Curated Culture 24.03.26
Our regular round-up of recommendations from North East stages and cultural venues
Welcome to this week’s Curated Culture – your weekly inbox delivery focused on what’s on across the North East, from stages and galleries to gig rooms and everything in between.
As per the usual Tuesday routine, scroll down to find:
🗓️ Top Picks – featured listings for the next fortnight
📌 Still Showing – previous highlights you can still enjoy
📅 Now Booking – dates to plan ahead for
🎁 Subscriber Prize Draw – win a pair of tickets to Renegade Brass Band at The Cluny, Newcastle on April 2.
Thanks for your continued support
Sam (Wonfor) & Dave (Whetstone)
Professionally preoccupied with North East culture
THEATRE: Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Where: Newcastle Theatre Royal
When: April 6-11
Bookings and info: theatreroyal.co.uk
The dazzling and downright life-affirming show, which joins three fabulous friends inside a shimmering tour bus - Priscilla - bound for the Outback, is coming over the horizon and heading for a stop at Newcastle Theatre Royal.
Based on the hit 1994 film starring Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp and Hugo Weaving and featuring a glittering soundtrack dripping with hits like Hot Stuff, It’s Raining Men, I will Survive and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, audiences are invited to join Mitzi Mitosis, Bernadette Bassenger and Felicia Jollygoodfellow on an adventure which will see them discovering the true power of love, acceptance, and friendship.
CLASSICAL: Brahms and Beethoven
Where: Middlesbrough and Gateshead
When: March 26 and 27
Booking & Info: theglasshouseicm.org
A scintillating double bill is in prospect as Royal Northern Sinfonia heads ‘out and about’ with Brahms’ First Piano Concerto and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
Sir Stephen Hough (multi-award-winning pianist, composer and teacher) made his debut with Royal Northern Sinfonia last year and it went well.
So well, in fact, that he’s back to perform one of “the real greats” (so say The Glasshouse), Brahms’ first orchestral work to be performed when given its premiere in Hanover in 1859.
This “real showpiece for any performer” (Glasshouse again) will be performed, with Dinis Sousa conducting, at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Thursday (March 26), The Glasshouse (March 27) and The Sands Centre, Carlilse (March 28), all 7.30pm.
Classic FM – sacrilegiously, they admitted – ranked Beethoven’s symphonies in 2024 and his seventh sits at number five in their list, which tells you something or nothing.
They called it a “dark, demonic work” while composer Richard Wagner described it as “the apotheosis of the dance” which can be read as a back-handed compliment.
Beethoven, at its 1813 premiere in Vienna, called it one of his best works. Although his hearing was started to fail, it’s safe to assume his judgement was sound.
ART & NATURE: Spring Into Action
Where: Baltic, Gateshead
When: April 3-19
Booking & Info: www.baltic.art
A host of free, nature-themed activities is offered by Baltic for the Easter school holidays under the umbrella (or, hopefully, sunshade) title, Spring Into Action.
Daily nature-related talks and tours will take place in and around Baltic, home to the world’s most inland colony of kittiwakes and honeybees accommodated in rooftop hives.
Activities include animal and insect workshops (April 11), the potting of bee-friendly plants (April 9), birdwatching bike rides (April 10, 17) and accessible story time sessions (April 15)
Natural History Society of Northumbria reps will guide visitors on an urban nature trail (April 3, 9, 17) while members of North East Young Dads & Lads will lead birdwatch bike tours, one of 18 miles and one of six, with Cain Scrimgeour, from Wild Intrigue, identifying wildlife en route.
On April 3, North East Dads & Lads will also lead pedal and play skills track sessions for children on Baltic Square.
Inside Baltic on April 15, meanwhile, TimbaDash Theatre will run an interactive and sensory TimbaTime Storytime session for children and young people with learning disabilities.
This is just a taste of Spring Into Action, part of a partnership project between Baltic, North East Young Dads & Lads and Newcastle University funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund.
CONCERT: Eliza Carthy and guests
Where: Alnwick Playhouse
When: Saturday, March 28, 7.30pm
Booking & Info: alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
Recently it was announced that Martin Carthy, a musician who has influenced Bob Dylan and Paul Simon among countless others, would be retiring from touring due to a diagnosis of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s very sad. Carthy, at 84, is something of a living legend, although he’d probably hate that description. In 2025, he became the oldest person to be nominated for the Mercury Prize - performing at the Utilita Arena Newcastle ceremony.
A Facebook post in February announced that daughter Eliza, with a fabulous musical profile all of her own, had assembled a community of musicians who had played a part in Martin’s career.
In various combinations, and including Martin Simpson, Tim Van Eyken, Nick Hart and Eliza’s son, Finn Curran Carthy, would be sharing a stage with Eliza to honour and celebrate her father’s legacy and back catalogue.
Joining Eliza on stage in Alnwick will be Finn, the next musical Carthy, making his first public appearances on this tour and playing one of his grandfather’s guitars.
That February announcement concluded: “It promises to be an outstanding, highly emotional evening.”
That could be an understatement.
THEATRE/COMEDY: The Fit Prince
Where: Live Theatre, Newcastle
When: April 7-10
Bookings and info: live.org.uk
After acclaimed runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and in London, Awkward Prods (the team behind Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story and Gwyneth Goes Skiing) bring their romcom parody The Fit Prince… to Live Theatre next month (April).
The action is set in the fictional kingdom of Swedonia where a prince faces losing his crown if he can’t find love in time. Over in New York, a struggling baker unexpectedly lands the royal wedding cake commission (thanks to his crafty puppet pal).
All of the above serves as the cue for festive clichés, unlikely romance and plenty of twists in a queer, interactive comedy which promises a playful send-up of the Hallmark and Netflix films so many love to cringe at - complete with original music and a string of surprise digital cameos.
EXHIBITION: Picture This: Someone Like Me
Where: Great North Museum: Hancock
When: Until January 2027
Booking & Info: northeastmuseums.org.uk
Pair the words ‘academic’ and ‘research’ and you have what many outside a university might dismiss as dull or impenetrable.
But need it be this way?
Phoebe Lewis and Ainsley Hatt, PhD researchers at Newcastle University, worked with Peter Moore Fuller, from design consultancy infohackit, to show how to make research eye-catching and impactful.
To find out if they’ve succeeded, pop to the Hancock to see an exhibition which, through art and personal reflections, aims to challenge misconceptions and show how knowledge is created.
Running alongside it is a programme of interactive events and family activities.
Phoebe said a highlight of the project had been seeing researchers whose paths wouldn’t normally cross learn how to communicate their work visually through their own artistic styles.
“Academic research is often shared through papers and presentations, which can make it difficult for wider audiences to engage with,” added Ainsley.
“With this exhibition, we wanted to showcase the amazing research happening at Newcastle University in a way that feels more accessible and invites people to connect with it.”
MUSIC: Washington Folk Festival
Where: Arts Centre Washington
When: April 2-4
Bookings and info: sunderlandculture.org.uk
Fiddles, foot-stomping rhythms and songs steeped in story are on the card for the inaugural Washington Folk Festival.
Supported by Sunderland Music City, the festival forms part of Sunderland’s Year of Music, reflecting a renewed focus on grassroots culture, live performance and the region’s deep musical heritage.
The programme spans headline gigs, free daytime performances, workshops and a family-friendly ceilidh, alongside a Real Ale Festival in the Courtyard Bar.
Highlights include electrofolk artist Frankie Archer, a Friday night set from acclaimed guitarist Martin Simpson, and a lively Afternoon Ceilidh with the Blue Cat Ceilidh Band.
With plenty for both dedicated folk fans and curious newcomers, it promises to be a warm, community-focused addition to the region’s live music calendar.
DANCE: Abundance – Lizzie Klotz
Where: Dance City, Newcastle
When: Thursday, April 2, 7.30pm
Booking & Info: dancecity.co.uk
North East dance artist and choreographer Lizzie Klotz presents the premiere of a new body of work featuring three professional dancers and three older volunteer performers.
What can audience members expect? Over to Lizzie…
“The work begins with a pause, a spacious moment of stillness. People move, howl, rest, leap, reverberate and hold one another.
“Moments emerge and dissolve. Colourful duvets are worn, sculpted, hidden under and danced within.
“Built through improvisation, the choreography moves between moments of intimacy, release and joy, beneath which runs a quiet pulse of resilience, echoed in the shifting textures of the sound design.”
Accompanying all this will be live music by Me Lost Me (Jayne Dent).
A related sculptural installation, made with designer Bethany Wells and others, will be exhibited at The NewBridge Project, Shieldfield, in the summer.
The Abundance programme also includes clay workshops led by artist Megan Randall and community feasts led by chef Kaltouma Hassaballah.
Abundance was commissioned by Dance City, The NewBridge Project and Northumberland Dance Development, supported by Moving Art Management and Arts Council England.
You can also catch the dance work at Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham (April 22, 7.30pm) and Alnwick Playhouse (April 25, 12.30pm) – where the other attractions are also available on various dates.
COMEDY: Sara Pascoe - I Am A Strange Gloop
Where: Gala Theatre Durham
When: March 27
Bookings and info: galadurham.co.uk
Insomniac thoughts, domestic chaos and ideas that feel brilliant at 3am and questionable by breakfast sit at the heart of I Am A Strange Gloop, the latest show from Sara Pascoe.
Blending stand-up with surreal reflection, the comedian you will recognise from the likes of Taskmaster, Mock The Week, QI, Live at the Apollo and The Great Sewing Bee is back in the region to explore parenthood, relationships and the oddness of everyday life.
THEATRE: Mean Girls the Musical
Where: Sunderland Empire
When: Apr 6-11
Bookings and info: atgtickets.com
The first North East visit from Mean Girls The Musical will see the tuneful retelling of the familiar high school drama told on the Sunderland Empire stage.
Written by Tina Fey who also wrote the screenplay for the cult classic 2004 film on which it’s based, it’s a sharp and knowingly over-the-top story about fitting in, standing out and the cost of both.
Cady Heron has grown up far from the usual teenage social hierarchy, but that changes fast when she lands at North Shore High. There, power sits firmly with Regina George and her Plastics – and once you’re in their orbit, it’s hard to stay out of trouble.
What starts as a plan to take Regina down soon spirals into something messier, as Cady finds herself becoming part of the very system she set out to challenge.
The production will be back in the region from January 18-30, 2027 at Newcastle Theatre Royal.
THEATRE: Mythos:Ragnarok
Where: Darlington Hippodrome
When: April 7
Bookings and info: darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
Dramatically dubbed the “maddest, baddest show” at the Edinburgh Fringe, Mythos: Ragnarök is on its first UK tour, packing a refreshingly offbeat take on Norse mythology.
Thor, Loki, Freyja and Odin take centre stage as prophecy looms and the gods are forced to reckon with their fate. The twist? They’re brought to life by a cast of professional wrestlers, blending storytelling with high-impact action in a way that feels deliberately chaotic and a bit unpredictable.
Created and performed by its own company, this is independent theatre at its most inventive – unusual, ambitious, and likely to surprise.
STILL SHOWING
Theatre: Teechers, Gala Durham, Mar 30-31
Music: Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle, Mar 28
Theatre: Bus Stop Goths, ARC Stockton and Northern Stage, Newcastle, Mar 25-27 and Apr 24 respectively
Exhibition: Portrait Award 2025, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, Mar 28-Sept 5
Theatre: Hamlet, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Mar 31-Apr 4
Theatre: A Very Expensive Poison, People’s Theatre, Newcastle, Mar 24-28
Exhibition: Enigmas, RePUBlic Gallery, Blyth, from Mar 28
Exhibition: Rebel Women of Sunderland, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, until Aug 1
Theatre: I, Daniel Blake, Northern Stage, Newcastle, Mar 20 to Apr 4
Comedy: Matt Forde - Defying Calamity, Various North East dates, until Mar 27
Film: Kinoteka Polish Film Festival on tour, Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle, Mar 25
Theatre: Because We Said We Would, Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Mar 24-25, 7pm
Comedy: Sara Pascoe - I Am A Strange Gloop, Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Gala Theatre Durham on Mar 27
Film: Tyne Valley Film Festival, Hexham and various North East venues, until Mar 27
Exhibition: Women Behind Bars: Life in Newcastle Prison, 1828-1925, until Apr 27. Read our preview
Exhibition: Voices for Truth Exhibition, City Library, Newcastle, until Apr 2
Exhibition: Lady Kitt – Lines of Legitimacy, Hartlepool Art Gallery, Apr 18
Exhibition: Northumberland Open Exhibition, Woodhorn Museum, until May 10. Read more.
Exhibition: Feeling Into The Unknown, Hartlepool Art Gallery, until Apr 18
Screen: Torvill and Dean - The Last Dance, streaming on ITVX,
Theatre: I, Daniel Blake, Northern Stage, Newcastle, Mar 20 to April 4
Theatre: Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Apr 6-11
Exhibition: Desire Lines, MIMA, Middlesbrough, until Apr 12
Theatre: Sunny Afternoon, Stockton Globe, April 14-18
Comedy: Chris Ramsey - Here Man, Newcastle 02 City April 17-19
Screen: Jools Holland’s New Orleans Jukebox, BBC iPlayer
Radio: Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT!, BBC Sounds
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: Out of the Darkness, Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland, until December
NOW BOOKING
Music: Kate Rusby - The Springshine Tour, The Fire Station, Sunderland, Apr 28
Music: James Morrison, The Globe, Stockton, May 6
Comedy: Daniel Sloss - Bitter, Newcastle o2 City Hall, May 16
Ballet: Ballet Cymru: Sleeping Beauty, Gala Durham, Jun 10
Music: Beverley Knight - Born to Perform, Sage One, The Glasshouse, Jun 12
Dance: This is Rambert, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Jun 16-17
Music: Lily Allen performs West End Girl, Newcastle Utilita Arena, Jun 16
Festival: Durham Brass Festival, various venues in Durham, Jul 12-19
Music: The Proclaimers, Sunderland Empire, Jul 23
Music: Cara Dillon, Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Sept 11
Theatre: Othello, Northern Stage, Newcastle, Sept 11-26
Theatre: All At Sea, Live Theatre, Newcastle, Sept 24-Oct 10
Comedy: Maisie Adam, Whatsherface. Middlesbrough Town Hall, Oct 8
2027
Comedy: Ahir Shah - Golden, Gala Theatre Durham, Feb 5
Music: Kim Wilde - The Singles Tour, Sage One, The Glasshouse, Mar 14 (Tickets on general sale, March 27)
Theatre: Paranormal Activity, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Apr 13-17
Comedy: John Bishop - Let’s Go Round Again, Newcastle Utilita Arena, May 6
Theatre: Jersey Boys, Sunderland Empire, May 25-Jun 5
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 pair of tickets to see the Renegade Brass Band at The Cluny, on April 2.
Fusing jazz, hip-hop and a full-throttle brass sound into something built for big stages and late nights, the 12-piece outfit have built a reputation for high-energy performances, combining sharp rhymes, heavy beats and punchy horns.
Their sound has taken them across the UK and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of De La Soul, Public Enemy and Grandmaster Flash, and landing slots at major festivals including Glastonbury and Java Jazz.
Their latest EP, Bottle This Fire, continues to push that blend further, while their live sessions for BBC 6 Music have cemented their reputation as a band best experienced in the room.
Expect a loud, sweaty, feel-it-in-your-chest kind of night.
HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: Brassy by noon, (5pm) on Sunday (March 29, 2026).
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.