Perry - Are You Good? Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle
2026
Feb 5: Sara Pascoe - I Am A Strange Gloop, Tyne Theatre and Opera House
Apr 13-18: 2.22 - A Ghost Story, 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 4 x tickets to see pantomime, Beauty and the Beast (Nov 27-Dec 31) at the Gala Theatre Durham on December 7 at 6.30pm.
Written by Gary Kitching and directed by Rachel Glover, the tale as old as time has been set in in Chester-le-Rue for 2024.
It follows the fortunes of a bright and bold local lass called Belle along with her eccentric and inventor auntie, Madame Perplexe and the wandering Bard Jongleur as they do their best to avoid the village’s egotistical bully, Gourmand.
Meanwhile in a mysterious nearby Chateau de Pitie pour Moi (aka Pity Me Castle), a curse is hanging in the air while inanimate objects come to life and a rumoured Beast roams the halls.
As you might imagine, audiences are being promised a show brimming with laughs, thrills and lots of fun (as well as strobe lighting, pyrotechnics, smoke and some loud noises)… and if last year’s offering is anything to go by, we reckon you can take them at their word.
HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: WARRA BEAUTY before midday (12pm) on Friday, November 29, 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.