Culture Digest 18.10.24
A weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East which have caught our attention
Sam Fender announces arena tour
Fans of Sam Fender are celebrating (and preparing for a digital box office bun fight) after the singer announced an arena tour this morning (Oct 18).
Following a string of announcement trailers, including giant screen adverts popping up around the region and a campaign of teaser social media posts, the North Shields musician confirmed he would be back in the live arena - lots of them, in fact - before the end of the year.
And of course he made sure there was a big date on Tyneside.
Newcastle’s Utilita Arena will play host to the singer’s last date of 2024, on December 20… but expected demand means there’s a ballot in operation.
Read more here.
Review: Saint Maud at Live Theatre
Role for Newcastle-born actor in controversial Trump film
Opening in cinemas pretty much everywhere today is The Apprentice, a Donald Trump biopic which has divided critics.
Donald Trump is not a fan, calling it “a cheap, defamatory and politically disgusting hatchet job”. He also called it “fake and classless” and hoped it would “bomb”.
With that kind of endorsement, it will probably enjoy a profitable opening weekend.
The North East interest, apart from a natural concern about the character of a US presidential candidate, is that there’s a role in director Ali Abbasi’s film for Newcastle-born actor Charlie Carrick, who plays Trump’s older brother, Fred.
Read more here.
New play brings ‘chilling portrait’ of Raoul Moat to Royal Court
Award winning North East writer and director, Robert Icke will make his Royal Court debut with the world premiere of new play, Manhunt - part of the London theatre’s new season.
Manhunt is a drama about the hunt for Raoul 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.
The search for Moat sparked one of the UK’s largest ever manhunts as police pursued him across Northumberland - closely followed by local, national and international press who descended on the region.
A co-production between the Royal Court and Sonia Friedman Productions, the play follows the recent ITV drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat, which starred Lee Ingleby, Sonya Cassidy and Matt Stokoe.
Stockton-born Robert, whose most recent credit was Player Kings starring Sir Ian McKellen in the West End, said: “I'm delighted to be making a production at the Royal Court and to be working with David Byrne, his team and Sonia Friedman Productions. I couldn't be more excited to begin.”
Manhunt plays the Royal Court from March 28 to May 3. Tickets are on sale from October 28. Visit the website for more details.
Ceramics project at the Shipley shortlisted for national award
Gateshead’s Shipley Art Gallery has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award presented by the Museums Association.
The Museums Change Lives Awards celebrate the achievements of museums that are making a difference to the lives of their audiences and communities across the UK.
The Shipley Art Gallery’s Recovery through Ceramics programme, which enables people in recovery to develop new creative and practical skills, has been shortlisted in the Best Small Museum Project category.
Read more here.
New play tells story of Flying Scotsman General Strike drama
The accidental derailing of the Flying Scotsman at Cramlington - one of the major events of the 1926 General Strike - and the subsequent convictions of those involved is the subject of the latest play by South Shields writer Ed Waugh.
The Cramlington Train Wreckers, will open a region-wide tour on November 7.
Read more here.
Bright Ideas booked for Durham
Tickets are on sale for the fourth Bright Ideas Gathering, which takes place at Durham Gala Theatre on November 2.
The event brings together a baker’s dozen of speakers to the stage throughout the day - each with their own bright idea to deliver.
This year’s diverse cohort of thinkers includes Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton; Trend Bible’s Jo Feeley; former Treasury minister, Liam Byrne MP; BBC science journalist, Melissa Hogenboom; and James Osborn – a researcher and professor at Durham University, who will be exploring the world of space satellites.
Tickets available from Eventbrite.
Peace Heroines exhibition begins Tyneside Irish Festival
A free exhibition celebrating the women who brought peace to Northern Ireland opens this year’s Tyneside Irish Festival.
Peace Heroines features reproductions of vivid portraits by a visual artist in County Down who styles herself FRIZ.
The exhibition, marking 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, is on show at the Tyneside Irish Centre, 43 Gallowgate, in a top floor space renamed the Gallowgate Gallery.
Among those portrayed is Bronagh Hinds, the civil rights activist who co-founded the Northern Ireland Women’s Rights Movement and, later, the Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform.
Read more here
A gift of a show which keeps on giving
Five years after opening for the first time, a funny and heartfelt Christmas production is being wrapped up again for audiences in Newcastle.
Written and directed by Ali Pritchard, Present premiered at Alphabetti Theatre in 2019. It was created in collaboration with homeless charity, Crisis Skylight Newcastle and follows the story of one man’s mission to buy his grandson a Christmas present.
The production gathered a stocking full of lovely reviews and returns this year to offer bigger audiences the chance to see it.
Read more here.
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet anniversary gig hits the big screen
The Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle will host a special screening of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet at 40 - a film of the celebration events, which took place at Newcastle City Hall earlier this year.
Two sell out audiences enjoyed a gig of two halves to mark four decades since Dennis, Oz, Neville, Wayne, Barry, Moxey and Bomber first came together in a building site hut in Dusseldorf to begin some unforgettable adventures in life, love and cement.
The first half, This is Your Life, Pet, saw the cast and creative team from the iconic TV series come together on stage to share memories and tell stories from behind the scenes.
Stars Tim Healy, Jimmy Nail, Kevin Whately and Christopher Fairbank were joined by the likes of show creator, Frank Roddam and co-writer, Dick Clement as well as co-stars including Julia Tobin, Bill Patterson, Su Elliot, Lesley Saint-John and Lysette Anthony.
Act two saw a concert led by Jimmy Nail who performed a string of tracks - often with help from his former co-stars - which had some kind of connection to the series, including songs by Merle Haggard, the show’s theme tune, That’s Livin’ Alright and These Boots Were Made for Walking, which was delivered in fine style by Lesley Saint-John (Vicky), Julia Tobin (Brenda) and Su Elliot (Marjorie).
The screening will take place on November 2 at 5pm. Afterwards, ticketholders will be invited to the Tyneside Coffee Bar to join the team behind the Auf Wiedersehen, Pet fansite, who organised the 40th anniversary events, and enjoy a nightcap!
In line with the ticket sale donations, profits from the sale of the DVDs will be split between charities Sunday For Sammy and FACT. Tickets are available from the Tyneside Cinema website.
Putting the North East’s film and TV industry in the frame
North East Screen are looking for a production company to showcase the region’s many charms as part of its mission to attract TV and film producers to make their productions here.
The three-minute video will be made by a North East based company and will feature the region’s world class locations as well as its baked-in crew and increasing facilities.
The film is part of a continuing effort to encourage applications to the multi-million-pound North East Production Fund, which aims to attract high-end TV productions, feature films and returning series to this part of the world, providing more jobs and opportunities for freelancers who are based in the region.
More information about the North East promo tender here.
The Piano final to be hosted by The Glasshouse
Hosted by Claudia Winklemen, the latest series of the popular Channel Four competition which aims to find the best amateur pianists from across the UK has seen filming take place at train stations all over the country - including Newcastle Central.
The conclusion concert, where the winner will ultimately be revealed - landing a chance to perform at the Royal Festival Hall - will take place at The Glasshouse on October 29.
Claudia will be joined by singer Mika as well as American singer-songwriter Jon Batiste who replaced former judge, pianist Lang Lang.
Ticketholders are expected to keep all events under wraps (and keep their camera phones firmly in their pockets) until the final is broadcast. Tickets available from The Glasshouse website.
Pumpkin treasure hunt underway in Northumberland
If you’re out and about in parks and nature reserves in Northumberland, keep your eyes peeled for golden pumpkins.
A county-wide treasure hunt is underway, thanks to the joint efforts of Northumberland County Council and The Alnwick Garden… and every golden pumpkin found will have a family pass to The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei inside.
Six golden pumpkins can be claimed from Druridge Bay Country Park, East Cramlington Nature Reserve, Plessey Woods, Flagstaff Park, Tyne Riverside and Bolam Lake, from Sunday (Oct 20).
It is hoped the treasure hunt, which is part of the Ready, Set Explore! initiative - encouraging people to do more walking and cycling in Northumberland - will give families even more reasons to get out and about in the run up to half term.
Curious Arts’ half term take over in Darlington
LGBTQIA+ arts and youth charity, Curious Arts will be implementing a Curious Takeover at the Hippodrome in Darlington this half term.
On November 1, families and people of all ages are invited to ‘celebrate their individuality’ through a range of free creative activities led by LGBTQIA+ artists and inspired by the community’s culture and heritage.
Arts and crafts and workshops, storytime with Pam the Dinner Lady, an Express Yourself dress-up station, rainbow face-painting and family-friendly lip sync battles with local drag artists will all feature.
Creative producer for Curious Arts, Lizzie Klotz said: “We can’t wait to be back at Darlington Hippodrome this month. After last year's well attended and fantastically received event, it's so exciting to be back and bring new artist-led activities to the day.”
Dinosaurs stomp back to Life
Visitors to Newcastle’s Life Science Centre will be treated to encounters with a T-Rex and a trio of baby dinosaurs who are taking up residence for a week this half term.
Interactive and photo opportunities will be in abundance with the show by Teach Rex offers a bonus activity for school holiday visitors as it’s all included in the entry price.
Life Chief Executive Linda Conlon said: “Dinosaurs have always been a firm favourite at Life, so we are thrilled to be welcoming them back.
“The Anatomy of a Dinosaur show is both exciting and educational for children and
adults alike and it gives visitors a fantastic opportunity to engage with these realistic
prehistoric creatures and learn more about their anatomy and life when they roamed the Earth millions of years ago.”
October 26 to November 1 are the dates for the diaries of dinosaur fans. More details of all the October half term fun and bookings via the website.
‘Hidden Worlds’ explored in UNITY Festival 2024
The first of two outings for UNITY Festival 2024 takes place this weekend at the Great North Museum: Hancock (Oct 18-20).
Now in its fourth year and presented by Skimstone Arts, this is a free music and arts festival co-created with diverse communities across the North East which brings together newly commissioned live music, performance art, exhibitions, creative workshops, and inspiring talks.
This theme for 2024 is Hidden Worlds and invites festivalgoers to “explore the often-overlooked aspects of humanity and nature”.
Claire Webster Saaremets, artistic director of Skimstone Arts said, '“UNITY Festival 2024 will build on the successes of previous years, providing opportunities for people from all walks of life to come together and be part of a creative community. We will explore what we want to say about humanity and the natural world through music, performance, and exhibitions while considering how we can make a difference.”
Visit the Skimstone Arts website to find out more.