Throughout June, residents across the region will be able to enjoy a range of live events by talented theatre-makers as part of a new commission by Northern Stage.
The outdoor events will form part of the ‘Out On The Toon’ free programme aimed at reconnecting artists with audiences across the North East.
Speaking of the free events, artistic director, Natalia Ibu, noted: “At Northern Stage, we’re nothing without independent artists so they’re at the heart of our programme as we go Out On The Toon to meet audiences. The region offers the most exciting stage in the North East – a diverse range of places from the many green parks in Newcastle and Gateshead to the residential suburbs of Sunderland and North Tyneside, from the rural County Durham and Northumberland to the beautiful beaches of South Shields – and our neighbourhood artists’ commissions take inspiration from those very spaces.”
10 talented theatre-makers have been carefully selected following an open call to create work in 12 local authorities to breathe life into places while bringing the communities together to celebrate the culture and diversity of our region.
In Consett, County Durham actor and writer Tracy Gillman will write and direct a piece titled ‘Mam Tackles Climate Crisis’, a site-specific piece performed by Jackie Lye while in North Tyneside. And Northumbria University alumni and actor Rachel Stockdale will perform an intimate piece of theatre created in response to the nation’s lockdown pastimes.
Over in South Shields, director Mark Maughan will work with playwright Lee Matterson to create talking points around Juan Munoz’s Conversation Piece at Littlehaven, while in the residential streets of Heaton in Newcastle, What’s That Dance will lead a dance performance for local women of all ages to celebrate inequality, strength and resilience.
In Sunderland, Theatre Space NE will create a collection of short stories and films based on the lived experiences of locals during the pandemic, and in Newcastle, movement artist Georgina Lane will perform ‘Black Femme Priority’.
Actor Scott Turnbull will perform a piece titled Chewin’ on a Brick in Stockton, while by the River Tyne in Hexham, the Tees in Middlesbrough and Wear in Durham, Teesside-based artists group Bordello Collective will weave together spoken word and song in a piece titled ‘Verto’, plus much more.
All events are set to be free of charge.
For more information on when and where to see the events throughout June, visit northernstage.co.uk.
