The QT

Tuesday 15 October 2024
15/10/2024

9 May 2024

Culture digest

Sir Ridley Scott honoured at Windsor Castle Oscar-winning North East film director Sir Ridley Scott was awarded the Knight Grand Cross by the Prince of Wales for services to the UK film industry. The 86-year-old whose incredible career includes classic films such as Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise and Gladiator was knighted in 2003 …

Cultural bodies celebrate a funding boost

Six North East cultural organisations are to receive just over £2.1m in capital investment from Arts Council England (ACE) to improve accessibility, reduce environmental impact and support new business models. It’s the region’s share of the second round of ACE’s Capital Investment Programme which will see a total of £24.2m distributed to 67 organisations across …

Conjuring up a new career

“Look, I’ve never pulled a rabbit out of the hat,” insists Ian Campbell as he prepares for the first of this week’s three shows. “That’s just not my style.” Launching a brand new magic business at the back end of the pandemic comes pretty close. As bold decisions go, it’s proved ingeniously successful. “I just …

Remarkable life of D-Day’s unsung heroes

It wasn’t just the Germans who knew Britain and her Allies were preparing to invade France in 1944 in a bid to end the deadliest conflict the world had ever seen.  The British public was also aware that plans were being finalised to liberate north-west Europe from Nazi occupation and destroy Hitler’s despotic regime. What …

Late Shows artists prepare for a big night

In a rented studio in the Ouseburn, three musicians are pulling on monks’ — or, more correctly, friars’ — black costumes for a photo ahead of a morning’s intense rehearsal. Elsewhere in Newcastle, another trio of creatives are putting the finishing touches to an audio-visual installation intended to bring a favourite city haunt to life …

International rescue

Every May I’m reminded of the enormous debt I owe to International Stephen. As the name suggests, he’s a global player. In this case, in the world of Soca. I like to think of International — we’re on first name terms these days — as a close friend. But it wasn’t always that way. In …

A portrait of Derek

Under a pervasive atmosphere of violence, homeless hostel residents live side by side but in isolation.  Derek, seldom leaving his room and haunted by the spectre of the family he lost, lives without the safety nets most of us take for granted. Significant life choices  — involving financial difficulties, mental and physical health  — are …

Abuse and death threats — welcome to my world son

Sat alongside his teenage son Jay, at the family dining table in their well-appointed Tynemouth home, a pensive Lewis Bartoli considers a difficult question carefully. Given that he’s just admitted to receiving his first death threat as a Tory councillor, I’m intrigued to know why on earth he’s supporting the fledgling political career of his …

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