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The Guide

Performing Arts

Type of Venue	Location	Sub Category
Keywords

Arc

ARC rarely passes an opportunity, so its involvement with Theatre comes as no surprise. It leaves no theatrical rock unturned, catching comedy, amateur, opera, musicals and drama in its artistic net. A real good ‘un.

Dovecot Street Stockon-on-Tees | 01642 525 199

Arts Centre Washington

An arts centre that stages numerous events including theatre in their 110 seated auditorium showing the best of amateur productions as well as touring professional companies.

Biddick Lane Fatfield Washington | 0191 219 3455

Bishop Auckland Town Hall

This Grade II listed building occupies a prime site in the Market Place in Bishop Auckland and is the premier arts venue for the people of South West Durham and beyond. Every strand of the arts is represented in our comprehensive programme - theatre, music, literature, dance, visual arts and practical craft workshops are all featured on a regular basis. The best in small-scale professional touring theatre – Hull Truck, NTC, Quondam, Reform and many more - visit to delight audiences in our very own Eden Theatre where we also screen films on a regular basis. Music features strongly and is always well received with artists of the calibre of Snake Davis and Vin Garbutt regular visitors. The McGuinness Gallery offers high quality, regularly changing exhibitions, while our award winning 'Book It' programme offers a variety of author and literary events.

Market Place Bishop Auckland | 01388 602610

Dance City

Whether you have been dancing all you life, or are a complete novice, Dance City has something for you. They run classes in a huge range of styles, from tap and tango to ballet and break dance, at different ability levels to suit everyone. It’s a great way to meet people and get fit, so get yourself along and have a go. You can have a drink and a bite to eat at Urban Café at Dance City, too.

Temple Street Newcastle | 0191 261 0505 | Central Station Metro

Darlington Arts Centre

The Art Centre provides more independent and experimental theatre than the Civic. It is an outstanding theatrical venue because it constantly searches for challenging visual art. The programming includes musical events, drama, dance and film for the main part.

Vane Street Darlington | 01325 486555

Darlington Civic Theatre

This is one of the largest theatre venues in the area and there is a high probability that if any major shows travel through the north-east, they will stop here. It is a truly outstanding building and has been since it was opened as the The New Hippodrome & Palace of Varieties in 1907.

Parkgate Darlington | 01325 486555

Empire Cinema and Theatre

The only remaining traditional theatre in County Durham, the Empire Cinema and Theatre is a popular venue staging professional acts and entertainment from all over the UK. A licensed bar is available 45 minutes in advance of all evening shows along with a café serving snacks and drinks. The theatre also has an induction loop system installed in the auditorium and full disabled access downstairs in addition to disabled parking at the front of the building.

Front Street Consett | 01207 218171

Folkworks

Founded in 1988 as a folk development agency for the north of England, Folkworks has grown from a regional company to become a nationally recognised presenter of tours featuring artists from all over the world. Festivals across the north plus a year-round programme of classes, courses and summer schools, helped established its international reputation and the Folkworks programme continues to develop and grow as an integral part of The Sage Gateshead working both regionally and internationally.

The Sage Gateshead Gateshead Quays Gateshead | 0191 443 4666

Gateshead Old Town Hall

Although concentrating more on music, Caedmon Hall occasionally has touring theatre companies and many children's productions. A small, fun and intimate venue with a capacity for 240.

West Street Gateshead | 0191 433 8420

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

A beautiful theatre with 400 seats, it provides generous discounts to children, students and the over 60s. Be prepared to see anything from music, comedy or dance.

Raby Road Hartlepool | 01429 890000

Little Theatre

Home to The Progressive Players who stage ten productions a year (a good mix of classic plays from the past and modern works) and always to a very high standard.

1-4 Saltwell View Gateshead | 0191 478 1499

Live Theatre

Live Theatre, located on Newcastle’s vibrant quayside, is an award-winning new writing theatre with a national and international reputation for its production of new plays and support of new writers. Its unique 160 seat cabaret style theatre means that audiences are never far from the action and its intimate Studio Theatre offers a flexible space ideal for rehearsed readings, acoustic music and family theatre. Highlights include New Writing Studio Sessions where audiences can meet leading writers, watch rehearsed readings or showcase their own scripts, and Live Stand-Up gigs, a chance to laugh along to side-splitting comedy from some of the UK’s finest comedians. With student discounts available for all preview performances Live Theatre is a night out not to be missed!

27 Broad Chare Quayside Newcastle | 0191 232 1232 | Manors Metro

Maltings Theatre and Arts Centre

This arts centre and theatre in the heart of Berwick stages contemporary pieces as well as more traditional shows.

Eastern Lane Berwick-upon-Tweed | 01289 330999

Middlesbrough Theatre

Middlesbrough Theatre celebrates both professional and amateur drama, musicals and pantomime. It also encourages local talent to flourish by working with Middlesbrough College. It has 484 seats, and has been a much loved barer of theatre for many moons.

The Avenue Linthorpe Middlesbrough | 01642 815181

Middlesbrough Town Hall

Middlesbrough Town Hall caters more for school theatre events because many of the other touring performances play at the Middlesbrough Theatre.

Albert Road Middlesbrough | 01642 729729

Morden Towers

Morden Tower is a well established poetry venue which was initiated in the 1960s playing host to such greats as Allen Ginsberg, Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes. A friendly and mixed audience gather regularly in this ancient meeting-place (it’s part of the original city walls dating back to 1290) to listen to a wide range of contemporary poets as well as occasional music night.

West Walls Back of Stowell St. Newcastle | 0191 477 4430 | Central Station Metro

Northern Stage

Northern Stage is Newcastle & Gateshead’s home for world-class productions from the UK, Europe and beyond. Their original base of Newcastle Playhouse has been transformed into Northern Stage, a stunning performance space with three stages, and a high-tech acoustic wall that can be removed to create one of the greatest theatrical spaces in the north of England. With amazing work on stage, great visual art and hundreds of intriguing events, Northern Stage is throbbing with excitement!

Barras Bridge Newcastle | 0191 2305151 | Haymarket Metro

Queen’s Hall Arts Centre

The Queen’s Hall Arts Centre is a magnificent early Victorian building which faces Hexham Abbey in the centre of Hexham. The theatre started life as a music hall and became a cinema in the 1920’s. It now boasts two galleries, a 350-seat theatre, function rooms, an artist loft and various work rooms. Queen’s Hall Arts Centre has established itself as a strong base for an extensive range of artistic activity, attracting the best international and national artists from music, drama, dance, art, comedy and national touring to non professional shows performed by local community groups. This gallery is a participant in the Arts Council’s “Own Art” scheme which aims to make it easy and affordable for everyone to buy contemporary works of art. For more information please visit: www.artscouncil.org.uk/ownart

Beaumont Street Northumberland Hexham | 01434 652477

Royalty Theatre

The Royalty is an amateur repertory theatre but very well respected for its varied productions and has a varied selection of shows.

off Chester Road Sunderland | 0191 5657945 | University Metro

Sunderland Empire Theatre

They don't make them like they used to! This stunning, grand, in the truest sense, theatre in Sunderland and has recently underwent a £4.6m refurbishment. The work has involved major backstage changes to allow larger shows to be performed (including some fabulous West End extravaganzas), while the auditorium has had some new seating and carpeting. The theatre offers an impressive range of events from comedy to opera, from ballet to pantomime. Keep your eyes open for their special discounts.

High Street West Sunderland | 0844 847 24 99 | Sunderland Metro

The Assembly Rooms Theatre

Catering primarily to student drama, the 223-seat Assembly Rooms Theatre lies on the Bailey in the heart of Durham. Predictably, productions tend to coincide with term times though fortunately they are generally open for all to attend and actually of a reasonably decent standard. Better yet, ticket prices start at just £4.50. Oh and look out for the scrumptious ice cream invariably on offer during intervals!

40 North Bailey Durham | 0191 334 1419

The City Theatre

Owned and operated by the Durham Dramatic Society, The City Theatre houses only 72 seats yet shows at least five full-blown mainstream productions per year. Also sees a number of one-act plays which are entered into the All England Drama Festival.

Fowlers Yard Back Silver Street Durham | 0191 384 3720

The Customs House

Sandford Goudie Gallery at The Customs House showcases the very best of national, international and regional contemporary arts practice. With a changing programme of nine exhibitions a year, it is the only contemporary gallery space in South Tyneside, enabling the broadest spectrum of audiences and communities to participate and engage with contemporary art. Daily 10am – 8pm; 11am Sunday and Bank Holidays.

Mill Dam South Shields | 0191 454 1234 | South Shields Metro

The Gala Theatre

The centrepiece of Durham’s arts programme, the Gala Theatre houses a state-of-the-art modern theatre, spacious and comfortable café-bar and two cinema screens. Over the last few years Gala has developed a strong reputation for producing high quality in-house theatre productions alongside a programme attracting the country’s leading theatre companies, comedians, bands and musicians and dance performers. Alongside the programme in the main auditorium The Studio Sessions offer a range of jazz, world, folk, pop and bluegrass in an intimate setting with a dedicated bar and balcony and fabulous views across the city.

Millennium Place Durham | 0191 332 4041

The Hyena Cafe

The only purpose built comedy venue in Newcastle and they certainly know how to pack them in. Every Friday and Saturday (and some Thursdays) sees tip top comedy acts gracing the boards, both the cream of national talent and acclaimed international acts too. They also now play host to the quite brilliant improv group The Suggestibles once a month. With a late licence 'till 2am, best book early as tickets go like hot cakes.

Leazes Lane Newcastle | 0191 232 6030 | St. James Metro

The Journal Tyne Theatre

A plethora of excellent features at this venue which primarily stages music events, although they often stage children's shows and annual pantomimes. It also has a beautifully restored Victorian interior which houses a colourful history.

111 Westgate Road Newcastle | 0844 493 4567 | Central Station Metro

The Lamplight Arts Centre

The Lamplight Arts Centre is another multi-purpose venue, offering a range of events and performances sure to cater for all. The main auditorium has a large stage and a seating capacity of 430. The retractable style of the seating offers flexible use of the large amount of available space for live theatre and cinema, tea dances and lavish wedding ceremonies and receptions. On the same floor, a lounge bar combines with a gallery space to produce a casual area to relax in.

Front Street Stanley | 01207 218 899

The People's Theatre

A smallish theatre which puts on very popular local productions (including popular classics from Shakespeare, Beckett, Coward etc) and it won't cost you too much to get in either. The theatre also houses the Calouste Gulbenkian Gallery, a small space used by local artists.

Stephenson Road Heaton Newcastle | 0191 265 5020

The Sage Gateshead

This stupendous concert hall and music complex is also home to Northern Sinfonia and Folkworks (see elsewhere in this section for information regarding those two, and Music Venues for more information on The Sage Gateshead).

Gateshead Quays Gateshead | 0191 443 4661 | Gateshead Metro

Theatre Royal

Newcastle's major theatre and inside and out, it's a real beauty. Home of most of the major productions to hit Tyneside, there's an annual visit by the RSC and Opera North (these usually sell out in advance, so it's worth booking early). In addition there are many West End shows touring either before or after they start their runs in London and an excellent dance programme. There’s truly something here for everyone, including one of the best pantomimes in the country – oh yes it is!

100 Grey Street Newcastle | 0191 232 0997 | Monument Metro

Whitley Bay Playhouse

The Playhouse originally opened in 1913, being refurbished in 1930, then transformed into a cinema. It's now currently run by a trust who ensures their programme is a lively mix of drama, dance, musicals and cabaret whilst keeping its cinema connections with its film programme. Seating 746 the Playhouse is complete with a bar and is well worth a visit.

Marine Avenue Whitley Bay | 0844 277 2771 | Monkseaton Metro