North East

Otherly Love

Brian Lonsdale

Working with young people during lockdown

How Northumberland-based Mortal Fools has continued its work with young people and in professional development in spite of the lockdown.

Open Clasp’s Rattle Snake streaming online

Open Clasp’s Rattle Snake, a play about coercive control, is to stream with BSL signing.

The North East in the 2020 Panto Awards

NE shows mentioned in the 2020 Great British Pantomime Awards.

Stuff from NE writer launches Bitter Pill project

Stuff, a new play from NE writer Alison Carr, launches a new online series of plays from Bitter Pill Theatre.

Support your local theatres—please

Amid all the concern for the dangers to West End theatres and the major national companies brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Peter Lathan makes a plea that local theatre throughout the UK should not be forgotten.

Remembrance of Theatre Past (15–17): More on the Tynewear Theatre Company

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This instalment looks at his time with the Tynewear Theatre Company at Newcastle Playhouse and Newcastle Theatre Royal and how it came to an end.

Remembrance of Theatre Past (12–14): Tynewear Theatre Co

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This instalment looks at his time with the Tynewear Theatre Company at Newcastle Playhouse.

Remembrance of theatre past (10–11): panto in Sunderland

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This instalment features the stars of many pantos at the Sunderland Empire, plus some stories about panto chorus boys.

Remembrance of theatre past (7–9): when punks came to Sunderland

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This instalment features the night the punks came to Sunderland Empire, a rather odd photo job and a few Green Room conversations.

Let’s not confuse theatres with Theatre

Peter Lathan responds to the suggestion that theatres may not be able to re-open until 2021.

Remembrance of theatre past (4–6): National Youth Theatre, ballerinas and footballers

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This instalment focuses on his time at Sunderland Empire and features the National Youth Theatre, a major failure as a photographer and a “contest” between ballerinas and footballers.

Remembrance of theatre past (1–3): stories from Sunderland Empire

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This first instalment comprises three stories from his time at Sunderland Empire.

Lamentations of an isolated theatrical

Peter Lathan explores how well (or otherwise) he is living with isolation.

A Great Night Out: How I learned to love Shakespeare (at age 14)

Peter Lathan reveals how Shakespeare suddenly stopped being boring for him when he was 14.

The best of North East theatre in 2019 (according to me)

NE editor Peter Lathan selects his “best of…” in the North East for 2019.

North East theatre in 2019 – a review

NE editor Peter Lathan looks back over a year of theatre in the North East, from Teesside in the south to the Scottish Border in the north, and from the coast in the east to the Pennines in the west.