Newcastle to Stage the North East's Biggest Ever Public Artwork This August
On Sunday 9 August, Newcastle city centre will become the stage for Dominoes Newcastle, a spectacular 2.5km chain reaction and one of the most ambitious public artworks ever staged in the North East.
Presented by internationally acclaimed artists Station House Opera as the headline finale of NOVUM Summer Festival, thousands of breeze blocks will tumble through Newcastle's streets, creating a giant moving sculpture unlike anything the region has seen before. Having captivated audiences in Toronto, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Rennes and Helsinki, it's now Newcastle's turn.
Cllr Rob Austin, Newcastle City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities and Youth Services, said: "Dominoes Newcastle is exactly the kind of bold, ambitious event we want to bring to our city. It will transform our streets into a giant work of art, bringing together communities, volunteers, artists and audiences to create something truly unforgettable.
“As the spectacular finale to NOVUM Summer Festival, this is a chance for thousands of people to experience Newcastle in a completely new way while celebrating everything that makes our city special – our creativity, our iconic places and the people who bring them to life.
“We can't wait to welcome visitors from across the region and beyond."
The Route
Beginning near Newcastle City Library, the route winds east to west through the city centre, passing through and around iconic institutions including Theatre Royal, Tyneside Cinema and The Assembly Rooms, and linking Newcastle's newest developments with the rich history of Blackfriars and the Town Walls.
Siobhan Lightfoot, Director of Operations at Newcastle Theatre Royal said: "Newcastle Theatre Royal is proud to be part of NOVUM Festival, bringing together communities and celebrating creativity across the city. As we continue on our mission to be open to more people, more of the time, it's exciting to see our iconic building become part of such an ambitious event, giving us the opportunity to welcome visitors through our doors and create moments of magic off stage.”
Along the way, a giant sculptural build will rise at Grey’s Monument, with sculptures and special falls animating the route before the domino run reaches its dramatic finale at Newcastle Helix in front of Newcastle University's Urban Sciences Building.
More than a domino run, the artwork connects Newcastle's past, present and future- bringing together heritage, culture, communities and innovation in one extraordinary chain reaction.
Professor James Annesley, Lead for Creative Places, Newcastle University, said: "We're delighted to be part of Dominoes Newcastle, an event that promises to bring communities together in a positive way as part of our work supporting Creative Places. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the people and ambition that make our region special. Newcastle Helix is a key part of the future of Newcastle, and we’re delighted to see it playing a role in an occasion that connects people and showcases the city.”
From 2.30pm, audiences can walk the route, watch hundreds of volunteers construct the artwork and discover sculptural builds before the first domino falls at 4.30pm. Printed maps will be available across the city, with downloadable maps already available at novumnewcastle.com.
For around 30 minutes, cheers will ripple across Newcastle as the chain reaction travels through the city, transforming familiar streets into an unforgettable shared experience.
Making it happen
Dominoes Newcastle is proudly sponsored by New Tyne West Development Company (NTWDC), whose generous financial support is helping to make this spectacular event possible. Their contribution will fund the thousands of breeze blocks needed to create the 2.5km domino run, as well as the careful collection and redistribution of the blocks after the event, ensuring they can be reused within the local community once the final domino has fallen.
Lee McGray, Director at NTWDC, said: "We're incredibly proud to support Dominoes Newcastle and to help bring such an ambitious and memorable event to the heart of the city. It's a fantastic example of how creativity can bring people together, celebrate our local heritage and create shared experiences that people will be talking about for years to come. We're delighted to be supporting NOVUM Summer Festival and can't wait to see thousands of people and hundreds of volunteers come together to witness this spectacular moment."
Dominoes Newcastle can't happen without volunteers. Newcastle City Council is looking for hundreds of volunteers to help build the giant domino route – this is an opportunity to be at the heart of the action of this once in a life-time event. Individuals, families (8+), community groups and workplace teams are all welcome to get involved.
Volunteers will receive training, travel expenses, lunch, a volunteer T-shirt and bag, plus an invitation to post-event celebration.
If you’re interested register your interest via email: [email protected]
A Spectacular Festival Finale
Dominoes Newcastle takes place on Sunday 9 August as the headline finale of NOVUM Summer Festival. Walk the route from 2.30pm, watch the dominoes fall from 4.30pm and enjoy a full day of free performances, installations, workshops and family activities across Newcastle city centre.
Dominoes Newcastle is a landmark cultural moment for Newcastle, placing the North East capital alongside major international cities that have previously hosted Station House Opera's acclaimed Dominoes series.
Plan your visit: novumnewcastle.com
Image: Photo by Carmen Zammit
