Curated Culture 01.10.24
Curated Culture 01.10.24
Our weekly signpost to a selection of picks from what's currently on offer from venues and attractions across North East England
Hello! Team Cultured. North East here once again with a weekly collection of inspiration - spotlighting some of the stuff we think you might like to get amongst and/or in front of over the next couple of weeks.
You’ll also find a round up of things we’ve highlighted in previous Curated Culture mailouts which are STILL SHOWING as well as a crowd of things a bit further ahead in the calendar, which are NOW BOOKING.
We’ve been delighted to hear from so many of you that you’re finding these weekly newsletter nudges useful… we’re very much enjoying finding things to recommend to you too… the very definition of a win/win!
As ever, we’ve also got an exclusive chance for our subscribers to win tickets to something smashing.
This week’s there’s a pair of tickets for Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz at Northern Stage (Oct 9) up for grabs. Details of how to enter etc at the end.
Before then though, why not take your time having a slow scroll through everything between here and there?
Thanks as ever for spreading the word among your pals… let’s keep the momentum going, eh?
Sam and Dave*
*Like Chas and Dave but with less hair and better accents
PS: If you haven’t liked/followed/high fived us on our socials, you can rectify that on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter
THEATRE: Saint Maud
Where: Live Theatre, Newcastle
When: October 10-November 2
Bookings and info: live.org.uk
Sunderland writer Jessica Andrews brings the 2019 horror film to the stage, complete with music from Gazelle Twin.
Directed by Live’s Jack McNamara, the unsettling play (that may be an understatement) tells the tense tale of a terminally ill dancer and her devout Roman Catholic nurse.
You can read David Whetstone’s interview with Jessica and Jack here.
WORDS: Berwick Literary Festival 2024
Where: Various Berwick venues
When: October 7-13
Bookings and info: berwickliteraryfestival.com
Michael Palin deemed Berwick “perfect” for a literary festival and clearly he’s not
alone in thinking so.
Christopher Biggins, Anthony Seldon, Mishal Husain and Helen Lederer are among
this year’s participants, along with the Duke of Northumberland and Bloodaxe poets
including Katrina Porteous.
The 11th festival begins with ex-Teletubby Nikki Smedley, who was once Laa-Laa (the yellow one), discussing her memoir Over the Hills and Far Away at Berwick Baptist
Church on October 8, 7.30pm.
MUSIC: Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music
Where: Various venues
When October 3-6
Bookings and info: jazznortheast.com
The contemporary grass roots jazz festival was launched in 2017 by Jazz North East
and has become a fixture.
Following last weekend’s opening events, the festival resumes with Surrealist Silent Film Scores, a concert by Alcyona Mick (piano) and Juliana Day (recorder, whistle, vocal electronics) at Gosforth Civic Theatre (Oct 3, 8pm).
More gigs follow at the Lit and Phil and finally at The Globe (NE4 7AD) with the Catriona Bourne Quartet opening proceedings.
Read more: Staying true to its (folk and) roots - Beyond the Moor 2024
EVENTS: The Pumpkin Forest
Where: Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland
When: October 4-31
Bookings and info: aucklandproject.org
The finishing touches are being put to a new “autumn extravaganza” in Bishop Auckland.
The Auckland Project are opening the Pumpkin Forest at Auckland Castle this weekend, featuring more than 600 hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins and hundreds of chrysanthemums and decorative gourds spread across the Castle’s gardens.
MUSIC: William Shield Festival 2024
Where: Lit and Phil and other venues
When: October 15 to November 28
Bookings and info: www.facebook.com/communitymusicws
Once again the genius of composer William Shield (1748 to 1829) - born in Swalwell,
buried in Westminster Abbey – is celebrated with concerts, a talk and on November
28 (St George’s Church, Jesmond) a performance of his comic opera, Robin Hood.
But the festival opens with a recital by Heather Burns (contralto) and festival artistic
director John Treherne (keyboard) in the Great Hall, Northumbria University, on October 15, 1.10pm.
Read more: Review - Wicked at Sunderland Empire
COMEDY: Ed Byrne - Tragedy Plus Time
Where: The Witham, Barnard Castle and Queen’s Hall, Hexham
When: October 16 and 17
Bookings and info: edbyrne.com
The last of Irish comic, Ed Byrne’s NINE North East dates will come to pass in October.
This is the veteran comedian’s most personal show to date as he explores and mines the most tragic event in his life - the death of his brother, Paul aged just 44 - for the funny. Paul would approve. He chose Disco Inferno as the music for the crematorium service.
WORDS: Tan Twan Eng with Preti Taneja
Where: Culture Lab, Newcastle University
When: Thursday, October 3, 7pm
Bookings and info: ncl.ac.uk
Tan Twan Eng was born and lives in Malaysia but he writes in English and his latest novel, The House of Doors, set in the 1920s, has the real life writer Willie Somerset Maugham at its heart.
It was longlisted for the Booker Prize and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and was a Sunday Times bestseller. He will discuss it with author Preti Taneja, director of the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts (NCLA) to open its autumn/winter programme. Free but please book.
EVENTS: The Glittering North
Where: Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
When: October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 30, 31 and Nov 1-3
Booking and info: raby.co.uk
After dark live music, dance and puppetry will be on the autumn menu at Raby Castle in County Durham as the dark nights draw in.
The region’s Norse and Viking heritage will be celebrated and illuminated via iconic figures from the past while the remodelled 18th century Walled Garden will be home to the ‘trail of the north’ full of light-filled photo opportunities, a glittering space dripping with gold, a giant illuminated fish in a new watery world and a recreation of the northern lights.
Read more: Interview with The Season Ticket author, Jonathan Tulloch
MUSIC: Billy Mitchell and Bob Fox: 5 Star B&B
Where: Various venues across the North East
When: Between October 3 and 13
Bookings and info: www.billymitchell.co.uk
Pitmen Poet bandmates Billy Mitchell (Lindisfarne, Jack the Lad) and Bob Fox (Warhorse Songman, Fox and Luckley) are back on the road as a twosome for the first time in three years with a new show, 5 Star B&B.
A setlist including Lindisfarne classics and traditional folk arrangements is on the cards.
MUSIC: Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead
When: October 4, 7.30pm
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
The latest classical season offering sees Royal Northern Sinfonia joined by French pianist David Fray who as well as soloist will also direct the concert, sparking memories for some of the sadly missed Lars Vogt.
A winning programme begins and ends with Mozart, opening with Eine kleine Nachtmusik and getting to his much-loved 20 th via two popular works by Bach, Brandenburg Concert No. 5 and Piano Concerto No. 5.
Read more: Exhibition - Mali Morris: Returning at the Hatton
MUSIC: Rachael McShane and The Cartographers
Where: The Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre
When: October 10, 7.30pm
Bookings and info: newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk
This is a double first: the opening gig of an autumn tour by ex-Bellowhead Rachael, the renowned vocalist and strings player from the North East, and colleagues Ian Stephenson (guitar) and Julian Sutton (melodeon); and a new folk club, The F Word.
Monthly performances are promised with Ceitidh Mac booked for November 14 and Staithe (that’s Bridie Jackson and Nick Pierce) on December 12.
COMEDY: Matt Forde - The End of an Era
Where: Middlesbrough Town Hall
When: October 9
Bookings and info: mattforde.com
As far as comedian Matt Forde is concerned, a new government for the UK = a whole new army of politicians to mine for comedy.
We would imagine he’s rewriting it every night so strap in!
Read more: Reggae legends’ double date with Tyneside
STILL SHOWING
Theatre: Wicked at Sunderland Empire, until Oct 20 (read our review, here)
Theatre: Gerry and Sewell at Newcastle Theatre Royal, Oct 2-5
Music: Beyond the Moor 2024, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Oct 12
Food and theatre: The Wilson Tales: Literary Dinner and Wilson at Play, The Kings Arms, Berwick and Paxton House Picture Gallery, Oct 2 and 4
Theatre: My Mother’s Funeral, Northern Stage, Oct 11-12
Music: Voices of Virtue, Hoochie Coochie, Oct 2
Theatre: My Name Is Rachel Corrie, Alphabetti Theatre, Oct 8-26
Fundraiser: Blacks, Dogs and Irish, Pop Recs, Sunderland, Oct 12
Comedy: Rachel Parris - Poise, The Stand Newcastle, Oct 6
Theatre: Boeing Boeing, The People’s Theatre, until Oct 5
Music: HowayFest 2024, various Tyneside venues, Sept 27-Oct 19
Exhibition: Joanne Coates - Middle of Somewhere, BALTIC, until Nov 17
Theatre: Wicked, Sunderland Empire, until Oct 20
Theatre: Othello, various North East venues until Oct 20
Exhibition: Hannah Perry - Manual Labour, BALTIC, until Jan 19, 2025
Screen: Prima Facie: National Theatre Live, various North East cinemas, until Dec 5
NOW BOOKING
Nov 6-9: Opera North (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Ruddigore and The Magic Flute) at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Nov 5-16: Warhorse, Sunderland Empire,
Nov 8 and 28: Mo Gilligan - In The Moment World Tour, Middlesbrough Town Hall and Newcastle City Hall
Nov 16-17: Sarah Millican - Late Bloomer, Stockton Globe
Nov 19-Dec 7: Round the Houses, Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay
Nov 22-Dec 31: AGLOW at Auckland Castle
Nov 25-30: Only Fools and Horses the Musical, Sunderland Empire
Oct 23, 24 and Nov 7: Dom Joly’s Conspiracy Tour, The Fire Station, The Witham and ARC, Stockton
Dec 5 and 8: Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Newcastle City Hall and Stockton Globe
Dec 7: Liam Fender, The Exchange 1856
Dec 19-20: The Suggestibles’ Impro Pantso, Northern Stage
Dec 31: Jason Cook’s NYE Comedy Club, The Customs House
2025
Jan 21: Ben Elton - Authentic Stupidity, Gala Theatre Durham
Feb 8 and Mar 30: Zoe Lyons - Werewolf, The Witham, Barnard Castle and The Stand, Newcastle
Feb 25-Mar 1: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Mar 6: Alison Moyet, The Glasshouse
Apr 10: Kate Mosse - Unlocking the Secrets of the Labyrinth, Northern Stage
Oct 30, 2025: Marti Pellow, Newcastle Utilita Arena
COMPETITION TIME
Welcome to our latest newsletter prizedraw, offering our subscribers an exclusive opportunity to win tickets to see or do something great.
This week, we’ve got a pair of tickets to Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz at Northern Stage, Newcastle on October 9 at 8pm.
Nathan-Queeley Dennis' debut play about the trials and tribulations that come with dating will introduce audiences to Nathaniel as he prepares for a first date.
A self-proclaimed romantic, Nathaniel sees love as a fine art… but it’s safe to say he does not have it down.
Who knew not everyone dreams of recreating the Lady and the Tramp spaghetti moment on date one?
We are being invited to enjoy an evening “filled with Beyoncé lyrics, techno raves and the intimate relationship between a man and his barber”.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: SWIPE RIGHT before midday (12pm) on Friday, October 4, 2024.
The winner, who will be selected at random, will be notified within 24 hours of the entry deadline.
Terms and conditions: Only subscribers to the Cultured. North East newsletter are eligible to enter the Newsletter Prize Draw competition. Prizes are as stated - subject to availability - and non-transferable. No cash alternatives will be offered. You must be over 18 years of age to enter. The Editor’s decision is final.