With summer in full swing, many of us will be on the lookout for what’s on locally to make the most of it - and we may be looking to shelter indoors with the scorching heatwave on the way.
Luckily, Newcastle’s theatre scene has you covered - boasting several theatres in the city centre each with their own unique lineup of shows. And with theatres celebrating a long-awaited return to shows in front of a live audience after two difficult years due to Covid, there’s no better time to show your appreciation for your local theatre.
Whether you’re after a family-friendly show to keep the kids entertained, a side-splitting comedy sketch show or a heartwarming musical, one of Newcastle’s theatres is sure to have something to suit. Here’s what’s on at the city centre ’s theatres throughout July and August.
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Theatre Royal
The Grey Street theatre has a jam-packed lineup of shows over the summer, with famous musicals Grease and Bat Out Of Hell on the bill for July and We Will Rock You, Jersey Boys and Bugsy Malone The Musical coming to the stage in August. Also on throughout July are three shows performed by the graduates of the Theatre Royal’s Project A actor training programme - ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ which tells the story of a seven-year-old making a list about the best things in the world to cheer up their mum; ‘Five’, a series of short monologues; and a double bill of plays - ‘Blank’ and ‘Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.’, that “capture the modern fury of womanhood”.
The Theatre Royal also has a treat for Strictly fans in store on 24 July, with Here Come The Boys - a “dance spectacular” starring pros from the BBC competition Graziano di Prima Kovalev, Pasha and Nadiya Bychkova, as well as finalist Karim Zeroual. And there’s even something for the very youngest theatre audiences, who are sure to be delighted by the live show Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever playing on 10 and 11 August.
Live Theatre
It’s all about the Edinburgh Fringe at Live Theatre this month, with the theatre showing previews of routines from local talent before they head to the coveted festival this August. There are five Edinburgh previews to catch at Live this year, starting with Biscuit of Destiny by John Hegley on July 20 followed by Almost Famous by Rachel Jackson on July 21.
July 22 sees a production by North East group Your Aunt Fanny celebrating “all things fabulous, ridiculous and thoroughly inappropriate”, and then it’s the turn of Rachel Stockdale to tell her true life story in Fat Chance before the previews round off with The Silent Treatment, a story of a singer losing her voice by Sarah-Louise Young. July at Live Theatre finishes off with Fables At The Kitchen Table, a show suitable for kids from ages three to eight that features songs and puppetry as Aesop’s best-loves stories are brought to life.
Alphabetti
The summer holiday season at Alphabetti begins on 28 July with This Show Is Rubbish, a family-friendly musical adventure following the story of 10-year-old Wave as she tries to protect the world from climate change. This Show Is Rubbish runs until August 13 alongside Make Rubbish workshops for kids - and for the adults there’s also a thought-provoking show from Newcastle duo SQUARMS about whether autonomy can survive in a digital world.
August 13 sees a family-friendly unique musical experience come to Alphabetti, with spontaneous compositions from Sirishkumar Maji and Vibhaas. And from August 23 theatregoers can catch Brotherhood, a show that highlights the struggles of young black men living in the UK through hip-hop dance theatre.
Tyne Theatre
The little ones will be able to join Igglepiggle and friends when In The Night Garden Live comes to the Tyne Theatre on July 19 and 20. Musical lovers can check out Priscilla Queen of the Desert which promises “a hit parade of dancefloor classics” when it comes to the Tyne Theatre from July 27-30.
August sees the highly acclaimed Ireland: The Show bring an all-star cast of Irish dancers, singers and performers to Newcastle, accompanied by the Keltic Storm Band. And finally in August there will be an adaptation from North East theatre group MTS of much-loved story The Addams Family, promising “a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family”.
Northern Stage
Staff at Northern Stage are busy planning a jam-packed autumn season of shows - but they are also putting together a programme for families throughout August which is set to include a host of different activities alongside children’s shows. Keep your eyes peeled on the Northern Stage website and social media pages for the summer events being confirmed very soon.
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