The Late Shows: Meet the Venues

Laing Art Gallery

Joy Youngman, Learning Officer & Amy Pargeter, Exhibitions Officer

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before? 

Joy: The Laing has taken part in The Late Shows since its inception, programming a range of exciting and engaging activities over the years. I personally have worked most of the Late Shows in my Learning and Engagement capacity since 2009 - and it's always something to look forwards to in the local cultural calendar!

Amy: I haven't worked at one of The Late Show venues before, but I have loved visiting events in previous years. This year I'm really looking forward to being part of the Late Shows in a different way.

What do you love most about The Late Shows? 

Joy: I love the atmosphere of The Late Shows; so many cultural venues showing the best of what's on offer across Newcastle and Gateshead. It's also such a fantastic opportunity to explore those venues that are not usually open to the public, and really see the work, passion, and commitment of our arts, cultural and heritage colleagues.

Amy: I really love the atmosphere of The Late Shows. Everyone involved including staff, volunteers and visitors are always excited and getting involved. It really feels like a celebration of Newcastle and Gateshead and it's amazing to see how much art, heritage and culture the area has to offer. The chance to explore so many different parts of Newcastle and Gateshead, some of which aren't always open to the public is such a great opportunity.

What can people expect at Laing Art Gallery during The Late Shows? 

Joy: This year at Laing Art Gallery we'll be celebrating Portraiture with our temporary exhibitions Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2025, organised by National Portrait Gallery, London and our complementary exhibition Exploring Identity, which showcases some of the finest portraits from the art collections of North East Museums.

Visitors can join Amy for an exclusive tour of both exhibitions (pre-booking essential), and take part in a free drop-in crafting workshop to their hand at making embellishments for 18th and 19th-century dresses, explore how women of the past customized their clothing, try on our period costumes, and help us make a new dress inspired by the gallery’s collections. The crafting session is being run in partnership with Newcastle University's Dr Hannah Scott, NUAcT Research Fellow in French Cultural History and no crafting experience is necessary.

If you could visit any venue other than your own during The Late Shows, which would it be? 

Joy: How to pick just one! If it's the Friday night, it would have to be Shieldfield Art Works’ 'Craft, Clay & Ice Cream', to lean into my ceramics background, and who doesn't love a bit of ice cream! For the Saturday night, I'd be heading straight for our sister venue, the Shipley Art Gallery’s 'Creative Communities'. The Shipley always has such a fun and lively atmosphere for The Late Shows, with the live music and variety of activities and community groups showcased!

Amy: There are so many amazing events that I don't think I can choose just one. Seven Bridges’ Music Installation and golf at Discovery Museum sounds like good fun. Brushstrokes & Beats at Ouseburn Yard and Splice up Your Life at Tyneside Cinema also sound really exciting.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2025 & Exploring Identity Exhibition Tour: Saturday 9^th May 2026 at 6:30pm – 7:30pm and 7:45pm – 8:45pm / Tickets priced at £8.82 per person / Pre-booking is essential 

Dressing to Impress Crafting Workshop: Saturday 9^th May 2026 from 6pm – 9pm. Free, drop-in

Find out more at thelateshows.org.uk/2026/laing-art-gallery

Tyneside Cinema

Ellen Wiltshire, Heritage & Engagement Producer

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

Tyneside Cinema has been part of The Late Shows for a number of years, offering a self-guided heritage tour experience for visitors on the night, but last year was the first time we hosted a more hands-on activity. Visitors got a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most interesting pieces of our archive, dating back to 1937, presented by our dedicated team of heritage volunteers, as well as the opportunity to chat to our screenwriter-in-residence.

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

I love the energy it brings to the city and how it draws audiences to venues who might otherwise not have considered visiting that space.

What can people expect at Tyneside Cinema during The Late Shows?

At Tyneside Cinema, you can come along to our ground-level Bar Café to see 35mm film in action, with a demonstration station where you can cut and splice your own mini filmstrip scene to take home. Afterwards, stick around to have a dance to our film-soundtrack silent disco and sip on a themed cocktail.

If you could visit any venue other than your own during The Late Shows, which would it be? 

Showaoke at Alphabetti Theatre!

Splice Up Your Life: Saturday 9^th May 2026 from 6pm – 10:30pm / Last entry at 10pm

Find out more at thelateshows.org.uk/2026/tyneside-cinema

The Common Room

Philippa King-Williams, Head of Trading

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before? 

Yes, we’ve taken part in The Late Shows for several years now, and it’s something we genuinely look forward to each year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to welcome people into the building and share what we do with a wider audience.

What do you love most about The Late Shows? 

What we value most is the opportunity to connect people with the building and their heritage. The Late Shows is a great way to show that this is an accessible, welcoming space, one that people can return to time and again, discovering something new with each visit.

What can people expect at The Common Room during The Late Shows? 

This year at The Common Room, we invite visitors to step into the sounds of the mine and experience life underground, through an immersive soundscape in our Wood Hall.

If you could visit any venue other than your own during The Late Shows, which would it be? 

I’d love to visit Bessie Surtees House for the open evening – it’s such an incredible piece of heritage right on our Quayside. Streets that Speak: African History in Newcastle at Newcastle City Library also sounds fascinating.

Beneath the Surface: Saturday 9^th May 2026 from 6pm – 10:30pm / Last entry at 10pm

Find out more at thelateshows.org.uk/2026/the-common-room

Farrell Centre

Caitlin Carter, Audience Engagement Assistant

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

We’ve taken part in The Late Shows each year since we opened in 2023 – it’s one of the highlights of our calendar!

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

The Late Shows are a great opportunity to open our doors to new audiences after hours, who may not have experienced the centre before. It’s wonderful to be part of a city-wide event which creates such a buzz and really highlights the vibrant and varied cultural offer we have here in Newcastle and Gateshead.

What can people expect at the Farrell Centre during The Late Shows?

We love to get our visitors involved in a hands-on creative project inspired by our exhibitions. This year, join us for ‘Dolls Housing’. We’ll be creating a new living space for dolls and we’d love visitors to contribute – help build miniature furniture, print decorative wallpaper and construct essential parts to make a fully-functioning estate!

If you could visit any venue other than your own during The Late Shows, which would it be?

We’re excited to see what the creative folk in the Ouseburn have planned this year – it’s always great to see printmakers at work at Northern Print. On Saturday, we’ll be nipping across to our neighbours at the Hatton Gallery to make a charm bracelet!

Dolls Housing: Saturday 9^th May 2026 from 6pm – 10:30pm / Last entry at 10pm

Find out more at thelateshows.org.uk/2026/farrell-centre

Grainger Market

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

The Grainger Market has been part of The Late Shows before and it’s an event we always look forward to. As a venue that’s so often seen in the daytime, it’s nice to welcome visitors in the evening and let them experience the market a little differently. There’s something special about seeing people wander the alleyways after hours and rediscover the space in a new light.

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

Newcastle is a great city and The Late Shows is a great reminder of everything we have on our doorstep. From historic spaces like the Grainger Market to galleries, castles and cultural institutions, there’s a real sense of creativity and originality here. What we love most is seeing people come together to celebrate that - it brings a great atmosphere across the city and shines a spotlight on places people might not visit every day.

What can people expect at the Grainger Market during The Late Shows?

This year we’re hosting Grainger Unplugged, a music-led evening with a 90s and 00s feel. We’ll have two live music stages thanks to Generator, bringing a mix of performances into the Arcade and one of our alleyways. It's exciting to welcome people into the newly renovated space and to have Grainger Unplugged be the first use of the new events space.

Alongside the music, we’re working with Creative Central to bring in interactive elements, including artist-led drop-in activities and a ‘make and take’ offer for visitors. There’ll also be a themed photo opportunity, plus contributions from local artists and festival partners.

Our traders are very much at the heart of the evening. Visitors can expect many of them to stay open later, with some embracing the 90s theme, and our food traders serving throughout the night. With seating around the Arcade, a bar open for the event, and plenty happening across the market.

If you could visit any venue other than your own during The Late Shows, which would it be?

That’s always a difficult choice, as there’s so much happening across the city. Part of the joy of The Late Shows is discovering somewhere new, whether that’s a smaller creative space or a well-known venue you’ve never explored after hours. If we had the chance, we’d probably take a wander and see where the evening takes us – that sense of discovery is what the event is all about.

Grainger Unplugged: Saturday 9^th May 2026 from 6pm – 10:30pm / Last entry 10pm

Find out more at thelateshows.org.uk/2026/grainger-market

We don't know about you, but we couldn't be more excited about The Late Shows now we've found out a little more about what's going on! So, mark the dates - 8th and 9th May - in your diary and make sure you read our Late Shows guide to get the most out of this spectacular cultural event.

The Late Shows take place on Friday 8th May and Saturday 9th May 2026. For more information visit www.thelateshows.org.uk.