Get To Know… Newcastle Theatres

Theatre Royal, Grey Street

You can tell the Theatre Royal is special from the moment you take in its magnificent façade at the top of Grey Street which is often regarded as the finest in the UK. The theatre was granted a Royal Licence in 1788 by George III, moving to its current location from Drury Lane (not that one!) in 1837 as a centrepiece of Grainger & Dobson’s city planning. A fire in 1899 during a performance of Macbeth (did someone forget to call it the Scottish play?) led to its auditorium being rebuilt in 1901.

There have been numerous renovations during its near two-century history in its current location, most recently a big refurbishment in 2011 that saw everything from wallpaper and tiles to light fittings and seating refitted in a contemporary but simpatico style, while the imposing portico was cleaned and newly illuminated and some extensive upgrading of the backstage facilities was carried out. Not for nothing is the Theatre Royal one of only nine Grade I-listed theatres in the country.

The theatre is rightly proud of its history and occasionally offers exhibitions, tours of the venue (check the website for details of any forthcoming dates) and even an illustrated history. But it looks to the future too – the Theatre Royal Project A offers local students a gateway to the theatre arts and nurtures our region’s talents.

You can support the theatre’s endeavours by becoming a Friend of The Theatre Royal, a 6,000-strong membership scheme that offers all sorts of events and discounts (local celebrity and highly regarded actor Jill Halfpenny is the current patron and has strong ties with the theatre).

Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Westgate Road

On the western edge of the city centre on Westgate Road, you’ll find Tyne Theatre & Opera House which is as full of history as the Theatre Royal and one of the city’s oldest arts institutions. Built by the city wall boundary by industrialist and philanthropist Joseph Cowen in 1867, the theatre was both a beautifully crafted example of Victorian architecture and a home to spectacular productions.

Recent renovations have made the lush auditorium as good as it was in its heyday, and behind (or rather under) the scenes there’s even greater examples of Victorian ingenuity: the theatre is one of the few left anywhere still to have wooden modular stage machinery – a series of inventively crafted mechanical devices to add spectacle to productions that back in the day could have employed 30 or more skilled operators for any one performance (often former sailors). There’s even at least one ghost – Bob Crowther, felled by a loose cannon ball and said to haunt the theatre’s corridors after dark.

After spending much of the twentieth century as a cinema (the first in the city to show talkies), it was eventually left empty until it was rescued in 1974 by Jack Dixon and the Tyne Theatre Trust, who set about restoring the venue to its former glory. The theatre has been beset by troubles since then (a disastrous fire in 1985 alongside various financial woes) but it’s now in the hands of the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust, working independently and keeping the theatre packed.

Various fundraising schemes and grants have helped preserve the theatre’s history and physical well-being and these days it hosts everything from dance productions and touring bands to comedy gigs and ballet. It recently opened the new 1867 Café Bar too – perfect for a midday bit to eat or pre-show drinks!

Northern Stage, Barras Bridge

The theatre now known as Northern Stage, found in the middle of the Newcastle University campus, has a fairly complicated history since it first appeared as the University Theatre back in 1970, existing in various incarnations under a series of artistic directors before it reopened as Northern Stage back in 2006 after a significant refurbishment.

Since then, it has played a significant part in the cultural life of the city while nurturing local talent and welcoming the finest touring productions. Under its current director Natalie Ibu, the theatre is increasing its focus on the region through a series of themed programming strands and as always, the theatre’s core values (inclusion, innovation and collaboration) are at the heart of everything it does.

Northern Stage is now the largest producing theatre in the region, with productions of all kinds touring nationally and internationally, and plays host to a broad range of events of all kinds – from dance and comedy to musicals and drama – alongside hosting annual events including The Geet Muckle Slam and Newcastle Puppetry Festival.

Live Theatre, Broad Chare

Live Theatre turned 50 years old in 2023 and it’s definitely an anniversary worth celebrating: the theatre might be small but its achievements and impact are significant.

Even the venue itself is remarkable: tucked away on a charming Quayside side street, the Live complex is actually five buildings joined together (all of which are Grade II-listed). The space includes two theatres, rehearsal rooms, offices and a café bar. It’s also involved with the adjoining pub, The Broad Chare, with proceeds ploughed back into the theatre. In recent years, the theatre bought some adjacent land and buildings and created Live Works, a scheme that as well as being a successful commercial concern, has enabled the theatre to develop various new ventures including an outdoor theatre space.

Live Theatre is known as a hub for nurturing talent and developing new works with The Guardian dubbing it ‘one of the most fertile crucibles of new writing’. In fact, renowned and acclaimed writer Lee Hall got his start there and his plays Billy Elliot and The Pitman Painters were developed in the Broad Chare theatre before heading out to massive success.

Alphabetti Theatre, St James’ Boulevard

Alphabetti Theatre might be the new kid on the block, theatre-wise, but it’s certainly getting a lot of attention – in 2023, it was named Fringe Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards and there have been plenty of other nominations and awards along the way too. The theatre was founded in 2012 by Ali Pritchard (when he was just 22!) and his work as artistic director has won praise from all quarters.

Now based on St James Boulevard and under the leadership of its new artistic/executive director Ed Cole, Alphabetti is a model of how an arts venue should be in the 21st century – not-for-profit, nurturing, inclusive, accessible – and through initiatives like Pay As You Feel ticketing and an open programming policy, is a significant force in the city’s cultural life.

The venue has two stages – a main theatre space and a recently added cabaret bar, both of which hold around 80 people – and is constantly improving its programming and its facilities (the lockdown was used as an opportunity to work on the theatre’s accessibility, for example). Its programme is always packed with plays, cabarets, gigs and workshops and it’s also the hub of the annual Newcastle Fringe Festival.

Newcastle’s theatres vary from grand old institutions to scrappy newcomers, offering big Broadway productions and fringe theatre and all points in between. Their variety is exciting and guarantees there’s something for everyone whatever your tastes. So take advantage of the city’s theatres and play your part in Newcastle's vibrant cultural life!

Main image: Newcastle Theatre Royal

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