10 Unmissable Events in Newcastle this August

August is jam-packed with entertaining and interesting ways to spend your free time, and Newcastle’s venues are waiting to welcome you! Here, we pick out some of the best events taking place across the city throughout the month, from rocking musicals, multi-cultural celebrations, improvised comedy and a culinary battle!
 

Film Screenings @ Newcastle Castle

Settle in for a great movie in the unique surrounds of Newcastle Castle’s Great Hall, and you can even bring your own refreshments! They’re showing a variety of films over the coming months, with screenings in August including whimsical musical fantasy Labyrinth, featuring David Bowie as the enigmatic Goblin King (5th Aug), Kevin Costner’s epic adventure Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (12th Aug), the disturbing original folk horror flick The Wicker Man (19th Aug), black comedy Withnail & I (20th Aug), American horror comedy Young Frankenstein (26th Aug) and a very special peek ‘behind the screams’ screening of historical horror film Witchfinder General, which will also include a Q&A with supernatural and social history expert Katie Liddane, who will investigate Newcastle’s very own witch trials.

From Friday 5th August, tickets from £12.

Arthur’s Cabaret Club with Pride @ Arthur’s, Fenwick

Continuing the UK Pride celebrations, Fenwick’s one-of-a-kind restaurant and music club Arthur’s will present two nights of fabulous performance and amazing food at their cabaret club. Expect a variety of local performers who will celebrate themes of love and expression, and provide the soundtrack to a dazzling three-course meal. Entertainment will include acoustic music sets followed by a drag performance from queer club night Spectrum, plus on Friday Carmen ‘Show Tunes and Wine’ presents music and comedy to close the show and on Saturday there’s live music from MXYM. Included in the price is a welcome cocktail, choices of starters including shellfish cocktail or truffle terrine, main courses including honey glazed roast duck breast or Westcombe ricotta dumplings and a delicious lemon and yuzu dessert.

Friday 5th & Saturday 6th August, £50
 

Planetarium @ Great North Museum: Hancock

A perfect wet weather activity for all the family (if one is needed!), Great North Museum: Hancock’s Planetarium offers a great opportunity to learn and be entertained at the same time. Their shows tour the solar system, reveal how astronauts do their job, go on a hunt for alien life and explore the night sky. While you’re at the venue, check out their other permanent displays including the Natural Northumbria and Living Planet galleries, where you can see full-sized models of animal life including a monstrous T-Rex skeleton and learn about Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and more.

Every day, tickets from £2.95
 

Image: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band

Newcastle Jazz Festival @ The Black Swan & The Bridge Hotel

Now in its fourth season, Newcastle’s celebration of jazzy sounds returns to venues in the city for four days of genre-spanning delights. Thursday 18th sees Strictly Smokin’ Big Band play tribute to jazz great Charles Mingus at The Bridge Hotel on what would have been his 100th birthday, and on Friday 19th The Black Swan welcomes Northern Monkey Brass Band and phenomenal saxophonist Harry Keeble Duo. There’s further celebrations at Tyne Bank Brewery in the Ouseburn Valley across the rest of the weekend too, featuring Ivo Neame Quartet, Lindsay Hannon, Knats and Emma Rawicz.

Thursday 18th-Sunday 21st August, tickets from £15
 

Suggestibles Improv Comedy Joyride @ The Stand

If you’ve never been to an improv comedy show before, let the experts lead the way… The Suggestibles are one of the region’s most celebrated improvised comedy troupes, able to masterfully turn audience suggestions into hilarious gags without missing a beat. Their Improv Comedy Joyride will take you on a rollercoaster journey of spontaneous games, skits, sketches and songs, all inspired by whatever the audience throws at them!

Thursday 18th August, tickets £12.50

Scouting for Girls @ Central Park

There’s nothing quite like an open air concert from one of your favourite bands, and for many indie pop lovers this summer Central Park will be the location of an epic sing-along as the venue welcomes pop rock trio Scouting For Girls. Since their formation in 2005, the band have gained thousands of fans thanks to their easygoing and catchy indie pop sound, releasing such gems as She’s So Lovely, Elvis Ain’t Dead and This Ain’t A Love Song.

Thursday 18th August, tickets £27.50
 

Image: We Will Rock You by Johan Persson
 

We Will Rock You @ Theatre Royal

Any Queen fan worth their salt will be ecstatic to see the world-class production of We Will Rock You, Ben Elton and Queen’s smash-hit multi-million pound show, on the big stage. The tale follows a band of rock rebels who fight against a future without musical instruments, soundtracked by some of Queen’s most epic songs including I Want To Break Free, Killer Queen, A Kind of Magic and many more. The staging and spectacle is magnificent, don’t miss it!

Monday 22nd-Saturday 27th August, tickets from £39
 

Sean Paul @ O2 City Hall Newcastle

Having enjoyed considerable success over the last two decades thanks to his adoption of the dancehall pop movement, Jamaican singer and rapper Sean Paul is probably best known for his collabs with the likes of Beyonce, Sia, Clean Bandit and Pharrell Williams. His debut album, Dutty Rock, earned him plaudits aplenty and went multi-platinum, and since then he’s branched out into pop and dance styles, showing an easy versatility and ensuring his reputation as a vital part of the dancehall scene.

Tuesday 23rd August, tickets from £41.75
 

Battle Royale: Best of the Best @ Wylam Brewery

You’ve watched the best of the region’s chefs battle it out to be crowned winners, you’ve eaten as much pizza, curry, burgers and Thai food as you possibly can in one day (all in the name of research, of course) and you’ve got the expanded waistband to prove it. Now, for the first time, take them all on at once as Battle Royale: Best of the Best brings celebrated players and curve balls alike under one roof for an epic weekend of food. Who will win? Vote with your £4 tokens and help to crown the champion!

Friday 26th & Saturday 27th August, free

Newcastle Mela @ Grey Street & Exhibition Park

A glorious celebration of Pakistani, Bengali, Indian and South Asian art and culture, Newcastle Mela returns to Exhibition Park on Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday, with additional Mela In The City events in partnership with NE1 on the Saturday at Grey’s Monument and on Grey Street. On Saturday in the city centre there’s a host of free family-friendly activities, plus entertainment from Balbir Singh Dance, brass band Bombay Baja, circus duo Witty Look, Banghra dancing, art and crafts, henna tattoos and the Spice FM Radio Roadshow. On Sunday and Monday at Exhibition Park expect the usual vibrant multi-cultural performances from singers and dancers, circus acts and local groups, plus a host of delicious food, clothing, gifts and jewellery stalls and craft activities.

Saturday 27th (Grey Street), Sunday 28th & Monday 29th August (Exhibition Park), free

No matter how you choose to spend the month, there's always something going on in the city. Don't forget to check out the Screen on the Green movies and NE1's Summer in the City activities too!