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NOVUM Festival drops its first wave of events, promising a three‑day takeover of culture, play and performance across Newcastle city centre from 7–9th August.
Newcastle city centre becomes a giant playground from 7–9th August as NOVUM Festival unveils its first wave of free performances, installations and family‑friendly activity. For three days, streets, squares and unexpected corners will host theatre, dance, circus, live music, hands‑on workshops and large‑scale outdoor work programmed by Newcastle City Council and supported by Arts Council England.
Headline works include Motionhouse’s BLOCK – a striking dance‑circus piece performed on twenty shifting blocks – Sound de Secà’s high‑energy percussion spectacle Possê, and Fabric of Us, a movement‑led exploration of connection from North East artists Lizzie Klotz and Luca Rutherford. Audiences can also encounter the roaming characters of Kamchàtka, join the rebels of TRUTH!, dance with Curious Arts’ Wheelie Proud, follow brass bands through the streets or stumble into a Bird Rave.
Families can dive into The Play Quarter at Newcastle Civic Centre, packed with free creative activities – mud kitchens, den building, giant swings, bubbles, theatre and games – plus Colour Outside the Lines, a large‑scale outdoor colouring installation by Josie Brookes and Tom Madge. Across the city, visitors can explore A Room in Bloom at Highbridge Works, reshape Newcastle in paper at City Library, or step into Portals, a series of colourful interactive installations.
Explorers can join The Secret Parade family trail or experience The Six Twenty’s immersive audio walk You Are Here: NOVUM, transforming familiar streets into a map of stories and encounters.
The festival closes with Dominoes Newcastle, a major public artwork by Station House Opera sending thousands of breeze blocks cascading through the city in a vast chain reaction
Cllr Rob Austin, Culture, Communities and Youth Services at Newcastle City Council said: “NOVUM Summer Festival is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to come together and enjoy everything our city centre has to offer.
“With a programme full of creative activities, performances and experiences, there’s something for everyone to get involved in, whether you’re discovering something new, spending time with family and friends, or simply enjoying the atmosphere.
“Events like this play an important role in bringing people into the city centre, supporting local businesses and showcasing the incredible creativity and talent we have here in Newcastle.
“We’re proud to support a free festival that celebrates our city’s culture, communities and vibrant spirit, while creating memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike.”
Jane Tarr, Director North East, Arts Council England adds: “NOVUM is a fantastic opportunity for people across the North East region to enjoy artists’ work, performances and creative events as part of a celebratory free festival programme in Newcastle. I’m pleased that we have supported the festival through our National Lottery Place Partnership programme and I’m sure the weekend will bring together creators, participants and audiences to create memorable experiences for people of all ages.”
Most of the programme is now live, with further additions set to roll out through July. Almost everything is free and unticketed, and full details can be found at novumnewcastle.com.
