Culture Digest 26.09.25
A round up of the arts and culture stories which caught our attention over the past week or so...
Bailiffgate Museum set to move into historic new home after £4.3m award
A volunteer-run museum has landed a £4.3 million award which will see it expand its activities and bring back to full life a town centre historic building.
Since its creation, the Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery in Alnwick has been based in the town’s listed St Mary’s Church for 23 years.
For the past seven years, the museum’s aspiration has been to move into the Grade I-listed Northumberland Hall in the Market Place in Alnwick, which is under-used.
Now the National Lottery Heritage Fund has provided the major financial boost which will allow the museum’s hopes to be realised by moving into the hall, built in 1826 as a gift by the third Duke of Northumberland to the townspeople.
Big cast for Big Ange
The cast has been revealed for Big Ange, the latest play from Olivier Award-winning writer Jamie Eastlake, which opens at Live Theatre Newcastle in November.
Joann Condon, Gavin Webster, Curtis Appleby, Erin Mullen, Lucy Eve Mann and Ashen Hazel will bring the story to life in a ‘surreal and spirited’ production that blends football, politics and community.
Set in a forgotten town held together by broken bus shelters and fading murals, the play follows a teenage football squad fighting to find meaning in a world of collapsing housing estates, Instagram hearts and glowing graffiti.
At its centre is Big Ange - a whistle-blowing dinner lady armed with blue jeans, a Neil Diamond playlist and the determination to make a difference.
Jamie, whose previous work Gerry and Sewell sold out at Laurel’s, Live Theatre and Newcastle Theatre Royal, says he is excited and delighted with the cast who will serve up what promises to be a sharp, funny and urgent piece about growing up in a fractured political landscape.
Tickets for the run (November 6-22) are on sale from Live Theatre.
Heritage contractor sought to restore maritime treasure
A significant step in Hartlepool’s waterfront regeneration has been announced as the borough council seeks a specialist heritage contractor to work on the paddle steamer PS Wingfield Castle.
The vessel, moored at the Museum of Hartlepool, is seen as a treasured symbol of the town’s maritime history.
Emergency repairs have already taken place but a £1.8 million grant from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, administered by Arts Council England, means a dramatic transformation can now be undertaken.
This next phase will see the ship relocated to land at Trincomalee Wharf for extensive hull and deck restoration along with the installation of new moorings and improved public access infrastructure.
Work is scheduled to begin before the end of the year with the bulk of the work to be undertaken between next summer and spring 2027.
Bob Harris to host Country fundraiser in Newcastle
Bob Harris goes all the way back to the early 70s, and an era when glam rock ruled, as he recalls his first experience of a typically warm Geordie welcome.
“Newcastle’s been a regular destination of mine since 1971 when I was touring with Marc Bolan,” explains the former host of The Old Grey Whistle Test. “T Rex played the City Hall just after Hot Love had taken off. I was compering the shows and that was a real hot spot moment for Marc. It was the first of many, many trips to Newcastle over the years. I love the place.”
Bob’s most recent performance in the city was alongside Danny Baker on the Harris and Baker’s Backstage Pass tour. “It was the day before my birthday and I was at a loose end for lunch,” he adds. “That’s when I reconnected with long-time friend Angie Jenkison. We had a lovely afternoon on the Quayside and I suppose that’s when the seeds were sown for Country Rock N Raise.”
Love Island meets Legally Blonde
Amber Davies will step into Elle Woods’ iconic pink heels when Legally Blonde The Musical heads to the North East as part of a new tour next year.
The hit stage show will stop off at Newcastle Theatre Royal from May 12–17 before returning later in the year to Sunderland Empire from December 1-5.
Best known to many as the winner of Love Island in 2017, Davies has carved out a successful career in musical theatre.
Mural celebrates Arthur Wharton and Darlington’s railway legacy
Darlington has unveiled a striking new mural honouring Arthur Wharton – the world’s first black professional footballer - and the town’s pivotal role in shaping global history.
Commissioned by the Arthur Wharton Foundation and funded through Darlington Borough Council’s Creative Darlington project, We Changed the World from Here was created by artist Dan Walls (Illumination Wall Art).
Unveiled as part of the S&DR200 bicentenary celebrations, the mural depicts the iconic Skerne Bridge - the world’s oldest working railway bridge - alongside George Stephenson, Locomotion No.1 and Wharton himself, who played as a goalkeeper for Darlington F.C. in the 1880s.
Step out for parkrun and support Macmillan this Saturday
Lace up for parkrun tomorrow (Saturday, September 27) as Macmillan Cancer Support hosts a region-wide takeover.
If you haven’t had the pleasure, the free, 5k community event welcomes everyone -walkers, runners, buggy-pushers, cheerers and volunteers - every Saturday at 9am.
Participants and those cheering them on are being invited to donate “the price of a cuppa” to Macmillan’s Big Coffee Morning at their local event.
You can find your nearest parkrun at parkrun.org.uk