Curated Culture 06.01.26
Our weekly recommendations round up from North East stages and cultural venues
Hello and please step into the first Curated Culture of 2026… and welcome back after a short festive hiatus. Anyone else Google the parameters of a roast potatoes overdose?
Delighted to say we’re back on it and revved up for another year of keeping tabs on the performances, events and cultural goings-on that make the North East such an excellent place to be.
As ever, this week’s edition brings together a carefully chosen mix of what’s on now, what’s coming up, and what’s worth planning ahead for - from standout shows and events in the next couple of weeks to future dates that deserve an early red circle in the diary.
If you’re new (or just easing yourself back into the weekly routine and need a reminder), here’s how Curated Culture usually unfolds on a Tuesday:
🗓️ Top Picks – a double handful of featured listings we think are well worth your attention over the next fortnight
📌 Still Showing – highlights from previous newsletters you can still enjoy
📅 Now Booking – dates further ahead that might be worth locking in
🎁 Subscriber Prize Draw – this week, a pair of tickets for Hollywood whodunnit The Mirror Crack’d by Agatha Christie at the People’s Theatre, Newcastle on January 21
Later this week, we’ll be sending a bonus mailout - a forward-looking edition spotlighting some of the major shows, exhibitions and events already shaping the cultural calendar for 2026. One to keep on the digital fridge.
Thanks for reading, sharing and backing what we’re doing - let’s crack open 2026!
Sam (Wonfor) & Dave (Whetstone)
Professionally preoccupied with North East culture
You can like/follow/high five us on our socials, on Facebook, Instagram and Blue Sky
CLASSICAL: The Light Within
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead
When: Saturday, January 17, 7pm
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
Musicians from Royal Northern Sinfonia venture into Sage Two for a concert featuring 20th and 21st Century works inspired by environmental issues.
Included on an eclectic programme – exciting for those who relish a step away from classical music’s ubiquitous big hitters – is a piece called Hyetophony by James Weeks who is conducting the concert.
Weeks, a prolific composer, co-founded the vocal ensemble EXAUDI in 2002 and is associate professor of composition at Durham University.
This evening of musical adventure also includes Dusk by Annea Lockwood (born in New Zealand in 1939, long based in America) which incorporates real-world sounds from sources including hydrothermal vents and bat calls.
American composers John Cage (his 1977 Inlets, scored for conch shells) and John Luther Adams (The Light Within) also feature.
Completing the programme are works by Sylvia Lim (Things we overheard), Michael Finnissy (Piano Concerto No. 2), Elisabet Dijkstra (New Work), a past winner of the Berwick Composition Prize, and sound artist David de la Haye (Tyne Hydrophones), a PhD candidate in music at Newcastle University.
COMEDY: New Direction: Kelly Edgar - Dogfish
Where: The Stand, Newcastle
When: January 11
Bookings and info: thestand.co.uk
The debut show from North East comedian - and winner of the New Act of the Year accolade from the region’s comedy collective, Felt Nowt in 2020 - Kelly Edgar explores the way we’re seen by others… and might also weave in the ‘true criminal mastermind’ behind the Sycamore Gap felling.
Dogfish is one of a series of New Direction debut shows directed by longtime North East stand up, Lee Kyle in support of promising comedy talent in the region.
There are many more New Direction shows programmed at The Stand throughout 2026 including: Mike Wardley- Who? on Jan 25; Alex Redman: Sunshine Space Cadet on Mar 23; Psychic Stu: The Boy From Bondisle on May 25; Cooper Robson: Gobshite on July 26; Helen White: Am I Taller Yet? on Sept 27; and Dan Ward: Man Down on Nov 29.
EXHIBITION: Between Work and Play
Where: Globe Gallery, 97 Howard Street, North Shields
When: January 17 to February 14
Bookings and info: globegallery.org
This new exhibition, set to explore “the tension between seemingly opposing states”, brings together the work of artists Graham Patterson, Helen Pailing and Helen Maurer.
It incorporates a variety of materials including driftwood, pins, glass and cast objects with the whole designed to “shift and reconfigure before the viewer’s eyes, referencing the coastline’s dual relationship with industry and leisure”.
There’s an introduction by Beadnell-based poet Katrina Porteous.
“All three artists share a love of water, light and reflection,” she writes. “Patterson and Pailing both live close to the North Sea; Maurer was born in Portsmouth and lived for many years on a canal.
“All three are fascinated by simplicity, and draw on everyday materials in their work.”
Play is the key to all the works in the exhibition, she suggests, with childhood objects often the inspiration.
The exhibition begins with a drop-in preview (all welcome) on Saturday, January 17, 1-5pm, and then continues from January 22 until February 14. The Globe Gallery is open Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.
MUSIC: Hector Gannet
Where: Cluny 2, The Cluny, Newcastle
When: January 11 and 12
Bookings and info: thecluny.com (Returns only)
North East favourites Hector Gannet return to Cluny 2 for a pair of early new year shows (demand for the first one quickly dictated a second which also sold out) ahead of a new album scheduled for a spring release.
Fans got a preview via new single, The Jetty’s End towards the end of last year which is sure to get a run out at these gigs, along with tracks from two previous albums and a smattering of surprises.
Always worth a last minute call to the venue to see if there are returns going begging.
CINEMA: 28 Years Later + 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Double Bill
Where: Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle
When: January 13, 6.20pm
Bookings and info: tynesidecinema.co.uk
This special film double bill - both shot across the region - returns audiences to the world of the rage virus almost three decades after its outbreak (and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later).
In 28 Years Later, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his son Spike (young Newcastle actor Alfie Williams) leave their quarantined community on Holy Island, travelling to the mainland where both the infected and surviving groups have evolved in unexpected ways.
The story continues in The Bone Temple (released in UK cinemas officially on January 16), directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland, as Spike encounters Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a significant - and unsettling - discovery.
A chance to see the next chapter of the dystopian saga unfold… all set to a North East backdrop.
EXHIBITION: Three artists
Where: National Glass Centre, Sunderland
When: Until January 10, 2026
Bookings and info: sunderlandculture.org.uk
This week offers the last chance to see these three individual exhibitions, part of a programme celebrating the achievements of the National Glass Centre in Sunderland.
Zac Weinberg and Joanna Manousis, partners in life and art, moved to Sunderland because of its glass-making reputation and facilities. Zac, an American, came far indeed.
Both have been based at the NGC, as is fellow well-travelled exhibitor Anthony Amoako-Attah who studied glass and ceramics at Sunderland University (a course now discontinued) where he attained his MA and PhD.
He earned his BA in Kumasi, Ghana, in 2013 and traditional Ghanaian textile designs are one source of his inspiration.
THEATRE: The Rocky Horror Show
Where: Sunderland Empire
When: January 19 to 24
Bookings and info: atgtickets.com
North East audiences can add themselves to a global community of 35 million theatregoers later this month as The Rocky Horror Show returns with its cult mix of musical theatre, audience participation and unapologetic excess.
The enduring story follows squeaky-clean college sweethearts Brad and Janet, whose car trouble leads them to a mysterious mansion - and into the orbit of the charismatic Dr Frank-N-Furter. What follows is a night of fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity that rarely plays by the rules.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the production features much-loved songs including Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet and the enduring, pelvic-thrusting Time Warp. Expect a high-energy night that leans fully into the show’s legendary party atmosphere.
THEATRE: The Woman in Black
Where: Darlington Hippodrome
When: Until January 10
Bookings and info: darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
One of the longest-running and most successful productions in West End history, The Woman in Black continues to prove the enduring power of atmosphere and suggestion.
This tightly controlled ghost story follows Arthur Kipps, a man convinced that a terrible curse has been placed upon him and his family. Enlisting a sceptical young actor, he attempts to retell - and confront - the events that still haunt him.
Renowned for its inventive staging and creeping sense of dread, the production remains a benchmark for theatrical suspense. Age guidance 12+ (and if you’re faint of heart, maybe take a cushion). A post-show talk takes place on Jan 7.
EVENT: NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week
Where: Restaurants all over Newcastle
When: Jan 12-18
Bookings and info: getintonewcastle.co.uk
Just as the festive overindulgence fades from memory, NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week returns with an excuse to dive straight back in.
One of the North East’s most popular food events, Restaurant Week offers a full seven days to explore Newcastle’s dining scene at a discount, with more than 110 restaurants taking part including 21, Dabbawal, Dood, Scream for Pizza, Soku, The Green Room… and, well 100+ more.
Each venue serves up a bespoke menu priced at £15, £20 or £25 per person, making it an ideal opportunity to try somewhere new - or revisit a favourite - without breaking the bank during a month when purse strings are traditionally held tighter.
EXHIBITION TOURS: The Light of Days Past
Where: Granary Gallery, Berwick
When: January 17 and February 7
Booking and info: maltingsberwick.co.uk
The subtitle of this fascinating exhibition is Photography in Berwick 1840-1980, which pretty much spans the history of photography.
We learn that Berwick’s first photographic studio opened in 1849 but travelling photographers would stop in the town throughout the 19th Century.
No doubt the dramatic landscapes attracted them but another draw would have been the affluent holidaymakers who might have money to spend on a family portrait.
One of these photographers was William De Lan who was born in Bradford but gravitated to the North East and eventually established a studio in Tweedmouth.
He photographed royalty – taking the Prince of Wales’s portrait at Blagdon Hall in 1887 - and his three daughters all became photographers in their turn.
The exhibition, featuring over 100 images of Berwick, is described as a journey of exploration into how the town and its people have been captured by the photographer’s lens.
It has been developed in partnership with Berwick Record Office and curated by photograph collector and researcher Cameron Robertson, who will lead these two tours ahead of the exhibition’s closure on February 22.
STILL SHOWING
Comedy: Sara Pascoe - I Am A Strange Gloop, Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle; Gala Theatre Durham, Feb 5 and Mar 27, respectively
Event: Uncanny - Fear of the Dark, Darlington Hippodrome, Feb 8
Theatre: Matilda The Musical, Sunderland Empire, Feb 11-28
Music: The Friday Night Club With The Unthanks, Sage Two, The Glasshouse
Event: Sunday for Sammy, Utilita Arena Newcastle, Feb 15
Comedy: Chris Ramsey - Here Man, Stockton Globe and Newcastle 02 City Hall, Feb 26-27 and April 17-19, respectively
Theatre: The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle, Mar 5
Theatre: Hidden Biscuit, Queen’s Hall Hexham and Live Theatre, Newcastle, Mar 20 and Apr 2, respectively
Screen: Torvill and Dean - The Last Dance, streaming on ITVX,
Exhibition: Going Back Brockens, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, until Jan 31 (10am to 5pm)
Music: Crocodile Shoes by Jimmy Nail, Live Theatre, Newcastle, Jan 13-18, (Returns only)
Exhibition: Desire Lines, MIMA, Middlesbrough, until Apr 12, 2026
Theatre: I, Daniel Blake, Northern Stage, Newcastle, Mar 20 to April 4
Theatre: Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Apr 6-11
Screen: Jools Holland’s New Orleans Jukebox, BBC iPlayer
Radio: Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT!, BBC Sounds
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. Read our report.
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
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
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
Event: Day Fever, Boiler Shop Newcastle, Jan 31 and Feb 28
Event: Wild Winter Party, Cobalt Studios, Ouseburn, January 30
Comedy: Paul Sinha - 2 Sinha Lifetime, Queen’s Hall Arts, Hexham, Feb 14
Theatre: Woman in Mind, Sunderland Empire, Mar 4-7
Comedy: Keep Standing Up (Tyne to Stand Up 4), Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle, Mar 8
Theatre: GLITCH - The True Story of the Post Office Scandal, Northern Stage, Newcastle, Mar 10-11
Event: Celebrating 100 Years of Laurel and Hardy, The Fire Station, Sunderland, Mar 10
Music: Andrew Wasylyk, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Mar 13
Music: Tom A Smith, The Cluny, Newcastle, Apr 5
Music: James, Utilita Arena Newcastle, Apr 10
Theatre: To Kill A Mockingbird, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Apr 21-25
Music: Ludovico Einaudi, Sage One, The Glasshouse, May 1
Comedy: Daliso Chaponda - Topical Storm, The Stand Newcastle, May 3
Music: Nigel Kennedy - A Virtuosos Concert Performance, Darlington Hippodrome, May 8
Theatre: Astell & Woolf, Live Theatre, Newcastle, May 14-Jun 6
Music: Kraftwerk, Stockton Globe, May 27
Event: Enter The Castle with Jon Ronson, Gala Theatre Durham, Sept 17
Comedy: Laura Smyth - Born Aggy, ARC Stockton and The Stand, Newcastle, Nov 13 and 14 respectively
Music: Squeeze, Newcastle 02 City Hall and Stockton Globe, Nov 16 and 17, respectively
2027
Theatre: Mean Girls, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Jan 18-20 (also at Sunderland Empire Apr 6-11, 2026)
Theatre: Back to the Future the Musical, Sunderland Empire, Apr 13-May 8
COMPETITION TIME
Welcome to our first newsletter prize draw of 2026 - offering our subscribers an exclusive opportunity to win tickets to see or do something great.
This week, we’ve got a pair of tickets a new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d, at The People’s Theatre, Newcastle on January 21.
Rachel Wagstaff’s play will run at the theatre from January 20-24 and brings a touch of Hollywood glamour to St Mary Mead in this classic whodunnit.
When a cocktail party hosted by a famous American film star ends in a sudden and violent death, Miss Marple begins her careful investigation. As she pieces together the events of the evening, a trail of lies, secrets, danger and revenge emerges.
A well-known Christie mystery adapted for the stage, this production promises intrigue, suspense and plenty to keep audiences guessing.
HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: I DUN IT! by noon, (12pm) on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
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.
Incredible depth in this roundup, nice to see so much cultural activity happening. The Hector Gannet shows selling out both nights says alot about the local music scene's health right now. I remember catching them at a smaller venue last year and the energy was insane. Also that Between Work and Play exhibition concept is clever, using coastline materials to blur industry and leisure boundries makes total sense for this region.