Curated Culture 17-09-24
Curated Culture 17-09-24
Our regular signpost to our picks from the What's On riches currently on offer from venues and attractions across North East England.
Hello and welcome to this week’s round up of some of the stuff we think is well worth your time and attention over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve also pulled together a collection of performances, events and what-not from a bit further into the future, which we wanted to let you know was NOW BOOKING.
Meanwhile anything which is STILL SHOWING from last week’s Curated Culture selection mailout are also present and correct.
Basically, we’re doing our best to make sure you can avoid kicking yourself for missing something great, because you didn’t know it was on.
And if all that wasn’t enough, we also want to give our subscribers the chance to enjoy something smashing via our weekly newsletter prizedraw.
This week, we’ve got a pair of tickets for The Nurses Station at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle, which is running until September 28. More details below.
Before we get into it though, we just wanted to say a big thank you for all your likes, shares and support since we relaunched on Substack earlier this month. You’ve been absolutely lovely.
Now tuck in!
Sam and Dave*
*Like Chas and Dave but with less hair and better accents
P.s. if you haven’t liked/followed/high fived us on our socials, you can rectify that on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter
MUSIC: Jo Harrop – The Path of A Tear
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead (Sage Two)
When: September 7, 8pm
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
The Durham-born jazz singer, always admired for her voice, is now also recognised as an accomplished songwriter.
Her fourth album, The Path Of A Tear, was recorded in Los Angeles with Grammy Award-winning producer Larry Klein.
You can also hear Jo at the Hexham Abbey Festival of Arts and Music on Thursday, September 26, at 8pm.
COMEDY: An Evening of Shouting and Swearing with Gavin Webster
Where: Alnwick Playhouse, The Witham, Barnard Castle
When: September 21 and 28, respectively
Bookings and info: Scrapper Reed website
Back from one of his most successful runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, the veteran Geordie has booked in a tour of the show - with a title inspired by a disgruntled review of his last one - which does exactly what it says on the poster... and it’s terrific.
Making sure his native North East is well catered for, the upcoming dates at Alnwick and Barnard Castle are followed by gigs at the Queen’s Hall, Hexham (Oct 28) and Playhouse, Whitley Bay (Nov 2).
MUSIC: Cobalt Autumn Opening Party with Mina & Bryte + PRNCSS + SQUARMS
Where: Cobalt, Ouseburn
When: September 27
Bookings and info: cobaltstudios.co.uk
Successful UK/Ghana fusion outfit, Mina & Bryte; synth-punk artist PRNCSS and Newcastle duo SQUARMS (recently back from a tour of Japan) are getting the autumn season cooking at Cobalt Studios later this month.
The venue has just put out its latest programme paper mailout. Make sure to pick one up when you see it.
THEATRE: Wicked
Where: Sunderland Empire
When: September 24-October 20
Bookings and info: Sunderland Empire website
Multi-award-winning musical, Wicked will be bedding in for a long run on Wearside next week as the imagined back stories of The Wizard of Oz’s Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West are brought into tuneful technicolour.
Eleven million people have seen it in the West End alone. Prepare to see some magic.
EXHIBITION: Joanne Coates - Middle of Somewhere
Where: BALTIC, Gateshead
When: Until November 17
Bookings and info: baltic.art
A photographer who grew up in rural North Yorkshire, Joanne Coates favours themes such as class, inequality, rural life and community cohesion.
Her BALTIC Level 2 exhibition showcases the results of Jo’s comparison of rural life in areas of Scotland and England. In both locations, she focused on young women who lived there.
MUSIC: HowayFest 2024
Where: Various venues on Tyneside
When: September 27-October 19
Bookings and info: www.howayfest.co.uk
Promising ‘an unforgettable cultural extravaganza’, HowayFest makes its debut next week and will bring together local, national and international talent on stages across Tyneside including Salt Market Social, The Globe, The Grove and Little Buildings.
Twenty five bands are booked to play across eight gigs. Confirmed acts include Bear Park (see video above), Trampolene, Jam Tub, Palma Louca and King Nun.
MUSIC: RNS Moves – The World is Round
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead (Sage Two)
When: September 28, 7pm
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
Music is for everyone and the point is made emphatically by RNS Moves, the resident ensemble of disabled musicians and non-disabled members of Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Billed as an ode to the Earth in all its glory, this concert features short pieces by Beethoven, Vaughan Williams and Oscar-winning British composer Rachel Portman, among others.
From the CNE website: Review - Subterranea at Laurels Theatre
COMEDY: Nish Kumar - Don’t Kill My Vibe
Where: Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle; Durham Gala Theatre
When: September 19 & 20, respectively
Bookings and info: Tyne Theatre and Durham Gala
Politically charged, passionate and funny as all giddyup, TV regular Nish Kumar is back on the road with a new show, which he took for a trot out, up at the Fringe this summer.
Bit of Nish trivia: Sam Wonfor passed him on the street three times during an August weekend in the Scottish capital and he was always carrying a net bag of easy peelers.
THEATRE: Ghost, the Musical
Where: Darlington Hippodrome
When: September 24-28
Bookings and info: darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
Actor and comedian, Les Dennis has joined the cast of Ghost, the Musical (playing the Hospital Ghost and bank man, Lionel Ferguson) which is en route to Darlington next week following last month’s visit to the Sunderland Empire.
Featuring music and lyrics by Dave Stewart, the impressive show recreates the iconic movie featuring Sam, Molly and Oda Mae (we’re not giving baddie Carl top-line billing) and boasts some pretty special effects.
MUSIC: Into the Groove- Celebrating 40 Years of Madonna
Where: The Fire Station, Sunderland
When: September 27
Bookings and info: thefirestation.org.uk
An evening celebrating a whopping four decades of the Queen of Pop is on the cards at The Fire Station as this production seeks to recreate the highlights from Madonna’s headlining-grabbing live tours.
All the hits will be present and correct, together with the corresponding and iconic looks from the eighties to now. We’re betting lace, fishnets, red lipstick and cone shapes will be prominent throughout.
From the CNE website: Review - &Juliet at Sunderland Empire
COMEDY: Lauren Stone - Cool For Cats
Where: The Stand, Newcastle
When: September 30
Bookings and info: thestand.co.uk
Asking the question(s), ‘What if an Edwardian lady ghost was also a hard boiled private detective?’ (and what if that detective loved The Muppets?), North East treasure in the making, Lauren Stone brings an hour of her unique stand up to The Stand.
MUSIC: Pink Floyd by Candlelight
Where: Durham Cathedral
When: September 27
Bookings and info: durhamcathedral.co.uk
Audiences are invited to the Dark Side of the Moon to hear the music of Pink Floyd by candlelight in Durham Cathedral, courtesy of top tribute act, What The Floyd.
Another Brick in the Wall, Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, Shine On You Crazy Diamond and many more are on this special menu.
From the CNE website: Review - Love It If We Beat Them at Live Theatre
STILL SHOWING
Theatre: Abigail’s Party, Northern Stage, until Sept 28
Theatre: Othello, various North East venues until Oct 20
Music: JHC Revue with Martin Stephenson, Rob Heron, Errant Moose & Shipcote, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Sept 20
Exhibition: Hannah Perry - Manual Labour, BALTIC, until Jan 19, 2025
Theatre: Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of), Newcastle Theatre Royal, Sept 19-28
Screen: Prima Facie: National Theatre Live, various North East cinemas, until Dec 5
Theatre: Subterranea, Laurels Theatre, until Sept 28
Music: Allen Valleys Folk Festival, various Allendale venues, Sept 27-29
Theatre: Love It If We Beat Them, Live Theatre, Newcastle, until Sept 28
Music: Quireboys: Wardour Street Album Launch, Queen’s Hall Hexham, Sept 24
Comedy: The Scummy Mummies’ Greatest Hits, Hipp at The Hullabaloo, Darlington, Sept 18
NOW BOOKING
Oct 10-Nov 2: Saint Maud, Live Theatre
Oct 12: Beyond the Moor Festival, Gosforth Civic Theatre
Oct 13: Becky Hill, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Oct 18: Dr Louise Newson - Hormones and Menopause: The Great Debate, Darlington Hippodrome
Oct 28-Nov 2: Chicago, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Nov 1: Hue and Cry, The Glasshouse
Nov 8: Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit, Stockton Globe (2025 tour dates at Newcastle City Hall (June 5) and Middlesbrough Town Hall (Oct 11)
Nov 28-Dec 5: Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour, various North East venues
Nov 16-17: Sarah Millican - Late Bloomer, Stockton Globe
Nov 21: Milton Jones - HA!MILTON, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Dec 17: Culture Club with Heaven 17 and Tony Hadley, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Feb 10-22: Only Fools and Horses - The Musical, Newcastle Theatre Royal
March-April 2025: The Lindisfarne Story, various venues across the North East
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 The Nurses Station, which is running at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle until September 28.
Created from real-life stories shared by experienced and newly-trained nurses, outgoing artistic director of the theatre, Ali Pritchard has written, directed and designed what they’re calling a ‘new folk theatre show’.
Billed as ‘a celebration of their enduring spirit and dedication, told through dark humour and amazing music’, the production features actors Luke Maddison and Rosie Stancliffe as well as music from acclaimed North East composer, Ruth Lyons.
To enter, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: NURSES before midday (12pm) on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
Winners 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.