The Late Shows: Meet the Venues

Newcastle Contemporary Art

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

Yes, we’ve been part of the Late Shows for a few years now. We always look forward to it as it gives us an opportunity to do something different to our usual programme.

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

One of the most valuable aspects of participating in The Late Shows is the opportunity it provides to reach a broader and more diverse audience—many of whom may not typically engage with our exhibitions or events. As our gallery is located on the fourth floor of High Bridge Works and lacks a street-level presence, The Late Shows not only help us to raise our profile within the community but also allow us to break from our regular programming and offer something different. Past events have featured live DJ sets and performances by our exhibiting artists.

What can people expect at Newcastle Contemporary Art during The Late Shows?

We are really excited about what we have planned for this year’s event as we will be doing something completely different to previous years. The Turner Prize nominee, Delaine Le Bas, will be artist in residence at the gallery and will be preparing for a major exhibition that opens on Friday 30th May. For The Late Shows, she will be giving audiences a sneak preview of her show and be doing a special performance on the night.

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

The frustrating thing about The Late Shows is that we don’t get to see any of it, apart from what is happening in our own building. There is so much we’d like to see, but if we could get out to see one thing this year, it would be Jorn Ebner’s performance at VANE.

Find out more at https://thelateshows.org.uk/2025/newcastle-contemporary-arts-at-high-bridge-works 

Discovery Museum

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

Discovery Museum has been involved in every Late Shows weekend, right from the very beginning in 2007. As part of North East Museums (formerly Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums), we’ve had the privilege of being part of the organising body from the get-go. It’s always been a fabulous event and to see all the various cultural and creative groups come together as one for the weekend makes you proud of Tyneside!

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

No two Late Shows are the same – whether it’s the programme which refreshes every year, or your own personal experience. You really are presented with a smorgasbord of cultural delicacies to sample, with the weird and the wonderful from established venues to upcoming grassroots creators in the area. You’re the curator of your own journey for the weekend. No-one has the same experience, it’s unique to you.

What can people expect at Discovery Museum during The Late Shows?

A silent disco in the huge atrium space that you step into as soon as you enter the museum. You can dance away right next to the ship that used to be the fastest in the world and was made on Tyneside by Charles Parsons – ‘Turbinia’. It should be a nice atmospheric space with games, refreshments and there’ll be quiet spaces too for people to relax in.

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

That’s a tough one! Friday night as a whole is always an amazing experience down the Ouseburn area, with so many creatives throwing open their doors – it’s all so close together you can cram a lot in. As for the Saturday, the churchyard tours look very interesting at both Newcastle Cathedral and St Mary’s Heritage Centre in Gateshead too. The BEE DJ at Vane sounds deliciously fascinating, and the Farrell Centre’s collaborative city model building too. We could go on and on!

Find out more at https://thelateshows.org.uk/2025/discovery-museum 

Newcastle Castle

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

Yes, we have been a part of The Late Shows since our re-opening in 2015! The Late Shows has become a key part of our spring programme, and one of the most anticipated events for our staff each year.

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

We love the sense of community it creates. It is wonderful to see the city come to life, celebrating its culture hubs. Furthermore, by unifying all the events taking place across the city under the umbrella of The Late Shows, each venue becomes a part of something bigger, not just a singular isolated attraction, and you can feel that festive energy from people when they visit your site.

From a venue perspective, we love The Late Shows because it challenges us to put on a unique showcase that will delight both new and returning visitors. We thrive on the energy that comes with each new wave of visitors and are determined to make their night unforgettable.

As an individual attending The Late Shows, we love that it gives us the opportunity to wander the city with a unique focus, exploring new venues or re-visiting places we love.

What can people expect at Newcastle Castle during The Late Shows?

You can expect a night of music, storytelling and merriment! For The Late Shows, the lower floor of the Castle Keep will be transformed into a medieval pub – complete with a bar, medieval musicians, lively storytellers and other eccentric costumed characters.

The live entertainment will be ongoing throughout the night for your enjoyment, with drinks being sold at the bar – so, join us at The Blackbird Tavern where you will travel back to the 14^th century and party like it’s 1399!

(Please do note that this event is strictly 18+)

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

We would love to visit The Seven Stories’ A celebration of Mr Benn event! It looks very fun and original. Also, who doesn’t love a good childhood throwback?

Find out more at https://thelateshows.org.uk/2025/newcastle-castle 

Tyneside Irish Centre

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

After many years, we were finally able to take part in The Late Shows in 2024 when Magic Weekend got moved and the ecky-thump lads from the midlands of England playing rugby league went elsewhere. Normally we couldn’t accommodate anything at the same time as this bacchanalia of booze and karaoke, so we got our chance last year with The Secret Shebeen where we had traditional music playing in our top floor warehouse and had a party with poteen and red lemonade. Many people turned up and they seemed to love it.

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

Personally, I love the atmosphere of friendly exploration of venues, art, people, talent and that combination of positive possibilities in The Late Shows which makes people realise again what they love about culture and our city and its communities.

What can people expect at Tyneside Irish Centre during The Late Shows?

This year we’ll be repeating The Secret Shebeen but with a hint of dangerous glamour and provocative art. There’s going to be music, the kind of booze that would stun a bootlegger and we’re privileged to host the vernissage of Petra Ondrova’s work entitled “Too Much” in our new Gallowgate Gallery.

Petra is an immensely talented fine artist creating masterpieces of scale and fury which will astonish and inspire. Her work shows the suffering of humanity in remote places and in the next-door neighbourhood – and it demands that we improve. It’s important, she’s important and anyone coming will find out why we’re so proud to host her first solo exhibition.

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

I like exploring all the venues and regret I’ll miss many because I’ll be working here but I like the ones where there’s many artists doing different things. I always like the passion and standards of the good people at Alphabetti Theatre… I remember when they were in a hole in the ground where the Odeon used to be!

Find out more at https://thelateshows.org.uk/2025/tyneside-irish-centre 

Newcastle Arts Centre

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

Yes! Newcastle Arts Centre has taken part in the Late Shows for many years running. Each year our courtyard is a popular place to sit out with some food and a drink and soak up the buzz in the city.

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

As a multi-arts venue containing exhibition spaces, artists' studios, a performance venue, multiple arts shops, and workshop space, we're always thrilled for new people to see first-hand the reach of our spaces. We love the chance to show people what's going on in the Arts Centre and for them to see how they can get involved with us.

Beyond this, it's always exciting to showcase the network of artists that work within Newcastle Arts Centre, across the studios, art-course tutors, and in our exhibition spaces. We pride ourselves on being a city-centre hub for creative activity, and the Late Shows gives us a great opportunity to connect with people who are looking for a space like ours.

What can people expect at Newcastle Arts Centre during The Late Shows?

Get involved in a large-scale drawing project! Guided by our course tutors, be inspired by the materials and perspectives in the Gallery. Create a portrait of yourself or each other and add it to the wall. Throughout the night the gallery will fill with portraits, forming a collection that offers varying perceptions of the here and now.

Beyond this, explore the Arts Centre to meet resident-artists in their studios, see their work displayed and buy direct. And meet our dedicated team and learn from them more ways to get involved in the Arts Centre. And make sure to get some food in our courtyard, and a drink down in our Black Swan venue where a Latin jazz band will be grooving us through the night.

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

We love the work the Star & Shadow do! And considering they are on the Friday, we may just make our way down!

Find out more at https://thelateshows.org.uk/2025/newcastle-arts-centre 

Alphabetti Theatre

Have you taken part in The Late Shows before?

We had a great time last year hosting a drop-in jam!

What do you love most about The Late Shows?

It’s a great chance to see parts of Newcastle that are normally closed to the public and do activities in unusual places.

What can people expect at Alphabetti Theatre during The Late Shows?

We will be hosting a psychedelic indoor picnic in celebration of Enya's 64^th Birthday, with music from local artists including techno legend Agitated Hodgeheg and Utro. Members of the public are encouraged to bring instruments and join in our open jam later in the evening. There will also be free picnic snacks and our bar will be open.

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

Our next door neighbour and besties The Discovery Museum are hosting a silent rave at theirs, as well as some other fun activities.

Find out more at https://thelateshows.org.uk/2025/alphabetti-theatre

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 - 16th and 17th 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 16th May and Saturday 17th May 2025. For more information visit www.thelateshows.org.uk.