WEEKLY ROUND-UP (28.08.23)

Image: Joshua Ray Walker by David McClister

Every week we pull together some of the best events taking place across the region, from music and theatre, to comedy, art and film. Read more on these, and other events, in the September issue of NARC. magazine – out now in print and online.

ART & LIT
WRITE Festival
Entering its seventh year with a programme of incredible literary events continuing throughout September in South Tyneside, the WRITE Festival’s events will be centred around The Word, Cleadon Park, Jarrow Focus and Hebburn Central libraries, with an array of events, workshops and performances catering for a range of backgrounds, ages and experiences. Highlights this year include the ever-popular murder mystery workshop hosted by acclaimed mystery maestros Highly Suspect (Saturday 16^th); Helen Pepper’s talk on the increasingly fascinating world of Crime Forensics (Saturday 23^rd); acclaimed writer Alison Carr and The Futureheads’ Ross Millard’s debut theatre production, A Street Like This, is performed at Jarrow Focus (Wednesday 27^th); and journalist Kevin Maguire is in conversation with multi-award winning political cartoonist (Thursday 28^th). At the more family friendly end of the programme, Jake Detonator will be teaching you How to Draw Doctor Who, and a month of fantastic events will culminate in a Festive Finale with the Hyde Fundraisers who will be bringing along an array of characters from Doctor Who and Star Wars (both Saturday 30^th).
Wednesday 30^th August-Saturday 30^th September @ Various venues in South Tyneside

COMEDY
Carl Hutchinson
Carl Hutchinson has been a big name on the Northern circuit for some time now. For over a decade, the Geordie act has been relentlessly touring his routines and delivering five star performances night after night. As a close friend of fellow Newcastle comedian Chris Ramsey, Hutchinson’s profile has grown with his frequent support slots on Ramsey’s tours. Fans of Ramsey’s energetic, animated style, which observes life’s relatable idiosyncrasies will fall in love with Hutchinson’s brand of dynamic, universal comedy. With twists and turns, a Hutchinson show promises unexpected laughs and an affable charm which distinguishes him as one of the sharpest artists in the trade. His new show, Watch Till The End, will be performed at multiple venues in the region, leaving you no excuse not to catch this dynamite comic.
Friday 1^st September @ Darlington Hippodrome / Saturday 23^rd September @ Gala Theatre, Durham / Friday 29^th September @ Middlesbrough Town Hall / Friday 24^th-Saturday 25^th November @ Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House

ART & LIT
Spin Me A Yarn
Gallagher & Turner’s latest exhibition, features original David Hockney prints from his series of Six Fairy Tales Of The Brothers Grimm alongside works by local North East artists Ellie Clewlow and Deborah Snell, responding directly to Hockney’s illustrations. Coinciding with the 400^th anniversary of the first Shakespeare Folio publication, the show considers playful ways of retelling stories from Brothers Grimm and Shakespeare, using drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Making new work specifically for this exhibition, Sunderland-based artist, Ellie Clewlow works with recycled books to sculpt layered palimpsests to explore the development of fairy tales over time: from the oral tradition of female storytellers, to the female roles shaped by the Grimms, and modern-day feminist retelling of tales by writers like Angela Carter. Newcastle artist Deborah Snell works here in lithography, drawing and puppetry, to celebrate the macabre side of these moral tales. Well-loved Shakespearean classics, such as As You Like It, Romeo And Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream are beautifully drawn with Snell’s love of magic realism.
Friday 1^st September-Saturday 7^th October @ Spin Me A Yarn is at Gallagher & Turner, Newcastle

Image: Pit Pony, who play the NARC. stage at Last Train Home

MUSIC
Last Train Home Festival
An all-day adventure of music and comedy courtesy of Tracks, featuring performances from LIFE, Holy Moly & The Crackers, Low Girl, Pit Pony, Hot Wax, Kate Bond, Fiona Liquid & The Clique, The Peevie Wonders, Wax Heart Sodality, Liz Corney, Aarms, Car Park and many more.
Saturday 2^nd September @ Hippodrome, The Forum Music Centre & Hullabaloo Theatre, Darlington

MUSIC
Joshua Ray Walker
Critically acclaimed, Texas-born singer-songwriter Joshua Ray Walker will perform his distinctive country pop music at The Cluny 2. His latest album What Is It Even? is Joshua’s homage to the women of pop he believes have positively impacted his life and features covers of many amazing songs, including Linger by The Cranberries and Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’ Connor. As a whole, the album is an endorsement of being who you feel you are and the importance of identity in seeking freedom from the judgement of others.
Sunday 3^rd September @ The Cluny 2, Newcastle

MUSIC
Crocodiles
San Diego’s Crocodiles have fuelled up their psychedelic motors ready to bring their rock, noise pop, and post-punk influenced songs to Newcastle, showcasing classics stretching back to debut album Sounds Of Hate up to this year’s brand new release Upside Down In Heaven.
Characteristically reverb-drenched guitars, catchy melodies and gritty production are Crocodiles’ mainstay and they’ve maintained that if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it methodology throughout their long career to date, which often reflects themes of introspection, love and existential pondering.
Sunday 3^rd September @ Zerox, Newcastle

STAGE
First Play Club
A new initiative from South Shields’ Customs House which aims to provide support for new and emerging writers. Actor Michael Blair makes his directorial debut in Ben Gettins’ play Wearmouth, which is performed from Monday 4^th-Wednesday 6^th September. Fusing humour with its discussion of serious subject matter, it follows two fans of Sunderland Football Club, played by Joe Caffrey and Jake Jarratt, as they explore issues faced during their day-to-day lives, managing struggles with their mental health, whilst being each other’s support system. Grown Up Writin’ is written by Louise Powell and will be performed from Friday 8^th-Sunday 10^th September. Starring Sophie Mai and Alfreya Bell, it tells the story of two Teesside schoolgirls, Kayleigh and Ruth. Not only is Kayleigh anxious about her GCSEs but she also fears for her depressed mother. Her best friend Ruth is her solitary crutch to help her through Year 11. However, when Kayleigh falls for a 21-year-old delivery driver, it results in circumstances that may be detrimental to their futures and destroy their friendship. Actor Christina Dawson will take on her first professional role as director.
From Monday 4^th-Sunday 10^th September @ Customs House, South Shields