Culture Digest 24.01.25
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
Music City status for Sunderland
Turn the tunes up and locate some celebratory dancing shoes - Sunderland’s bid to become an official Music City has been given a big green light.
Recognising the past, present and future of the city’s music scene, the accreditation makes Sunderland a fully fledged member of the international collective, which includes Berlin, Sydney, Valencia and (the only other UK city on the list) Manchester.
The Music Cities Network, established in 2016, connects cities worldwide to promote the music industry's growth, economic development, and cultural exchange.
Read more: Exhibition review - Nerys Johnson: Disability and Practice
BAFTA and Oscar nods for North East writer
Huge congratulations to Gateshead writer, Peter Straughan who is in the final line up for both BAFTA and Oscar glory for the adapted screenplay of Robert Harris’ 2016 book, Conclave.
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rosselini, Peter’s screenplay had already been nominated and recognised widely - there’s a Golden Globe safely in the bag as well as awards from US film critics’ association events in St Louis and Washington DC.
But now the 57-year-old will take his seat with many of the cast and creative team (Conclave has notched up 12 BAFTA and eight Oscar nominations) at the prestigious ceremonies on February 16 and March 3, respectively.
It’s not the first time he’s been in this position. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which he adapted with his late wife Bridget O’Connor from the John le Carré novel, earned them a BAFTA Award and an Oscar nomination in 2012.
Safe to say Peter will be a star turn at the end of the month when he returns to Tyneside to speak at New Writing North’s sold out Screenwriting Weekender and also introduce Conclave before its final screening at Tyneside Cinema.
Read more: Review - Birdsong at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Shortlist revealed for Gordon Burn Prize 2025
Six books, inviting us into compelling but vividly contrasting worlds have made the shortlist for the £10,000 Gordon Burn Prize 2025.
The winner will be announced on March 6 at a ticketed public event at Northern Stage in Newcastle.
Honouring the memory of the late Newcastle-born writer, Gordon Burn, the Prize, which celebrates brilliant writing and innovative books that challenge convention, is run in partnership with New Writing North, Faber & Faber and the Gordon Burn Trust.
Read more: Review: A Celebration of Lionel Tertis
Get in Sam and Jade!
It’s been a big week for award nomination reveals.
And we have more reasons to celebrate in the North East with both Sam Fender and Jade Thirlwell getting the nod for BRIT Award shortlists.
Representing North (Sam) and South (Jade) Shields, both artists have been nominated in two categories… and the smashing thing is, there’s no crossover, which means there could be four 2025 BRIT gongs (designed by artist Gabriel Moses) heading North Eastwards in March.
Bosses at the Low Lights Tavern in North Shields, which currently has two of Sam’s BRIT Awards serving as rather cool beer pump hand pulls, will doubtless be eyeing up a couple more in preparation for the results of the ceremony on March 1.
While Sam, who released another single, Arm’s Length from his upcoming album People Watching this week, is up for Artist of the Year and Best Alternative/Rock Act, former Little Mix star JADE (that’s how we write it these days) is up for Best Pop Act and Song of the Year for Angel of My Dreams, (aka the new favourite kitchen dance track in our house).
This would be the first solo BRIT for JADE… but not the first BRIT Award she’s taken home.
As one of pop queens Little Mix, she has one for Best Song (for Shout Out To My Ex in 2017); another for Woman Like Me in 2019 (fan-voted Best Artist Video of the Year) and a third for Best British Group in 2021, when the all-female outfit became the first girl band to win the category in BRITS history.
Good luck both!
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Fiddler on the Roof for Sunderland
A new touring production of musical classic, Fiddler on the Roof will wrap up at Sunderland Empire in November.
Featuring beloved numbers such as If I Were A Rich Man, Tradition, Matchmaker and Sunrise, Sunset, the celebratory story of joy, revolution and community hasn’t been on tour for more than 12 years.
The 2025 tour follows a sold out and much-acclaimed season at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2024 and an upcoming transfer to London’s Barbican theatre in the summer.
Led by director Jordan Fein (Oklahoma, Young Vic), choreographer Julia Cheng (Cabaret) and designer Tom Scutt (Winner of the 2024 Tony Award for Cabaret), casting will be announced soon.
Tickets will be going on sale in the not too distant for the Sunderland dates, which run from November 25-29. Keep your eye on Sunderland Empire’s website for updates.
Read more: Interview with writer Ishy Din ahead of Champion premiere
Eight artists vie to exhibit at National Trust property
There are eight shortlisted contenders for the fourth North East Emerging Artist Award, an annual attraction at National Trust property Seaton Delaval Hall.
The competition is open to emerging and early career artists and creative practitioners from the region or studying here.
It embraces all artforms including music/sound, theatre, film, fashion, literature and design as well as fine art.
The eight shortlisted artists have been given bursaries to research and develop their ideas which will be displayed in the Georgian stables at Seaton Delaval Hall from May 14 until June 22.
MOBO Awards presenters confirmed*
*Anyone else getting a touch of awards fever?
The MOBO Awards, which will take place at the Utilita Arena Newcastle on February 18, will be presented by comic and actor Eddie Kadi and Love Islander, Indiyah Polack.
The 2025 event is the first time the MOBOs have been held in the North East since they debuted in 1996. With that in mind, organisers have signed up - who else? -Greggs as the official food partners.
We’ll make it our business to come up with some suitable pastry puns by the time the (b)red carpet is roll-ed out.
The first wave of performers were confirmed last week along with a busy five-day fringe programme. Expect more announcements in the time between now and the big event.
Tickets are available from the MOBO website meanwhile there will also be a live stream of proceedings on YouTube from 8pm ahead of a special BBC highlights programme to be broadcast on February 21.
Polly and Kathryn at The Cumbie
Polly Paulusma’s upcoming gig at The Cumberland Arms (March 25) in Newcastle’s Ouseburn will see Newcastle-based singer Kathryn Williams joining her on stage along with with double bassist Jon Thorne.
Currently promoting her latest album, Wildfires, Polly announced the collaboration with her ‘dear friend’ and ‘sister in song’ on Instagram, saying: “It’s going to be a very special show and I hope you can be there!” Hard to argue. Tickets here.
New writing challenge tabled for return of ClassicsFest
ClassicsFest, which made its debut last year, is returning from May 15 to 17 with a new theme of performance and politics sparked by the ideas of Marcus Tullius Cicero.
But ahead of it comes an immediate call for speeches in the style of the great Roman orator.
Anyone can have a go. The key question is: “Can you make a persuasive argument to win £300?”
Cinzia Hardy, who initiated the festival devoted to the classics, insists you don’t have to know anything about Cicero to enter the competition (although a quick Google probably wouldn’t go amiss, or even recourse to the printed page).
First acts confirmed for new Middlesbrough music festival
Indie rockers October Drift, Scottish punks Soapbox and North East post-punk outfit, Pit Pony have been announced as a trio of acts troubling the top of the bill for This Is Middlesbrough - a new multi-stage festival taking place on April 5.
The new event, which is organised by the team behind the award-winning Twisterella Festival, will offer 20 bands slots across three stages at Teesside University.
Tickets on sale now from SEE Tickets.
BBC Bargain Hunt meets Beamish
Bargain Hunt presenter Eric Knowles was transported back to his childhood during a visit to Beamish Museum, which featured in a recent episode of the popular daytime show.
Eric spent time in the 1950s town where he called into the record shop, and also chatted to Helen Barker, the Museum’s collections and programmes director in the electrical shop, before heading to the toy shop where he spotted a few exhibits which sparked memories of many years gone by.
The episode, which is available on iPlayer if you missed it, also took in a visit to the Wolsingham Antiques and Salvage Fair.
Festival film draws on Hexham’s paranormal past
The programme for this year’s Tyne Valley Film - taking place from March 14-28 in venues across the Tyne Valley - is being unveiled film by film.
So far we’ve got Hexham Heads - an ‘experimental short film’ which reconstructs a series of paranormal events which took place in Hexham in the early 70s; and a preview screening, presented by Hexham Book Festival, of The Return - a ‘thrilling new take on Homer’s The Odyssey - starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche.
The screenings will both take place at The Forum cinema, Hexham and are scheduled for March 15 and 23 respectively.
Keep your eye on the Festival website for more programme updates and ticket details.
The North East Artists’ Fund open for applications
The 2025 incarnation of the North East Artists’ Fund, which offers visual arts practitioners micro bursaries of up to £500, is now welcoming applications.
All criteria, details and deadlines are available here.
Call out for Wearsides sounds from the past
People from Sunderland are being asked to delve into their audio archives for a new show, described as a ‘musical love story for Sunderland’... which couldn’t be timed better given the lovely Music City status news (see the top story on this week’s newsletter).
Writer Stewart Pringle is putting together the narrative for Public Record - a show developed through a collaboration between the National Theatre, Sunderland Culture and Sunderland Empire to celebrate the city’s musical heritage.
“There’s a moment in the show when the narrator reveals we’ve been trying to find the earliest sound recording of Sunderland – so I’m asking the people of Sunderland to send in their audio clips from the 1980s, 1970s, 1960s or even before,” explained Stewart.
From Space to Stockton
British astronaut Tim Peake has ensured a North East date is in the mix when he blasts off on his latest tour.
Astronauts: The Quest To Explore Space will see Tim sharing extraordinary archive footage bringing to life the adventures of astronauts ‘in a celebration of the historic human endeavour of space exploration’.
“It seems like yesterday I was launching to space, and I still hold the very deep honour and excitement of that day very close,” he says.
“Being able to tour the country, with a special show like The Quest To Explore Space, where I can share just a small taste of what I experienced as an astronaut, reliving my own journey and sharing stories from those groundbreaking moments in space exploration, is absolutely fantastic.”
The show will touch down (apologies, but they write themselves) at Stockton Globe on September 24. Tickets from the website.
Grant to explore history of Ballast Hills
Beneath a barely-noticed grassy city space overlooking the Tyne, an estimated 40,000 people lie buried.
Now a funding grant will see the coming year devoted to revealing the stories behind the Ballast Hills burial site on the edge of the Ouseburn Valley between Albion Street and Ford Street in Newcastle.
Record breaking Alnwick light trail has organisers beaming
The Alnwick Garden is celebrating record-breaking ticket sales for its annual Winter Light Trail, which attracted more than 58,000 visitors between November and January.
That’s up 30% from anyone who was keeping track year on year.
Mark Brassell, CEO of The Alnwick Garden, said: “Each winter, we strive to make our installations bigger and better than ever by introducing new and exciting features for our visitors to enjoy.
“In our sixth year, we collaborated with some fantastic sponsors, who raised over £30,000, all of which goes to support the Charity and its community programmes.”
Sounds like it’s a knocking bet it will return brighter than ever for 2025.