Culture Digest 29.05.26
A weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East, which caught our attention
A very good week to be Elijah Young
In related news (which also gets a mention in the full story above, but we wanted to give it a big slice of the spotlight here, too), Teesside actor and writer Elijah Young has had a belting week.
Exhibit 1: He and his Smoggie Queens co-star Alexandra Mardell had a ball at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and loved seeing the trailer for the second series of the hit Middlesbrough sitcom on the big screens.
Exhibit 2: Elijah was also delighted to celebrate the unveiling of a Smoggie Queens mural in Middlesbrough on Thursday. Created by local artist Stephen Irving (aka Zero Gradient) the artwork was commissioned by the BBC as part of its Made Of Here campaign.
Exhibit 3: The sitcom idea he has been working on with Gateshead production company, Candle and Bell for the past three years has had a comedy short commissioned. Sarnies is set in a sandwich shop in the Bigg Market and follows aspiring manager Sharon as she tries to keep staff and a new recruit out of trouble
Posting on social media, Candle and Bell founding producer, Maria Caruana Galizia, said: “The news is finally out! We’ve been working with Elijah on his sitcom idea since 2023 and we’re so excited to work on the next phase of this project. It’s hilarious and full of heart.”
Star cast announced for Richard Bean birthday celebration reading at Live
Denise Welch and her son Louis Healy will come together at Live Theatre next month for a special reading celebrating the 70th birthday of acclaimed playwright Richard Bean.
The one-off performance of Smack Family Robinson, taking place on June 19, revisits the darkly comic Whitley Bay-set play which premiered at the Newcastle venue in 2003.
Best known for the international smash hit One Man, Two Guvnors, Richard has long enjoyed a close relationship with Live Theatre, and this anniversary reading will bring a host of familiar North East names back to the Quayside stage.
Alongside Denise and Louis will be Trevor Fox as family patriarch Gavin Robinson; Beth Crame in the role of daughter Cora, and actor and performance coach Luke Maddison as son Robert. Read more
Jeff Brown tells the story of Sunderland AFC’s first Black player
North East broadcaster and journalist Jeff Brown has helped bring the story of Roland Gregoire, Sunderland AFC’s first Black player, to a wider audience through a new film, now available on BBC iplayer.
The documentary sees Gregoire reflect on the racism he experienced during his time at the club during an emotional return to Wearside.
Jeff has written about the project for Cultured. North East. Don’t miss this weekend’s Cultured. On Sunday to read more.
Art students sock it to us with degree show exuberance
As another academic year draws to a close, the fine art degree shows are blossoming around us – a parting gift that students on creative courses bestow on the public at large.
A popular attraction on Level 1 at Baltic is the Northumbria University show where much of the work on display is easily a match for that of established artists on other floors.
Displayed without elaborate explanation or contextual blather, the work nevertheless packs a visual punch – and it’s incredibly varied. Read more
Auction mystery over Newcastle’s FA Cup giant
After three FA Cup final defeats, Newcastle United and their fans could at last walk tall when they finally won the trophy in 1910.
A 2-0 win over Barnsley saw United bring the cup back to Tyneside where it was paraded through vast crowds thronging the city streets.
A big celebration was called for – and one contribution didn’t come much bigger than a 6ft 4in model/sculpture of a Newcastle player with No 9 on his back and inscribed with the winning scoreline.
United’s centre forward Albert Shepherd, who had cost £850 from Bolton, was the hero of the day with both goals against Barnsley.
Now the previously unknown figure has surfaced for sale on June 4 by Newcastle auctioneers Anderson & Garland, with an estimate of £800-£1,200. Read more
Banners exhibition to tell story of strike and struggle
The struggles of workers during the 1926 General Strike are providing the inspiration for a new exhibition which will be seen by thousands of Tyneside travellers.
A display of banners will be created by individuals who have their own experiences of facing difficulties.
A creative health charity which works with communities across North Tyneside, Northumberland, Newcastle and South Tyneside will be presenting the exhibition in the Bridge Gallery at Tynemouth Metro Station from June 27-July 12 to commemorate the centenary of the General Strike.
North Tyneside Art Studio (NTAS), an advocate of the arts in the region for mental health and wellbeing, is working with Wisecrack Productions, who are staging South Shields writer Ed Waugh’s play The Cramlington Train Wreckers at Newcastle Theatre Royal in July. Read more
North East performers invited to join Annie cast
The sun will come out in Newcastle in 2027 as Tyne Theatre Productions has announced Annie as its next major amateur dramatic production.
Bringing together members of Tyne Theatre Productions and Tyne Youth Company, the classic musical is set to take over the stage at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre and Opera House early next year.
Performers of all ages will get the chance to be part of one of musical theatre’s most enduring crowd-pleasers, following the story of an ever-optimistic orphan called Annie and featuring unforgettable songs including Tomorrow, Hard Knock Life and Easy Street.
Audition details are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Read more
