Big screen opening for Beamish Museum
County Durham attraction, Beamich Museum, is preparing to unveil its 1950s cinema – offering an entertaining addition to its 1950s Town.
The recreation of the Grand cinema, from Ryhope in Sunderland, will give visitors a chance to experience a trip to the cinema in the 1950s, including Pathé news clips, films and adverts. It will open in early July.
Other new exhibits for the 1950s Town include a toy shop, electrical and record shop, and STEM learning space while in the 1820s landscape, visitors will be able to dine like Georgians at the tavern, which will serve Georgian-inspired food and a specially-brewed ale.
The museum is also opening a pottery, an example of Georgian industry, where visitors will be able to watch the traditional skill and have a go at making their own creation.
The Georgian Tavern and Pottery will open on June 21 with the 1950s exhibits all opening in early July. Visit the website for more information.
See next week’s edition of The QT for a full report from David Whetstone.
Tyne prepares to welcome a very special Tall Ship
A stunning Spanish galleon will make its first visit to Newcastle as part of a tour of UK ports.
The Galeon Andalucia is a ‘floating museum ship’ and has been docked at Dun Cow Quay in Blyth ahead of its near two-week stay at Spiller’s Quay in the Ouseburn.
A painstakingly accurate replica of the ships that were used by Spanish explorers between the 16th and 18th centuries, the galleon will sail up the Tyne on June 25 and be available for visitors to explore between 10am and 8pm each day, until July 7.
Operated by the Spanish Nao Victoria Foundation, the replica Spanish galleon was built by a naval engineer and historian and boasts a crew of between 15 and 35 people who sail the galleon around the world.
Visitors will be able to board the galleon to look around its six decks and learn about the ship and Spanish naval history.
Tickets available from the website.
Northumberland pub brews up new festival
The Twice Brewed Inn in Northumberland has unveiled the programme for its inaugural Beer and Music Fest.
“Great beer, good food and live entertainment” are all on the menu for the three-day event, which will take place from June 28-30 in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall Country.
Held in the grounds of the popular pub – which has a sister brewery on site – there will also be special event marquees playing host to entertainment and beer tasting.
A dozen Twice Brewed beers and 10 exciting guest beers will be on offer, together with a Gin and Spirit bar featuring a wide range of products including the famous Sycamore Gap tipple.
Popular North East acts, Hip Hip Hooray, Jason Arnup and Guilty Pleasure are among the line-up which will keep the crowds entertained. There will also be face painting and children’s entertainment – including shows in TheTwice Brewed’s planetarium – to make sure visitors of all ages can drink up the atmosphere.
Tickets are £12 for adults and £7.50 for under 18s. Under 4’s go free. Tickets for the whole weekend are available for £25. All tickets include a branded glass, one drink token and a festival programme. Book via the website.
There will be free shuttle buses to Bardon Mill and transport will be available at the end of each night. There are also a limited number of camping pitches available. Email [email protected] or call 01434 344534 to book.
See Arrival before it leaves
The final flowering of Seeds of Hope, a collaboration between artists from Tynedale and Ukraine, takes place on Saturday (June 22) at Hexham Abbey with two performances of Arrival.
The programme initiated by Hexham-based Théâtre sans Frontières (TsF) was designed to run from the Spring Equinox to the Summer Solstice.
It has included performances, workshops and exhibitions (Lost & Found, at Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, runs until Saturday) involving artists and performers from the local area and Ukraine, refugees who have arrived since the Russian invasion.
Arrival is described as an immersive performance exploring stories of displacement, incorporating that of Hexham Abbey founder Ethelreda, who left her Cambridgeshire home for Northumberland 1,350 years ago, and contemporary experiences.
“The performance uses theatre, music, song and poetry to celebrate Hexham Abbey as a place of sanctuary through the ages,” say TsF.
Arrival will be performed at 6pm and 8pm and details can be found on the Hexham Abbey website.
Sunderland hits the right note in Music City bid
Musicians from across Wearside will take to the streets of Sunderland tomorrow (June 21) to showcase the area’s tuneful talent.
The event is part of Make Music Day UK, with singers and musicians performing at busking spots and venues across the city centre.
And two of its leading, home-grown stars – The Lake Poets’ Marty Longstaff and Frankie Francis, lead singer of Frankie and the Heartstrings – will be on hand to kickstart the day as Wearside aims to become an internationally recognised Music City*.
*Read Paul Callaghan’s Civilised Society column making the case for Music City status here.
Summer in the City programme revealed for Newcastle
Open air movies, kayaking taster sessions, twilight yoga and a dog festival are among the many highlights of this year’s Summer in the City schedule.
Programmed by NE1, the free events schedule is likely to attract thousands to Newcastle city centre – which is obviously the point.
There will also be the ever-popular Restaurant Week, the return of the NOVUM Festival which made a successful debut last year and the high octane-sounding Red Bull Tyne Ride… involving the ‘toughest head-to-head motorcycle ride’ along the Quayside.
Full programme details available from the NE1 website.
Step into Storyland
A day devoted to “bookish fun” for the whole family is on the cards in Northumberland next weekend as the Hexham Book Festival’s Storyland event takes place.
Storytelling, interactive author visits, workshops, circus skills, music, food, entertainment and more is peppered throughout the day-long programme which takes place between the Queen’s Hall and Sele Park on Sunday, June 30.
The event, which includes both free and paid for sessions, will run from 10.45am until around 4pm.
Full details at the Book Festival website.
The Auckland Project’s Summer Fest introduces itself
A month-long arts festival in Bishop Auckland kicks off this weekend (June 22) in the grand setting of Auckland Castle.
Summer Fest has been organised to offer entertainment throughout the remainder of June and the majority of July for people of all ages.
Family film screenings and an eclectic music programme have been chosen to offer something for everyone.
Highlights include Abba tribute band, Mania (June 22); Northumbrian folk darlings, The Unthanks (June 28); A night of Motown (July 5); Queen tribute act, Majesty (July 13); and a community concert featuring traditional brass music as well as pop and rock music (July 14).
Full details from The Auckland Project website.
