Culture Digest 01.05.26
A weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East, which caught our attention
A royal return for the Smoggies
There was glitter, there were heels and wigs, and there was A LOT of excitement in the depths of Middlesbrough Town Hall on Wednesday night.
Nearly 300 people had packed into the venue’s Crypt space for the launch of series two of Smoggie Queens, the BBC Three sitcom that quickly became one of the North East’s loudest and proudest screen exports when it landed on screens at the end of 2024.
Created, written by and starring Middlesbrough native Phil Dunning, the show has struck a chord for its unapologetic humour, big-hearted chaos and its affectionate portrayal of Teesside life via a chosen family of LGBTQ+ friends navigating life, love, drag, eyebrow pencils and Dickie’s latest drama.
Series one went down a storm with audiences and notched up a trio of BAFTA nominations and a North East Royal Television Society Award win. It wasn’t a surprise when producers Hat Trick Productions were given the green light for a second series.
Historic Tees Transporter Bridge at risk
A symbol of Teesside’s industrial heritage which featured in TV’s Auf Wiedersehen, Pet has been placed on the Victorian Society’s Top Ten 2026 list of endangered buildings and structures.
The grade II* listed Tees Transporter Bridge has been closed since 2019 due to serious structural concerns.
“Spanning the River Tees between Middlesbrough and Port Clarence, it is one of the most recognisable engineering landmarks in the UK. Its future, however, now hangs in the balance,” says the society.
Opened in 1911, the bridge was designed to carry workers and goods across the river without obstructing busy shipping lanes. Built by Sir William Arrol & Co, the firm responsible for the Forth Bridge, it stretches 260 metres (850 feet) and rises 69 metres (225 feet) above the water.
Making waves (and noise) for the next generation
After a near sell-out debut last year, performer Joe McElderry is bringing concert fundraiser, Something in the Water back to Newcastle Theatre Royal this summer.
And this time, the ambition is stretching beyond the stage.
Returning on Sunday, June 28 with both matinee and evening performances, the cabaret-style show - once again powered by funk-soul juggernaut, Groovetrain - will be trumpeting the region’s talent while also raising much-needed funds to support the up-and-coming cohort of North East performers.
“Something in the Water is all about celebrating where we come from and giving something back,” says Joe, who has become part of the Theatre Royal family since joining the regular cast list for the ever-popular pantomime in 2021.
“The North East has incredible talent, and it’s so important we create opportunities for young people to explore that.”
Sunderland-born Public Record inspires new New York production
A community-led theatre project that began life in Sunderland is set to inspire a new production in New York this summer.
Public Record, originally commissioned by National Theatre, Sunderland Culture and Sunderland Empire, will be reimagined at The Public Theater following its award-winning UK debut.
Directed by Emily Lim and Dan Canham, the project brings together community members, musicians and dancers to create a live album on stage in real time.
The Sunderland incarnation saw more than 100 community performers take to the stage (and a lot more besides) at The Fire Station. Supported by a committed team of professionals, they came together to create a vibrant, eclectic portrait of their city through music, dance, and storytelling.
In New York, a new cast will be drawn from all five boroughs to do the same. They - and the audiences who see the results - are in for a treat.
Blooming lovely
First look images have been released as Raby Castle prepares to open its new large-scale installation, Castle in Bloom.
Opening on Saturday (May 2), visitors will see the castle and its surrounding visitor buildings transformed with floral displays inspired by the estate’s horticultural past.
North East actors called to audition for landmark drama
Open auditions have been announced for the much-anticipated stage adaptation of Our Friends in the North, as producers look to cast a strong regional ensemble for the Newcastle production.
The show, is a co-production between Live Theatre, Eastlake Productions and Newcastle Theatre Royal where it will be staged in the autumn. Live’s artistic director, Jack McNamara will direct the adaptation by the iconic series’ original screenwriter Peter Flannery.
Auditions will take place across four dates in May at Live Theatre and Theatre Royal, with a deadline for applications set for May 6 at noon. Self-tapes will also be accepted.
Casting is aimed at professional actors, with producers keen to meet performers working in or from the North East. Roles include the central quartet of Mary, Tosker, Geordie and Nicky (played in the TV series by Gina McKee, Mark Strong, Daniel Craig and Christopher Eccleston respectively) alongside a wider ensemble.
Rehearsals begin in September, with performances running from October 15-24. Full details here.
BFI award to boost community work at Tyneside Cinema
Tyneside Cinema is set to expand its community and accessibility work after securing multi-year funding from the British Film Institute.
The venue has been awarded support through the BFI’s National Lottery Audience Projects Fund for 2026-2029, backing its Everybody, Every Story! programme.
Bosses say the funding will allow the cinema to grow its programme of accessible screenings and develop more community-led activity, with a focus on reaching audiences who are currently underrepresented.
It will also support efforts to broaden participation across the region, creating more opportunities for people to engage with film in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
TV series to tell the story of a lost cavalry watch making its transatlantic return
It was time for a pocket watch to cross the Atlantic and return home from New York 124 years after it was presented to a North East cavalryman.
The gold watch was inscribed with the name of C.P. Warner and was given to him by his friends when he returned from two and a half years of active service in the South African Boer War.
The watch was presented to the Discovery Museum in Newcastle by its current owner, John Coleman, and will go on show at its gallery Charge! The Story of England’s Northern Cavalry, which tells the story of the Northumberland Hussars and associated regiments.
The story behind the timepiece is being brought to the small screen via a new TV documentary series, The Reunion Project, which explores themes of legacy, identity, and historical connection, demonstrating how an object can bridge generations and continents.
Newcastle Gateshead Music City sets out next steps with new board
A new strategic board has been appointed to help drive forward plans for the North East’s music sector, as Newcastle Gateshead Music City looks to build on growing momentum across the industry.
Bringing together artists, venue operators, academics and industry professionals, the board has been created to guide the next phase of the Music City initiative, with a focus on turning research into action and strengthening the region’s music ecosystem.
The group will support the Music City Office, co-led by The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and Generator, following the publication of a new Foundation Report which sets out a long-term vision for the sector.
Michelle Escoffery, chair of the board, said: “This is a dynamic and well-balanced group of leaders, bringing both depth of experience and fresh perspective. Through collaboration and a clear focus on solutions, growth and delivery, we are committed to unlocking opportunity for the region and extending our impact far beyond it.”
Portrait adds a dusting of mystery to exhibition in Bishop Auckland
A mystery portrait has prompted a public appeal in County Durham as a major new exhibition celebrating miner-artist Tom McGuinness opens at Bishop Auckland’s Mining Art Gallery.
Visitors are being asked to help identify an unknown man depicted in a 1963 charcoal drawing, Portrait of an Unknown Man, now on display as part of Tom McGuinness: Out of the Darkness.
The exhibition marks the centenary of the artist’s birth and will run throughout 2026.
McGuinness, who was born in nearby Witton Park, worked in the mines for nearly four decades after entering the industry as a Bevin Boy in 1944. His experiences underground shaped a distinctive artistic style, capturing the physical and emotional realities of mining life.
Award win for North East mental health charity film
A North East short film created with a Sunderland mental health charity has picked up a national award.
Animator Scott Tyrrell’s Any One Of Us, made in collaboration with service users at Sunderland Headlight and commissioned by The Cultural Spring, won at the Smiley Charity Film Awards.
The film was developed through a series of workshops, with participants shaping the story and design based on lived experience.
Featuring narration from Matt Reed, the animation highlights personal perspectives on mental health while showcasing a collaborative, community-led approach to filmmaking.
Free arts festival to open Sunderland’s One Big Summer
A new free festival is set to take over Sunderland city centre as part of a wider summer programme around BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Running from May 22–24, the three-day event will transform Keel Square and High Street West into a hub for live music, dance, spoken word and hands-on creative activity.
The festival launches One Big Summer, a season celebrating local talent and community creativity, with more events planned across the coming months.
These include headline shows at Cliffe Park from Embrace and Ocean Colour Scene in August, alongside a wider programme of gigs in Keel Square.
Visitors can expect a relaxed, inclusive mix of performances, workshops and interactive experiences across the opening weekend.