Everything You'll Want To Do This July
Summer's event highlights just keep getting better and better
Reclaimed from the Flames
In a new exhibition running until summer next year, York Minster is inviting guests to discover the story behind the 1984 fire that threatened to destroy the building. Out of the Ashes is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the blaze (when the roof of the South Transept was struck by lightning) by detailing the heroic rescue efforts, clean-up operation and four-year restoration, with fire-damaged furniture and images from York Minster’s archive.
Out of the Ashes
FROM 29TH JUNE
York Minster
yorkminster.org
Something New
The Biscuit Factory last welcomed the New Light Prize Exhibition in 2021 and will once again be exhibiting more than 100 works of art from the best of Northern talent, including a new Sculpture Prize, exclusive to The Biscuit Factory.
New Light Art Prize
29TH JUNE–22ND SEPTEMBER
The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle
0191 261 1103
thebiscuitfactory.com
Going Their Own Way
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac celebrate the best of Fleetwood Mac by offering a unique opportunity for fans, both old and new, to rediscover their songs. Featuring a live seven-piece band, audiences have been enjoying their shows across the country and you can catch them at Harrogate Royal Hall in July.
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac
1ST JULY
Harrogate Royal Hall
01423 502116
harrogatetheatre.co.uk
For The Love of The Land
Inspired by the rural landscapes of Yorkshire and the Tees Valley, Echoes: Impressions of a Northern Landscape, is a collection of local artist Corrin Laws’s oil paintings and block relief prints. A celebration of our surroundings, the oil paintings feature weathered barns, ageing hedgerows and meandering river banks, and the monochrome prints focus in on the details of plant form and textures.
Echoes: Impressions of a Northern Landscape
5TH JULY
The Station, Richmond
thestation.co.uk
Open Art
Don’t miss this chance to go behind the scenes of artists’ spaces that aren’t usually open to the public and to speak directly with creators about their work. Hebden Bridge Open Studios offers a brilliant opportunity to see originals and works in progress, and maybe you’ll find a new favourite artist.
Hebden Bridge Open Studios
5TH–7TH JULY
Hebden Bridge
hebdenbridgeopenstudios.org
Sounds on the Streets
A soul and funk band championed by Craig Charles; a modernist folk act which opened for both Sam Fender at St James’ Park and Pete Doherty; and a Brazilian-born alt-pop artist whose music has appeared on Love Island. These are some of the latest additions to the line-up for Durham Brass Festival, as excitement builds for its return to the North East cultural scene this summer. This year’s Durham County Council-run event promises a week of spectacular performances, new commissions, free concerts, community activities, and a full programme of lively street bands.
Durham Brass Festival
5TH–13TH JULY
Durham
brassfestival.co.uk
Say Hey
See some of the world’s most endangered animals including the largest collection of polar bears in the UK, and Rocco the Black Rhino calf, at Yorkshire Wildlife Park this summer. Time it right and you might see Hey Duggee when he makes personal appearances at intervals throughout the day. Adult visitors might want to hold off until August for the Wild Live music events.
Hey Duggee
6TH & 7TH JULY
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
yorkshirewildlifepark.com
Run For Your Life
At the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell aspire to become the fastest men on Earth. Based on a true story, this stage adaptation from the Oscar-winning movie by Mike Bartlett sees them battle for their faiths and nation with a dramatic musical score.
Chariots of Fire
6TH–27TH JULY
Crucible, Sheffield
0114 249 6000
sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Read All About It
Raby Castle is welcoming back author Annie Garthwaite as she releases her new novel, The King’s Mother, all about Raby’s own Cecily Neville as well as Marguerite of Anjou, Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret Beaufort. Annie will be in conversation with the curator of Raby, Julie Biddlecombe Brown, and will be signing copies of her book.
Annie Garthwaite: Celebrating Cecily and the launch of The King’s Mother
8TH JULY
Raby, Staindrop
01833 660888
raby.co.uk
Show Time
Visitors from across the North will be flocking to Harrogate this July. Tickets for the 165th Great Yorkshire Show are now on sale and will be sold in advance only (with visitor numbers capped at 35,000 per day) – so act fast! As show director Charles Mills comes to the end of his tenure, visitors can expect to see the best animals in the country as well as enjoying good food and first-class entertainment to celebrate the best of farming and the countryside. We’ll see you there!
Great Yorkshire Show
9TH–12TH JULY
Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate
greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
Child’s Play
Oh, you, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is flying into The Alhambra Theatre this summer with a Truly Scrumptious production starring Eastenders’s Charlie Brooks as the Childcatcher. This fun-filled family favourite is bound to delight audience members of all ages.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
9TH–14TH JULY
The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
01274 432000
bradford-theatres.co.uk
Move It, Move It!
Starring CBBC and Strictly Come Dancing Star Karim Zeroual as King Julien, get ready to join Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria and those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, you’ll have no choice but to Move It, Move It!
Madagascar: The Musical
10TH–13TH JULY
Newcastle Theatre Royal
0191 232 7010
theatreroyal.co.uk
The Beauty of Ballet
The Becoming is a series of three intimate shows at balletLORENT’s own studio in Newcastle’s west end, with remarkable ballet dancers performing an expression of resilience, creativity and transformation.
balletLORENT’s The Becoming
11TH–13TH JULY
balletLORENT, Newcastle
balletlorent.com
What a Joker
One of Britain’s best-loved comedians has returned to stand-up comedy. In 2010 Peter Kay performed the biggest selling comedy tour of all time, and you’d be a fool to miss his first tour in over a decade! Better still, tickets are the same price they were on his previous tour.
Peter Kay
12TH JULY
Utilita Arena Sheffield
utilitaarenasheffield.co.uk
Summer Sound
As part of the (almost sold-out) Sounds of the City and Summer Series, James Arthur is performing at Millennium Square. Following his huge show at Riverside Stadium, don’t miss this chance to see him perform a selection of his biggest hits in Leeds.
James Arthur
12TH JULY
Millennium Square, Leeds
millsqleeds.com
Like a Puppet on a String
Beverley Puppet Festival is back with a programme of shows and workshops for all the family and a weekend of free outdoor theatre. Highlights include Cabaret of Curiosities (close-up magic with original live music), a modern-day Punch & Judy and a dinosaur and dragon encounter.
Beverley Puppet Festival
12TH–14TH JULY
Beverley
beverleypuppetfestival.com
Passion for Paint
York-based painter Carol Douglas is showcasing her largest exhibition to date at YSP this summer with 51 new paintings in the YSP Centre (including the Upper Space Gallery and the Kitchen Café). Following a career as a sociologist and community worker, Carol enrolled onto an art foundation course at York College in her 60s. Now in her 70s, her work is collected worldwide. The YSP Shop window will be transformed into a replica of the artist’s studio in York, including a display of six paintings.
Carol Douglas: Actually I Can
FROM 13TH JULY
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton
01924 832631
ysp.org.uk
No Place Like Home
With a five-piece line up of long-time members (fronted by original founder-member Rod Clements) folk rock band Lindisfarne are heading to their home city for an intimate gig at Wylam Brewery this summer, so Run for Home and let’s hope for no Fog on the Tyne.
Lindisfarne
14TH JULY
Wylam Brewery, Newcastle
wylambrewery.co.uk
Get Creative
Make & Mend Festival is the perfect introduction to a variety of crafts, offering you a chance to learn something new or hone your skills. Think fun workshops, craft demonstrations, yoga, drop-in activities and the maker marketplace where you can shop ’til you drop.
Make & Mend Festival
14TH JULY
Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough
makemendfestival.co
Artful
Presenting a wide range of affordable artworks, this fair is a perfect opportunity for anyone interested in art to purchase new and unique works, meet the artists and soak up the atmosphere. More than 50 artists and makers from across the North and beyond will be selling unique prints, ceramics, jewellery, homeware and textiles. There’ll be a live DJ too alongside food and drink stalls. Plus, more fantastic free drop-in events as part of their Summer Sizzler Weekend including a zine exhibition and four floors of art.
Art Car Boot Fair
14TH JULY
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
baltic.art
Flying High
In this twist on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale a 13-year-old Wendy wants an adventure – and she’s in luck when she meets Peter and fairy Tinker Bell in a magical enchanted forest. So begins her adventure as Captain Hook is after them – but Wendy soon realises that what’s really important might be waiting back at home.
Peter Pan & Wendy
16TH–27TH JULY
Gala Durham
03000 266600
galadurham.co.uk
Artists at Work
Get creative in Auckland Castle’s grounds as you set up your sketchbook and easel to capture the beauty of the surrounding scenery in paint, or simply relax and watch a professional artist create their masterpiece.
Alla Prima Painting in the Gardens
17TH JULY
Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland
aucklandproject.org
Perfect Crime
Join in the drama at Agatha Christie’s old haunt The Old Swan Hotel for the ever-popular Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. Meet crime writing pros and enthusiasts over a pint of Yorkshire ale, relax in the hotel gardens, and enjoy a mix of comedy and cabaret. It’s always a popular weekend.
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
18TH–21ST JULY
The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate
01423 562303
harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
Clowning Around
In celebration of their summer show, Around the World in 80 Days-ish!, the entire York Theatre Royal building is hosting a ‘big top bonanza’, with Circus School pre-show workshops perfect for five–11 year olds. Whether they want to have a go at juggling or they think they’d be the funniest clown in town, this is a fantastically fun activity for the kids.
Circus School
20TH JULY –3RD AUGUST
York Theatre Royal
01904 623568
yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Family Fun
With 90 shows and 245 performances over five days, Durham Fringe Festival are really spoiling us this summer. For its fourth year, they can’t wait to welcome artists and audiences to Durham for a spoken word celebration of North East working-class culture and community with three local poets, fun-packed interactive shows for kids, and Sherlock Holmes’s The Last Act – plus so much more!
Durham Fringe Festival
24TH–28TH JULY
Across Durham
durhamfringe.co.uk
Playing Kings and Queens
The Tudor Songbook is a concert like no other as you’re transported back 500 years, with music that would have been heard in the court of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn from talented performers dressed in authentic Tudor costumes.
Tudor Songbook
25TH–28TH JULY
Alnwick Castle
01665 511100
alnwickcastle.com
They Will Rock You
The Many Faces of Queen showcases some of the lesser-known songs and genres from the iconic band’s catalogue, as well as a selection of their greatest hits, as New Horizon Choir (a group of more than 100 North East singers) perform them.
The Many Faces of Queen
27TH JULY
Northern Stage, Newcastle
0191 230 5151
northernstage.co.uk
You Bet
One of the highlights of the North East social calendar, Gainford Group Ladies’ Day is always a great day out and by far the most glamorous race day to attend, filled with fashion and fizz. Plus, don’t miss Bongo’s Bingo Party Live After Racing.
Ladies’ Day ft Bongo’s Party Live After Racing
27TH JULY
Newcastle Racecourse
0191 236 2020
newcastle-racecourse.co.uk
New Kids on the Block
Head to The Glasshouse this summer to see talented artists from the North East and beyond perform on stage for the very first BBC Introducing Live at the Proms.
BBC Introducing Live at the Proms
27TH JULY
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead
0191 443 4661
theglasshouseicm.org
Past Presents
Kynren ‘the epic tale of England’ is the blockbuster live outdoor show which has taken the country by storm. Performed by a 1,000-strong cast and crew on a huge outdoor stage, it’s unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere. Don’t miss this award-winning live action spectacular this summer complete with a new pre-show for 2024 – the Viking Village. Kynren’s newest leading man is Cosmo the shire horse and you can find out more about him at livingnorth.com.
Kynren
EVERY SATURDAY FROM 27TH JULY–14TH SEPTEMBER
Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland
11arches.com
A Night at the Proms
This year’s York Proms will host music from the world of classical and opera and popular film soundtracks (and we’re sure it’ll go out with a bang with the usual fireworks display). It’s five hours of entertainment in York’s historic gardens – pack a picnic, sit back and enjoy.
York Proms
28TH JULY
Museum Gardens, York
yorkproms.com
Let’s Celebrate
The Friends of St Nicholas are raising a glass for their 90th anniversary party. The Friends raise vital funds for Newcastle Cathedral and celebrate its heritage, and we’ll raise our glass to that.
Friends of St Nicholas: Summer on the Terrace
28TH JULY
Newcastle Cathedral
0191 232 1939
newcastlecathedral.org.uk
Got Your Attention
Discover up-and-coming names in contemporary drawing, displayed alongside works from the British Museum collection of prints and drawings at Hartlepool Art Gallery on this exhibition’s tour of venues around the UK. The art on display showcases different techniques and practices including drawings using make-up on face wipes by Sin Wai Kin and a drawing made with chalk collected from the White Cliffs of Dover by Josephine Baker.
Drawing Attention: emerging artists in dialogue
UNTIL 24TH AUGUST
Hartlepool Art Gallery
culturehartlepool.com
Art Al Fresco
For Castle Howard’s first ever headline contemporary sculpture exhibition, internationally renowned artist Sir Tony Bragg is displaying large-scale sculptures in the gardens, as well as in the historic rooms of the house. Children will also enjoy a creative art trail around the grounds as part of this exhibition, as well as artsy activities in the summer holidays.
Tony Cragg at Castle Howard
UNTIL 22ND SEPTEMBER
Castle Howard, York
castlehoward.co.uk
