Culture Digest 14.06.25
A round up of some arts and culture stories from across the North East which caught our attention this week
Quick note: Sorry this mailout is landing a little later than usual. I could blame superstition - Friday the 13th and a week featuring a gala screening of 28 Years Later does have a certain spooky symmetry. But the truth? I just ran out of time before heading out to host a charity screening of the BBC’s 2021 Alan Hull documentary in North Shields. It turned out to be a brilliant night celebrating one of the region’s true treasures - and raised a tidy sum for the Sunday for Sammy Trust too. Lovely stuff.
Lindisfarne Festival saved as founder returns to lead 10th Anniversary
Northumberland coast delight, the Lindisfarne Festival will go ahead this summer, despite recent uncertainty over its future.
In what will be music to the ears of ticketholders, the sun is NOT setting on the much-loved event and it will take place as planned over the last weekend in August after investors who are also behind County Durham’s Hardwick Festival stepped in to save it.
And the first thing they did was bring back Lindisfarne Festival’s founder, Conleth Maenpaa, as Festival director.
Howay the Lad ! Sam Fender kicks off three-night St James' residency
On Thursday night, hypersonic singing superstar, Sam Fender kicked off a trio of sold out stadium dates inside the home of his beloved Newcastle United - which now surely doubles as the church of Fender.
Early birds on sale for Beyond the Moor Festival
The first raft of tickets are now on sale for Beyond the Moor, Gosforth Civic Theatre’s annual celebration of folk, roots and acoustic music.
Taking place on September 14, the 2025 line-up features some of the scene’s most exciting names, including Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, Martin Simpson, Ross Couper & Tom Oakes, Ceitidh Mac, Nev Clay, Andy Watt, Eddie Doyle and performers from Newcastle University’s Folk Degree.
Two stages will be fired up at the Newcastle venue and there will be food and drink on sale throughout the whole day and night. A tasty and tuneful way to spend a Saturday, we think.
Early Bird tickets are £35 – a £10 saving on full price – and numbers are limited, so booking early is advised. For full details and booking, visit gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk.
Tyneside Cinema names new chair and board as it looks to the future
Tyneside Cinema is preparing for its next chapter with the appointment of a new chair and a refreshed board of trustees. The changes come as the Newcastle cultural landmark approaches its 90th anniversary in 2027 – and suggest a shift in focus for the future.
The cinema’s new chair is Steph Edusei, CEO of St Oswald’s Hospice and a familiar face across the region’s public and voluntary sectors. She joins Tyneside with a remit to strengthen its charitable mission and help the organisation think bigger about its role in the North East’s creative life.
“Tyneside Cinema is a key institution in our city and holds a special place in people's hearts,” she says. “Joining at such an exciting time for the creative industries in the North East is wonderful, and I look forward to supporting access to great films and inspiring careers to more and different communities over the coming years.”
Sting steps in to launch urgent Baltic campaign
Sting has made a “major” – but undisclosed – donation to launch a £10 million endowment fund campaign to secure the future work of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
Chelsea Halfpenny prepares to set sail at the helm of new musical
North East actress Chelsea Halfpenny will lead the cast of new musical, Maiden Voyage.
The production will have its world premiere at London’s at Southwark Playhouse on July 19 and is based on the incredible true story of Tracy Edwards and the first all-female crew to compete in the 1989–90 Whitbread Round the World Race.
Chelsea, who is known to millions of TV viewers for roles in Casualty and Emmerdale said shared her excitement to get started in rehearsals alongside fellow cast members including Naomi Alade, Laura Tyrer and Shahaf Ifhar on social media.
Maiden Voyage, which will run at the venue until August 23, features a book and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein (Little Women) and music by Carmel Dean (Well-Behaved Women), and charts the determination, resilience and history-making journey of women who defied expectations and made waves - literally.
Tickets available here.
Future of iconic Northumberland estate in spotlight
The sale and future of one of the most spectacular landscapes in Northumberland will be the subject of a festival debate.
The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) have purchased part of the Rothbury Estate, which was owned by the Duke of Northumberland's youngest son, Lord Max Percy.
The current purchase includes the Simonside Hills and a mixture of lowland, 1,800 acres of woodland, riverside, and farmland on the western side of the estate.
The trusts’ aim is to develop a vision for the future management of what is described as a “remarkable” landscape, with nature-friendly, regenerative farming and nature recovery at the heart of the estate, while respecting its rural traditions.
Why Carrying David is about so much more than boxing
One of sport’s most moving and inspiring stories is about to unfold on the big stage and may yet find its way to the big screen.
Val McDermid to lead Gordon Burn Prize judging panel
Acclaimed crime writer Val McDermid has been announced as the chair of judges for the 2026 Gordon Burn Prize, as entries officially open for the latest round of the literary award known for celebrating bold, boundary-pushing writing.
The prize, which honours the legacy of the late journalist and novelist Gordon Burn, is open to books – fiction or non-fiction – that challenge form and subject matter, offering fresh perspectives often found outside the mainstream.
The 2026 prize is now accepting submissions of English-language works published between December 1, 2024 and November 3, 2025.
The Story celebrates a year of heritage, history and milestones
A culture and heritage venue is marking its first year – which has been something of a cakewalk.
The Story, near Durham City, has attracted 122,000 visitors since opening on 14 June last year – with its café serving them 14,500 cakes and scones and 21,000 coffees.
Located in the restored and extended listed Mount Oswald House, the Durham County Council venue is a gateway to the history of County Durham and its people.
It brings together five historic collections, including six miles of archives charting 900 years of County Durham’s history and the entire Durham Light Infantry Collection and Archive.
From set life to storytelling with Larry Lamb
“You can ask me anything, chances are I’ll have a story to tell about it.”
Larry Lamb is a journalist’s dream. Easy to talk to, generous with his time… and half a century’s worth of excellent anecdotes ready and ready and waiting to be deployed.
Last call for next round of Biscuit Factory creative grants
The deadline is fast - like really fast - approaching for North East-based creatives to apply for the latest round of grant funding from The Biscuit Factory.
Artists, musicians and performers have until June 16 to submit their applications for the chance to receive £1,000 of financial support for their practice.
If you’re thinking, ‘well, I haven’t got time to fill in a big grant form by Monday!’ then do not let that thought put you off. The process is intentionally simple – applicants just need to outline what they do and how the grant would help. How refreshing!
The initiative is part of The Biscuit Factory’s ongoing commitment to supporting the region’s creative community. Full details and the application form can be found via the website.
Durham Brass Festival expands 2025 line-up
Durham Brass Festival has added another burst of brass-powered energy to its already packed programme – with a wave of newly announced acts, one-off events and returning favourites confirmed for July.
Bronze Age finds hint at ancient ritual site
An array of objects more than 3,000 years old have been found by metal detectorists spread across two fields in Northumberland.
The discoveries at the location between Haydon Bridge and Chollerford suggest it may have held special significance for the Middle Bronze Age people who made the implements. They include a spearhead, a hammer and axeheads.
They are in particularly fine condition, indicating that they were deposited shortly after manufacture and were unlikely to have been used.