It may be the month for ghostly goings-on, but Newcastle’s cultural scene is still alive and kicking. Head into the city for lively nights out, comedy and laughter, a bit of Shakespeare, and some dinosaurs! It’s all coming to Newcastle this October.
The Great Market Caper @ Grainger Market
After the huge success of their debut event last month, The Caper returns for yet more...well...capers amid the lanes of the Grainger Market! This month you can enjoy live music from fantastic blues band The King Bees, revered local singer-songwriter Martin Stephenson, rapper Kema Kay and DJ Multiminded Music; there’s live comedy with Alfie Joey, Chris Cantrill, Anth Young and Si Beckwith; and more entertainment with line dancing and belly dancing to get involved in! Food-wise, chow down on street food from Acropolis, Redheads, Feds, Dumpling And Bun, Soju & Goji, Cantina Newcastle, Cubanos, King Baby Bagels and 1-2-1 Cafe, with suds coming from Firebrick Brewery and VW Shack.
Saturday 1st October, tickets £10
Made.Up North Autumn Market @ Boiler Shop
Looking for an early Christmas present or just want to treat yo’self? Look no further than the fab Made.Up North Autumn market, where you’ll find countless Northern makers, creators, artists, and businesses offering up beautiful things. Grab a bite to eat from pop-up food vendors and a drink from the bar, then check out the offerings from potters, textile artists, jewellers, soap makers, and many more!
Sunday 2nd October, tickets £2
Spooky Science @ Life Science Centre
There’s a chance to enjoy some hands-on scares at Life Science Centre, as they prepare a dastardly concoction of experiments, live shows, and activities during October. The Making Studios will provide instructions on how to make your very own ‘crankenstein’ monster; there’s a brand new live show, Light Up The Dark, which will shine a light on how science sparkles and glows; plus the Experiment Zone offers some weird and wonderful interactive experiences.
Wednesday 5th - Monday 31st October, tickets from £8
Dara O’Briain @ O2 City Hall
Perhaps better known as host of Mock The Week and geek-athon Robot Wars, comedian Dara O’Briain is also highly acclaimed for his clever and witty stand-up. His latest show, So...Where Were We?, will skirt over the last two years like they never happened, instead concentrating on daft one-liners, observational stories and quick-fire humour.
Thursday 6th October, tickets from £27.15
Lindisfarne Gospel Talks @ Laing Art Gallery
Last month the incredible Lindisfarne Gospels arrived for a three-month-long exhibition at Laing Art Gallery on loan from the British Library, and there are some interesting accompanying talks which help shed even more light on the historical and cultural masterpiece. On Thursday 6th, design studio NOVAK - who created the installation which welcomes audiences to the exhibition - will talk about their innovative audio-visual experience, while on Thursday 20th local historian John Woodhurst reveals insights around the archaeology of the medieval monastery on Holy Island.
Thursday 6th & Thursday 20th October, tickets £13/£15
Gary Barlow: A Different Stage @ Tyne Theatre & Opera House
World-renowned songwriter and member of one of the biggest boy bands of all time, Gary Barlow’s new tour will offer a chance to see the pop star like never before. He’ll lift the lid on his incredible career, talk about the highs and lows of fame, and give some special performances from his amazing back catalogue. This isn’t just a show for mega-fans, Gary will provide an interesting insight into the world of fame and pop stardom, with a few pretty ace songs thrown in for good measure!
Monday 10th October, tickets from £36
Image by Pamela Raith
Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical @ Theatre Royal
If you enjoyed the hit movie about the Cornish fishermen who found chart success and ended up on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, you’ll love this highly musical version of the heart-warming tale. Traditional songs provide a soundtrack for a story of community, friendship, and the power of music.
Tuesday 11th - Saturday 15th October, tickets from £15
The Witches of Newcastle @ The Lit & Phil
Learn about this city’s connections to the historic witch trials in the 17th and 18th century, with this incredible event from professional mind-reader and historical witchcraft expert Cara Hamilton. She’ll regale audiences with tales about local witchcraft as well as how it spread across Europe and North America, plus there will be practical demonstrations (gulp!) and enthralling performances.
Friday 21st October, tickets £10/£12
Andrew Cushin @ NX Newcastle
We love nothing more than a musical success story, and the rise of local songwriter Andrew Cushin is certainly one of those. Having been championed by the likes of Noel Gallagher and The Libertines’ Pete Doherty, who were clearly captivated by the artist’s swaggering indie charm, Cushin has found acclaim everywhere he goes. If you’re looking for your new favourite indie rock and roller, look no further.
Friday 21st October, tickets £18.25
Jurassic Takeover @ Utilita Arena
Have a roarsome time at this amazing and immersive adventure, where you can walk amongst fierce dinosaurs! The animatronic life-like creatures will come alive (not literally...we hope), enabling audiences to get up close and personal and learn more about Triceratops, Brontosaurus, T-Rex, Spinosaurus and Raptors. Plus, join the intrepid Rangers on a training mission, check out cute baby dinos in the Hatchery, and loads more. A guaranteed awe-inspiring learning experience for youngsters, and a pretty fascinating one for adults too, three 90-minute sessions run throughout the day at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Don’t miss it.
Saturday 22nd October, tickets £10/£13
Halloween All-Nighter @ Tyneside Cinema
What could be better during spooky season than staying up all night watching horror movies? The Tyneside’s legendary Halloween All-Nighter is back with a bang and provides all the bumps in the night you’ll need for a truly thrilling night! They’re celebrating 85 years of horror classics this year (due to it being the cinema’s 85th birthday), so strap in for much-loved flicks like The Shining and Shaun of the Dead, found-footage nightmares like The Blair Witch Project and [REC], trailblazing Japanese horror movies Ringu and Pulse and some mysterious tales from the vault on 35mm film. Plus, the Coffee Rooms gets a Shining-esque make-over, actors will roam around the venue to add to the frightfest, and there are prizes for the best costume!
Saturday 29th - Sunday 30th October, tickets from £3 (or stay all night for £20)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ Northern Stage
An Autumn blockbuster like no other, Shakespeare’s farcical comedy gets a reboot thanks to theatre company Not Too Tame, where audiences will go on a wild ride through a magical forest, and everything is not quite as it seems. The production will see a theatrical debut from Whitburn songwriter Nadine Shah as Titania, and feature the voice of BAFTA nominated actor David Morrissey as Oberon.
Saturday 29th October - Saturday 12th November, tickets from £10
Shine a little light on your October with a night of theatrical mayhem, comedic wit, world-class live music or creepy cinema! No matter what your taste, there’s always something to enjoy in Newcastle!
