Culture Digest 08.11.24
A weekly round up of some arts and culture stories from across the North East which have caught our attention
“Mega” musical Miss Saigon a coup for Newcastle’s Theatre Royal
Newcastle is to be the launchpad next year for a new production of “mega hit” Miss Saigon, a blockbuster musical never before seen on a stage in the city.
The show, which has a famous helicopter scene, will premiere at the Theatre Royal in autumn 2025 ahead of a 40-week UK tour – a “coup” for the venue, according to chief executive Marianne Locatori.
“It’s really exciting,” she added, “and it’s in line with our ambition of partnering with producers to open shows in Newcastle when it makes sense for both parties.”
Michael Harrison, co-producer of the show with Sir Cameron Mackintosh, described Miss Saigon as “one of the mega musicals of the 1980s and ’90s”.
Read more here.
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“You shouldn’t have to put yourself into debt to tell a story about debt.”
The premiere run of a new play delving into the darkness of debut - while still managing to find laughs - has been rescheduled to next year.
Round The Houses by North East stand-up comedians Si Beckwith and Gavin Webster was due to open at Laurels Theatre in Whitley Bay later this month.
But last week, the creative team announced that the co-production between Laurels and Scrapper Reed would be delayed, due to funding concerns.
A short programme of shows and events has been developed to make sure the stage at Laurels will be kept busy, including a table read of Round The Houses; a trio of evenings with Gavin Webster talking ‘Debt, Stand-up, Comedy and Me’, ‘Regional Jokes’ and ‘Bawdy Humour’; and Si’s comedy play, Swallowed.
Read more here.
New Sam Fender single celebrates Tish Murtha
The artwork for Sam Fender’s much-anticipated new single features a photograph by late North East artist, Tish Murtha.
The North Shields star shared the image on his social media channels this week - along with a snippet of the track - revealing the single would be released on November 15 and adding:
Photo by the absolute legend Tish Murtha, from down the road in South Shields. It’s an honour to be able to use her art to help tell the story of the album.
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Community dance performance to commemorate the women of the Miners’ Strike
Tomorrow (November 9) will see a group of community dancers come together to perform Haway The Lasses in the Cutter Building at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington, Northumberland.
The cast of eight participants have been working with choreographer Eliot Smith (of Eliot Smith Dance) to co-create the piece, which is 20-minutes long and will be performed at noon.
The work, which has been created to commemorate the role of women in the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike during the 40th anniversary year, is part of Eliot’s PITMAN project, which sees a return for the dance production following a sell out run in 2016.
There will be a programme of North East performances at the end of 2024 and spring 2025.
Read more: Heritage project remembers ‘The Man They Named a Town After’
Nights at the museum
The Discovery Museum in Newcastle is launching a new after-hours event for adults later this month.
Discovery Nights will explore different themes, each inspired by the Museum’s collections.
The first event, which takes place from 6pm-9pm on November 22, takes its inspiration from a combination of the current Steam to Green exhibition and classic 70s sitcom, The Good Life.
Looking at sustainable and ‘slow living’, the evening will include tours of the costume store, mindful crafting, cosmetic making, foraging talks, clothes swaps, berry-powered solar demos and make do and mend inspiration.
There will also be stalls from sustainable sellers (jewellery, clothing, vinyl, arts and crafts and more), DJ sets, a bar powered by Newcastle University’s micro brewery, Stu-Brew, and the Museum cafe will also be serving food and drinks.
Find out more from the website.
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Countdown to North East International Film Festival
Tickets of all kinds are on sale for the upcoming NEIFF, which takes place across a variety of Tyneside venues from November 22-24.
Screenings of features, documentaries and reels-full of short films have all been confirmed as well as a variety of In Conversation and Q&A events, quiz nights and opportunities for networking.
See the website for the full programme and booking details.
New travel posters extol the merits of ‘Veralanda’ and Longbenton
Chris Donald, Viz founding editor and one-time teenage trainspotter, has put his own contemporary spin on the railway posters that always strike a nostalgic chord with fans of the great age of steam.
It’s a comic spin, as you might expect.
Northumberland is promoted as ‘Veralanda’, in homage to crime-busting Vera of page and screen, while ‘Tynemooth’ is depicted in Edwardian splendour but with a bloke in a hoodie, lasses eating chips and a dog relieving itself.
Read more here.
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Fenwicks Window soundtracked by The Unthanks
Northumberland folk treasures The Unthanks have turned their talents to a North East festive tradition - providing the music to accompany this year’s Fenwick Christmas Window.
The band’s version of The Twelve Days of Christmas was unveiled alongside this year’s display, which (as you may have guessed) takes visitors through the various leaping lords, milking maids, swimming swans and handful of gold rings etc.
Rachel Unthank said: "When my siblings and I were little, it was a family tradition to come into town and see Fenwick's window at Christmas time.
“The thrill of a little train going around the tracks or an elf popping out of the box was magical. We were always excited to meet Father Christmas. Now, I take my children to Fenwick's window at Christmas to carry on the festive tradition.”
The collaboration coincides with The Unthanks’ new double album and accompanying tour In Winter. A performance has been booked at The Glasshouse on December 3.
Read more: Interview with trailblazing Scot, corto.alto ahead of Newcastle gig
Digging into discoveries at Vindolanda
A dropped coin whose loss would have saddened the owner has proved a valuable gain for archaeologists investigating a Northumberland Roman fort.
Among the finds from this year’s excavations at Vindolanda is a very well-worn brass early coin of Mary Queen of Scots, whose rivalry with Elizabeth I led to her execution in 1587.
This year’s dig produced around 400 small finds – a number of which are further evidence of stone robbing activity.
Read more here.
Read more: Interview - Artist Jane Lee McCracken
Cathedral exhibition showcases Portraits With Purpose
A collection of poignant portraits created by Newcastle artist Leanne Pearce in collaboration with St Oswald’s Hospice, have gone on display in Newcastle Cathedral.
The Portraits With Purpose: Continuing Bonds exhibition was first shown earlier this year at Newcastle Civic Centre.
Leanne worked with 12 bereaved and pre-bereaved families who had accessed the Hospice’s support and/or care services to create the paintings. Many families helped to paint the backgrounds to the canvases.
Celebrating the lives of those featured, it is hoped the portraits provide a positive focus for grieving families and support the concept of ‘continuing bonds’ which explores how people feel close and connected when someone they love dies.
The exhibition which features high quality prints of the original artworks is on display until November 26. Visit the Cathedral website for more information.
Really enjoyed the latest Digest and will follow up on several mentions. Thanks