Culture Digest 12.12.25
A round up of the arts and culture stories which caught our attention over the past week or so...
***Bonus newsletter prizedraw Friday***
If you want to be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to Si King’s Propa Night Oot! at Live Theatre, Newcastle on December 17 or 18, make sure you read to the end of the newsletter!
£600k boost fuels Sunderland’s creative push
Sunderland’s bid to position itself as a creative powerhouse has taken a significant step forward, with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness announcing a new Creative Mayoral Development Zone for the city.
The initiative brings £600,000 in fresh investment and marks the next chapter in the Riverside Sunderland transformation.
The Zone will help drive forward the first phase of the planned Crown Works film studios, unlock new creative workspaces and support emerging neighbourhoods designed with artists and industry workers in mind.
Kim McGuinness said: “I want to give our brilliant creative industries the opportunity to thrive, from individual artists up to our plans for a first film studio in our region, creating new jobs for local people as we do so.
“Growing our creative industries is a key part of our Local Growth Plan for the North East. Now we will be working alongside Sunderland City Council to boost local investment and unlock the huge potential the city has.”
Council leader Michael Mordey said the backing “will be helping to accelerate the next stage of this important development.”
Action film commission for North East production companies
Film4 has commissioned development on SCRUM, an action feature from up-and-coming screenwriter Bethan Moore, produced by Newcastle’s Eight Zero Three Media and Gateshead’s Candle and Bell.
The film began life through New Writing North’s Genre Feature Lab, a pilot programme funded by the North East Combined Authority and run in partnership with Film4 to nurture ambitious regional genre storytelling.
SCRUM follows a women’s Rugby Sevens team on tour in Costa Brava as they hunt down a gang who have kidnapped one of their teammates.
Four-day Homecoming programme spotlights the North East’s assets in style
The region’s first North East Roots Homecoming events brought together community leaders, expats and cultural figures for a four-day celebration of identity, generosity and global connection.
Delivered by Community Foundation North East, the series marked a major milestone for the wider North East Roots initiative, which encourages those living outside the region to support its communities.
The programme opened in Blyth on December 5 with historian Dr Dan Jackson exploring the culture and character of the North East, followed by the naming of a newly restored coble at Blyth Tall Ship - a project funded by Community Foundation donors.
On 7 December, the Foundation partnered with Music Against Child Poverty at The Fire Station, Sunderland to help raise £100,000 for Sunderland charities, with £50,000 pledged from the North East Roots Fund to match donations for five local organisations.
A Homecoming Summit at Northumbria University highlighted how the region’s diaspora can drive economic and cultural growth, drawing speakers from Greggs, North East Screen, New Writing North and more.
The celebrations concluded with the celebratory NE Homecoming Awards on Monday, hosted with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, honouring ambassadors including Ann Cleeves (presented by actor Brenda Blethyn), Sir Brendan Foster, Fiona Hill, Tim Healy and Thom Lewis.*
*I (Sam) had the pleasure of presenting the inaugural WONFOR Award - named in honour of my mum and dad, Andrea and Geoff - to their longtime collaborator and event telly supremo, Malcolm Gerrie. It was a special night all round.
A stroll around Enchanted City, Newcastle's winter newcomer
Ahead of the official public debut of Enchanted City, Newcastle City Council’s new winter attraction in collaboration with Northumbria University, it fell to me to boldly go… from City Streets to Cosmic Skies.
That’s the theme of this year’s inaugural event which sees much of the university’s Newcastle city centre campus become a sort of adventure playground for light-seeking ticket-holders.
What would I find on a dark but mercifully tranquil Wednesday evening, a last chance for artists and technicians to test things before lift-off?
Note: Enchanted City is now open and runs until Sunday (Dec 14)
David Nellist returns to hit role for New York run
Award-winning North East actor David Nellist is enjoying a memorable December in New York as he revisits his acclaimed performance in Protest Song at the renowned La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, one of the city’s most respected Off Off Broadway venues.
The one-man play by Tim Price unfolds during the 2011 Occupy London protests and follows Danny, a homeless man drawn into a political movement he barely understands.
David first played the role at London’s Arcola Theatre in 2023, adding it to an impressive stage career that includes Billy Elliott, War Horse, The Pitmen Painters and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
His New York run - which continues until December 21 - has brought unexpected highlights, including meeting one of his acting heroes, West Wing star Alison Janney, after she attended a performance.
Look out for our interview with David, who will reprise his role in the Northern Stage produced adaptation of Ken Loach’s award-winning film, I, Daniel Blake for a tour next year.
Lost watercolours find the spotlight in Bishop Auckland
A set of long-forgotten watercolours by a hospice patient in Gosforth is about to take centre stage in Bishop Auckland, forming the first exhibition at the town’s new Artists’ Hub.
Powerful tribute to wartime resilience installed in South Shields
A statue which will commemorate war hero Len Gibson and the “Forgotten Army” in which he served will be unveiled in its permanent position in a Tyneside park.
In the 80th year of VJ Day – Victory over Japan – the artwork by sculptor Ray Lonsdale will be installed in North Marine Park in South Shields.
The statue of Len, from Sunderland, who was a prisoner of the Japanese on the Burma-Siam “death railway”, has been financed by Brian Burnie, founder of the Newcastle-based Daft as a Brush cancer care charity.
The unveiling event at 10:30am on Thursday, December 18 will feature Highland pipers, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, General Robin Brims, Brian Burnie, South Tyneside Council leader Tracey Dixon, and Ray Lonsdale.
Country music festival line-dancing its way to Tyneside
The spirit of Nashville is rolling into Newcastle next spring thanks to a day-long celebration of country music on May 24.
The Road to Nashville festival promises 10 hours of tribute performances spotlighting some of the genre’s biggest stars, including Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Zac Brown Band, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus and more.
Alongside the music, festival-goers can expect line dancing sessions, roaming entertainers and Western-themed décor designed to bring a slice of Tennessee to the city centre. A food court serving BBQ and smoker dishes, vintage games, a rodeo bull and axe-throwing stations will add to the immersive experience.
Running from 12pm to 10pm, the all-day outdoor event aims to deliver “wall-to-wall southern flavour” for country diehards and Bank Holiday revellers alike.
Tickets on sale here.
New Shelagh Stephenson play to launch Radical North East season
A new play by Shelagh Stephenson is always a significant event and arguably more so when it promises to shine a light on a figure from North East history.
She did it in 2009 with A Northern Odyssey, brilliantly imagining American artist Winslow Homer’s brief but inspirational spell in Cullercoats, the North Tyneside fishing village.
And she did it again in 2016 with Harriet Martineau Dreams of Dancing, bringing a major 19th Century figure to life on stage at Live Theatre.
For this third Live commission, Stephenson turns to another notable woman featured on a plaque, Mary Astell, and an imagined meeting with the novelist Virginia Woolf.
National award caps off milestone year for Darlington’s rail story
A major railway heritage project in the North East has won a national award.
Hopetown Darlington landed the Chairman’s Special Award at the 2025 National Railway Heritage Awards, recognising the outstanding preservation and revitalisation of three of the town’s historic railway buildings.
The awards are an annual celebration to recognise the best in re-use, restoration and conservation of Britain’s historic railway infrastructure.
The Special Award was presented by Peter Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Minister of State for Rail, during the ceremony in London.
The award reflects the extensive work undertaken as part of the £37 million transformation of heritage railway buildings and historic railway land into a 7.5-acre, railway-themed visitor attraction in the heart of Darlington, which opened in July 2024.
Pies, patter and a 'propa' good time with Si King
Si King will be taking to a home turf stage in Newcastle next week for a festive two-nighter at Live Theatre - and he’s bringing a trunk full of North East humour, a lifetime of stories… and a pie for every audience member*.
*You can win a pair of tickets to one of the shows - details at the end.
Running across two evenings, Si King’s Propa Night Oot! marks the latest step in the Hairy Biker’s solo journey, almost two years after the untimely death of his long-time friend and co-adventurer Dave Myers.
Imprinting a legacy
The creative legacy of North East artist and teacher Barbara Kennard is set to inspire future generations, following the donation of her printing press to Northern Print’s new inclusive learning space in the Ouseburn, Newcastle.
The press - central to her 30-year printmaking career - will now help children, adult learners and artists with additional needs discover the same joy she found in the medium.
Barbara, who died in September aged 76 after a fall, developed a deep love for the region after moving from Hampshire to Woodside, Ryton, in 1987.
While working as a primary school teacher and special educational needs specialist, she became increasingly drawn to the culture, industry and landscapes of the North East, later capturing them in her work after completing a Fine Art degree at Sunderland University in 1993.
Birdwatch project uncovers shifts in garden wildlife
How the bird population in the North East has changed has been revealed by 30 years of weekly observations by garden watchers in the region.
The spotters have participated in the British Trust for Ornithology’s Garden BirdWatch project which was launched in 1995.
And in that time recorders from the region have recorded a staggering 3,558,440 individual birds across 165 species.
People who join the scheme submit weekly sightings on birds which visit their gardens, plus information on any mammals and butterflies which are spotted and what food they leave out for the wildlife.
As the BTO marks the 30th anniversary of the venture figures show that several bird species, which appeared in the 1995 top 10 most-seen, have vanished from the latest table.
Kittiwakes stick around to star in Quayside Christmas show
Where do all the Kittiwakes go at Christmas? It’s the question being asked at Live Theatre and also the longest title of any show being staged in the region this festive season.
He’d wanted to call it The Seagull, says Live’s artistic director, Jack McNamara, but attributed not to Anton Chekhov (whose famous play of that name premiered in 1896) but instead to one Feathers McFlap.
“I thought it was funny but chatting to people here I was reminded how much kittiwakes are part of the landscape and all our kids’ shows have been connected to the North East.
Legendary producer Trevor Horn heads to Tyneside
Gateshead College students are set for a masterclass from one of the most influential producers of the past half-century as music legend Trevor Horn prepares to visit the Baltic Campus.
The North East-born producer - whose era-defining work spans The Buggles, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Seal and Yes - will meet Performing Arts and Media students to share insights on building a career in the industry.
“It’s always fantastic to see young talent in the North East. The region is bursting with creativity and energy, and I’m thrilled to be able to share some of my experiences and hopefully inspire the next generation of performers,” said Trevor.
The visit follows a high-energy day on campus organised by the Sunday for Sammy Trust, during which students were left stunned by a surprise appearance from The 1975’s Matty Healy. Joined by his father Tim Healy and Lindisfarne’s Ray Laidlaw, Matty announced he would be performing at February 15’s Sunday For Sammy concert at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle and led a songwriting workshop offering tips on crafting a hit.
Principal David Alexander said: “Now, our students will have another exciting opportunity to learn from a music industry icon, as Trevor Horn visits us.”
Trevor, who has himself performed at the last two Sunday for Sammy shows in 2018 and 2020 performs at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on December 18. Tickets here.
The coast in close-up: tales from a 122-year-old camera club
A camera club founded in 1903 has delved into its archive of 2,500 pictures to reveal a Tyneside world now lost to time.
Tynemouth Photographic Society has produced a book of almost 200 images which illustrate life from Whitley Bay to North Shields over the years.
Seafront trams, fisherfolk cottages, small family farms in what are now densely developed residential areas, and people packed like sardines on to beaches, are recalled. There were seven farms in what is now suburban Monkseaton.
Restored painting brings royal North Shields visit back to life
A painting capturing the lavish welcome given to the Prince and Princess of Wales during their 1884 visit to North Shields has been restored and unveiled for public display.
North Shields artist John Davison Liddell recorded the moment the royal couple – the future Edward VII and Queen Alexandra – arrived by steamer to open the Albert Edward Dock, now Royal Quays Marina.
His work, The Royal Visit to the Tyne, August 1884, has been conserved as part of the North Shields 800 celebrations and is now on permanent display at North Shields Register Office.
The restoration, carried out by Newcastle conservator Adrian Swales with support from Rosserk Park Properties, has brought new life to a scene once witnessed by thousands who lined the Tyne.
Elected Mayor Karen Clark said the painting “records a proud day in North Shields’ history,” while supporters hailed its return as a cultural asset for the community.
COMPETITION!
We’ve got a pair of tickets for either one of Si King’s Propa Night Oot! evenings at Live Theatre next week to give away to a Cultured. North East reader.
To enter, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk with the subject line: I want to eat one of Si’s Propa Pies by Sunday (December 14) at noon. The winner, who will be selected at random, will be notified within six hours of the entry deadline.
Terms and conditions: 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.