Culture Digest 14.01.25
Our weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East, which caught our attention over the past seven days
Cast announced for Raoul Moat play, Manhunt at Royal Court
North East actors Trevor Fox, Angela Lonsdale, Sally Messham, Patricia Jones, and Leo James have been confirmed in the cast for Manhunt, a play telling the chilling story of Raoul Moat, the murderer at the heart of one of the most infamous manhunts of the century.
Written by award-winning North East writer and director, Robert Icke, the play will premiere at The Royal Court Theatre in March and marks Icke’s debut at the venue.
Peaky Blinders star, Samuel Edward-Cook will take the role of Moat, whose release from Durham Prison on July 1, 2010 marked the start of an horrific chain of events which left his former partner Samantha Stobbart fighting for her life, her new partner Chris Brown dead, and police officer David Rathband blinded. PC Rathband would later take his own life.
A co-production with Sonia Friedman Productions, the play - which follows the 2023 ITV drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat - runs in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court from March 28 to May 3. Tickets are now on sale.
Read more: Curated Culture 11.02.25 - Our what’s on recommendations
MOBO Fringe gets underway ahead of main event next week
An event at The Glasshouse in Gateshead kicked off a busy five-day Fringe programme for the upcoming MOBO Awards, which are being held in the North East (at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena) for the first time in their near 30-year history on Tuesday (February 18).
Aimed at showcasing the richness of Black music and culture in the North East and creating opportunities for local talent, the Fringe schedule includes live performances, film screenings, exhibitions, workshops, industry summits and community-led activities.
All the details via the MOBO website here.
In main event news, more performers have been announced for the Awards, including Shola Ama, Jaz Karis, Shae Universe, Nao, LeoStayTrill and Nova Twins. Tickets available here if you want to be amongst a special night on Tyneside.
Read Simon Rushworth’s preview of The MOBO Unsung Class of 2025, which takes place at Pilgrim (formerly Hoochie Coochie) on Monday.
Barry Hyde releases more music from upcoming solo album
Futureheads frontman, Barry Hyde has unveiled another single from his new solo concept album, Miners’ Ballads.
Due for release on March 21, the album was commissioned by Sunderland City council and Paul Emerson and is inspired by the coal mining heritage of the North East with emphasis on Sunderland and Washington.
Following the release of The Miners’ Life and Last Dance (at the Landlord's Ball) - see above - Barry has just unveiled another single, Come All Ye Colliers, which is available for your ears right now.
Read more: Review - Only Fools and Horses the Musical, Newcastle Theatre Royal
BBC Four schedules repeat of Alan Hull documentary
An award-winning documentary which sees Sam Fender exploring the career and songwriting of late Lindisfarne frontman and songwriter, Alan Hull will be repeated on the day after what would have been his 80th birthday.
Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story will be broadcast on BBC Four on February 21 at 9pm.
Featuring interviews with Lindisfarne founding bandmates, Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Ray Jackson as well as Alan’s family and a star-studded list of admirers, (Sting, Elvis Costello, Dave Stewart, Jimmy Nail and Mark Knopfler to name a few), it’s a lovely watch.*
*Full disclosure, Geoff ‘Sam’s Dad’ Wonfor was executive producer on the film… but it really is smashing.
Read more: MOBO Fringe: Grab the chance to see rising talent on Tyneside
Full Berwick film fest programme announced
The complete programme for this year’s 20th anniversary Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival (BFMAF) has now been announced and it’s as packed as you’d hope and expect.
On offer are four days – March 27 to 30 – of “transformative cinema, exhibitions and dynamic conversations”.
And all made possible, stress the organisers, by support from Arts Council England, North East Combined Authority, the British Film Institute (via the National Lottery), Northumberland County Council and the Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Festival director Peter Taylor calls it “a perpetual work in progress” and rejects labels that might restrict how we see, understand and experience cinema.
Read more: Review - Top Girls, People’s Theatre Studio, Newcastle
Miners' Strike film digs deep
A film produced to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the 1984/5 Miners’ Strike will be released online next month.
In The Veins, portrays how one of the longest industrial disputes of the 20th century has affected the people, places, and identity of individuals and communities involved in the strike,
Created by the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive and Teesside University, the film also uses over a century of archive footage to reflect on the mining heritage of Yorkshire and the North East.
Playing the Pennine Way
It’s a venture which will strike a chord with walkers and music enthusiast alike.
Folk musician Johnny Campbell will be marking the 60th anniversary of Britain’s first long distance path by tackling its 268 miles while carrying his guitar on his back (or in his hand as per pic above) – which needless to say is a first.
Johnny, 37, who specialises in North country folk songs and also writes his own material, will give 17 performances in 19 days along the route of the Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Borders.
Read more: What would Josephine Bowes be collecting now?
Imprisoned mams contribute to new play
A play by Open Clasp Theatre Company, co-created with mothers in prison, is to embark on a regional tour after opening at Live Theatre in March.
Rupture was written by Catrina McHugh, award-winning founding director of Open Clasp, following workshops organised as part of the Parental Rights in Prison project (run by the NEPACS charity, which supports families affected by the prison or care system, and Durham University).
The hour-long show tells of a woman called Destiny (played by Narisha Lawson) who escapes onto the prison roof and gets an insight into her situation along with a view beyond the razor wire.
Audiences, say Open Clasp, “will discover for themselves how deep the threads of systematic and societal failures on women in prison go and watch as Destiny decides to take back control”.
Open call for artist commissions for The Late Shows 2025
Creative Central NCL has opened two £2,500 artists commissions for this year’s Late Shows, which will take place across Newcastle and Gateshead on the weekend of May 16 and 17.
The first is in partnership with The Coach House in Newcastle, which will become home to a living bio sculpture during the popular weekend event, developed by a team from Newcastle University.
The second is offered in partnership with Arcadea CIO, which will move into its new space in Waterloo Square.
Arcadea, which works to address inequalities for disabled artists within the arts and cultural sector, is looking for an artist to engage The Late Show audience from its large front window.
Deadline for applications for both commissions is March 10, 2025. Visit the Creative Central NCL website for more information and criteria etc.
Big launch right on track for S&DR Festival
The 200th anniversary festival celebrating the North East’s pioneering railway will be launched with a spectacular open-air event featuring up to 100 live performers and a spellbinding drone show.
Taking place on the site of epic outdoor show, Kynren, Stockton & Darlington Railway 200 event in Bishop Auckland on Saturday, March 29 - All Change - will combine projections, drones and live performers bringing history to life while kicking off the nine-month S&DR200 international festival.
North East RIBA Awards shortlist revealed
A multi-storey car park adorned with sculptural artwork to reflect the sea is among six North East projects shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects North East Awards 2025.
All projects will be visited by a regional jury, and the winners will be announced later this spring , before being considered for a RIBA National Award, which will be announced in the summer.
The shortlisted projects are (clockwise from top left): Ad Gefrin Anglo Saxon Museum and Distillery by Elphick Associates; The Rocket House in Low Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland by Napper Architects; Farrell Centre at Newcastle University by Space Architects and Elliott Architects; Teesside University Bios by FaulknerBrowns; Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre by MawsonKerr Architects; and Sundersea Sunderland by Tonkin Liu.