Curated Culture 05.11.24
Our weekly pick 'n' mix what's on selection from venues and attractions across North East England
Hello and thanks for opening this week’s collection of recommendations from the North East’s stages and cultural venues.
This is the mailout which puts the spotlight on a dozen-or-so things which we think are worth getting in front of over the next couple of weeks.
It doubles up as a reminder for all the things we’ve mentioned in previous Curated Culture newsletters, which are STILL SHOWING while also being a useful longer term signpost, courtesy of our NOW BOOKING section.
As ever, please continue sending us your own suggestions for inclusion - we consider them all!
For this week’s newsletter prizedraw, which offers Cultured. North East subscribers an exclusive chance to win tickets to something great, we’ve got a pair of tickets for the revival of Christmas show delight, Present which is playing Live Theatre from December 3-21. More information and details of how to enter can be found at the end.
Thanks as always for your virtual back pats, shares and shout outs… please keep them all coming!
See you soon
Sam and Dave*
*Like Chas and Dave but with less hair and better accents
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MUSIC: The Libertines
Where: Stockton Globe
When: November 18
Bookings and info: stocktonglobe.co.uk
Following the release of their eagerly awaited new album, All Quiet On the Eastern Esplanade back in April, The Libertines (Pete Doherty, Carl Barat, John Hassal and Gary Powell) sold out the first raft of dates for their tour of the UK and Ireland… so they added some more. One of which is in Stockton.
CLASSICAL: Electric Arcade
Where: Sage One, The Glasshouse
When: November 14
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
The Royal Northern Sinfonia have been mining the history of video games - and teaming up with legendary video game composer/conductor Eímear Noone, and quartet of soloists - for what promises to be a special and nostalgia-soaked performance.
THEATRE: Gwyneth Goes Skiing
Where: Live Theatre, Newcastle
When: November 13 to 16
Bookings and info: live.org.uk
Live Theatre will be transformed into the Deer Valley Ski Resort later this month as Awkward Productions but their inimitable stamp on the story of Gwyneth Paltrow and a retired optometrist from Utah.
Exploring what happened when they went skiing… and the courtroom drama which followed, this show has enjoyed sell out London runs, a US transfer and a successful time at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Read more: Digging into discoveries at Vindolanda
SPOKEN WORD: Remembering Victoria Wood
Where: The Witham, Barnard Castle
When: November 15
Bookings and info: thewitham.org.uk
North East-based author Chris Foote-Wood is the elder brother of much-missed BAFTA and hearts-winning comedian and writer, Victoria Wood who died in 2016.
He will be talking about her incredible legacy; selling the 20 remaining copies of his biography Victoria Wood Comedy Genius, her life and work (one per person, subject to availability) and showing a rare 25-minute film which has never been shown in public. There will also be a charity auction of memorabilia.
MUSIC: Julia Fordham
Where: The Fire Station, Sunderland
When: November 11
Bookings and info: thefirestation.org.uk
Singer Julia Fordham is back on UK stages for the first time in seven years and returns to The Fire Station where she was last seen as part of a female trio Woman to Woman featuring Judie Tzuke and Beverley Craven.
Expect tracks from her new album as well as those from her back catalogue including Happy Ever After, Where Does The Time Go, Porcelain, Girlfriend, Love Moves (In Mysterious Ways) and Manhattan Skyline.
DANCE: Play, Pause, Repeat
Where: Gosforth Civic Theatre
When: November 21
Bookings and info: gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk
Fertile Ground presents a “stunning programme’ featuring emerging dancers from the region.
Following two performances at Alnwick Playhouse and the Queen’s Hall in Hexham audiences will enjoy two new commissions by former Rambert artist Patricia Okenwa and award-winning choreographer, Jamaal Burkmar.
COMEDY: Stand Up for Changing Lives
Where: The Stand Newcastle
When: November 18
Bookings and info: thestand.co.uk
North East comedian, Elaine Robertson hosts an evening of stand-up which is raising money to help people who have survived domestic abuse get a safe roof over their heads.
She’ll be joined by Sachin Kumarendran, John Scott and headliner Mike Milligan.
All profits will go to charity Changing Lives, which has been supporting people in the region since 1970.
Read more: Spectacular crib reappears in Bishop Auckland for Christmas
EXHIBITION: Ted Holloway - A Bevin Boy Remembered
Where: Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland
When: Until June 8, 2025
Bookings and info: aucklandproject.org
A new exhibition has opened at the Mining Art Gallery, which brings together a selection of Ted Holloway’s paintings and drawings highlighting his journey from miner to art teacher to professional artist.
Key works on show include Miners’ Head No 2 (1958), which used boot polish to create a depiction of a group of miners; Marras (1957), emphasising the close bond between two ‘marras’ - workmates who relied on each other underground; and The Bevin Boys (1964), showing a group of apprehensive Bevin Boys entering the mines.
MUSIC: WESTERLY TRIO
Where: Old Low Light Heritage Centre, North Shields Fish Quay
When: November 8
Bookings and info: oldlowlight.co.uk
Rachel Jeffers (flute), Jessica Graham (violin) and David Murray (piano) aka the Westerly Trio, will present a mix of repertoire from Baroque to 20th century, a refreshing blend of music and lovely textures.
Although this is the first time that Rachel and Jessica have performed at the Old Low Light, David is no stranger to the centre having for several years, with his wife Jennifer, brought first class musicians to the Old Low Light, ensuring local people have access to first class classic music on their doorstep.
EVENTS: Jay Rayner - Nights Out At Home - Live
Where: Live Theatre, Newcastle
When: November 9
Bookings and info: live.org.uk
A tasty night is on the cards at Live Theatre this week as writer and broadcaster Jay Rayner continues to celebrate 25 years as The Observer’s award-winning restaurant critic.
He is touring alongside the publication of Nights Out At Home, a memoir-in-recipes and will be recounting tales from restaurants all over the world as well as sharing favourite recipes. He’ll also be taking questions from the floor, so don’t be shy.
FESTIVAL: Being Human
Where: Multiple venues
When: November 7 to 16
Bookings and info: beinghumanfestival.org
The national festival of the humanities, organised by the University of London’s School of Advanced Study, is 10 years old and includes various free events in the North East.
Teesside University, one of this year’s festival hubs, offers walks, workshops and discussions exploring the area’s landmarks and heritage.
Elsewhere, Durham University and New Writing North present Landmarking: A Research Cabaret, “an evening of live music, poetry, dance and chaos to make meaning in memory” at Durham’s Radisson Blu Hotel (Auger Room, November 12, 7pm) while Keep Hold of Your Story, a Northumbria University-organised “exploration of photography past, present and future”, takes place at Bellingham Heritage Centre, Northumberland (November 9, 7pm).
MUSIC: The European Doctors Orchestra
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead
When: November 10, 3pm
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
If there’s any appeal for a “doctor in the house” at this notable event, there could be a stampede - and the music will stop.
The concert marks the 20th anniversary of an orchestra which has seen 460 doctors from 23 countries raising over £250,000 for charity by gathering to make music.
The beneficiary this time is St Oswald’s Hospice.
Dr Dave Tomson, retired Tyneside GP and chair of trustees, says: “We all spend our working life caring for others; we want colleagues to enjoy a Sunday afternoon off and let the European Doctors Orchestra and Northern Healthcare Choir entertain them.”
Among works to be performed by orchestra and choir are Poulenc’s Gloria (with soprano Jessica Cale) and Gershwin’s An American in Paris.
COMEDY: The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot!
Where: Dance City, Newcastle
When: Saturday, November 16, 7.30pm
Bookings and info: dancecity.co.uk
Yes, that’s right, comedy at Dance City. Whatever next? Northern Ballet at The Stand?
Well, why not? Tastes these days are eclectic and venues out to woo new audiences. Therefore BAFTA-winning Scottish actor and comedian Paul Riley, best known for playing Winston Ingram in Scottish sitcom Still Game, brings his new stand-up show to this mecca of graceful movement.
An account of his journey through life is promised – including (if we’re good, he says) the time he locked The Krankies in a cupboard.
MUSIC: Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir
Where: King’s Hall, Newcastle University
When: Sunday, November 17, 7.30pm
Bookings and info: newcastlebachchoir.org.uk
This special concert celebrates the 40th anniversary as musical director of Eric Cross who has led it to great heights.
The choir marked the occasion by commissioning a new piece from composer Cecilia McDowall. Songs of the North, a setting of three poems, will have its world premiere at the concert.
For a programme also including Britten’s St Nicolas, the choir will be joined by tenor Robert Murray (as St Nicolas), Edward Cross (violin), David Murray and Eileen Brown (piano), and the choristers of Newcastle Cathedral.
STILL SHOWING
Music: YVA, Cluny 2, Ouseburn, Newcastle, Nov 5
Opera: The Magic Flute, Newcastle Theatre Royal, November 8-9
Theatre: War Horse, Sunderland Empire, Nov 5-16
Theatre: Only The Beginning, various South Tyneside community venues, Nov 6-10
Comedy: Lucy Beaumont Live! Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Nov 7
Classical: Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’, The Glasshouse, Nov 8
Comedy: Rhod Gilbert and the Giant Grapefruit, Stockton Globe, Nov 8
Theatre: The Cramlington Trainwreckers, various venues regionwide, Nov 7-16
Theatre: The Watch House, various North East venues, Nov 13-16
Theatre: Many Happy Returns!, various Northumberland venues, Nov 15-22
Exhibition: Framing Fashion, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until Mar 2, 2025
Festival: Tees Valley International Film Festival, ARC, Stockton, Nov 6-9
Exhibition: Solidarity Forever: Banners of the Durham Mining Community, Durham Cathedral, until Nov 7
Comedy: Dom Joly - The Conspiracy Tour, ARC, Stockton; Nov 7
Exhibition: Romance to Realities: The Northern Landscapes and Shifting Identities, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, until April 26, 2025
Exhibition: Brian Hutchinson: A Retrospective, ARC, Stockton until Nov 16
Festival: Williams Shield Festival, Lit and Phil and other venues, until Nov 28
Exhibition: Joanne Coates - Middle of Somewhere, BALTIC, until Nov 17
Exhibition: Hannah Perry - Manual Labour, BALTIC, until Jan 19, 2025
Screen: Prima Facie: National Theatre Live, various North East cinemas, until Dec 5
Exhibition: Mali Morris - Returning, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle, until Jan 11, 2025
NOW BOOKING
Nov 22-Dec 31: AGLOW, Auckland Palace and Gardens, Bishop Auckland
Nov 20-24: Disney on Ice - Road Trip Adventures, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Nov 28: The Big Christmas Assembly, Darlington Hippodrome
Nov 30-Jan 4, 2025: A Christmas Carol, Northern Stage, Newcastle
Nov 30: Rob Newman - Where The Wild Things Were, The Witham, Barnard Castle
Dec 1: Royal Northern Sinfonia by Candlelight, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Dec 3: The Unthanks in Winter, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Dec 6: Bradley Creswick, Old Low Light Heritage Centre, North Shields
Dec 7-22: Blitzen on Tyne, Live Theatre, Newcastle
Dec 9: Paul Heaton, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Dec 9-23: Seagulls and Sad Sad Stories, Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay
2025
Jan 14-18: Murder on the Orient Express, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Feb 13-Mar 8: Champion, Live Theatre, Newcastle
Feb 19: Fairport Convention, The Fire Station, Sunderland
March-April: The Lindisfarne Story, various venues across the North East
Mar 7: Joel Dommett - Happy Idiot, Northern Stage, Newcastle
Mar 16: London Philharmonic Orchestra - Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Mar 22: Chris Cantrill - Easily Swayed, The Witham, Barnard Castle
Apr 2: Michael Ball and Alfie Boe - Together at Home, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
May 15-31: The Sunderland Story, Sunderland Empire
May 20-24: Boys from the Blackstuff, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Nov 7: Dara O’Briain: Re:Creation, Newcastle City Hall
Sept 23: Level 42, Sage One, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Oct 10-12: Busted Vs McFly, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
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 for Present which is playing Live Theatre from December 3-21.
Five years after opening for the first time, this funny and heartfelt Christmas production is being wrapped up again for audiences in Newcastle.
Written and directed by Ali Pritchard, Present premiered at Alphabetti Theatre in 2019. It was created in collaboration with homeless charity, Crisis Skylight Newcastle and follows the story of one man’s mission to buy his grandson a Christmas present.
The production gathered a stocking full of lovely reviews and returns this year to offer bigger audiences the chance to see it.
Ali, the now outgoing artistic director of Alphabetti, has reworked an extended the script alongside script writer, Tamsin Rees (Cheer Up Slug).
The revival of Present will feature its original leading man, Malcolm Shields (One Off, When The Boat Comes In, Floorboard) as Dave.
HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: SANTA before midday (12pm) on Tuesday, November 12, 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.