Culture Digest 07.03.25
Our regular round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East, which caught our attention over the past seven days
Jenni Fagan’s Ootlin wins Gordon Burn Prize
Ultimately it was Jenni Fagan who stepped up to the microphone as the winner of this year’s Gordon Burn Prize, £10,000 better off thanks to Ootlin, the book (published by Hutchinson Heinemann) that began as a suicide note and, having brought her back from the brink, became a large part of her life’s work.
Fagan is the Scottish author of acclaimed novels and also this compelling account of growing up feeling unloved in Britain’s “broken” care system (14 different homes by the age of seven, umpteen name changes…).
Read more: Review - Hangmen at People’s Theatre Newcastle
North East venues look to secure futures with crowdfunders
Two music venues at opposite ends of the region are hoping public support will help them continue to offer a vital platform for live music.
Financial challenges and concerns about future viability have prompted those in charge at The Globe in Newcastle and NE Volume Music Bar and Venue in Stockton to launch crowdfunding campaigns.
The Globe in Newcastle, which celebrated a decade of community ownership in 2024 and regularly holds over 30 gigs a month (mixing up-and-coming acts with national and international touring artists), has just nine days left (runs to March 16) of its mission to raise its stretched target of £30,000.
The money will be used for “stabilising cashflow and improving the venue by reducing carbon footprint and electricity costs, upgrading stage lighting and improving facilities on the first floor and roof terrace”.
Similar aims are on the list for Stockton brothers Lee and Adam Allcock, who opened their venue in 2020 and have launched a £5,000 crowdfunder (running to April 15) to ‘Help Us Keep NE Volume Bar Alive’
Lee says: “It's a reality many grassroots venues face. In fact, more than 40% of UK music venues ran at a loss in 2024, and over 160 have closed their doors in just the past two years. Without the support of our community, we fear we could be next.
“Every penny will be put towards ensuring NE Volume Music Bar’s survival as well as improving facilities for everyone to enjoy. Together, we can continue to build a vibrant music scene, one that has been the heartbeat of our community for years.”
A bit of Brit glory for both sides of the Tyne
We might be slightly biased, but we’re calling the Brits King and Queen honours for Tyneside.
Not only did North Shields’ Sam Fender and South Shields’ Jade Thirlwall both take a Brit Award home (for Best Alt/Rock Act and Best Pop Act respectively)… but they also absolutely nailed their contribution to the live show too.
Sam delivered a straight-up cracking performance of his new album’s title song, People Watching while Jade served up a five-act Greek tragedy reimagining of her smash solo hit, Angel of My Dreams.
Lovely stuff and applause all round.
Read more: Curated Culture 04.03.25 - our what’s on suggestions
Glastonbury books The 1975 as first 2025 headliner
More North East music big hitter news as it was confirmed that indie pop rockers, The 1975 - led by Northumberland-born Matty Healy - will take top billing on Friday night at this year’s Glastonbury festival.
The son of Tyneside actors and presenters, Tim Healy and Denise Welch will take to the legendary Pyramid stage alongside bandmates Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald and George Daniel.
Music legend, Neil Young is headlining Saturday night’s proceedings with UK pop-punk star, Olivia Rodrigo doing the wrap-it-up honours for Sunday.
Giant snail wins the race to kick off British Science Week in Newcastle
What screams British Science Week better than a nine-metre long illuminated robotic snail?
Luma, who also measures three-metres high, delighted school children at the Life Science Centre as the attraction kicked off its programme for the 10-day* celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Created by leading robotics studio Air Giants, Luna uses world-pioneering mechanical technology to interact with visitors.
Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and West, and Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee was also there today (March 7), but we don’t have any of her measurements.
Luma is the glowing highlight of a programme of robotic-themed events at Life, which includes an adult Science Speakeasy on March 13: Your Life In Robot Hands that explores whether robots could help solve the UK’s care crisis.
*Don’t get me started on the TEN DAYS ISN’T A WEEK carousel - none of us have got the energy.
Read more: Unfolding Theatre’s Night Classes back by popular demand
Hexham Book Festival unveils its 2025 programme
Remember we mentioned in a recent mailout that the programme for the Hexham Book Festival was going to be revealed this week? Well we weren’t guessing.
It’s out and tickets go on general sale on Monday (March 10).
Mary Beard, Sayeeda Warsi, Alan Johnson, Lucy Mangan, Pam Ayres, Wayne Sleep, Robin Ince, Sam Freedman, Patrick Grant, Terry Deary, LJ Ross and Tony Juniper are among those lining up to talk to Hexham audiences.
All the details via the website.
Note: In geographically-related news, we’d recommend taking a look at this year’s programme for the Tyne Valley Film Festival, which runs from March 14-28.
We’ll be picking a highlight or four out in next week’s Curated Culture, but in the meantime, the 33 screenings, taking place across 23 venues (including a triple-bill of musician/movie mashups) are well worth a peruse.
Two Mock the Weekers coming to The Stand Newcastle
A pair of comedians - from either side of the political divide and seen and heard often on the telly and radio - have booked dates with the Newcastle comedy club for later this year, with tickets going on sale today (March 7).
Angela Barnes’ new show, Angst will see the TV regular share the results of her naturally worrying nature (spoiler, there are some successes, lots of unmitigated disasters and even more jokes). She’s bringing it to the venue on October 21. a few weeks before that, Angst will be entertaining audiences at Alnwick Playhouse (Sept 10) and Queen’s Hall, Hexham (Sept 11).
Meanwhile Geoff Norcott, will serve up his latest show, Basic Bloke 2 - There’s No Bloke Without Fire (his first under a Labour government) on November 9. He’s also taking the show to Alnwick Playhouse on Nov 8; ARC Stockton on Feb 7; and Queen’s Hall Hexham on Feb 8.
Read more: A month in Classics - March
Is This Me?
Open auditions for the much-anticipated staged version of smash hit musical feature film, The Greatest Showman (2017) will be held in Newcastle.
Disney is casting its net UK wide for, well, casting as preparations for the show’s opening at Bristol Hippodrome in Spring 2026 get properly underway.
The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya, Keala Settle, Michelle Williams and Rebecca Ferguson was a worldwide hit on its release in 2017 thanks in no small part to its soundtrack led by inspirational banger, This Is Me.
North East Singing and Dancing auditions for the stage production will be taking place on May 10, but those wishing to be part of what we can safely assume will be a bells, whistles and trumpets affair, must register to be in with a chance of a slot.
More information on the Disney Stage Auditions page (which is probably one to bookmark if this is your kind of thing!)
Dogs on the Metro… could it be you?
Sticking with the open audition theme (see above), this is your final warning for Live Theatre’s open audition call out for Dogs On The Metro.
Emilie Robson’s play (which won the inaugural North East Playwriting Award) needs a cast - and so if you’re an actor based in or originally from the region, they want to hear from you. By March 10.
Jen and Dean are the main roles which need to be filled - two friends who, over a series of days, months and years, travel back and forth on the Metro network, reflecting on and comparing their conflicting perceptions of the pivotal event which shaped their lives.
All the details you need are here… and don’t forget, the sliding doors will be closing very soon.