Northern Stage

Northern Stage (formerly Newcastle Playhouse) is at the north end of Newcastle City Centre. The theatre is still where it has been for the last 40 years; it's just a bit more hidden.

Facing onto Newcastle University's student building, and crowned by local artist Cath Campbell's thrilling installation, Escapology, Northern Stage has an exciting new frontage, following a redevelopment in 2006. With a glass wall running the full length of the building, the foyer provides a fantastically light and welcoming reception for audiences and visitors.

The building has three performance spaces, two bars and simple and open access for visitors, audiences and performers. The doors are open from 10am every day except Sunday, so that people can drop in and buy tickets. The restaurant opens for breakfast from 10am and food is served until 9pm. The bar is open til 11am and often later on performance nights.

Northern Stage is the largest producing theatre company in the North East of England, and is regarded as one of the top-eleven producing theatres in the UK. As well as their work in Newcastle, you might see them out on tour around the country with some of their biggest work.

Northern Stage have built a reputation for fresh and relevant productions of modern classics that attract audiences of all ages, including the Geordie epic Our Friends in the North, a 1950s version of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, John Osborne’s seminal Look Back in Anger, Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber and the landmark satirical musical Oh What A Lovely War. They are also committed to families in the north-east and every year produce two new Christmas shows; past productions include A Christmas Carol, Tattercoats, Thumbelina, Peter Pan and The Prince and the Penguin.

Besides producing work, Northern Stage are dedicated to presenting the best in local, national and international theatre. Since reopening in 2006 they have hosted the likes of Forced Entertainment, Kneehigh Theatre, Hoipolloi, Theatre Sans Frontieres, Headlong Theatre, DV8 Physical Theatre, The Opera Group, the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Creative Residencies programme gives resources to local theatre-makers to develop and present their work in our theatre.

Northern Stage continue to build partnerships internationally. In 2007 they collaborated with legendary theatre director Robert Lepage on his new play Lipsynch which subsequently toured internationally. In the same year they hosted renowned South African writer, actor and director John Kani, with his award winning play Nothing But The Truth and have since had visits from many others including internationally-renowned photographer Wang Qingsong’s first commission in the UK.