Preview: The Late Shows

The Late Shows returns on 8th–9th May with its annual late‑night culture crawl, opening up studios, galleries, museums and historic buildings across Newcastle, Gateshead and the Ouseburn. Running from 6–10.30pm, the award‑winning event invites visitors to explore the region after hours, try hands‑on activities and discover venues they may never have stepped into before.

Friday night belongs to the Ouseburn, where more than two dozen venues throw open their doors. Expect everything from printmaking at Biscuit Tin Studios and woodcut demos at Northern Print to live music at Cobalt, candle‑pouring at Hot Wax, open studios at 36 Lime Street and after‑hours animal encounters at Ouseburn Farm. The valley’s creative spaces come alive with workshops, exhibitions, performances and plenty of family‑friendly drop‑ins.

On Saturday, the action spreads across central Newcastle and Gateshead. Visitors can explore historic sites like Bessie Surtees House, Newcastle Castle and Blackfriars, join guided tours at Newcastle Cathedral and the Victoria Tunnel, or dive into hands‑on activities at Discovery Museum, Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead Libraries and the Farrell Centre. There’s live music at The Black Swan, silent disco fun at Tyneside Cinema, street art at Newcastle Arts Centre, and open studios at Newcastle Contemporary Art and D6.

Gateshead’s programme includes everything from games inspired by local history at St Mary’s Heritage Centre to creative tech at Maker Space, multilingual storytelling at the Kittiwake Trust Library, crafting at Shipley Art Gallery and late‑night music‑making at The Soundroom. Even Dunston Staiths gets involved with a sunset walk along the iconic structure.

Now in its 19th year and attracting up to 30,000 visits, The Late Shows remains one of the North East’s most exciting and interesting cultural events. It’s a chance to roam the Tyneside after dark, stumble into something unexpected and experience the region’s creative life in a completely different light.