Smash-hit Shows and All the Best Events to Book This Autumn
We've got your Autumn plans sorted
The Hard-Knock Life
Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage but her luck changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with a famous billionaire. But spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas. Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood will perform the role of Miss Hannigan at weekday performances and this smash-hit West End production of Annie is coming to Sunderland for one week only – so book your tickets now.
ANNIE
2ND–7TH OCTOBER
Sunderland Empire
atgtickets.com
Cough, Cough
In a shameless scam, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire was duped out of £1,000,000. Or was it? Rory Bremnar stars as Chris Tarrant in this thrilling and entertaining ride through the infamous Coughing Major scandal which engulfed the world’s most popular TV quiz show.
QUIZ
3RD–7TH OCTOBER
Newcastle Theatre Royal
0191 232 7010
theatreroyal.co.uk
Just Keep Swimming
Brought to you by the team behind the Banff Mountain Film Festival UK and Ireland tour, these short films are a cinematic celebration of the ocean. Viewers will see surfers, paddlers, divers and oceanographers who have dedicated their lives to the ocean and its inhabitants, and the festival offers a unique chance to marvel at their seafaring voyages and captivating footage from the comfort of a
cinema seat.
OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL
11TH OCTOBER
Playhouse Whitley Bay
oceanfilmfestival.co.uk
14TH OCTOBER
The Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds
oceanfilmfestival.co.uk
Ladies First
Take a step back Jon, it’s Lucy’s turn. Award-winning stand up comedian and wife to equally successful comedian Jon Richardson, Lucy Beaumont is offering a look at life through her lens – and it’s more surreal than you could ever imagine. For a taste of what to expect, read our interview with Lucy at livingnorth.com.
LUCY BEAUMONT: THE TROUBLE AND STRIFE
11TH OCTOBER
Middlesbrough Town Hall
01642 729729
middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk
12TH OCTOBER
Memorial Hall, Sheffield City Hall
sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
It’s a Kind of Magic
South Tyneside International Magic Festival’s shows return in October with magicians, illusionists and mentalists to entertain audiences. The whole family will enjoy these star-studded shows and don’t miss the Family Magic Extravaganza with the best in children’s entertainment, and the opportunity to get yourself on stage.
SOUTH TYNESIDE INTERNATIONAL MAGIC FESTIVAL
12TH–15TH OCTOBER
The Customs House, South Shields
southtyneside.gov.uk/magicfestival
All That Glitters
Acquire is a new exclusive selling event for a group of 28 selected artisans of fine jewellery and silverware and you won’t want to miss their inaugural event in October. Harpist Cerys Gogerly will be playing short recitals in Henry’s Bar at intervals throughout the event and complimentary drinks will be served.
ACQUIRE
13TH–15TH OCTOBER
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
acquire.uk.com
Read All About It
Author, historian and broadcaster Dan Jones is heading to Alnwick Castle as part of the book tour for his latest novel Wolves of Winter, the sequel to Sunday Times bestseller Essex Dogs. He is followed by medical historian and TikTok sensation Dr Suzie Edge talking about her new book Vital Organs: A History of the World’s Most Famous Body Parts. From Van Gogh’s ear to Queen Victoria’s armpit, the book brings together the remarkable stories of body parts that have made history.
IN CONVERSATION WITH DAN JONES
10TH OCTOBER
VITAL ORGANS WITH SUZIE EDGE
20TH OCTOBER
Alnwick Castle
01665 511100
alnwickcastle.com
Get Crafty
Embrace your creativity with unique weekend workshops led by specialist artists. Whether you’ve always wanted to turn your hand to jewellery-making, fancy sewing your next handbag, or would simply love to enjoy your morning cuppa in a mug you made yourself – these beginner-friendly workshops are a great way to try something new and create something truly special.
BALTIC SHOP CREATES: ARTIST-LED WORKSHOPS
OCTOBER–DECEMBER
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
baltic.art/creates
It’s a Little Bit Funny
Olive and her friends are enjoying their weekly Trivial Pursuit when Florence arrives, after being dumped by her husband. Concerned Olive invites Florence to stay for a while but they have different personalities and this will test their friendship to the limit. When Olive organises a double-date with the Costazuela brothers, their differences come to a head. Don’t miss this performance of Neil Simon’s hugely successful play The Odd Couple.
THE ODD COUPLE
23RD–28TH OCTOBER
Tynemouth Priory Theatre
0191 292 9292
tynemouthpriorytheatre.co.uk
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like…
Offering you the perfect chance to do all your Christmas shopping under one roof, join us for a jam-packed day out as our North East Christmas Fair once again returns to Newcastle Racecourse. We’re thrilled to invite you to the biggest and best seasonal shopping event in the North, with more than 250 carefully-selected stands, from artisan designer-makers, local food producers and fashion retailers to homewares, gifts and accessories, and of course unique Christmas decorations. Tickets are on sale now.
LIVING NORTH’S CHRISTMAS FAIR
26TH–29TH OCTOBER
Newcastle Racecourse
0191 261 8944
livingnorth.com
9TH–12TH NOVEMBER
York Racecourse
0191 261 8944
livingnorth.com
WHAT’S NEW?
Lilidorei
The Alnwick Garden
lilidoreialnwick.co.uk
If you haven’t yet experienced this mysterious, Chistmas-inspired village which opened at The Alnwick Garden this year, now’s the time to take the kids before they head back to school. Lord Elfwin, King of Lilidorei, lives in Elfwin Drin, the biggest play structure in the world. When your child visits Lilidorei they’ll create their own story as they play and take part in daily activities.
Innocent Bones
Ouseburn
innocentbones.com
Innocent Bones is a trending cross stitch business which has featured in Vogue, Cosmo and Elle. Owner Grace Isobel opened her new studio in Boyd Street, Ouseburn in July and now has room to produce her signature cross stitch kits, a shop area and a space for workshops and communal crafts. Stitch Along sessions start on 1st September and will run for four months.
Gosforth Civic Theatre
Gosforth
gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk
Following a £2.4million investment, much-loved cultural venue Gosforth Civic Theatre hosted events and activities across the August Bank holiday weekend to celebrate its reopening, including a performance from Northern stand-up poet Kate Fox. This September there’s a DJ set, a children’s show performed by Kitchen Zoo, and a new production from Unfolding Theatre about the unexpected friendships that arise when something unforeseen happens. The Pod on the Tyne podcast will be there in October.
Faith Museum
Bishop Auckland
aucklandproject.org
Opening on 7th October, The Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland will host dynamic displays and temporary exhibitions to reveal stories of faith in Britain spanning 6,000 years. It will present more than 250 objects from 50 institutions and private collections and the inaugural series of temporary exhibitions will present work by established British artists, including a special commission by Mat Collishaw. Find it in a 14th-century wing of Auckland Castle and a stunning 21st-century building designed by Níall McLaughlin Architects.
Who You Gonna Call?
York is one of the most haunted cities in Europe, and that’s being celebrated with Ghosts in The Gardens as eerie sculptures take over the most beautiful settings in the city. Following last year’s display, this year’s promises to be even bigger and better and it also coincides with Ghost Week (28th October–5th November). See the unearthly monks, the noble knight and ghastly animals too.
GHOSTS IN THE GARDENS
FROM 23RD SEPTEMBER
York
theyorkbid.com
Racing Ahead
As autumn arrives head to Yorkshire’s principal National Hunt course Wetherby which finds its feet at this time of year, there’s a feast of good fixtures in the coming months, in the near term the season starts on the 18th October and The Charlie Hall two-day feature is always one for the diary in early November.
doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
wetherbyracing.org
We’ll Drink To This
On a UK-wide theatre crawl, hoping not to get ‘bard’, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare have a new production of their hit show Much Ado About Nothing. Don John and his troupe of bachelor soldiers arrive in Messina and love is in the air – with the help of a few beverages. Warning: this is an adult-only show and taking its mixed reviews into account, it shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
SH!T-FACED SHAKESPEARE: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
6TH OCTOBER
Scarborough Spa
01723 376774
scarboroughspa.co.uk
You’ve Got The Key
From 7th–8th October, York Unlocked returns to open the doors of around 70 buildings across the city for you to discover their secrets. This unique two-day event offers access to magnificent buildings and open spaces across the city that are often closed to the public, aiming to allow both residents and tourists to uncover hidden treasures and experience familiar places with fresh eyes. This follows a hugely successful first event last year in which around 20,000 visits were made to more than 60 buildings. Read more about it here.
YORK UNLOCKED
7TH & 8TH OCTOBER
York
york-unlocked.org.uk
Light Up, Light Up
Don’t miss the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival as it returns to Leeds. For the past 18 years, some of Leeds’ most iconic spaces have been transformed by spectacular artworks and captivating performances by local, national and international artists. This is your chance to see the city in a new light with large-scale projections and interactive installations accompanied by street performances.
LIGHT NIGHT LEEDS
12TH & 13TH OCTOBER
Leeds
lightnightleeds.co.uk
All That Glitters
Acquire is a brand new and exclusive selling event for a group of 28 selected artisans of fine jewellery and silverware and you won’t want to miss their inaugural event in October. Harpist Cerys Gogerly will be playing short recitals in Henry’s Bar at intervals throughout the event and complimentary drinks will be served.
ACQUIRE
13TH–15TH OCTOBER
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
acquire.uk.com
Bring(ing) It All Back
Touring the UK with S Club: The Good Times Tour (their 25th anniversary tour), this is your opportunity to see the iconic pop group (now comprised of Bradley McIntosh, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Rachel Stevens and Tina Barrett) perform their hits Don’t Stop Movin, Bring It All Back and S Club Party (among others) live.
S CLUB
14TH OCTOBER
Utilita Arena, Sheffield
utilitaarenasheffield.co.uk
Portrait Mode
Discover the true story of Ann Fairfax, York’s heiress to Fairfax House. She was a remarkable woman, and this immersive exhibition means you can hear her story in her own words. It also draws on new research and archival documents to bring the tumultuous events which impacted Ann after the death of her father in 1772 to life. You’ll meet Father Bolton, who valiantly sought to protect her but ended up imprisoned, and you’ll come face to face with her friends and foes.
IF WALLS COULD TALK: THE FORGOTTEN STORY OF ANN FAIRFAX
UNTIL 5TH NOVEMBER
Fairfax House, Castlegate
01904 655543
fairfaxhouse.co.uk
Steeling the Show
As you’d expect if you’ve seen the 1997 smash hit film or its reboot TV show, this new production is a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of that film, this play follows Gaz and his mates as they’re down on their luck – but they’re determined to fight back by baring a little more than they ever thought they would.
THE FULL MONTY
17TH–21ST OCTOBER
Grand Opera House York
atgtickets.com
Crowning Glory
The multi award-winning Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I is the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals, and will feature a world-class company of more than 50 West End and Broadway performers and a full-scale orchestra – don’t miss it! There’s plenty more to look forward to, too: as summer draws to a close, join Leeds Grand Theatre as they raise the curtain for returning West End hits and Leeds’ own Opera North and Northern Ballet – plus two world premieres! Need a remedy for those winter blues? Don’t miss the feel-good, official Stock Aitken Waterman musical, I Should Be So Lucky, and celebrate spring with the heartfelt comedy drama, The Syndicate, Kay Mellor’s final stage play, directed by Gaynor Faye.
THE KING AND I
31ST OCTOBER–4TH NOVEMBER
Leeds Grand Theatre
leedsheritagetheatres.com
