What's on in the North East

Published: 18 March 2018
Reporter: Peter Lathan

Don Giovanni (Newcastle Theatre Royal) Credit: Bill Cooper
The Last Ship (Northern Stage) Credit: Pamela Raith
Glisten (The Hullabaloo, Darlington) Credit: Stephen Beeny

Opera North returns to Newcastle Theatre Royal this week, presenting Madama Butterfly on Tuesday and Thursday (7:30), Don Giovanni on Wednesday and Friday (7:00) and Un Ballo in Maschera on Saturday (7:00).

Sting’s musical The Last Ship continues in Stage 1 at Northern Stage until 7 April. Then from Thursday to Saturday in Stage 2 (8:00), LIFT presents Minefield, in which six Falklands / Malvinas war veterans who once faced each other across a battlefield now face each other across a stage, sharing memories, films, songs and photos as they recall the war and embody the political figures that led them into it.

At Alphabetti from Wednesday to Friday, Last Kid Picked Theatre Company presents Delusions by John Scott who was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia aged 24 and correctly diagnosed with bipolar disorder aged 32. This is a stand-up comedy show about those years.

Old Kent Road presents tap show Fall Out at Dance City on Thursday.

Jersey Boys returns to Sunderland Empire from Tuesday until 31 March.

At Arts Centre Washington on Thursday, in storytelling show Circled in the Radio Times, John Osborne tells how finding an old collection of copies of the Radio Times leads to him piece together the life of the previous owner, and looks at the changing nature of the way all of us watch television.

On Thursday, The Cultural Spring presents Becoming Scheherazade, in which Kamaal Hussain navigates the voyages of Sindbad the Sailor and tries to make sense of his own family’s relationship to their migration from Iraq to the UK. It will be followed by a Middle East inspired feast (included in the ticket price).

On Saturday, Kelly Abbott Dance Theatre presents Launch Day at Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

Little Mighty presents If I Say Jump at The Witham in Barnard Castle on Friday.

Children’s show Milkshake! Live comes to Billingham Forum at 12:00 and 3:30 on Sunday.

Dryad Productions’ Jane Eyre: An Autobiography is at Hartlepool Town Hall on Tuesday.

Bonnie and The Bonnettes present Drag Me To Love, about being 14 years old and a drag queen, at ARC Stockton on Wednesday. Then on Saturday at 11:30 and 2:30, Lyngo Theatre presents Cbeebies’ Patrick Lynch in Tom Thumb.

On Wednesday, Ellen Kent and Opera & Ballet International bring Madama Butterfly to Darlington Hippodrome. Then on Saturday and Sunday (10:00, 1:00 and 4:00), Peppa Pig’s Adventure arrives.

Also in Darlington, at the Hullabaloo, from Thursday to Saturday at various times, Glisten is an interactive performance for babies aged 0-18 months and their grown-ups.

Are you sure?