Curated Culture 02.12.25
Our weekly recommendations round up from North East stages and cultural venues... this week with a sprig of holly
Hello ho ho and welcome to this week’s Curated Culture - your weekly shortcut to some of the best stuff you can see, hear and do around the North East.
December is here, the first advent doors are open, and the season’s sparkle is starting to, well, sparkle.
Alongside this week’s featured listings, you’ll also find links to our ever-growing BIG Lists for Pantomimes, Festive Family Shows and Christmas Concerts – handy guides for plotting your snow-dusted cultural diary.
If you’ve just joined us, here’s the lay of the land on a Tuesday:
🗓️ Top Picks - some standout listings for the next fortnight
📌 Still Showing - highlights from previous editions still going strong
📅 Now Booking – future dates worth locking in early (or snapping up as gifts)
🎁 Subscriber Prize Draw – this week it’s a pair of tickets to A Fairytale for Christmas at Newcastle 02 City Hall on December 14.
The other thing we wanted to mention is that the BIG GIVE Christmas Challenge launched this week - a one-week fundraising drive where participating venues can get matched funding for donations from their supporters. Live Theatre, Newcastle Theatre Royal, North East Museums, Gosforth Civic Theatre, ARC Stockton and Northern Stage are among the North East venues and organisations taking part. Support them if you can!
Thanks for reading, sharing and keeping culture firmly in your calendar.
Sam (Wonfor) & Dave (Whetstone)
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 Blue Sky
BALLET: Giselle, Ballet Cymru
Where: Dance City, Newcastle
When: December 5 and 6 (Friday, Saturday), 7.30pm
Bookings and info: dancecity.co.uk
Look no further than Dance City for an alternative to traditional festive fare which comes in the form of Adolphe Adam’s ballet of unrequited love.
It received a rousing reception at its 1841 Paris premiere, being praised by enraptured reviewers as the greatest ballet of its era and making a huge star of Italian dancer Carlotta Grisi in the title role.
This production from Ballet Cymru, based in Newport, South Wales, features Adam’s original score and choreography by Darius James, founder and artistic director of the company, and Amy Doughty, artistic director (engagement and training).
Billed as “an unforgettable journey filled with passion, betrayal and forgiveness”, it is a new interpretation of the ballet which tells of a young Welsh girl who falls in love but dies of a broken heart.
That happens at the end of Act I, so if you don’t know the story you’ll be wondering: What next?
In the traditional telling, Act II is a ghostly affair with the arrival on the scene of Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, the latter being the vengeful ghosts of girls betrayed by their lovers.
To find out how this interpretation from South Wales unfolds, you’ll have to be there.
FAMILY/COMEDY: The Big Family Christmas Show
Where: The Stand Newcastle
When: Dec 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28
Bookings and info: thestand.co.uk
Chaos, comedy and festive silliness is back on the menu for families at The Stand this month.
Written by and starring last year’s stand up cast - Lee Kyle, Elaine Robertson, Hannah Walker and Kelly Rickard - the show promises an hour of fast, off-the-wall sketches, songs, characters and stand-up.
Proudly not a panto, the team bill this as a modern, affordable alternative that keeps both kids and adults laughing. Recommended for ages 5+, with reduced capacity and unreserved seating. Arrive early for the best spots.
THEATRE: A Christmas Carol
Where: Gosforth Civic Theatre
When: December 8
Bookings and info: gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk
The Book of Darkness & Light return to the region with a ghost-tinged take on Dickens’ festive classic.
Adapted and performed by Adam Z. Robinson. Following last year’s Nightmares, this solo show leans into the story’s gothic edge, conjuring Victorian London through atmospheric narration, eerie recorded voices and an immersive soundscape.
Across 90 minutes, Robinson shifts between 28 characters as Scrooge is drawn through Christmases past, present and yet-to-come. Expect a few jumpy moments, a generous helping of festive unease and plenty of heart as the legendary tale unfolds. Age guidance is 10+, with mild horror themes and haze effects.
CONCERT: BBC Introducing
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead
When: Wednesday, December 10, 8pm
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
Amid the blockbuster Christmas gigs it’s good to see The Glasshouse giving a platform to new North East talent as part of the BBC Introducing initiative.
Past beneficiaries include Sam Fender, Florence + The Machine, Lewis Capaldi and Raye. On the Sage Two bill this time are Imogen and The Knife, Robyn Errico and Lottie Willis.
All have had busy years and are on the cusp of promising careers.
Imogen Williams is a Geordie based in London whose stage name, while seeming to come from the same toolbox as that of Florence Welch, alludes to extensive surgery to correct hip dysplasia.
Musical influences include Kate Bush, Nick Cave and Rufus Wainwright. “Poignant songwriting is brought to life with moments of quiet reflection and fresh, full-bodied instrumentals,” say The Glasshouse of her special talent.
Robyn Errico, based in Darlington, also cites Bush as an influence, along with Tori Amos and Lana Del Rey. She follows, we are told, in the footsteps of female artists who have “pushed the boundaries of pop, blending cinematic and progressive elements with strong melodic vocals and hooks…”
Lottie, from Sunderland, is another beneficiary of the city’s Young Musicians Project run by We Make Culture.
Citing Nieve Ella, Olivia Rodrigo and Amber Bain (The Japanese House) as influences, she’s a keyboards devotee and source of “catchy and youthful pop bangers”.
Tickets are available on a ‘pay what you decide’ basis.
COMEDY: Laffs for Kids
Where: Utilita Arena Newcastle
When: December 14
Bookings and info: laffs4kids.co.uk
A huge night of festive stand-up is coming to Newcastle’s Utilita Arena later this month as the much-loved Laffs4Kids charity comedy extravaganza roars back into action.
Created in 2015 by award-winning North East comedian and writer Jason Cook, the event began after he learned thousands of the region’s children would wake up to nothing on Christmas Day.
A show where the audience are encouraged to bring a Christmas present with them was born and has since seen tens upon tens of thousands of presents given to disadvantaged kids across the region - distributed by charity Cash for Kids via its Mission Christmas campaign.
Produced and compered by Jason, Laffs for Kids brings together top stand-up acts, uplifting chaos and the occasional surprise guest, creating what has become one of the region’s most feel-good Christmas traditions.
The confirmed line up for 2025 is Chris Ramsey, Adam Rowe, MC Hammersmith, Brennan Reece, Carl Hutchinson and Glen Roughead.
THEATRE: Beauty and the Beast
Where: Northern Stage, Newcastle
When: December 4 to January 3
Bookings and info: northernstage.co.uk
Mischievous fairies, an Insect Orchestra, a Thoughtsnatcher machine and a very helpful rabbit all play their part as Beauty and her father journey through rural France in a warm, music-filled take on the classic tale.
Setting up camp at Northern Stage until the new year, a North East-led cast anchors Lucy Kirkwood’s new adaptation, with Bridget Marumo as Beauty, Davey Hopper as Father and Conor McCready as the Beast, supported by vibrant costume and staging from local designer Verity Quinn.
MUSIC: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours with the Transatlantic Ensemble
Where: The Fire Station, Sunderland
When: December 15 and 16
Bookings and info: thefirestation.org.uk
The long-running collective of musicians and vocalists return to The Fire Station for their now-customary December Rumours shows.
Each year they take on Fleetwood Mac’s landmark album in full, alongside a handful of favourites, with an attention to detail that has earned them a loyal following.
Nearly 50 years since its release, Rumours’ emotional pull hasn’t faded – and hearing it played live, start to finish, has become one of the city’s most cherished pre-Christmas rituals. If it’s part of your musical DNA - or you just like nailed-on excellent live music - you’re in for a treat.
PERFORMANCE: Pray for Me
Where: Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
When: Saturday, December 13, 2pm and 7.30pm
Bookings and info: alphabettitheatre.co.uk
Increasingly we’re seeing BSL interpretation as an integral part of a performance rather than an aid such as surtitles or an induction loop.
At the Theatre Royal the BSL interpreter in Opera North’s Susanna wore costume and performed as a non-singing cast member. Similarly, at Live Theatre in Bad Lads one of the three actors was also the BSL interpreter.
They’re extraordinary people. On stage they raise awareness, reminding audiences that hearing can no more be taken for granted than an ability to understand Italian.
Surface Area Dance Theatre, based in Newcastle, has been exploring deaf performance for years and has commissioned this new work-in-progress from Sarah Adedeji in conjunction with Fuse Theatre.
Directed by Harry Jardine and with movement direction by Chris Fonseca, Pray For Me sees Adedeji reflecting on a Church upbringing when her deafness was seen as something to be ‘healed’.
On the website Living With Hearing Loss, Adedeji advised aspiring deaf performers: “It gives you such a unique perspective on things that hearing people won’t ever gain, so use that to your strength. Use your deafness as a talent.”
EXHIBITION: Timeless Together
Where: VANE, Gateshead
When: December 6-13 (preview, Dec 5, 5-9pm)
Bookings and info: vane.org.uk
VANE, long established on the Tyneside visual arts scene, is now part of the Orbis Community, a creative cluster that you’ll find in Gateshead (on the left just as you pass over the Tyne Bridge heading south).
It’s worth checking out.
Timeless Together is an exhibition of work by tattoo artists from around the UK and beyond and it as all been donated to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK.
It has been coordinated by Lucky Devil Tattoo Studio which shares the premises with VANE.
Exhibitors include Ben Nuthink, of Bromley-based Valhalla Tattoo, and Owen Bridd.
Bids for work on display can made via the @timelesstogether.exhibition Instagram page before the deadline on December 15 at 3pm.
MUSIC: Northern Roots Winter Showcase
Where: PILGRIM, Newcastle
When: December
Bookings and info: eventbrite.co.uk
Northern Roots is bringing back its winter showcase - this time curated by Nigeordian soul singer, Georgia May.
Tickets are free for the event in Newcastle city centre, which is quite the steal when you consider the line up is brimming with talent including Kay Greyson, Mcxxne, Manny the Mann, Chloe Catsro, REiiGN, K1, Fabz and Angel
MUSIC: Crocodile Shoes by Jimmy Nail
Where: Live Theatre, Newcastle
When: December 2-15 and January 13-18
Bookings and info: live.org.uk (Returns only)
When these gigs went on sale earlier this year, Live Theatre couldn’t add dates fast enough… so if you haven’t got a ticket, you’ll have to hope someone who has experiences some kind of Christmas shopping emergency and has to give theirs up (or that one of your nearest and dearest has got you a January show ticket as a present).
Jimmy Nail is revisiting the soundtrack of his nineties hit television series, Crocodile Shoes which saw his character leave his factory job to pursue his dreams of becoming a country singer.
Currently developing a new Crocodile Shoes musical with Live, Jimmy has assembled a top drawer band including drummer Trevor Brewis (drums), Tony Davis on keys (piano), Michael McCrystal on electric guitar and Dave Taggart on acoustic guitar.
STILL SHOWING
Exhibition: Desire Lines, MIMA, Middlesbrough, until Apr 12, 2026
Theatre: Kinky Boots, Sunderland Empire, until Dec 6
Classical: Sinfonia Winter Tour, various North East venues until Dec 4
Dance: Regency Dancing, Austen-style, Lit & Phil, Newcastle, Dec 3, 2-4pm
Music: Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Newcastle 02 City Hall and Stockton Globe, Dec 3 and 4, respectively
Music: Stereophonics with support from Finn Forster, Utilita Arena Newcastle, Dec 6
Music: Music Against Child Poverty 2, The Fire Station, Sunderland, Dec 7
Screen: Jools Holland’s New Orleans Jukebox, BBC iPlayer
Radio: Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT!, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Theatre: Shore Lines from the Border Readers, various venues all over the North East until Dec 4
Exhibition: Tom Hume - Retrospective, Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Garden, until January 18, 2026
Exhibition: Miniature Worlds - Little Landscapes from Thomas Bewick to Beatrix Potter, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, until Feb 28, 2026
Exhibition: For All At Last Return and first major UK exhibition by filmmaker and artist Saodat Ismailova, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, until Jun 7, 2026
Exhibition: The Light of Days Past, Granary Gallery, Berwick, until Feb 22, 2026
Dance: Se Gaest/The Guest, Dance City, Newcastle (Dec 11) Read our review
Exhibition: Three Artists: Zac Weinberg, Joanna Manousis, and Anthony Amoako-Attah, National Glass Centre, Sunderland, until Jan 10, 2026
Exhibition: Joséphine: A Woman of Taste and Fashion, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until March 2026
Exhibition: The Art of Conservation, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, Ocean Road, until Dec 6
Big screen: Expo Sunderland Pavilion, Keel Square, Sunderland, throughout 2025
Exhibition: Three artists, National Glass Centre, Sunderland, until January 10, 2026
Comedy: Cally Beaton - Namaste Mother F*ckers, Northern Stage (Feb 7); Alnwick Playhouse (Feb 17); Queen’s Hall, Hexham (Feb 19)
Exhibition: Works by Nathan Coley, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until Mar 1, 2026
Exhibition: Pippa Hale: Pet Project, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until March 1, 2026
Theatre: Sunny Afternoon, Stockton Globe, April 14-18, 2026
NOW BOOKING
Comedy/Music: Si King’s Proper Night Out, Live Theatre, Newcastle, Dec 16-17
Music: The Futureheads at Christmas, The Fire Station, Sunderland, Dec 19 and 20
Comedy: Kai Humphries - Kaibosh, The Stand Newcastle, Dec 20
Film: The Apartment, special NYE screening, Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle, Dec 31, 2pm
2026
Theatre: Horrible Histories - The Concert, Darlington Hippodrome, Jan 23-24
Comedy: Glenn Moore - Please Sir, Glenn I Have Some Moore?, Gala Theatre Durham, Jan 29
Comedy: Scummy Mummies - Hot Mess, Darlington Hippodrome, Jan 29
Comedy: Sara Pascoe - I Am a Strange Gloop, Tyne Theatre and Opera House (Feb 5); Gala Durham (Mar 26)
Theatre: Matilda The Musical, Sunderland Empire, Feb 11-28
Comedy: Paul McCaffrey - What A Time To Be Alive, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle, Feb 13
Event: Sunday for Sammy, Utilita Arena, Newcastle, Feb 15
Comedy: Angela Barnes - Angst, Alnwick Playhouse, Feb 27
Comedy: Desiree Burch - The Golden Wrath, The Stand Newcastle, Mar 5
Event: Celebrating 100 Years of Laurel and Hardy, The Fire Station, Sunderland, Mar 10
Theatre: Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Apr 6-11
Classical: The Music of Star Wars with Royal Northern Sinfonia, Sage One, The Glasshouse, May 4
Theatre: Waitress, Sunderland Empire, May 4-9
Theatre: Midsummer Murders, Darlington Hippodrome, May 19-23
Theatre: The Silence of the Lambs, Newcastle Theatre Royal (Aug 18-22, 2026) and Sunderland Empire (June 21-26, 2027)
Festival: Lindisfarne Festival, Beal Farm, Northumberland, Sept 3-5
Music: Soul II Soul, Newcastle 02 City Hall, Oct 23
Podcast: The Blindboy Podcast Live, Sage One, The Glasshouse, Oct 29
COMPETITION TIME
Welcome to our latest newsletter prize draw, 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 A Fairytale for Christmas at Newcastle 02 City Hall on December 14.
The show promises to bring together a lively blend of festive cheer and Irish celebration to Tyneside, from Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town to Fairytale of New York -alongside classics of Irish folk like The Galway Girl and The Irish Rover.
Expect a warm, high-energy Christmas night out with plenty of chances to chime in.
It should be noted that this production has no affiliation with Fairytale of New York, The Pogues or the estate of Shane MacGowan.
HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: The bells are ringing out by noon, (12pm) on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
The winner, who will be selected at random, will be notified within 48 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.
