Once the season to be jolly is over, the last bauble is packed away and guilt sets in over the days we’ve just spent feasting and boozing, it’s no surprise that the winter blues take hold.
After the festive highs come the dreary lows so we all need something to look forward to. The good news is that preparations have been long under way in the North East for the huge range of events, shows and exhibitions taking place in 2025.
Already a whole programme of entertainment has been planned across the region for the coming year and there will be plenty more announcements to come. For now, we have drawn up a guide which gives a flavour of the variety that will be on offer so that people can starting marking dates in those new diaries.
We have included a mix of theatre shows – which have tickets on sale now – plus special events and exhibitions. Among them are also some regular favourites which already have announced their 2025 dates.
To add even more New Year cheer, we also have a separate round-up of the year’s top music dates for 2025, which includes Newcastle’s ‘biggest ever’ festival and will be headlined by Robbie Williams. Happy New Year!
The 1977 visit of Muhammad Ali to South Shields, where he has his marriage to wife Veronica blessed at the local mosque, has inspired a play, Champion, which will have its world premiere in Newcastle in February
Theatre
The Entertainers
The latest of the football-theme in-conversation events at Tyne Theatre, so loved by Toon fans, will see more Newcastle United stars share golden memories of their days at St James’ Park. And members of the public will also have a chance to meet their heroes in person.
The big night, January 24, at the city theatre will be compered by Gibb – The Chronicle’s ‘Voice of the Toon’ – John Gibson and it will focus upon the 1992-95 seasons, including Kevin Keegan’s arrival; the formation of ‘everybody’s second team’; promotion campaign and early days in the Premier League.
Players confirmed so far for the show are: Peter Beardsley, Lee Clark, Rob Lee, Ruel Fox, Liam O’Brien, Steve Howey, John Beresford, Paul Bracewell, Kevin Scott, Brian Kilcline, Steve Watson, Darren Peacock and Keith Gillespie. For tickets see here and there’s also a VIP option to include a pre-show meet-and- greet, signed picture, a photo with selected legends and a seat within the front nine rows.
Champion
Another sport-theme treat, this play written by Ishy Din will have its world premiere in Newcastle in February and it too will recreate some fond local memories. Set in the summer of 1977, it will recall the famous visit of Muhammad Ali to South Shields.
The drama will recount the surprise event through the eyes of a mixed race family, showing its impact upon them and examining issues about ‘identity, community and what each of us are truly fighting for’. It will run at the quayside theatre from February 13 until March 8: book here.
The Tempest
Gone are the times that the Royal Shakespeare Company would have a whole season of plays in Newcastle each year but, thanks to Arts Council and lottery support, the RSC will be revisiting one of its old haunts in April with a show aimed at seven to 13-year-olds.
The RSC: First Encounters project will be hosting an edited version of Shakespeare’s tale – one of his last – about feuding families brought together on a magical island following a shipwreck. And it sounds a great introduction the bard for young ones. For tickets to its April 9-11 run, see here.
Mary Poppins
The musical based upon the much-loved Disney movie about the nanny with impressive flying abilities will be touching down in Sunderland for the first time in 2025. It has yet to be announced who will be stepping into the shoes famously worn by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the title roles.
But, once the new UK tour gets under way, there will be plenty time to find out before it arrives for its run at Sunderland Empire from October 1-25. Book tickets here.
Here & Now
This new Steps musical, celebrating the pop sensation – creation of music mogul Pete Waterman – that burst onto the music scene in 1997 with debut single 5,6,7,8, is embarking upon a big UK tour which will bring it to Newcastle in the autumn.
Based upon the group’s songs, the musical is set in a seaside superstore on a Friday night – when the vibe is right and everyone’s dancing in the aisles – and it will be getting the party mood going in the Theatre Royal from October 28 until November 2. Clearly it would be a Tragedy for fans to miss it: book here.
The 1875 exhibition will tell the story of Arbeia. Pictured are the remains of the gate foundations – all that remained – before reconstruction. Credit: North East Museums
Exhibitions
The 1875 – Arbeia, South Shields
The coming year marks the 150-year anniversary of the start of the excavations at this Roman fort when the first official dig began – at what was then called a ‘Roman camp’ -in 1875, which gives this upcoming new exhibition its title.
The 1875 will explore the progress made that year, with a look at who took part in the dig and what was found. Photographs taken at the time also will be on display.
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums – which has rebranded itself North East Museums and will encompass likes of Woodhorn in Northumberland from April 1 – includes this exhibition among its list of ‘cultural highlights of 2025’. It will run from March 31 until September 28 and the fort is free entry, although donations are welcome.
Streets Above – Segedunum
Another Roman fort-based treat, this exhibition at the Wallsend attraction will look back to a time when the whole site and its surrounding area was covered by housing built for ship workers in the late 19th Century. Running from April to November, the display will feature photographs of the roads and buildings that covered our ancient history.
Most of these streets were demolished in the 1970s and 1980s so these images make up a lasting legacy.
Romance to Realities- Laing Art Gallery
Everybody likes a bit of romance and the Newcastle gallery is currently laying it on thick with this exhibition running until April 26. Full name ‘Romance to Realities: The Northern Landscape and Shifting Identities’, it celebrates more than 200 years of landscape painting in the north of England and Scotland with John Martin and L.S. Lowry among the artists featured.
With These Hands: Paintings of Making and Mending
An upcoming biggie at the Laing, this will be the first large-scale exhibition about the representation of craft in paintings, drawings and prints from 1750 to the present day – so that means a feast of art to look at. Along with paintings from the gallery’s permanent collection, by the likes of William Bell Scott, Arthur Hughes, Ralph Hedley and Harold Knight, there will be objects from Shipley Art Gallery’s 20th Century craft collection plus loans from across the UK.
It will run from May 17 until September 27 and admission charges will apply for both these major shows, although other displays at the Laing are free.
Gerald Street, Wallsend, c.1966, by Joe McCarty will be among the Streets Above display at Segedunum. Credit: North East Museums
Newcastle Airport 90th anniversary – Discovery Museum
The Newcastle museum will be working with the airport to chart its story in a display whose title has yet to be decided. It will open on June 2 and visitors will be able to learn about the airport’s history since its 1935 beginnings, including its pivotal role during the Second World War and introduction of the first women controllers.
Running until December 30, it will also explore its contribution to the region’s identity and in bringing us access to the most popular holiday destinations over the years.
Events
The Late Shows
As previously reported, the popular after-hours culture crawl, which first took place in 2007 and is organised by North East Museums, has confirmed its dates for 2025 – which are to be May 16-17 – so we can once again look forward to an opportunity to visit, for free, a host of venues in Newcastle and Gateshead during hours they are normally closed and see areas we normally don’t get a chance to snoop around.
Community organisation Creative Central NCL is again sponsoring the event. Keep an eye out here for upcoming news about the range of museums, galleries, studios and other creative spaces taking part over its two Friday and Saturday evening run.
The Hoppings
While the famous funfair – a Newcastle institution – has not yet announced its dates for 2025, it has already confirmed it will be back following what it called ‘an incredible experience’ in 2024. And, run now by fairground operator Crow Events, it is out to make 2025 the best year yet.
As regulars know, The Hoppings’ usual run on the Town Moor is in June so we can expect all the fun of the Europe’s biggest travelling fair to be back then, with the likes of the MACH5 and Air rides alongside the traditional carousel and stalls.
Ladies Day
Along with Plate Day, this annual treat is a highlight of the summer calendar at Newcastle Racecourse, bringing us an opportunity to dress to the nines, don a hat and enjoy a sporting afternoon – which this year will be on July 26. Gosforth Park again is set to see a blast of colour, with racegoers turning up in an array of outfits and the sunniest of smiles no matter what the weather does.
And adding to its entertainment will be a Bongo’s Bingo live after racing event Tickets are now on sale for 2025’s outing as well as for Plate Day on June 28. For both, there are currently savings to be made with ticket offers running until December 31.
The Late Shows will be back in May. Credit: North East Museums
Kynren – an Epic Tale of England
The award-winning outdoor theatre show will be back in County Durham for another mammoth journey through 2,000 years of history summed up in one night. And 2025 is to be a very special year as it will be marking its 10-year anniversary with a show said to be its “most spectacular yet”.
Produced by 11Arches on a 7.5-acre stage site at Bishop Auckland, with Auckland Castle as its backdrop, Kynren – An Epic Tale of England features a 1,000-strong cast and crew; a host of an animals and a fanfare of music, live action, flames and fireworks. As previously reported, 2025’s run – set to launch on July 19 and then run on Saturday evenings until September 13 – will feature new attractions including a full-size train. For Kynren tickets see here.
Great North Run
Always a highlight of the year, the famous Newcastle to South Shields half-marathon will be gearing up to welcome another 60,000 or so runners on September 7, 2025. As already reported, The Great Run Company opened its entry ballot a year early for the first time but anyone who missed out in September will have another chance to join the action as a second ballot is due to open at the usual time.
This will be in January although no specific date has yet been announced. Those interested are invited to sign up online – see here – to receive a reminder when the time is night.