More than 40,000 people flocked to Newcastle city centre over the weekend to see a spectacular light show of illuminated installations.
North of Tyne, Under the Stars lit up the Great North Museum: Hancock, Civic Centre and City Baths, and other locations around Haymarket metro station in the first iteration of the free festival. Inspired by legends and landscapes of Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, visitors were taken on a journey through the history and culture of the North East - with approximately 40,000 people turning out between Thursday and Sunday evenings.
The installations included a zoetrope powered by the inventiveness of our region, to a collection of ethereal and ghostly creatures projected outside the Great North Museum: Hancock, to an ever-changing magic carpet inspired by Geordie culture lighting the way through the Newcastle University Campus. And some of those who attended took to Twitter to voice their delight at seeing the city lit up so beautifully.
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One user said: "Just got home from North of Tyne, Under The Stars. Absolutely brilliant, well done all involved. Durham Lumiere usually sets the benchmark and this went beyond that. Genuinely makes you (even more) proud of Newcastle and region."
Another commented: " Beautiful light installations and more at North of Tyne Under the Stars festival @NTUnderStars. Highlight for me was seeing so many families enjoying a free, accessible cultural event in # Newcastle city centre."
A third added: " Incredible night at @NTUnderStars Newcastle city centre has never looked so beautiful! The city was literally buzzing with excitement! what a treat!"
Produced by North Shields -based Pinwheel and DAT Events and commissioned by the North of Tyne Combined Authority, the event was also supported by Newcastle City Council. Before the finale in Newcastle, events had taken place across the region in Hexham, Fenham, Byker, Wallsend, North Shields and Blyth, taking the total number of people who had engaged with the event series to around 56,000.
Katy Fuller, Creative Director at Pinwheel said: " North of the Tyne, Under the Stars has been a real passion project and I’m thrilled by the public’s response. We wanted to captivate the imaginations of our audiences and send them home with their spirits lifted and with love and pride in their hearts for this amazing region.
"Thanks to the brilliant work of the artists, the production team, the stewards and the volunteers we achieved that – the streets were fizzing with excitement and delight."
Coun John-Paul Stephenson, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for Public Health and Culture, said: "It was fantastic to see the success of North of Tyne, Under the Stars. From the opening events around our region to the spectacular finale in the centre of Newcastle, this programme really captured the imagination, was able to bring people together, and showed the best of our region.
"We hope to take the overwhelming feedback and love people showed for this and build on it in the coming years."
Coun Glen Sanderson, North of Tyne Cabinet Member for Culture, Creative and Rural, said: " It is about people getting together and enjoying themselves, appreciating where they live and being part of an adventure. It was wonderful to see so many people be part of it."
