Curated Culture 09.09.25
Our weekly recommendations round up from North East stages and cultural venues
Hello and welcome to this week’s sprinkling of cultural calendar inspiration.
Despite having clocked up almost half a century’s worth of season changes, the apparent overnight arrival of autumn seems to catch me (Sam) out more now than ever. Or maybe I’ve just overslept by a fortnight.
There’s still summer holiday sand at the bottom of my handbag, but the leaves are doing their annual costume change, the evenings are drawing in, and our thermostat is being eyed with suspicion while I perform a jumper-on/jumper-off routine which wouldn’t be out of place on the 12” version of the Hokey Cokey.
Thankfully, the North East’s cultural calendar is far more reliable than the weather, and it’s serving up a steady stream of theatre, music, art and film to keep us entertained and inspired.
As ever, we’re dropping into your inbox with our weekly Tuesday round-up of:
🗓️ Top Picks – featured listings we think are worth getting in front of over the next couple of weeks
📌 Still Showing – highlights we’ve served up in mailouts past, which you can still enjoy
📅 Now Booking – dates further on in the calendar which you might want to get nailed on sooner rather than later
🎁 Subscriber Prize Draw – this week it’s a whopper including a family ticket (4 x people) to see Disney On Ice - Find Your Hero at the Utilita Arena Newcastle on November 22 and a family pass for the ice rink at Newcastle’s Life Science Centre to be used between November 10 and 28.
So zip up your jacket, crunch through some leaves, and get yourself along to something great. The nights may be darker, but there’s light switches all over the shop.
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
THEATRE: Yen
Where: Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
When: September 17-20
Bookings and info: alphabettitheatre.co.uk
A decade after its explosive premiere, Anna Jordan’s Bruntwood Prize–winning play Yen will make its Tyneside debut at Alphabetti.
Hench is sixteen, Bobbie is thirteen. With their dog, Taliban, for company and their mum Maggie drifting in and out of their lives, the brothers are left to survive on PlayStation, porn, and crisps.
But when neighbour Jenny knocks on the door, the boys are pulled into a world beyond anything they’ve known - one filled with love, danger, and consequence.
Directed by Connor Goodwin, this new production features Vicky Binns (Coronation Street, Emmerdale) as Maggie, alongside Adam Owers as Hench, Jonny Grogan as Bobbie, and Lucy Eve Mann as Jenny. Suitable for 16+
POETRY: Remembering Julia Darling & Diamond Twig
Where: The Lit & Phil, Newcastle
When: Thursday, September 18, 7pm
Bookings and info: litandphil.org.uk
Wine, nibbles and fun are promised at an event reflecting on the achievements of Julia Darling and she certainly would have approved of that.
The Newcastle-based writer was the life and soul of many a gathering and lit up literary life in the North East for far too short a time, writing poems, plays and, latterly, novels (her first, Crocodile Soup, was long-listed for what is now the Women’s Prize for Fiction and her second, The Taxi Driver’s Daughter, long-listed for the Booker).
It’s 20 years since she died of breast cancer, just when she was starting to make an impression nationally. Already a star in the North East, she documented her cancer diagnosis and treatment in poems full of sparkle and humour.
Julia moved to Newcastle in 1980 and became an ardent fan of the city. She had grown up in Winchester, in the house where Jane Austen died (it’s an anniversary year for both of them, so perhaps they’ve shared a witticism or two).
She performed in a group called The Poetry Virgins, formed when performance poetry was not as prevalent as it is now, and features in the group’s collection called Sauce, edited by Linda France and published in 1997 by Diamond Twig.
This was the small press Julia established with fellow Poetry Virgin Ellen Phethean to publish work by women writers from the North of England.
The Lit & Phil event, featuring Diamond Twig poets and The Poetry Virgins in their current form, is to remember the “great contribution” Julia made to the city and region. There may be a tear but there will certainly be laughs.
MUSIC: Self Esteem
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead and Newcastle 02 City Hall
When: September 17 and 18 respectively
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org and City Hall website
Rebecca Lucy Taylor - better known as Self Esteem - is back on the road with her third album A Complicated Woman, and she’s stopping off for two big Tyneside dates.
The record, which follows the Mercury-shortlisted Prioritise Pleasure, expands her pop vision with gospel, orchestral arrangements and sharp, self-aware lyrics… safe to say we are excited about the live shows, which offer a chance to catch an artist who has become one of the UK’s most distinctive pop voices.
COMEDY: Scott Turnbull presents…Surreally Good Episode 2
Where: ARC, Stockton
When: September 19-20
Bookings and info: arconline.co.uk
Fresh from a run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, Scott Turnbull brings his wonderfully weird brand of comedy back home.
Armed with an old overhead projector, a stack of felt-tip pens and a flair for the absurd, the North East native spins lo-fi animations into offbeat stories full of foxes in love, a well-travelled vampire rabbit, and tender detours into life, death and everything between. Alongside clowning, physical theatre and original music, the result is part surreal cabaret, part daft cartoon, and part heart-on-sleeve storytelling.
Demand dictated a second date at ARC - don’t miss the extra chance to catch the show.
THEATRE/COMEDY: Looking for Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood
Where: Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle
When: September 18
Bookings and info: gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk
This heartfelt and humorous tribute to the late Victoria Wood has been winning over audiences across the UK, thanks to its mix of sharp wit, classic songs and genuine affection for one of Britain’s best-loved comedy icons.
Fronted by All Together Now’s Paulus The Cabaret Geek, with pianist Michael Roulston, the show blends Victoria’s most iconic musical numbers – including The Ballad of Barry & Freda (Let’s Do It) – with personal stories and reflections on growing up in 1970s Britain.
Described as “the most feel-good show in town”, it’s been praised for its “pitch-perfect” delivery and “breathtaking wizardry with words.” Nostalgic without being saccharine, it’s as much about celebrating connection and self-discovery as it is about comedy and cabaret.
Whether you’re already a fan of Victoria’s work or new to her world, this is a warm, funny and moving night out with plenty to sing about.
LITERARY: The Word Is Murder - South Tyneside Crime Fiction Festival
Where: The Word, South Shields
When: September 20, 10am to 5pm
Bookings and info: theworduk.org
Stories, secrets and suspense are on the chapter list later this month at The Word where a day-long celebration of crime writing will be happening.
Festival curator Vic Watson will be joined by a cracking line-up of writers including Fiona Cummins, M.J. Arlidge, C.M. Ewan, Emma Flint, Steph McGovern, John Sutherland and Vaseem Khan. Across the programme, audiences can dip into conversations about what fuels a gripping thriller, how historical crime novels are pieced together, and the messy, magical reality of writing for a living.
The afternoon closes with a twist on social media favourite, Ask Me Anything as well as some book signings too, with sales coming courtesy of The Bound.
Tickets are £15 and the festival is open to ages 16+.
THEATRE: Friends! The Musical Parody
Where: Sunderland Empire
When: September 23-27
Bookings and info: atgtickets.com
Could this be any more of a nailed-on ticket seller?
The New York and Las Vegas smash hit Friends! The Musical Parody is heading to Wearside, bringing with it a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud romp through 10 seasons of the phenomenally successful 90s sitcom.
With an original score and a script packed with in-jokes, the show lovingly skewers the trials, tribulations and hairstyles of Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe. This is tightly produced nostalgia with a heavy wink.
Expect the iconic moments, the tangled romances, and maybe even a spontaneous cry of “PIVOT!” from the crowd.
DANCE/THEATRE: Detention
Where: Northern Stage
When: September 16-17
Bookings and info: northernstage.co.uk
Gary Clarke Company return with Detention – the third part of Clarke’s acclaimed trilogy of dance theatre works, following Coal and Wasteland.
This bold new piece explores Section 28, the 1988 legislation introduced under Margaret Thatcher’s government that banned the so-called “promotion of homosexuality.” For many in the LGBT+ community, it created a climate of secrecy, fear and silence - arriving at the same time as the AIDS crisis was devastating lives.
Audiences can expect Clarke’s signature blend of working-class storytelling and powerful choreography, performed by a company of exceptional dancers alongside an evocative narrator and a local cast of LGBT+ people.
With film, sound, striking design and a soundtrack featuring industrial pioneers Test Dept, Detention promises to be an unforgettable exploration of loneliness, resilience, protest and unlikely alliances.
COMEDY: David Eagle’s Funny Flim Flam for a Fiver
Where: Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay
When: September 25
Bookings and info: Laurels’ website
Award-winning comedian David Eagle is heading to Whitley Bay with a new work-in-progress, trying out ideas for an upcoming radio series. On the menu: French lesbians, militant Morris dancers, Daleks, a rogue accordion, a talking teddy, and even a childhood song about a mate who wet himself in the street - plus a touch of Princess Margaret–themed erotica.
The comic and folk singer who is blind, scooped awards for his 2024 Fringe show, so he reckons he’s earned the right to say this one will ‘at least surpass mediocrity’. You may also recognise him from Rosie Jones’s TV show or his many turns on BBC Radio 4 comedy programmes.
POETRY/THEATRE: Book of Crow Tour
Where: Bishop Auckland Town Hall; Lanchester Library; TCR Hub Barnard Castle and Gala Theatre
When: September 18, 25, 26 and October 11, respectively
Bookings and info: galadurham.co.uk
Dramatic readings of Anna Barker’s debut poetry collection Book of Crow with accompanying music by The Shining Levels come to a trio of County Durham venues this month before a final performance as part of October’s Durham Book Festival.
Published in 2023 (Indigo Dreams Publishing), the collection finds Crow becoming the manifestation of grief for the character of Rachel who has recently lost her mother – also a means for Anna - an award-winning novelist - to express her own feelings following the death of her much-loved father, an eminent zoologist.
Supported by Arts Council England, the production is a Durham Book Festival commission, in partnership with Live Theatre where it debuted earlier this year.
STILL SHOWING
Screen: I Fought The Law, on ITVX, available to stream now. Read our report from the screening at the Gala Theatre with Sheridan Smith and Ann Ming.
Theatre: The Awkward Squad, The Customs House, Sept 14
Theatre: War Horse, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Sept 10-20
Music: Classic Albums Live performs The Beatles’ White Album, Sage One, The Glasshouse, Sept 11
Exhibition: Miners’ Weekend School (1984), The Burr of Berwick Film Library, Saturdays, 12-4pm until October 31
Event: Heritage Open Days, all over the North East, Sept 12-21
Comedy: Carl Hutchinson - Greatest Hits, Gala Theatre, Durham, Sept 12-13
Theatre: Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright, Sunderland Empire, Sept 16-20
Festival: Northern Festival of Illustration 2025, various venues in Hartlepool, Sept 13 to Nov 1
Art: Hadrian’s Wall Art Trail – FOLK, The Threshing Barn, Green Croft On The Wall; Field Shelter, Bridge House, Shield Hill, Haltwhistle; and Abbey Mill, Lanercost, Sep 12-14; and 19-21
Theatre: The Shawshank Redemption, Darlington Hippodrome, until Sept 13
Words: WRITE Festival 2025, The Word, South Shields and other South Tyneside venues, until Sept 27
Theatre: Walk Like a Man, Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay, until Sept 20
Screen: Transaction, ITV X, Full series available to stream.
Event: Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, Saturdays from until September 13
Exhibition: With These Hands, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, until September 27
Exhibition: Pursued By Bulldozers, Gateshead Central Library, until Sept 27
Exhibition: Richard Hobson retrospective, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, until Nov 2
Exhibition: Ali Cherri/Laura and Lancaster, BALTIC, until Oct 12
Exhibition: Joséphine: A Woman of Taste and Fashion, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until March 2026
Music: Nick Cope – I’ve Lost My Bobble Hat, The Glasshouse, Gateshead at 11am on Oct 29
Theatre: Mary Poppins, Sunderland Empire, Oct 1-25
Exhibition: Cedric Morris, Artist, Plantsman & Traveller, Granary Gallery, Berwick-upon-Tweed, until Oct 12
Exhibition: Shakespeare Recovered, Palace Green Library, Durham, until Nov 2
Exhibition: Magna Carta and the North, Durham Cathedral, until Nov 2
Exhibition: The Words That Bind Us, Durham Cathedral, until Nov 2
Music: The Young’uns Big Boro Bash, Middlesbrough Town Hall, Nov 15
Exhibition: Guiding Entities, MIMA, Middlesbrough, until Nov 23
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
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
NOW BOOKING
Books: North East History Compendium 2025, available to pre-order until Sept 30
Free Event: Salt and Smoke, Blyth Market Place, Sept 26-28
Comedy: Jenny Eclair - Jokes Jokes Jokes Live! Northern Stage, Newcastle, Sept 27
Event: Awesome Silent Discos, Newcastle Cathedral, Oct 4
Comedy: Jason Manford - A Manford All Seasons, Middlesbrough Town Hall, Oct 9; Whitley Bay Playhouse, Feb 4; Darlington Hippodrome, Feb 12 (2026)
Theatre: Party’s Over, Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay, Oct 9-10
Music: Busted vs McFly, Utilita Arena Newcastle, Oct 10-12
Festival: Durham Book Festival, Gala Durham, Oct 10-12
Comedy: Omid Djalili: Namaste, Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle, Oct 11
Theatre: Dear England, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Nov 11-15
Theatre: Kinky Boots, Sunderland Empire, Dec 2-6
Theatre/Panto: The Wizard of Oz, People’s Theatre, Newcastle, Dec 13-21
Music: Big Country (with Toyah supporting), Boiler Shop, Newcastle, Dec 17
Music: 007 in Concert (Royal Northern Sinfonia), Sage One, The Glasshouse, Dec 30
2026
Comedy: Al Murray - All You Need is Guv, Stockton Globe (Jan 24); Darlington
Hippodrome (Mar 1); Middlesbrough Town Hall Sunderland Empire, Apr 23; Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle (Jun 5).
Music: James Arthur, Utilita Arena Newcastle, Feb 6
Event: Sunday for Sammy, Utilita Arena, Newcastle, Feb 15
Comedy: Jessica Fostekew - Iconic Breath, The Stand Newcastle, Mar 10
Music: Police Dog Hogan, Sage Two, The Glasshouse, Gateshead, May 7
Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors, Northern Stage, Newcastle, May 8-23
Theatre: Midsummer Murders, Darlington Hippodrome, May 19-23
Theatre: Gerry and Sewell, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Jun 9-13
Event: The Blindboy Podcast - LIVE, Sage One, The Glasshouse, October 29
2027
Theatre: Back to the Future, Sunderland Empire Apr 13-May 8, 2027 (General tickets on sale Sept 10)
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 bumper prize - a family ticket (4 x seats) to see Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena at 6.30 pm on Saturday, November 22, plus the opportunity to get your own skates on at Centre for Life’s magical ice rink this winter*.
*Autumn turned up without warning, so we might as well start planning for the chill, artificial or otherwise.
As has become the annual tradition, families will be packing in to the Arena for a does of Disney On Ice magic. This year, we’re being invited to:
Step inside the story of Encanto with Mirabel and her family;
Sail away with Moana and Maui on their journey across the ocean (Moana);
Join Elsa on her quest to protect Arendelle (Frozen);
Be inspired as we swim under the sea with Ariel (The Little Mermaid);
Explore with Belle (Beauty and the Beast);
And sing-along with Rapunzel.. all the while enjoying some world-class skating, iconic musical tunes and top notch costumes
Then, once the talented cast have inspired you to give ice-skating a try*, you can book yourselves (4 x people) a slot at the ever-popular ice rink at Newcastle’s Life Science Centre.
*The ticket will actually be valid from November 10-28, so you could go before the show if you fancied). Remember to book your time slot though!
HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: Ice, Ice Disney by noon, (12pm) on Sunday, September 14, 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.