Family Fun

Autumn family affairs

FALL IN LOVE WITH A RAFT OF UNMISSABLE FAMILY EVENTS TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE TOON...

DANCE EDITS

16 OCTOBER

A night of progressive and innovative dance is gracing the Dance City stage this October, as this beloved Toon institution welcomes a raft of young local creatives to showcase their talents to the masses! Dance Edits is a night of new work by local dance makers based here in the North East, celebrating the region’s brightest stars in a night of dazzling dance routines. The premise is simple; dancers will take to the stage to showcase a series of varied performances that range from the exploration of dance disciplines to the positive effects of water on our health and themes of Feminism through 80s pop artist Toni Basil. It’s bold, it’s ambitious and it’s happening right here in the Toon - we can’t wait to see this one come together! dancecity.co.uk

KLUB KIDS PRESENTS: THE DISNEY VILLAIN BALL

18 OCTOBER

The Klub Kids are back, back, back again for another spectacular production this autumn with some of the best drag performers from around the world! That’s right folks, ridiculously high-heels, extravagant weaves and misbehaving Disney villains are heading to the Toon, as Brooke Lynn Hytes and her clan of mischievous queens arrive at Boiler Shop for a night of hair-raising dragperformances. Expect raucous dance routines, hilarity and awe-inspiring sing-offs as this devilish lot bring all your favourite Disney stars to life in a totally unique performance! boilershop.net

CURIOUS CRAWLERS

8 OCTOBER

Take little ones over to the Great North Museum: Hancock for an afternoon of curious crawling! A relaxed session for both parent and child, Curious Crawlers is a fab free activity that gives youngsters the chance to explore their curiosity, learn fun new songs and delve into the museum’s toy collection. Be sure to visit this October! greatnorthmuseum.org.uk

NO TIME TO DIE FROM

7 OCTOBER

We’ve been expecting you, Mr. Bond. That’s right folks, everyone’s favourite martini-sipping, eyebrow-raising, suave secret agent is back and Cineworld Newcastle is the place to head when it comes to hunkering down with a bag of snacks as you marvel at the 25th instalment of this iconic series. Daniel Craig reprises his role for the final time as 007 in an action-packed adventure that’s filled with new gadgets, gleaming Aston Martins, diabolical villains and, of course, witty one-liners from MI6’s finest agent. Featuring a star-studded line-up with blockbuster names such as Rami Malek, Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris, head to The Gate, get stocked up on all the nachos you can carry and settle in for what is certain to be an epic two hours of magical movie moments! cineworld.co.uk

ONCE THERE WAS MAGIC

THROUGHOUT OCTOBER

Have you been to visit Seven Stories’ spell-binding exhibition yet? Taking place throughout October, a trip over to this corner of the city with little ones, exploring magical lands, mythical creatures and wise wizards is an absolute must! A brilliant experience from the team at Seven Stories that’s been receiving rave reviews, this creative bunch have created a magical world in which we’re all invited to embark on a journey into the Wildwoods of Cressida Cowell's Wizards of Once series. Here, you and your loved ones will be able to travel through mystical portals and catch a glimpse into the magical worlds created by J. K. Rowling, Philip Pullman and Terry Pratchett. Guided by a wise wizard, you'll encounter stunning special effects, awe-inspiring original artwork and fiendish challenges that will take all your ingenuity and teamwork to solve. With tickets starting from £9.50, Once There Was Magic promises to be a phenomenal day out for all members of your clan! sevenstories.org.uk

RIVERDANCE THE NEW 25TH ANNIVERSARY

8 - 10 OCTOBER

Time to unleash your inner Michael Flatley and tip-tap your way over to the Utilita Arena this autumn, as a brand new 25thanniversary show celebrating the legacy of Riverdance is returning to the Toon! A powerful and stirring reinvention of this beloved family favourite, Riverdance is an award-winning production that's celebrated all over the world for its thrilling energy and passion that perfectly encapsulates the beauty of Irish dance. Boasting a Grammy Award-winning score by composer Bill Whelan, and a ground-breaking production by Moya Doherty and director John McColgan, Riverdance whistles into NE1 with spectacular sets, innovative stage props and dazzling costumes. utilitaarena.co.uk

PAUL ZERDIN: HANDS FREE

10 OCTOBER

Back by popular demand, Paul Zerdin and everyone’s favourite puppets are heading your way with a brand new UK tour in Autumn 2021. Sam, Albert, Baby, Roger the bodyguard and an urban fox have all survived 2020 locked down with Paul... well nearly. They can’t wait to see you, so get ready to be involved. As well as his hilarious characters, ‘Hands Free’ features Paul giving us a glimpse into his world, showing us what it’s like to be able to throw your voice in everyday situations where anything and everything can talk back! Don’t miss out on your chance to see the winner of America’s Got Talent, the star of London’s Palladium Panto and without doubt one of Britain’s finest entertainers. tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

CALLING ALL YOUNG EXPLORERS!

THROUGHOUT OCTOBER

Listen up! Life Science Centre has a stack of new activities for under 7s to dive into this autumn! Part of a new offering, this exceptional programme of activities now features a raft of interactive playscapes and cool exhibitions to dive into! With a hop, skip and a jump over to Times Square, you and your loved ones can now gaze at indoor rainbows and explore new toys with their Discovery Backpacks! With tons of musical instruments, toys and kaleidoscopic glasses ready to guide you through the centre, you’ll be able to see Naughty Monsters in the Sky in a new light, create cool rockets and explore the notion of motion with a creative workshop using colourful balls and blocks! life.org.uk

PASTEL PAINTING

16 OCTOBER

What’s this? Another cracking art workshop from Newcastle Arts Centre to get involved in? The brilliant creative team are killing it when it comes to creating ubercool craft classes for the Toon and, this October, they’re running a new workshop at their Westgate Road HQ that will give you and your loved ones the chance to dive into a world of bubblegum blues and peony pinks with Pastel Painting! Taking place on 16 October, join Aidan Doyle with your raspberry beret as you learn about mixing colour, how to build texture and a variety of pastel techniques when it comes to creating your masterpiece. Whether you class yourself as an artistic phenomenon or fall flat on your face when it comes to painting, these wonderful workshops welcome a wide range of talents with the main emphasis on having a mega time, trying your hand at something different and learning something new. Tickets are on sale now so bag your spot! newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk It seems our city has always been full of bright sparks! Did you know that The Lit & Phil Library was the first public space in the world to be lit by electric lighting? Let's take a trip back to the 19th century as we shine a light on a captivating bulb of NE1 history... It's 1880, the weather is bleak and as soon as night falls, the world goes dark. North East native and exceptional engineer, Joseph Swan is on a mission to change all this and has been beavering away in his workshop trying to create a light source to illuminate homes and public spaces. Little did he know that his work to create a glass-encased, delicate paper filament is about to change the world! Joseph arrives in the Toon for a special lecture at The Lit & Phil Library on 20 October 1880. It seemed to be a usual gathering for audience members as gas jets and oil lamps lit up the lecture theatre. That was until Joseph dimmed the lamps and shone 20 electric lights to awestruck onlookers. The lecture was so ground-breaking that Swan was asked to light the whole of Mosley Street, for one night, with his incredible new creation! Shortly after, The Swan Electric Light Company began installing light bulbs across England as the Toon triumphed in gifting the world a ground-breaking revelation. Next time you’re out and about, enjoying the beautiful interior of one of NE1's prettiest businesses, take a moment to think just how incredible it would have been to see a room illuminated with electric light for the very first time. Incredible! litandphil.org.uk

PROFILE FEATURE

HELP SECRETTAART RAISE FUNDS FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

Listen up! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and inspiring NE1 business, Secrettaart, are going all out to raise vital funds for the Pink Ribbon Foundation! To raise money and boost awareness, Secrettart is offering you a luxury afternoon tea that will see £5 from each meal sold go towards supporting Breast Cancer Research. It's a brilliant offering that's been created in partnership with other small businesses from across the North East! Renowned for their range of sweet pastries, door-stop cakes and indulgent chocolate boxes, Secrettaart will also be offering a plethora of sweet treats during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to help raise cash and boost awareness for this wonderful cause. Want to bag some delectable sweet treats and give back to an incredible charity? Get in touch via the email below. secrettaart@gmail.com