Curated Culture 21.01.25
Our weekly recommendations round up from the region’s stages and cultural venues
Hello and welcome to the latest Curated Culture newsletter which does its best to keep you up to date with a generous helping of What’s On suggestions from across North East stages and cultural attractions.
As ever, this week’s offering spotlights a dozen-or-so featured listings - things we think are well worth your time over the next couple of weeks - while also rounding up suggestions from previous Curated Cultures which are STILL SHOWING and looking further into the future to draw your attention to shows, concerts, events and what-have-you which are NOW BOOKING.
In 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 to see Queen Heaven Planetarium Show at Life Science Centre, Newcastle on February 12.
All the details and entry guidance can be found at the bottom of this newsletter… but don’t speed scroll past everything which you’ll find between here and there. Slow and steady wins the race - or, in this case is at least better informed when it comes to North East cultural doings.
See you soon and thanks as ever for your all your supportive messages and subscriptions.
Sam and Dave*
*Like Chas and Dave but with less hair and better accents
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THEATRE: Under Milk Wood
Where: The Maltings, Berwick
When: Friday, January 24, 7.30pm
Bookings and info: maltingsberwick.co.uk
The multi-talented Guy Masterson once again sets out to prove you don’t need a cast of thousands even when tackling a masterpiece with multiple characters.
He has been impressing audiences for many years with his solo performance of Dylan Thomas’s epic poem.
He learned the work, set in the fictional Welsh community of Llareggub (say it backwards for a chortle), off by heart in the early 1990s and has performed it many times.
Masterson’s great uncle was the great Welsh actor Richard Burton so he’s certainly got the pedigree for the job. Burton made a wonderful recording of Under Milk Wood and appeared in the film version with Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O’Toole.
Masterson, with his company Theatre Tours International, has begun the new year in typically energetic style.
You can also catch his solo version of Animal Farm (by another genius, George Orwell, but adapted by Mr Masterson himself) at Darlington Hippodrome on January 31 at 7.30pm.
Read more: Cultural innovations on Tyneside and Wearside win Government funding
COMEDY: David O’Doherty - Tiny Piano Man
Where: Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle
When: February 1
Bookings and info: tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
A delightful evening is in store for anyone who gets themselves along to see the Irish comedian who makes excellent use of an on-lap keyboard.
Songs, stories and and big laughs are on the cards from the comic who you’ll recognise from shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Live At The Apollo and The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2024.
LECTURE: Andrew Graham-Dixon
Where: Lit & Phil, Newcastle
When: February 8, 6pm
Bookings and info: litandphil.org.uk
The eminent critic, author and broadcaster returns to a favourite haunt to explore the art of the early 19th Century in a talk called The Age of Revolutions.
He will argue that the British artists who lived and worked during the Romantic period, roughly 1800 to 1850, were revolutionaries who changed the way we see the world.
The period following the French Revolution saw artists and writers celebrating intuition and emotion while putting nature on a pedestal and exploring the supernatural.
British artists of that period include Constable and Turner. Graham-Dixon will bring up other of their contemporaries, highlighting their genius and originality.
Read more: Grant to explore history of Ballast Hills
COMEDY: Matt Reed’s Junk Box
Where: ARC, Stockton
When: January 24
Bookings and info: arconline.co.uk
North East comic Matt Reed will be proving he can make comedy out of any old junk on Friday night. The audience is encouraged to bring something for the box which Matt will then have to make funny as and when he pulls the various donations out.
An opportunity for interactive improvisation perfect for those who don’t like shouting out suggestions!
THEATRE: DIG
Where: Various North East venues
When: Dates between January 29 and March 6
Bookings and info: digtheplay
Prepare for a big bit of theatrical time travel.
Set in 4040, Ian Smith’s play finds a young couple enjoying an unusual date - excavating a site filled with relics from all the way back in the 21st century.
A co-production between Laurels Theatre and Hartford House, DIG is billed as ‘a glance into the future to see what the people of your region left behind’.
Each venue where the comedy is performed will influence what is found and examined.
Kicking off at ARC, Stockton on January 29, the play will then travel to Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay (Jan 30-Feb 1); The Witham, Barnard Castle (Feb 6); Gateshead Central Bar (Feb 7); City Theatre Durham (Feb 15); and Washington Arts Centre (Mar 6).
CLASSICAL: Elisabeth Leonskaja plays Beethoven
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead
When: February 2, 3pm
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
In 2023 the celebrated pianist took to the stage alongside Royal Northern Sinfonia for a performance of Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ piano concerto.
The orchestra’s principal conductor, Dinis Sousa, had picked out her Gateshead appearance as one of that season’s highlights and so it proved, the audience showing their appreciation of a rousing performance in similar style.
Now Leonskaja, based in Austria since leaving the then Soviet Union in 1978, is returning to perform Beethoven’s final three sonatas for piano, numbers 30, 31 and 32, written in a frenzy of creativity at the end of his life.
Leonskaja turns 80 this year. With a packed schedule of European recitals ahead of her, this is the only opportunity to hear her perform in the UK ahead of a London appearance in May.
Read more: Ishy Din talks about his new play, Champion at Live Theatre
THEATRE: Calamity Jane
Where: Sunderland Empire
When: February 4-8
Bookings and info: Sunderland Empire website
It’s a whip-crackin’ musical comedy classic and a new UK touring production is en route to Wearside.
The show stars multi-award-winning West End actress, Carrie Hope Fletcher and features sharp shooting numbers such as The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), The Black Hills of Dakota, Just Blew in from the Windy City, and the Oscar-winning Secret Love.
Read more: Memories stirred as Fish Quay tavern lands lost treasure
MUSIC: James Bay
Where: Newcastle 02 City Hall
When: February 4
Bookings and info: academymusicgroup.com
BRIT Award-winning singer songwriter, James Bay is touring on the back of his fourth album, Changes All The Time, which features the singles Up All Night and Easy Distraction including contributions from US singer Noah Kahan and alternative folk band The Lumineers.
EXHIBITION: Memories Carried
Where: Globe Gallery, 97 Howard Street, North Shields
When: January 24 and 25, 11am to 5pm
Bookings and info: globegallery.org
An exhibition which has been seen in London, Birmingham, Paris and Berlin comes to the Globe Gallery, recently re-established in North Shields, to raise awareness and funds for human rights charities in Palestine.
Both exhibition and campaign, Memories Carried was created by Iraqi photographer and filmmaker Yamam Nabeel and it brings together the work of more than 20 international photographers and activists from Palestine and around the world.
It is a collaboration between Art Forward and Amnesty International UK and has raised money for, among others, Health Workers for Palestine, a collective concerned about deteriorating health provision in Gaza, and the Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund which was established a year ago to take severely injured Palestinian children for treatment in Lebanon.
Art Forward, set up in 2020, shares global stories and organises platforms for voices that might otherwise not be heard and strives to build a dialogue that transcends cultural, religious and geographical differences.
EVENT: Glenn McCrory in Conversation
Where: Live Theatre, Newcastle
When: February 8
Bookings and info: live.org.uk
To celebrate the upcoming world premiere production of Ishy Din’s Champion, Live Theatre is hosting a special in conversation event with County Durham-born cruiserweight boxer and boxing pundit, Glenn McCrory.
North East actor, Micky Cochrane - who will be performing in Glenn’s remarkable autobiographical play, Carrying David at Newcastle Theatre Royal in June - will be chatting to him about his experiences as a boxer and pundit as well as the time he met Muhammad Ali.
MUSIC: Hector Gannet
Where: The Exchange 1856
When: January 31
Bookings and info: theexchange1856.com (Returns only)
The launch of the North Shields 800 programme is being celebrated by a free gig from homegrown modern and burgeoning folk act, Hector Gannet.
Unsurprisingly, the performance is already waiting list spots only… we’re definitely on it!
THEATRE: The Rocky Horror Show
Where: Newcastle Theatre Royal
When: January 27-February 1
Bookings and info: theatreroyal.co.uk
The latest world tour of Richard O’Brien’s enduring rock ‘n’ roll musical is bringing Jason Donovan to Newcastle.
Following a sold out tour in his native Australia in 2024, the former Neighbours actor and chart-topping pop star is reprising his role as Frank-n-Furter across the UK.
As the 35 million people who have seen it will well know, The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of two college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet who find themselves stranded outside a creepy mansion when their car breaks down.
Fun, frolics, frivolity, fish nets and frocks ensue as well as musical theatre classics such as Damn it Janet and Time Warp. Jump to the left, anyone?
STILL SHOWING
Comedy: Ben Elton - Authentic Stupidity, Darlington Hippodrome, Jan 22
Exhibition: Spellbound, The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, Northumberland, until April 6
Theatre: Birdsong, Newcastle Theatre Royal, until Jan 25
Dance/Event: Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour, Utilita Arena, Newcastle, Jan 22-23
Comedy: Chris McCausland - Yonks, Middlesbrough Town Hall, Jan 28
Exhibition: Sustainable Clay, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle, Feb 1-May 3
Theatre: Jack and the Beanstalk, Beamish Museum, weekend performances until Feb 16
Event: Day Fever, The Boiler Shop Newcastle, 3pm-8pm, Feb 15
Festival: Brundibar Arts Festival, until Jan 26
Music: The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Fire Station, Sunderland, Jan 22
Comedy: Mark Thomas - Gaffa Tapes, Alnwick Playhouse, Jan 31 and The Witham, Barnard Castle, Feb 1
Theatre: The Whirlgig of Time, Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham Jan 31
Exhibition: We all came here from somewhere, BALTIC, until Feb 9
Exhibition: Sheila Fell - Cumberland on Canvas, Tullie House, Carlisle, until Mar 16, 2025 (coming to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens after it closes
Exhibition: Framing Fashion, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until Mar 2, 2025
Exhibition: Romance to Realities: The Northern Landscapes and Shifting Identities, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, until April 26, 2025
Exhibition: Hannah Perry - Manual Labour, BALTIC, until Jan 19, 2025
Exhibition: Ted Holloway - A Bevin Boy Remembered, Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland, until June 8, 2025
Exhibition: Magna Carta and the North, Durham Cathedral Museum, Jul 11 until Nov 2
NOW BOOKING
Feb 5-22: Hadaway Harry 10th anniversary tour, various North East venues
Feb 22: Coastal Crawl, Various North Tyneside venues
Mar 2: The Futureheads, Boiler Shop Newcastle
Mar 7 and 8: Joel Dommett - Happy Idiot, Northern Stage and Gala Theatre Durham, respectively
Mar 13: Night Classes, (Unfolding Theatre) Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Mar 13: Sounds of the 60s Live, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Mar 20: David Gray, Newcastle 02 City Hall
Mar 26-Apr 5: TINA - The Tina Turner Musical, Sunderland Empire
Mar 27-Apr 25: The Lindisfarne Story - Nicely Out Of Tune tour, various North East venues
Apr 12: Murder She Didn’t Write, Northern Stage
Apr 25-27: Public Record, The Fire Station, Sunderland
May 6-10: Kinky Boots, Newcastle Theatre Royal
May 8: Bryan Adams, Utilita Arena, Newcastle
May 10: The Waterboys, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Jun 15: Holly Johnson - Welcome to the Pleasuredome, Newcastle 02 City Hall
Jun 24-Jul 8: Live Writes, Live Theatre, Newcastle
Aug 4-9: Chicago, Sunderland Empire
Aug 28-30: Lindisfarne Festival, Beal Farm, Northumberland
Sept 10-20: War Horse, Newcastle Theatre Royal
Oct 15 and 16: Suzi Ruffell - The Juggle, Gala Theatre Durham and Northern Stage, respectively
Dec 15: Cara Dillon Upon A Winter's Night, Sage Two, The Glasshouse
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 Queen Heaven, a planetarium show at the Life Science Centre, Newcastle on February 12 at 6.30pm.
Popular demand has dictated extra shows be added to the Life programme - and any fans of rock legends Queen won’t be surprised.
The dome show is an out-and-out celebration of the band’s biggest hits, all set to a parade of exciting visuals.
Archive footage, music videos and immersive views of the solar system combine with a soundtrack including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, Radio Gaga and We are the Champions for an experience which has been signed off by the band themselves.
Suitable for ages 13 and above. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango? before midday (12pm) on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
The winner, who will be selected at random, will be notified within 48 hours of the entry deadline.
The tickets will be for a performance of your choice, subject to availability,
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.
Congratulations to Sunderland on its award of Music City status!