Culture Digest 12.06.26
The stories from across the North East’s arts and culture scene which caught our eye this week
New warehouse venue launches in Ouseburn
A cultural venue is opening in Ouseburn this weekend, adding another creative string to the bow of one of Newcastle’s most creative neighbourhoods.
Ouseburn. Event. Space. on Lime Street, is a new warehouse and yard venue bringing together a mix of independent food, drink and creative businesses, including Wylam Brewery, Nomad Kababi and Deep North.
This weekend’s launch offers visitors a first chance to explore the space, meet the resident businesses and get a flavour (or let’s make that flavours) of what’s to come.
Organisers say the venue is designed to celebrate the independent spirit and creative energy which has helped make Ouseburn one of the city’s most popular destinations.
And there’s plenty already in the pipeline.
Upcoming events include a solo exhibition by Newcastle artist Marcus Reed, live football World Cup screenings and the recently announced Smoove & Turrell gig.
That’s a wrap for Sarnies
Filming has finished for a new comedy short written by Smoggie Queens star Elijah Young and produced by Gateshead-based Candle and Bell.
Commissioned by BBC Comedy and shot over a week in the North East, the project brings Elijah’s long-developing sitcom idea to life, with a cast including Denise Welch and Izzy Sorby of comedy sketch troupe Your Aunt Fanny - as well as the creator himself.
Set in a sandwich shop in Newcastle’s Bigg Market, Sarnies follows aspiring manager Sharon as she tries to keep her staff – and a new recruit – out of trouble.
Posting on social media, Candle and Bell founding producer Maria Caruana Galizia said the team had “loads of fun” making the film, thanking cast, crew and North East Screen for their support.
We await to be filled in when it comes to a transmission date.
Taking the case for regional theatre to Westminster
Newcastle Theatre Royal was in Westminster this week as a new alliance of independent regional theatres took its case directly to government.
Representatives from the Theatre Royal joined leaders from four other major venues at a parliamentary reception on Wednesday (June 10) to officially launch the Regional Independent Theatre Alliance (RITA) and press for greater recognition of the sector’s economic and cultural value.
The alliance – which also includes Birmingham Hippodrome, Leeds Heritage Theatres, Norwich Theatre and Marlowe Canterbury – is calling on government to better recognise what it describes as theatre’s “third way”: independent, not-for-profit venues operating between the subsidised and commercial sectors. Read more
Heritage, whisky… and now more silverware
Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery has picked up another tourism accolade, winning Silver in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the 2026 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
The latest honour is the Wooler venue’s 21st award and follows last year’s national Gold for Best New Tourism Business, as well as a recent win at the North East Tourism Awards.
Since opening, Ad Gefrin has welcomed almost 197,000 visitors – outperforming early projections - with its blend of museum, distillery and visitor experience.
Doctor Who fans battle it out for a share in late enthusiast’s vast collection
A Doctor Who fan’s collection has sold on Tyneside for a total of £49,000 including fees.
The collection belonged to Newcastle United season ticket holder and former Workington FC chairman Dale Brotherton, who died in 2024 aged 54.
The Newcastle sale at Anderson and Garland auction house featured 142 Doctor Who lots spanning more than six decades of television history, from William Hartnell to Ncuti Gatwa.
The top-selling lot was a replica of the Doctor Who vehicle Bessie, which achieved £4,200. A Warriors of the Deep costume and a futuristic prop handgun each sold for £2,210, while a full-size licensed Dalek model from Remembrance of the Daleks realised £1,700.
Collectors also competed for vintage toys, with a 1965 Bells Toys “Astro Ray” Dalek Gun selling for £750 and a set of seven Doctor Who character jugs fetching £400
A summer with Matisse in Stockton
Preston Park Museum will host a major exhibition celebrating French artist Henri Matisse this summer.
Matisse: Drawing with Scissors runs from July 15 to October 15 and features 35 lithographic prints of his iconic cut-outs, including The Snail and the Blue Nudes.
The exhibition explores Matisse’s groundbreaking late work, created during the final years of his life, and will be staged in the museum’s new Spence Building, designed to host major touring exhibitions.
Your backstage pass to the music industry
Aspiring musicians from across the North East are being invited to Sunderland next week for a free conference offering practical advice, industry insight and the chance to learn from some of the biggest names working in music today.
A to B, a new event aimed at early-career musicians and music enthusiasts, will take place at Sunderland City Hall on June 20 as part of Summit Week Sunderland.
Organised by Sunderland Music City in collaboration with We Make Culture, Music Connects Sunderland and The Bunker, the conference promises a day of panel discussions, workshops, live music and networking opportunities.
Among the headline speakers is Grammy Award-winning mixing engineer and producer Eduardo De La Paz, who will share behind-the-scenes stories from his work with artists including Noel Gallagher, Self Esteem and New Order.
Other sessions will explore topics ranging from social media and music careers to international touring and getting music placed in film and television.
Hands-on DJ workshops and live performances will run throughout the day, while Sunderland’s Roker Records will set up a pop-up record shop in the venue foyer. Read more
Last kick of the ball for Gerry and Sewell
The final run of hit Geordie stage show Gerry & Sewell is nearing the final whistle at Newcastle Theatre Royal this weekend.
The beloved show, adapted by Jamie Eastlake from Jonathan Tulloch’s novel The Season Ticket, returned to Tyneside this week following its successful West End transfer to London’s Aldwych Theatre back in January.
Thursday night saw a gala performance draw a crowd featuring both devoted repeat visitors and first-timers keen to see what all the fuss is about.
Produced by Eastlake Productions and Newcastle Theatre Royal, the production has enjoyed a remarkable journey, growing from performances in an attic fringe space in Whitley Bay to one of the North East’s biggest stages, via sell out runs at Live Theatre and then the West End.
There are two performances on Saturday (June 13). Tickets from the website.
A headcount for the Farnes’ biggest crowd-pullers
Puffin numbers on the Farne Islands are under the spotlight once again as rangers begin their annual census of the much-loved seabirds.
The National Trust islands off the Northumberland coast, which attract around 45,000 annual visitors, are home to one of the UK’s most important puffin colonies, with tens of thousands of breeding pairs returning each year.
Recent years have brought major challenges, including avian influenza, extreme weather and shifting marine conditions, with the 2025 census showing a decline in numbers.
Ranger Tom Hendry said the monitoring work was vital to understanding how puffins are coping “in a rapidly changing world”.
He added: “Seabirds like puffins are a key indicator of the health of our wider marine environment. The Farne Islands are internationally important for breeding seabirds, and the data gathered through this census contributes to a much bigger picture - helping inform conservation efforts not just here, but across the UK and beyond.”
Mining heritage vision takes shape
Directly opposite a fort site where hundreds of Roman soldiers were based, centuries later ranks of miners toiled in one of Tyneside’s best-known pits.
The remains of Wallsend B pit next to Segedunum fort were uncovered by archaeologists in 1997 – one of several shafts of Wallsend Colliery which originally opened in 1780.
Now sculptor Dr John O’Rourke has brought together both historical eras.
Since graduating from Northumbria University with a Master of Fine Arts in 1989, John’s works have included Sentius Tectonicus – a 2.8-metre Roman centurion at Segedunum, marking the eastern end of Hadrian’s Wall.
And his latest project honouring the North East’s mining heritage will be shared with the public at Woodhorn Museum’s Northumberland Miners’ Picnic this weekend (June 13). Read more
Hook, line and High Force
Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse have been spotted filming at High Force for a future episode of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.
The comedy duo were seen at the County Durham beauty spot recently, shooting scenes for the much-loved BBC series.
Free family fun for carers at Auckland Palace
Carers and their families are being invited to a free medieval-themed day out at Auckland Palace tomorrow (June 13) as part of National Carers Week.
Mini Medieval Mayhem, running from 10.30am-4pm, will feature crafts, live medieval music from The Ran Tanners and a bird of prey display. Organised by The Auckland Project, Hearth and Durham County Carers Support, the event aims to offer unpaid carers a chance to relax, connect and enjoy a rare family day out.