Flying Dragon Circus
Tue 15 - Sat 19 July
Theatre Royal 
Wed 30 July - Sun 3 August
Stockton International Riverside festival
Part of the year-long EAST'08 programme, this show is a groundbreaking celebration of the very best of Chinese and European circus traditions, with circus artists, musicians and Kung Fu performers taking to the air. Newcastle's Theatre Royal is very proud to host the show's UK debut following its premiere in Beijing in May. Directed by the highly renowned Pierrot Bidon, whose previous anarchic creations include Archaos, it also features music performed by the Baghdaddies.
For more information visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk 


Hotel Monument
Commissioned by Locus+
Fri 15 August - Mon 15 September (TBC)
Grey's Monument
This unique and ambitious art project, which is the vision of world-renowned artist Tatzu Nishi, will create a temporary hotel room at the top of Grey's Monument, 40 metres above the ground in the centre of Newcastle. The room will be constructed carefully around Earl Grey himself and will be open to the public and for overnight stays. The ultra-exclusive hotel will be fully-functioning with its own bathroom and, as in any hotel worth its salt, an overnight stay will include a tasty breakfast. Demand is expected to be high and it'll be first-come, first-served when booking starts later this summer. Hotel Monument is part of the year-long EAST'08 programme. (Project subject to permissions). 
Please note this project has now been delayed. For more information click here.


Aviva British Grand Prix
Sun 31 August
Gateshead International Stadium
International athletics returns to Gateshead just seven days after the Beijing Olympics, with what is certain to be a star-studded Grand Prix of new British and overseas Beijing Olympic medallists. In 2006, the last time the world's elite in track and field came to Gateshead, Asafa Powell netted a world record in the 100m, and in 2004 Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva matched that feat in the women's pole vault. Equally great performances are expected this year in the UK's first chance to experience live world-class athletics after the Olympic Games.
For more information visit www.ukathletics.net

Picnopolis
Sat 16 - Mon 25 August
Venues across Newcastle and Gateshead
FREE
Japanese art unit Tokyo Picnic Club (TPC) invites you to share ‘10 days of picnic' in Newcastle and Gateshead. As part of the year-long EAST'08 programme, TPC will create two different kinds of picnic site, MOTHERPLANE (at Baltic Square) and smaller BABYPLANES (at a number of locations across Newcastle and Gateshead), providing a unique opportunity to enjoy summer in the city's stunning urban landscape. Dust off your flasks and picnic hampers and get ready as TPC announces Newcastle and Gateshead as ‘The City of Picnic'.
For more information visit click here. 

Changing Cities, with Wang Qingsong
Mon 8 - Sun 14 September
Northern Stage theatre
FREE
Award-winning Chinese artist Wang Qingsong collaborates with Northern Stage to create an exciting and innovative one-off exhibition. During Qingsong's residency at the theatre, the main stage will temporarily become a giant photographic studio. Over 300 people from the region will take part in a unique grand-scale installation for the photograph. Audiences will have the unique chance to see the work come to life, as the process is transmitted to screens all over the theatre building. The finished photographs will form a spectacular exhibition in and around the theatre as part of the year-long EAST'08 programme.
For more information visit www.northernstage.co.uk 

Tour of Britain
Fri 12 September
From Darlington to Gateshead
FREE
The Tour of Britain is an international cycle race that takes place from Sun 7 - Sun 14 September this year. The eight-day event begins in London, finishing the following weekend in Liverpool. 96 riders from 16 of the world's top teams will fight for victory each day with the ultimate goal of taking away the Yellow Jersey at the end of the race. 2008 will be the first time that the race has visited North East England and for the inaugural visit of the race the route will take the riders from Darlington, via Durham up to Northumberland, then through Newcastle to finish on the banks of the River Tyne in Gateshead.
For more information visit www.tourofbritain.co.uk

Juice - NewcastleGateshead's festival for children and young people
Sat 27 September - Sun 30 November
Venues across Newcastle and Gateshead
Some events are FREE
There will be something for everyone with the inaugural season providing the opportunity for children and young people (0-18 years) to get involved in a whole host of activities, from interacting with fun installations - including one made from miles of elastic - within heritage buildings across the city, to participating in extreme sports at the coast, and taking over and running the city's cultural venues. The season will include the world premiere of Skellig - the Opera at The Sage Gateshead, the visit of inspiring young artists from Brazil, AfroReggae, and an exhibition at Seven Stories, the Centre for Children's Books, about the work of David Almond - the award-winning local author of the book Skellig.
For more information visit www.NewcastleGateshead.com/Juice  

SAMA South Asian Festival
Mon 6 - Sun 12 October
Venues across Newcastle and Gateshead
Building on the success of last year's inaugural South Asian Festival, SAMA returns to Newcastle and Gateshead in 2008 bringing with it the spirit and spice of South Asian music, arts and culture. There's an exciting programme of events and festivities, including this year, a major Indian literature strand as well as stunning performances by some of the finest musicians, DJs, artists and dancers from across the UK and South Asia. There'll also be workshops, exhibitions, a film and food festival and spectacular outdoor finale on Sun 12 October when Baltic Square will be transformed into a Meena Bazaar, with colourful stalls, thrilling street performances and amazing activities for the whole family to enjoy. SAMA is part of the year-long EAST'08 programme.
For more information visit www.samafestival.org


Enlightenment - Durham International Light Festival
Thurs 6 - Sat 8 November
Durham City Centre
Enlightenment is a stunning and truly international light festival celebrating Durham’s religious and industrial heritage. Four new light-based artworks will be exhibited on the city’s bridges in the shadow of the Castle and Cathedral, showing Durham as viewed through the eyes of two very different cultures. The installations have been created by two Indian and two UK-based artists and are a fusion of cultural identities, creative styles and methods of working. The individual pieces take their inspiration from the sacred texts, iconic images and traditions of Durham and several Eastern societies. The major pieces are supported by Intermittent, a trail of smaller light installations, projections, film works and light boxes exhibited in shop windows across the city.
For more information visit www.enlightenment.co.uk

Register your details with us and be the first to hear about these and other world-class festivals and events in our programme programme. Register here

Each email sent to you gives you the option to unsubscribe and we will not pass your email address or personal details to any other organisation. The information will be used solely for NewcastleGateshead promotions.