Hello, and thanks for opening this week’s Curated Culture.
We’re not quite ready to call time on summer yet – particularly when there’s this much still going on. From the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend into September, we’ve gathered a particularly bumper batch of things worth seeing, hearing and experiencing across the North East.
As ever, there’s also a round up of previous recommendations which are STILL SHOWING, while NOW BOOKING looks further ahead at stuff things worth getting firmed up.
This week’s subscriber prize draw comes with a touch of red carpet treatment. We have two pairs of VIP tickets to give away for the North East gala premiere of Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me at Tyneside Cinema on Thursday, September 3 at 7pm.
Thanks, as ever, for your continued attention and support
Sam (Wonfor) and Dave (Whetstone)
Professionally preoccupied with North East Culture
FESTIVAL: Lindisfarne Festival
Where: Beal Farm, Northumberland
When: September 3-6
Bookings and info: lindisfarnefestival.com
If summer has to end, there are worse places to see it off than a festival field overlooking Holy Island.
Lindisfarne Festival triumphantly returns to Beal Farm, having been named Small Festival of the Year at the 2025 UK Festival Awards.
This year more than 250 artists and performers are spread across nine stages, with headliners The Proclaimers, Faithless and Razorlight joined by Soul II Soul, Professor Green, Heather Small, Tide Lines and plenty of North East talent.
Less than 500 tickets remain – so if you’re looking for a weekend reset before the world gets its coat back on, you might want to consider this.
DANCE: The Car Man
Where: Newcastle Theatre Royal
When: September 8-12
Bookings and info: theatreroyal.co.uk
Start your engines. Matthew Bourne puts his distinctive spin on Carmen as his award-winning dance thriller The Car Man returns to a Tyneside stage.
Bizet’s 19th-century Spain is swapped for a garage-diner in 1950s small-town America, where the arrival of a mysterious stranger sets in motion a story of desire, jealousy, betrayal and revenge.
One of the best-known productions in the New Adventures repertoire, it combines Bourne’s choreography and storytelling with music by Terry Davies, featuring Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite after Bizet.
Expect high drama, tangled relationships and a familiar score put to very different use.
SCREEN/MUSIC: Aardman in Concert
Where: 02 City Hall, Newcastle
When: Sunday, August 30 (doors open 2.30pm)
Booking & Info: academymusicgroup.com
Who doesn’t love a whacky adventure in Plasticine with Wallace & Gromit and the rest?
Incredibly the famous Aardman creations have been with us for half a century and Carrot Productions – specialists in film and orchestra performances for children and families – are marking the occasion with this touring extravaganza.
It’s billed as a big-screen celebration featuring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time, Morph, Creature Comforts and more - all accompanied by a versatile orchestra (real, not Plasticine).
And the orchestra, judging by the promotional material, is not the sombre suits and serious expressions you might associate with a normal classical performance. The musicians help to stoke the atmosphere.
Created In partnership with Aardman, it looks like the very definition of a fun afternoon and it will culminate in a full performance of the Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit classic The Wrong Trousers.
MUSIC: Mickey Callisto
Where: The Fire Station, Parade Ground, Sunderland
When: August 29
Bookings and info: thefirestation.org.uk
After a packed month of gigs, The Fire Station’s Summer Parties reach their finale weekend with three more big nights in Sunderland.
Maxïmo Park return on Friday, August 28, followed by Sunderland’s own Mickey Callisto on Saturday. Fresh from Britain’s Got Talent and a busy summer of gigs across Europe, he’ll bring his bells, whistles and big voice live show back home to Wearside.
The season then bows out on Sunday with a sold-out Ibiza in Symphony.
AUDIO: Music Lives Here podcast
Where: Your ears, via wherever you get your podcasts
When: Weekly from August 28 to September
Info: Apple, Spotify
The Glasshouse is turning the microphone on the North East music scene with the launch of Music Lives Here, a new podcast hosted by singer songwriter Frankie Jobling.
Each episode features a musician with strong regional connections talking about their relationship with Newcastle and Gateshead, their experiences of performing here and advice for aspiring artists.
Rising jazz and soul artist Rivkala is first up on August 28, followed weekly (new episodes released on a Friday) by The Unthanks, conductor John Wilson, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs and rapper Kay Greyson.
THEATRE: King Lear
Where: Sheepfold Stables, Sunderland
When: August 27-20
Bookings and info: theatrespace.org.uk
Shakespeare’s King Lear is brought into a contemporary social care setting in a new production from Theatre Space North East.
Lear (played by Phillip Harrison) is reimagined as a community leader whose advancing dementia leaves his family and care professionals grappling with questions of independence, responsibility and who gets to make decisions on his behalf.
Following a hospital admission, his relationships with daughters Goneril (Eilidh Talman), Regan and Cordelia (Maryam Ali) begin to fracture as his condition deteriorates.
The production uses Marcus Gardley’s modern verse translation of Shakespeare’s tragedy and is presented in association with Play On Shakespeare.
FESTIVAL: Tynemouth Food Festival
Where: Tynemouth Priory and Castle
When: September 5 and 6
Bookings and info: seetickets.com
Tynemouth Food Festival will return to the grounds of Tynemouth Priory and Castle next month. Stalls full of food and drink are on the menu along with a programme of family entertainment
The North Tyneside Council-organised event has gathered a crowd of street food, pop-up bars and local artisan traders alongside live music.
Children’s activities will include cooking classes from Fun Little Foodies, ARTventurers craft and messy play sessions, family yoga, face painting and sports.
The festival runs from 10am-5pm each day. Advance adult tickets are £5 plus booking fee, with accompanied under-16s admitted free.
FESTIVAL: WRITE Festival 2026
Where: The Word, National Centre for the Written Word and other South Tyneside venues
When: September 1-26
Bookings and info: theworduk.org
September is a busy month for book lovers and budding writers in South Tyneside as the month-long WRITE Festival returns.
Events at The Word and libraries across the borough range from author talks and poetry to workshops on writing, publishing and getting feedback on your work.
Among those taking part are Jeff Brown, Caroline Roberts and Robert Rutherford, while Kevin Maguire will be in conversation with Fergal Sharkey.
There’s also calligraphy, costume talks and a Regency tea dance workshop before the month-long programme concludes with Bay Tales’ The Word is Murder, South Tyneside’s Crime Fiction Festival, on September 26.
EVENT: Ushaw Flower Festival
Where: Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
When: September 10-13
Bookings and info: ushaw.org
What might Sam Fender, Blaydon Races, Sting, The Unthanks or a North East brass band look like reimagined in flowers?
That’s the challenge taken up by florists and flower arrangers for Ushaw’s annual Flower Festival, which returns from September 10-13.
This year’s theme, Music of the North East (blooming lovely idea, if you ask us), will see the region’s songs, artists, bands, venues and musical traditions translated into floral displays throughout Ushaw’s dramatic historic spaces.
A daily flower market will accompany the festival, with specialist plant nurseries on Saturday and tours of Ushaw’s National Collection of Physocarpus on Sunday. Entry is included with admission and membership.
DANCE: Silent Discos
Where: The Glasshouse, Gateshead
When: Saturday, August 29
Bookings and info: theglasshouseicm.org
A silent disco might seem counter-intuitive. Back in the sweaty Seventies a disco was lots of people leaping about noisily together, trying not to trip over flares or handbags.
It was often so loud you had to master the art of lipreading if you wanted to commune verbally. Via elegant movement was the best bet although elegance tended to be a rare commodity.
Not everyone could be John Travolta although delusion would run rampant once the first few Babychams or Fed Specials had been imbibed.
Enough!
At The Glasshouse they’re seeing out summer very gracefully with two silent discos on the concourse.
There’s a Little Groovers version at 12 noon (until 2pm), with three music channels, bubbles and room for buggies (under ones get in free, they’ll be thrilled to know).
Then at 4pm (until 8pm) it’s time for the oldies to take a turn with three channels of “wall to wall bangers” promised along with a glowing floor and the bars open (under 14s to be accompanied by a – possibly embarrassing – adult).
It’s billed as an August Bank Holiday boogie on the banks of the Tyne - and it’s guaranteed not to keep the neighbours awake.
TALK: Discover the Dark Side of Northumberland
Where: Queen’s Hall, Hexham
When: Tuesday, September 8, 6pm
Booking & Info: queenshall.co.uk
This might not be quite what you think.
Rather than an eyebrow-raising delve into the seamy side of life in England’s northernmost county, this is a talk about the skies above.
Duncan Wise, who glories in the title lead officer for dark skies with Northumberland National Park Authority, will present a slideshow about Northumberland’s famous dark skies.
There was a time when dark skies at night were taken for granted but in this age of largely urban dwelling it’s a novelty and a source of fascination for many.
Northumberland National Park and Kielder became England’s first International Dark Sky Park in 2013.
In his talk, Duncan will explain the successes achieved since then and, er, shed light on the ongoing work being done to tackle light pollution from excessive artificial illumination at night.
The talk coincides with the Discovering Dark Skies exhibition at the Queen’s Hall and afterwards (tickets to be bought separately) Duncan will lead a twilight walk around Hexham.
GATHERING: The Salon
Where: The Light, Aykley Heads, Durham
When: Thursday, September 3 (5-8pm)
Bookings & Info: thelightdurham.org.uk
Having just opened, you’ll need no special inducement to visit The Light, known in times past (although the place has been transformed) as the DLI Museum and Art Gallery.
The permanent exhibition, We Are The Durhams, tells the story of The Durham Light Infantry.
Up above is Victory Over The Sun: Encounters With Light, dedicated to light-based art.
But September 3 sees the first evening gathering of The Salon, billed as the North East’s Creative Social.
Curated by Create North in partnership with The Light, The Salon is a reimagining of the great artistic salons of the past when great and curious minds came together.
The idea is that on the first Thursday of every month, artists, musicians, performers, writers, designers, filmmakers, producers and makers will assemble for an evening of conversation, ideas and connection in a relaxed setting.
Each salon will feature a guest creative, short talks, artist spotlights and time to meet new people and continue the conversation.
Say the management at The Light: “Whether you’re looking for collaborators, seeking feedback on a project or simply keen to spend time with fellow creatives, you’ll find an open and supportive space.”
STORYTELLING: A Bit Crack present Chris Adriaanse telling The Castle of Truth
Where: The Chillingham, Heaton
When: September 4
Bookings and info: abitcrack.com
Storyteller Chris Adriaanse heads to The Chillingham in Newcastle with The Castle of Truth, an evening inspired by Hermynia Zur Mühlen’s 1924 political fairy tale of the same name.
Written amid social unrest, the story follows a woman drawn by a mysterious light to a mountaintop, where she is forced to re-examine her life.
Adriaanse, a longtime North East storyteller who started out as a scientist, will use the tale as the starting point for an evening of intertwined stories exploring truth, lies and the secrets we keep. Tickets on the door, with standard entry £8.
🎉 FESTIVAL WATCH 🎉
Coast Fest, North Shields, Aug 28-30
Noughty 90s Festival, Leazes Park, Newcastle, August 29
Newcastle Mela, August 29-31, Grey’s Monument and Exhibition Park
Northern and Modern Soul All Dayer, The Glasshouse, August 30
Lindisfarne Festival, Beal Farm, Northumberland, September 3-5
Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage, Tees Valley, various locations, September 11-13
Hexham Abbey Festival of Music and Arts, Hexham, Northumberland, September 23-26
Beyond the Moor, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Oct 10
Can’t see your festival here? Send us the details
STILL SHOWING
Comedy: Felt Nowt at the Edinburgh Fringe, The Alchemist, George Street, until Aug 31
Theatre: We Will Rock You, The Customs House, South Shields, Aug 28-30
Festival: Coast Fest, Percy Park RFC, North Shields, Aug 28-30
Exhibition: CHROMA: A Measure of Colour, Arts Centre Washington, until Sept 18
Screen: Poised, STV player, available now
Exhibition: Victory Over the Sun: Adventures with Light, The Light, Aykley Heads, Durham, until Jan 17, 2027
Art: Northern Summer Exhibition, Newcastle Arts Centre, Westgate Road, until Sept 12
Event: Redhills Sundays, Redhills Durham Miners’ Hall, Sundays 11am-2pm
Family: Wallace & Gromit – All Systems Go AR Trail, Hopetown Darlington, until Aug 31
Exhibition: Things That Go!, Discovery Museum, Newcastle, until Feb 29, 2027
Exhibition: MOXIE: Generation Alpha Curates the Middlesbrough Collection, MIMA, Middlesbrough, until Mar 28, 2027. READ MORE
Screen: Screen on the Green, Old Eldon Square, Newcastle, until Aug 31
Event: Happy Rooms, Middlesbrough Town Hall, until Aug 30
Festival: Northumbrian Gathering of Guitar & Voice, Alnwick Playhouse, Aug 28-30
Event: Newcastle Mela, Grey’s Monument (Aug 29) and Exhibition Park, Aug 29-31
Music: Northern and Modern Soul All Dayer, The Glasshouse, Gateshead, Aug 30, 1pm-1am
Literature: Cathy Rentzenbrink in Conversation, Gala Durham, Sept 1, 7pm
Music: The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain, Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Sept 4, 8pm
Music: Dave Stewart, The Fire Station, Sunderland, Sept 14 and 15
Exhibition: Discovering Dark Skies, Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, until Sept 19
Screen: Ashington AFC: Saving Our Club, available to stream on BBC iPlayer
Event: Beyond Van Gogh, Utilita Arena, Newcastle, until Aug 9. Read our preview
Event: Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, until Sept 12
Exhibition: Norman Cornish – A Life in Sketchbooks, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until Jan 3. Read our full report
Exhibition: Mourning Tea Tyne & Lost Frequencies, Globe Gallery, North Shields, ongoing
Exhibition: Joan Eardley, Granary Gallery, Berwick-upon-Tweed, until Oct 11
Screen: The Fortune, Channel 5, available now
Screen: Smoggie Queens, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, available now
Screen: This Is Not A Murder Mystery, UTV and streaming on Channel Four, available now.
Exhibition: Foundation Press – Starting Lines, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, until Aug 30.
Radio: Si King on Desert Island Discs, BBC Sounds/iPlayer
Exhibition: Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary, The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, until Sept 6
Exhibition: Following the Eagle, Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, until Oct 3
Exhibition: Picture This: Someone Like Me, Great North Museum: Hancock, until Jan 2027
Exhibition: Portrait Award 2025, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, until Sept 5
Exhibition: Enigmas, RePUBlic Gallery, Blyth, ongoing
Exhibition: Rebel Women of Sunderland, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, until Aug 1
Radio: Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT!, BBC Sounds
Exhibition: Out of the Darkness, Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland, until December
NOW BOOKING
Comedy: Gary Delaney - Gary On Laughing, Darlington Hippodrome, Sept 17. More North East dates here
Music: Roger Taylor - Violence Insane in a Beautiful World, Newcastle o2 City Hall
Event: Caitlin Moran - How to Be Hopeful, Northern Stage, Newcastle, Sept 27
Festival: Durham Book Festival, various venues, Oct 9-11
Festival: Beyond the Moor, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle, Oct 10
Theatre: Our Friends in the North, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Oct 15-24
Music: Steve Hackett – Best of Genesis & Solo Gems, Sage One, The Glasshouse, Oct 21
Family: Not Now, Bernard, Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington, Oct 29-30
Music: Kathryn Tickell and the Darkening, The Fire Station, Sunderland, Nov 4
Music: The Script, Utilita Arena Newcastle, Nov 5
Theatre: Stones In His Pockets (Reading), Live Theatre, Newcastle, Nov 6-7
Film: Gala Screening - The Hartlepools Bombarded (presented by Tees Valley International Film Festival), ARC Stockton, Nov 12
Music: Dr Feelgood, The Cluny, Newcastle, Dec 17
Comedy: Mark Thomas - 40 in Stand Up Years, Redhills, Durham (Sept 17); ARC Stockton (Sept 19); The Stand Newcastle, Dec 13
2027
Music: Pete Roth Trio, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Jan 30
Theatre: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Sunderland Empire, Feb 2-6. Also at Darlington Hippodrome, May 25-29
Music: Vanessa Williams, Sage One, The Glasshouse, Feb 19
Music: Editors, Newcastle o2 City Hall, Mar 4
Comedy: Kemah Bob - Love Child, Northern Stage, Newcastle, Mar 26
Theatre: Chicago, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Mar 29-Apr 3
Theatre: The Most Famous Tree in The World, Live Theatre, Newcastle, May 6-29
Music: Weezer, Utilita Arena Newcastle, May 14
Theatre: SIX, Stockton Globe, Sept 21-25
COMPETITION TIME
Welcome to our latest newsletter prize draw - offering our subscribers an exclusive opportunity to win the chance to see or do something great.
This week, we’ve got two pairs of VIP tickets to give away for the North East gala premiere of Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me at Tyneside Cinema on Thursday, September 3 at 7pm.
The first fully authorised documentary about the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer features contributions from Keith Richards, Roger Daltrey, Sting, Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper and many more music legends.
Winners will enjoy drinks and canapés, the premiere screening and a post-film Q&A with North East director Kirsty Bell, Nick Moran, John Gibson and Jack Harris, who plays Cochran, as well as an exclusive meet-and-greet with cast and crew and access to the after show party with live performances planned.
HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email MePlease@culturednortheast.co.uk using the subject line: ‘No Summertime Blues for me’ by 5pm on Saturday, August 29.
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.