Culture Digest 15.11.24
A round up of some arts and culture stories from across the North East which caught our attention this week
Fancy attending Smoggie Queens' pink carpet premiere?
Hundreds of seats have been reserved for the Teesside public for what promises to be an utterly fabulous premiere of a new BBC comedy series.
Smoggie Queens, the sitcom which is set and filmed in Middlesbrough, will be unveiled at a dazzling pink carpet event at Middlesbrough Town Hall on November 27 - the day before it gets its first showing on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.
And anyone who fancies going along has a chance to, by putting their name in the ballot.
Read the full story here including how to apply for tickets.
Warner Music deal a game changer for music in city and region
NewcastleGateshead’s ‘Music City’ ambitions have been boosted with news of proposed major investment by Warner Music UK in new recording studios.
It follows months of planning between the music and entertainment giant and Generator, the North East music development agency.
The location for the new facility - to include recording and podcasting studios, editing suites and other collaborative spaces – hasn’t been revealed although there is a shortlist and the project has the working title Warner Music Newcastle.
Generator chief executive Mick Ross said the plans, which are supported by both Newcastle City Council and the North East Combined Authority, would bring an enviable standard of music production to the North East.
Read more here.
Read more: Books on Tyne festival preview
New ‘At Risk’ register reveals good and bad news for the region
Historic England has published its latest assessment of heritage locations across the North East.
While six previously ‘at risk’ places have been deemed no longer in that category, they have been replaced by half a dozen new entries on the at risk register.
Tony Henderson - who else - has surveyed the situation and reports back here.
Read more: Review - Fixing at Alphabetti Theatre
Robbie Williams to headline Come Together Festival
Bookers for next year’s Come Together Festival have confirmed Robbie Williams as the opening night headliner.
The event will take place from June 4-8 on Newcastle’s Town Moor, and known crowdpleaser Robbie will doubtless ensure the festival gets off to a rousing start.
The performance will mark a decade since the former Take That star’s last live gig in Newcastle.
Robbie, whose sort-of biographical film, Better Man (see trailer above) is out in cinemas on Boxing Day, joins the Kaiser Chiefs, Perrie, Andrew Cushin, Lottery Winners, Nell Mescal, Guy Sebastian, Deco, Sonny Tennet, Charlie Floyd and Harriet Rose on the festival bill so far.
More than 40,000 people are expected at the inaugural festival, which is promising to be ‘the North East’s biggest ever music festival’.
Pre-sale tickets to see Robbie on June 4 will be available on Wednesday, November 20 from 9am. Register to be in the pre-sale mix via the festival website, where you can also stay up to date on bill announcements and any other news on the event.
Read more: Landmarks celebrated in book for a landmark anniversary
Roll up for Berwick Parade, an artwork to animate the historic barracks
London-based artist Matthew Rosier, who works with communities and with technology to create stunning installations, is seeking participants for his new venture, Berwick Parade.
His aim, over one weekend, is to show Berwick Barracks transformed into a living parade ground with large-scale projections on three walls.
It’s the first commission as part of The Living Barracks, a project designed to ensure the future of the historic site by turning it into a busy cultural hub and visitor destination.
Read more here.
Trailblazing musicians become Artistic Partners of The Glasshouse
Approaching the 20th anniversary of the landmark curvy building in Gateshead, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music has announced three new artistic partnerships.
North East folk legends The Unthanks, who are also marking two decades of music-making, have been announced as Artistic Partners along with violinist Maria Włoszczowska and singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae.
It means all of them will work with The Glasshouse and Royal Northern Sinfonia over the next three years and be supported in making new work and collaborating with other musicians.
Read the full story here.
Read more: And next year’s panto is… Newcastle Theatre Royal unveils its 2025 offering
A Christmas date for your 2025 diaries
Tickets are on sale for Count Arthur Strong as Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol at The Fire Station, Sunderland on November 26, 2025.
The ‘once in a lifetime limited run’ will see him present his one-man interpretation of the Dickens’ classic.
Visit the website for more information and bookings.
Read more: Curated Culture - This week’s what’s on recommendations
Messiah national tour books Northumberland date
Touring company, Wild Arts is bringing its acclaimed production of Handel’s Messiah to Hexham Abbey on December 10.
Staged by director Tom Morris (War Horse) and featuring a company of eight singers accompanied by a chamber orchestra of internationally-renowned players, the Northumberland date is one of only eight UK performances - and the only one in the North East.
Tickets available via the Ticket Tailor website.
Read more: Review - Hairspray at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Winter programme unwrapped by New Writing North
The region’s writing agency, New Writing North has announced its winter programme, featuring a range of opportunities for aspiring and emerging writers.
There’s a library of career development opportunities for emerging creatives, including paid work placements in publishing and professional industry workshops.
Screenwriting, poetry, creative writing, freelance writing and community writing groups all feature… as well as a number of bursaries and the return of the Northern Writers’ Awards.
See our full round up here.
Extra shows added for candlelight performances of Dickens
Popular festive demand has dictated that more candlelit performances of A Christmas Carol have been scheduled throughout December.
Tickets for the Christmas incarnation of Dickens By Candlelight, which will be performed at Alderman Fenwicks House in Newcastle from November 26 to December 24, have been flying - so much so that extra weekend matinees have been booked in.
We recommend you get yourself over to the website sharpish to book tickets if you want to add this onto your Christmas activities planner.
Christmas shows, stories with Santa and screenings
In many households, the most wonderful time of the year often doubles as the most expensive time of the year.
Gosforth Civic Theatre is doing its best to address the issue of affordability with its festive family programme, which offers a family of four the chance to see balletLORENT’s The Velveteen Rabbit, check in with Santa and enjoy a Christmas movie favourite on the big screen for the all-in price of £96 (£29 per child and £19 per adult).
Read more here.
Read more: From the frame to Facebook
Panto stars booked to light up Sunderland
Stars of Sunderland Empire’s 2024 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk will be helping to get Christmas started in the city centre.
Emmerdale's Matthew Wolfenden, Miss Rory and Tom Whalley are due to put in a special appearance at the Christmas Switch On in Keel Square on Thursday November 21.
They will join players from Sunderland AFC, Hits Radio’s Steve and Karen as well as cartoon characters and Santa himself for the festivities, which get underway from 5.30pm.
More information from the website.
Sir Tim Rice to bring tour to the North East in 2025
Internationally-renowned lyricist and musical theatre legend Sir Tim Rice will be heading back out to theatres across the UK next year with a new show, Tim Rice - My Life In Musicals: I Know Him So Well.
An extra 33 dates have been added to a tour which began this year - and two of them are in the region.
Audiences at the Sunderland Empire (May 1) and Darlington Hippodrome (May 26) will enjoy an evening of music, beyond-the-scenes stories and songs performed by West End stars.
With a musicals back catalogue featuring smash hits such as Evita, The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat, Beauty and Beast and Chess, we feel confident in predicting that a night of theatrical bangers is in store.
Tickets for both dates can be bought via Sir Tim’s website.