IF YOU LIKE: The Late Shows

Image: Patrick Ziza

The Late Shows, one of the biggest cultural events in Newcastle and Gateshead, returns on Friday 16^th and Saturday 17^th May with over 70 participating venues across the region. The late night free culture crawl’s line-up features a diverse range of music and performance venues, art studios, galleries, and museums, opening up some of the region’s most important creative spaces to the public. Facilitated by North East Museums, and sponsored by Creative Central: NCL and Stagecoach, participating businesses open their doors for the curious, creatives, professionals and enthusiasts.

The Late Shows aims to champion sustainability within the creative industries and to involve the community, highlighting grassroots and performance arts creatives within Newcastle and Gateshead. All venues are walking distance from one another, however some free buses will be offered sponsored by Stagecoach for those that are a little too far for your feet to manage. Here’s just a little taste of what to expect from a huge programme…

IF YOU LIKE…

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

The Late Shows have outdone themselves on the history and heritage front this year, with indispensable landmarks and incredible activities to introduce all attending into the rich history of the North East. Head into The Victoria Tunnel under the Tyne for a taster tour to explore its Victorian engineering and wartime shelter stories; learn sustainable fashion skills with Gateshead Libraries’ Arts & Heritage; get a torchlit tour of Newcastle Cathedral’s churchyard and learn all about its local legends and historical figures; at Seven Stories there is a celebration of Mr Benn by David McKee; or head to Tyneside Cinema for some film history through archive exploration, chats with heritage guides and family-friendly animation activities.

LIVE MUSIC AND ART

On the live music front Vane Gallery offers up an atmospheric and danceable live set by Berlin artist Jorn Ebner; be sure to touch down at Cobalt Studios for what’s always a rip-roaring night, where a pop-up theatrical piece comes from Patrick Ziza and attendees can try their hand at DJ’ing with L.A.D.S. The Newbridge Project has a Diasporic Sonic Worlds exhibition while at The Biscuit Factory comedian, actor and artist Jim Moir’s (Vic Reeves) latest headline exhibition opens while The Cumberland Arms x Toffee Factory present Into The Woods with David Lynch. At Gateshead’s Station East there will be an open mic night while The Soundroom opens its doors for The Late Shows visitors to take a look into its rehearsal rooms and how it has been enriching people’s lives through live music and visitors can also discover Newcastle’s oldest artist studio building at Lime Street in Ouseburn.

PROGRAMMES AND WORKSHOPS

Elsewhere, there are further programmes and workshops including Shieldfield Art Works, where visitors can enjoy arts and crafts, garden, enjoy ice cream and lemonade, contribute to the new arts program or just kick back and relax; experience Ouseburn Farm after dark and play farmyard games, create comics, collages and enjoy a sustainable shopping spree at the Make & Mend-Along; there is art print making at Biscuit Tin Studios and zines at the Star and Shadow Cinema; enjoy Green Heart Collective’s showcase of marvellous creations made from transforming unwanted men’s shirts; contribute to a large-scale collaborative artwork and explore the Great North Museum: Hancock after dark; or enjoy watching the inner works of printmaking business Northern Print.