The Late Shows line-up for 2015 announced

The Late Shows – Tyneside’s annual late-night culture crawl – has announced its line-up for 2015, with over 60 arts, science and heritage venues signed up to take part. Now in its ninth consecutive year, the event sees galleries, museums, workshops, artists’ studios and historical buildings across NewcastleGateshead opening ‘after hours’ to offer engaging free taster events for the public. Some of the many highlights for 2015 include: Toffee Factory’s Mexican-flavoured Ouseburn Fiesta; Pepezi Tulivu, a large-scale inflatable art installation at new venue The Core; Science experiments and Roman re-enactments at the Great North Museum and Hancock  curated especially for The Late Shows by FRESH North East. Annual favourites returning to complete the line-up include: popular free tours of the Swing Bridge and Victoria Tunnel; hands-on ceramics workshops at David Fry Pottery Studio; and a range of activities based at the creative hub Commercial Union House. Bill Griffiths, project manager for The Late Shows, said: “The Late Shows has grown incredibly since the first event in 2007 and this year’s line-up – our biggest yet – continues to showcase the diversity of NewcastleGateshead’s cultural scene. “New additions such as Dunston Staiths, Bessie Surtees House and The Core add to the mix of heritage, science and arts that our visitors have come to expect on their Late Shows journey. “It’s a special weekend in the Tyneside calendar with people coming together to try their hand at new skills, see new spaces and experience the thrill of museums at night. “The Late Shows is like a ‘cultural tapas’ and the line-up a menu; make sure to try as much as you can on 15 & 16 May.” The Late Shows warms up in the Ouseburn Valley on Friday 15 May, before Saturday’s main event adds venues in the Newcastle city centre. The fun continues into the small hours on Saturday at fringe event The Late Late Shows; venues that are customarily open at night, such as The Cumberland Arms and Sage Gateshead, join the event from 10pm. The full line-up for this year’s Late Shows is available at www.thelateshows.org.uk. The Late Shows is free to attend and a free bus service will also be available, helping people to travel between venues.