Newcastle theatre marks major milestone as it celebrates with a fund-raising show

The front of Tyne Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle
-Credit:Graeme Peacock


City favourite Tyne Theatre & Opera House may be 158 years old but it also has a 10-year birthday to celebrate this year which is an extra-special one.

The Victorian theatre in Westgate Road - which dates from 1867 making it the second oldest theatre in Newcastle after the 1837 Theatre Royal - this year celebrates 10 years of operating as an independent venue. And that means since 2015 the Grade l-listed building has been a not-for-profit organisation, raising money through box office and bar sales as well as venue hire which goes directly to maintaining, restoring and developing the historic venue.

Donations and volunteers also add vital support to the work of the Preservation Trust, a charity, which has had ownership of the theatre since 2008, although a private company ran it until the change of direction was made in 2015. Now the in-house Tyne Theatre Productions company, which is entirely volunteer-run, is all set to mark that decade milestone with a special anniversary show.

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It has managed to secure a license for Jesus Christ Superstar - a limited-release show seldom available for amateur performance - and this will be running at the theatre during February half-term. In typical fashion, all profits raised by it will go directly into the theatre - which is described as "a fantastic cause".

More good news is that the efforts are all helping the theatre to reach what chief executive officer Jonathan Higgins calls "the strongest position we’ve ever been in". He says that without its audiences continuing to come through the doors it "wouldn’t be able to ensure future generations will have the opportunity to do the same".

The city theatre has been doing its part to attract them, by delivering a variety of shows which over that past decade have brought to the stage the likes of local and world names from stand-up comedians Sarah Millican and Joe Lycett to film composer John Carpenter; Gary Barlow with one-man show A Different Stage and Dame Joan Collins. During that time audience numbers have more than doubled.

Tyne Theatre Productions will be celebrating a 10-year anniversary at the theatre with Jesus Christ Superstar, running from February 25 until March 1. Credit: Meg Jepson
Tyne Theatre Productions will be celebrating a 10-year anniversary at the theatre with Jesus Christ Superstar, running from February 25 until March 1. Credit: Meg Jepson -Credit:Meg Jepson

As previously reported, ongoing restoration is taking place at the theatre which is a rarity in still having its original Victorian stage equipment. A first phase of a project called The Drury Lane of the North - which also includes creating an online catalogue of all past performances - focused upon restoring this and, with the help of a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, the equipment has been brought it back into working order.

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The focus is as much upon looking ahead as preserving the past. As part of work to "future-proof" the old venue, there has been funding from the North East Combined Authority and Newcastle City Council, as part of Creative Central NCL, to help it develop and diversify.

Recent visitors may have noticed the theatre has reinstated the double-height of its former Bistro Bar, making it a more adaptable space, and there's now a new 1867 Cafe Bar. Jonathan is grateful to all those who have bought a drink at the theatre or seen a show; taken a tour; made a donation; joined its Friends Club or even just spread the word.

He said: “Despite the constant challenges faced by independent venues up and down the country, due to the hard work of our staff, volunteers and, most crucially, support from our audiences, we’re in the strongest position we’ve ever been in."

The 10th anniversary show Jesus Christ Superstar, featuring local talent, will be running at the Tyne Theatre from February 25 until March 1. For tickets and to find the rest of the upcoming programme, which includes theatre tours, see here.