Autumn 2023: 20 Must-See Theatre Shows in Newcastle

Theatre Royal

West End smash hit 2:22 A Ghost Story makes its North East debut at Theatre Royal this September with a talented cast that includes Eastenders alumni Joe Absolom and Louisa Lytton. Chilling and tense, the award-winning supernatural thriller is the perfect play to get you in the mood for spooky season. (19^th-23^rd September)

Lovers of musical theatre won’t want to miss 42^nd Street when it rolls into Newcastle. Expect glitz, glamour and toe-tapping numbers galore as this brand-new production of the showbiz fairy tale – choreographed by the Olivier Award-winning Bill Deamer – takes over the stage this October. (10^th-14^th October)

November means opera season at Theatre Royal and Masque of Might – one of three Opera North productions happening that month – is a must-see. Part of Opera North’s Green Season, it sees director Sir David Pountney reassemble the music of Henry Purcell to create a witty and satirical tale of power, corruption and unlikely heroes against the backdrop of a dying planet. (4^th November)

Northern Ballet make their highly-anticipated return to Theatre Royal this November with a spellbinding production of Beauty & the Beast. With gorgeous sets and costumes – plus a hand-picked score played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia – this classic fairy tale is bound to delight theatregoers young and old. (7^th-11^th November)

Northern Stage

Miriam Battye’s latest outing Strategic Love Play heads to Northern Stage this September and is bound to resonate with anyone who’s experienced an awkward first date. Following two strangers meeting up after swiping right on a dating app, the Fringe First winner is a hilariously acerbic exploration of modern romance that’ll have you cringing and laughing in equal measure. (25^th-27^th September)

Join cult cabaret stars Bourgeois & Maurice as they make their Northern Stage debut this October with their brand-new show Pleasure Seekers. Packed to the hilt with their signature whip-smart songs and jaw-dropping outfits, it’s a homage to hedonism that’s as high energy as it is hilarious. (5^th October)

American comedian Rich Hall is always a hit whenever he comes to the Toon and his latest show Shot from Cannons is bound to be just as popular. A mix of stand-up and stomping songs, expect Hall’s deadpan delivery and hilariously biting observations as he rants his way through a set that’ll have comedy fans laughing in the aisles. (22^nd October)

Set to be a sure-fire hit with 90s kids, Buffy Revamped sees actor-writer Brendan Murphy cram all 144 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer into a 70 minute, one-man show positively packed with parody and 90s pop culture references. A must-see for any fan of the cult classic show. (10^th-11^th November)

Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Another one for the 90s-inclined, Tyne Theatre & Opera House is set to host Choir! Choir! Choir!’s brand-new show Teen Spirit: The Epic 90s Singalong in early October. Part comedy and part mass karaoke, it’s a trip down memory lane that’ll have you singing along to everything from Britpop and Britney to grunge and girl power classics. (2^nd October)

The ever-popular team behind Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare make a return to Tyne Theatre this autumn, this time with their liquored-up and laugh-out-loud take on the Bard’s classic comedy Much Ado About Nothing. For those not in the know, the concept is simple: one cast member gets as humanly drunk as possible while the rest of the cast attempt to accommodate them by improvising their way through the play with inevitably hilarious results. (7^th October)

With the top-class names it attracts, it’s no wonder that Tyne Theatre has a reputation as a stand-up comedy hotspot. This autumn, delightfully erudite comedian Tom Allen is set to tread the boards with his new show Completely which promises to be packed full of his signature innuendo, witty retorts and acerbic putdowns. (26^th-29^th October)

A must-attend for football fans, An Evening with Alan Shearer comes to Tyne Theatre in late November. Join the local legend for an exclusive unscripted interview as he recounts his life and career, from his working-class background to his time with NUFC and becoming a true football icon. (23^rd November)

Alphabetti Theatre

Co-written and performed by Steve Byron and Joanna Geronimo, Mr Punch runs from mid to late September at Alphabetti Theatre and tells the tale of Norman – a bitter, small-minded man who finds his right-wing rhetoric challenged by his new neighbour Ruth, a struggling single mother working several jobs to survive. A darkly comic look at modern Britain, it’s a play typical of Alphabetti’s thought-provoking repertoire. (12^th-30^th September)

A powerful satire that asks how we can live authentically under the shadow of social media, Flip! arrives at Alphabetti Theatre in October. Penned by critically acclaimed writer Rachael Ofori, the play follows influencers Carleen and Crystal who seemingly find the answer to everything they’ve ever dreamed of – followers, fame, fortune – with new social media giant Flip!... but is it all too good to be true? (10^th-28^th October)

Perfect for keeping little ones entertained during the half-term holiday, Dragon runs from Halloween to early November at Alphabetti. Combining cutting-edge projection and digital animation with live puppetry, it’s a visually stunning fantasy set in a verdant, dragon-inhabited valley that’s bound to enchant kids and parents alike. (31^st October-4^th November)

Meet the titular protagonist of Alphabetti’s November play Angela: a 24-year-old volunteer Girl Guide leader whose sense of self is thrown awry after encountering an irritatingly self-confident 11-year-old girl. Described as a “darkly funny journey through innocence and disillusionment”, Angela is a full-length adaptation of a response to Alan Harris’ play Sugar Baby penned by writer Charlotte Small. (7^th-25^th November)

Live Theatre

An extravaganza of music, dance and fantasy, Penguin is a one-man show from disabled Syrian artist and refugee Hamzeh Al-Hussien. Join him for his debut solo show as he takes you through his journey as a refugee, from his Syrian village to the Za'atari camp in Jordan to his new home in Gateshead. (20th-23rd September)

Catch an original Live Theatre production this autumn with The Cold Buffet, a North East family saga following the dysfunctional McCarthy clan at a series of family get-togethers set over the course of five years. Penned by Elijah Young and directed by Live’s artistic director Jack McNamara, the play promises a deliciously comic night of theatre. (5^th-28^th October)

Honest, funny and heartbreaking, Beyond Caring is a new play from County Durham writer Christina Castling that delves into the reality of life in a care home. Based on interviews Castling conducted with care home residents, staff and visitors, the play explores what it means to get older and the reality of caring for others. (31^st October-1^st November)

Following two sell-out runs at Whitley Bay theatre Laurels, Gerry & Sewell arrives at Live this November. A stage adaptation of local writer Jonathan Tulloch’s book The Season Ticket, the play follows its titular characters – two broke Newcastle United fans – as they try to scrape together enough cash to buy tickets to see their beloved Magpies through any means possible. (8^th-18^th November)

Whether you’re looking for big musicals or ballet, cutting-edge plays or comedy, Newcastle’s theatres are will keep you entertained all autumn long, so get those tickets booked and soak up some of the city’s culture.

Main image: Bourgeois & Maurice: Pleasure Seekers