Family Fun

An ode to Newcastle’s culture scene

OUR THEATRES AND CINEMAS ARE AT THE VERY HEART OF NEWCASTLE’S CULTURE SCENE, AND WE CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK TO SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE VENUES! AS THE CITY COMES TO LIFE AGAIN AND WE FEEL A BUZZ ABOUT THE PLACE, WE’VE BEEN CHECKING IN WITH SOME FAMILIAR FACES BEHIND-THE-SCENES TO GET THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT’S GOING ON BEHIND THE BIG SCREEN OR CURTAIN...

Thrilling theatre >>

NORTHERN STAGE

Northern Stage has been keeping us entertained with a number of virtual stage events, and as the world begins to wake up again, we can’t wait to pop some in-person dates in the diary! We’ve got our eyes on The Sorcerer’s Apprentice in the winter months, and have some 2022 dates set in stone with the likes of Red Ellen! Until then, we’re delighted to share the news of the venue’s Theatres Trust sustainability grant to help change its house lights from halogen to LED in its largest performance space, Stage 1! Lots of big and exciting new developments happening behind the scenes - we can’t wait to be back in the coming months. Stay tuned online for more information and announcements! northernstage.co.uk

TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE

They’ve been waiting in the wings and they’re ready to come back with a bang! The Tyne Theatre & Opera House are preparing for a super spring/ summer season with theatre thrills for the whole family, kicking things off with the ultimate feel-good panto, Jack and the Beanstalk: A Socially Distanced Pantomime! It’s the news we’ve all been waiting for, and we can’t wait to be back in those plush theatre seats, in stitches as the fun unfolds on stage. Hitting the Toon from 29 May, until 6 June, it’s a must for families looking to get back to the theatre! Following that, theatre fans can expect to see appearances from the likes of Francis Rossi, Ignacio Lopez and Jonathan Pie. tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

LIVE THEATRE

With news of the appointment of Jack McNamara, Joint CEO/Artistic Director, there’s plenty to celebrate at Live Theatre! Another big announcement comes in the form of the Your Voice: North East call out! The theatre has launched an open call for short plays that reflect the contemporary lived experience in the North East right now. Seven plays will be selected, with a £1,000 commission, to produce and present the performances as part of Live Theatre’s 2021 programme! live.org.uk

Dates for the dairy >>

Evelyn Gibbs (1905-1991), Self Portrait, 1927 / Liss Llewellyn

Erin Collins, Numb 2019. BALTIC Open Submission, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art 2020. Photo: Rob Harris © 2020 BALTIC

BALTIC OPEN SUBMISSION MAY - SEPTEMBER

The BALTIC Open Submission is a major open-call exhibition celebrating the work of over 150 artists and makers based in the North East! A real showcase of regional talent, it presents the work of artists who have been making throughout their lifetime, to those just beginning; of those who work collectively, to those who create alone; those who have studied fine art, to self-taught creatives. Incorporating everything from print and drawings, to ceramics, video and sound works, expect to find a truly inspiring collection of vast works. baltic.art

WOW: WOMEN ONLY WORKS ON PAPER FROM 17 MAY

WOW brings a fascinating display of over 50 watercolours and pastels, complemented by etchings and screenprints. Head to the Laing and admire this new exhibition showcasing the works of artists including: Winifred Knights, Ithell Colquhoun, Annie French, Lucy Kemp-Welch, Thérèse Lessore, Hilda Carline and Paule Vézelay. A celebration of the female artists that helped shape art in the 20th century. laingartgallery.org.uk

AWARE: WITH FILMS BY HIJINX, LAWNMOWERS INDEPENDENT THEATRE COMPANY AND ABOUT FACE THEATRE COMPANY 25 MAY - 5 JUNE

From 25 May, the Alphabetti Theatre invites culture vultures in for a socially-distanced event inside your very own, bubble-friendly film booth. Book in advance and settle in for inspiring screenings from Hijinx, Lawnmowers Independent Theatre Company and About Face Theatre Company. From political documentaries, to insight pieces on conceptual conversations and puppetry performances, there’s certainly something to spark conversation amongst friends and family. alphabettitheatre.co.uk

THEATRE ROYAL

Our friends at the Theatre Royal are getting set for a sparkling return to action this summer, with a number of smash-hit performances and musicals scheduled from July. Shows such as SIX!, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Magic Goes Wrong are high up on our cultural agendas, and we’re also planning ahead for a knock-out autumn calendar with shows including AJ & Curtis’s Big Night Out, The Drifters Girl and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie! New announcements for the back end of 2021 and into 2022 are coming in thick and fast, and our theatre diaries have never looked so bright! theatreroyal.co.uk

DANCE CITY

Dance City has taken the virtual world by storm in recent months, hosting a number of exciting Zoom events, online performances, talks and workshops. They’ve done everything in their power to make us feel like we’ve been ticking off our cultural to-dos and visiting the venue while we’ve been stuck at home, but now, we’re delighted to be edging closer to a return date! With ‘In The Room or on Zoom’ classes now running, there’s never been a better time to get back to one of our favourite cultural venues in a safe, socially-distanced way! dancecity.co.uk

Super screenings >>

CINEWORLD

We can’t wait to get back to The Gate’s Cineworld with its sensational Superscreen, Screen X and 4DX experiences! Surrounded by a whole host of popular hospitality businesses in The Gate, it's the perfect place for food and a flick when we’re given the green light! cineworld.co.uk

EVERYMAN

We’re more than ready to swap Netflix on the sofa for an afternoon in the swish seats at the Everyman, and it looks like 17 May is our lucky day! Bookings are now live online - we can't wait to check in and catch up on movies including Peter Rabbit 2, Godzilla vs Kong, Raya and the Last Dragon and many, many more! everymancinema.com/newcastle

TYNESIDE CINEMA

It wouldn't be a cinema roundup without mentioning our friends at the Tyneside. They've just announced that they're going to be opening a little later than they had planned due to flooding, but we can't wait to see what's in store in the summer months (fingers crossed for early July!). We'll keep you in the loop. tynesidecinema.co.uk

CENTRAL PARK @ TIMES SQUARE

A big screen has landed in NE1 and we can’t wait for the fun to unfold! Tootle over to Times Square this summer and you’ll find Central Park - an exciting hub of activity for all the family! Setting the tone for the great British summertime, go here for big sporting events, street food, cocktails, craft beers and family-friendly events to keep everyone happy! Family sessions are running throughout May, with England’s Euro 2021 fixtures scheduled for June and live action from Wimbledon taking over in July. Don’t miss out! centralparknewcastle.co.uk