Unfolding Theatre

We are delighted to announce that Unfolding Theatre has received funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation to bring our brand new family show Here Be Dragons to life! 🐉✨

This is our first-ever family-focused production, and we can't wait to share it with communities. Created with incredible young people from across our region, Here Be Dragons will be staged on The Unfolding Theatre—our pop-up stage made entirely from reclaimed wood! 🌳♻️

🌍 Touring to festivals, community halls, and public spaces, this show will bring the magic of theatre right to your doorstep, reaching families in areas with low cultural provision.

💬 And that’s not all—Here Be Dragons will also have a BSL-integrated version, making it fully accessible for both deaf and hearing audiences. Inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do, and we are excited to continue our work with the North East Deaf community.

Thank you to Garfield Weston Foundation for making this possible! Stay tuned for updates on tour dates & locations! 🎭✨

We are also very grateful to Cultural Spring who are commissioning the first phase of show's touring in Sunderland and South Tyneside in February. This funding enables us to build on that tour to reach even more audiences across the North East and the UK.

Let the Dragon adventures begin! 🐉

https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/articles/2024/9/30/unfolding-theatre-receives-garfield-weston-foundation-funding-for-new-family-show-here-be-dragons

📸 Here Be Dragons Creative Team (left to right); Folasade Fasoyiro Community Champion), Annie Rigby (Artistic Director), Hannabiel Sanders (Music Director) and Lindsay Rodden (Writer). Image Credit - Mark Savage

We’re recruiting!

Unfolding Theatre is seeking two passionate individuals to join our Board of Trustees! If you’re excited about theatre, community, and want to help shape the future of a bold and creative arts organisation, this could be the role for you.

We’re looking for people who:
✨ Believe in the power of theatre and community
✨ Are keen to contribute to Unfolding Theatre’s future plans
✨ Want to help us deliver our best work and expand our impact
✨ Are excited to build connections and raise our profile

Interested? Find out more here: https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/opportunities

It's time to celebrate the incredible culture, heritage, and art in our brilliant region! The deadline for voting in the is fast approaching—Monday at 5pm!

We believe Lady Kitt is a strong contender for Visual Artist of the Year, thanks to their immersive set design for our production Night Classes. Visually stunning and sustainable, their work leaves a lasting legacy through their allotmenteering practice, which mirrors how people repurpose materials to build sheds on allotments—using elements from previous projects to give old parts new life.

Have to time to nominate? Here's the link! https://necultureawards.com/northeastcultureawards2024/en/page/home

Images - Art Matters
Von Fox Promotions

Our Voices Were Heard is a powerful age-positive theatre show by Elders Council of Newcastle and Unfolding Theatre! 🎭🎶

Join us for an inspiring morning filled with protest songs, live music, and real-life stories of older people reflecting on how they've made their voices heard over the years—and how we can all continue to drive positive change together.

🎟️ Book your FREE tickets now for Saturday 26th October at Newcastle City Library. Tea, coffee, & cake included. ☕🍰

Find out more - https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/whatson/2024/10/26/our-voices-were-heard

🐉✨ Calling all Dragons! ✨🐉

Join us at Wey Aye Deaf Festival for Here Be Dragons at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Saturday 2nd November 2024!

Get ready to spread your wings and dive into a world of imagination with us. Take part in exciting dragon-themed activities for the whole family:

🎨 Design your dragon wings
🗺️ Help create a massive map of adventures
🔥 Bring your dragon stories to life!

Don't miss out! Find out more: https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/whatson/2024/11/2/here-be-dragons-at-wey-aye-festival

Lately, we’ve been working on Young Voices, Big Ideas, an innovative public engagement project aimed at gathering the voices of young people on the changes they want to see for a happy, healthy future - commissioned by University of Liverpool

Since December 2023 we've been popping up across Liverpool at schools, community events, festivals, and markets, inviting children and young people to share their ideas through audio recordings, digital messages, and handwritten notes! ✍️🎤📱

Next month their voices will take centre stage at Museum of Liverpool for a two-week celebration! 🏛️💬✨

Find out more - https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/youngvoicesbigideas

📸 Dr Emilia Trapasso (Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Public Engagement at University of Liverpool) and Annie Rigby (Artistic Director at Unfolding Theatre)

We're here today at Stanhope Show with Northern Heartlands CIO, making and awarding Best in Show Rosettes today 🏵

🌟 Ready to reach for the stars? 🌟

Our FREE Children & Young People’s programmes are BACK next week after the summer break! 🙌

We’re excited to welcome back:

✨ North East Deaf Youth Theatre
✨ Cowgate Young Theatre Makers
✨ East End Story Makers

These creative sessions give young people the space to explore, express themselves, and most importantly, have fun! 🎭

Spaces are filling up fast, so don’t miss out—book your child’s spot now!

📅 Starting next week!
📍 North East locations

Find out more - https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/whatson

🎭 Drumroll, please… 🥁

Cowgate Young Theatre Makers is BACK on Monday 16th September! 🎉

📅 Weekly sessions every Monday, 4pm-6pm during term-time.

✨ Calling all young drama enthusiasts aged 8-14! Whether you're into theatre-making, creative writing, movement, or even behind-the-scenes roles like tech, sound, and set design—we've got something for you! 🎬🎶🎨

📍 Join us at Cowgate Community Centre (NE5 3UT) for a FREE opportunity to create, perform, and share your stories!

📌 Places are limited, so book now! Priority will be given to those from Cowgate and nearby areas.

Delivered in partnership with Projects 4 Change

https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/whatson/cowgatetheatremakers

North East Deaf Youth Theatre is back for a brand new term, and we can't wait to start! Whether you're a returning star or joining us for the first time, this is your chance to shine, express yourself, and make brilliant memories with fellow young theatre makers.

📅 New term starts Saturday 21st September—and places are free!
⏱️ Times: 9.30-11.30
🧒 For ages 5-12
🏟️ Gosforth Civic Theatre

https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/whatson/2023/1/21/north-east-deaf-youth-theatre

🌟 Our Children & Young People's Programme is back this September! 🎭

After a summer break, we're excited to welcome back our creative communities:

🎬 Cowgate Young Theatre Makers
📚 East End Story Makers
🔊 North East Deaf Youth Theatre

These sessions are free but places must be booked in advance!

👉 Reserve your spot today.

https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/whatson

Did you attend our workshop at NOVUM Festival over the weekend?

Let us know your thoughts by completing this short survey! https://forms.gle/zTCcVqix5Cjxde5dA

📸 Von Fox Promotions

Thank you to all the amazing dragons who swooped in to Newcastle Civic Centre Gardens at NOVUM Festival today!

We loved creating dragon-themed adventures with you all. 🐉

From shape-shifting dragons, which turned into sea-lions and fire-breathing dragons who couldn't actually breathe, we enjoyed creating many wondrous tales with you all!

The workshop delivered today is part of an ongoing project, as we co-create with children and young people to produce our next theatre show .

Please sign up to our newsletter to find out more as the show develops.

www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk

Thanks to everyone who came down this weekend, to Ladies of Midnight Blue: Hannabiell & Yilis who provided the beats today and to the Brendan Murphy for kindly providing music yesterday (in between performances of RIPU).

We're having a fantastic time down at , making dragon wings with festival goers. We're bringing our dragon stories to life on The Unfolding Theatre too.

For more info, head to the link in our bio for more info.

A message from Artistic Director, Annie Rigby:

"Unfolding Theatre was founded 15 years ago with the mission of bringing people together.

This week, for the first time in our history, we have cancelled a young people’s activity because of the risks posed by a far right protest planned in the area.

The group is a glorious reflection of the diversity of our local communities. To tell you a bit about them, they love decorating biscuits in the style of gingerbread Taylor Swifts, performing Shakespeare and making music. They are planning to make a show that celebrates the international connections and cultures held within the group.

We are really sad not to be taking them on a trip this weekend. However, their safety and happiness is our priority.

Although that activity is cancelled, we are going ahead with other events this weekend. We’re supporting each individual in making the decision that is right for them regarding whether or not they wish to participate. We’re making sure they won’t lose their fee either way. We respect their decision either way. It is not easy for them or for us to know exactly what is the right thing to do in such a volatile context.

However, one thing we know for sure is that Unfolding Theatre stands against racism. Our mission is to bring people together. In less violent times, this mission might feel a bit soft. It doesn’t right now.

Bringing people together means spending time with people who are different to you. It means turning the ‘other’ into a human you’ve now got to know. Sometimes it makes them a friend. It knits us and our communities together more strongly.

It isn’t always enough. Yesterday our Artistic Director bumped into a young lad we’ve worked with over many years. He was with some older lads, wandering about and looking for trouble that might be kicking off. She had a quiet word, asked him to look after himself and stay away from trouble. He said he would, then ran off to catch up with his mates.

The work to stop vulnerable young people getting caught up in hate never ends. We have to keep making spaces of togetherness, understanding and respect. We have to do it - and we will keep doing it - again and again and again. As long as it takes.

We send all our love and support to everyone feeling scared, hurt, worried and upset. We are stronger together.

Ax"

Calling all dragons! 🐉 It’s almost time to spread your wings at NOVUM Festival NEXT WEEKEND!

📅 Dates: Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th August 2024
📍 Location: Newcastle Civic Centre Gardens, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7PN
🕚 Time: 11am - 5pm
💸 Cost: FREE

✨ Highlights include:

Design & Make Your Own Dragon Wings.
Create a Massive Map of Adventures: Help us chart new worlds where your dragon story ideas can take flight.
Bring Your Dragon Stories to Life.
These family-friendly workshops are part of the creative process for our upcoming show, .

Bring your family, bring your friends, and let’s make some dragon magic together!

https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/whatson/herebedragons

📸 Ben Hughes (courtesy of Summer Streets Festival)



Newcastle City Council Curated Place

We're looking forward to bringing to NOVUM Festival this year. Save the date 📅 and see you there? Plenty to do for families (and grown-ups too)...check out the brochure!

🎉 2 weeks to go until Novum Festival 2024! 🌟

Get your brochure now and start planning your perfect day at the festival! Don't miss out on amazing performances, live music and unforgettable experiences. 📅✨

Download Brochure here 📲👉 https://i.mtr.cool/uxlpjesyuh

Get Into Newcastle : Visit Newcastle City Centre, NE1 Newcastle City Council Newcastle Theatre Royal Dance City Great North Museum: Hancock Triple Treat Theatre Unfolding Theatre F54 Flamingods DJ Yoda Kima Otung Northern Print

🎭✨ Wrapping up an incredible week with ! ✨🎭

Our talented theatre makers have been hard at work, preparing for their big end-of-week show! From crafting handmade tickets to dazzling performances, this week has been filled with smiles, memories, and new friendships - plus a beaming audience!

What a wonderful week it’s been! See you next time? 😊👋

For more information about this programme - https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/north-east-deaf-youth-theatre.

Our free monthly sessions start back at Gosforth Civic Theatre in September!

Huge thanks to workshop facilitator and photographer Tahremma for all the footage this week - cracking job!

And thanks to EJ, Taheema, Sophie, Midge and Annie for another brilliant camp - WHAT A TEAM!

🎭 Camp is going wonderfully at Gosforth Civic Theatre this week! 🌟 Huge thanks to Tahreema for capturing such brilliant photos 📸. Delighted to see so many incredible stories and characters unfolding.

Check out our stories for more behind-the-scenes!

https://www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/whatson/deafyouththeatresummercamp

Yesterday, we kicked off our third Summer Camp, and we're over-the-moon to have EJ back with us after their adventures at Derby Theatre with Alice in Wonderland. EJ shared some amazing pictures from the show, sparking creativity and inspiring our young theatre makers with fresh ideas for their projects this week! 🎭📸

Today has been a whirlwind of creativity! We've seen some amazing character concepts, including Caden's brilliant idea of Santa as a shark! 🎅🦈 Izzy and Sofia are hard at work, weaving a magical story about a witch soaring through the sky! 🧙‍♀️✨

And just to remind you, our photographer and workshop facilitator Tahreema will take over our social media from today, giving you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the magic happening at our summer camp.

Stay tuned and watch this space!

Fanciest setting yet for our pop-up theatre? Join us at Family and Youth Zone at the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle!

We’ll be making dragon wings 12-5pm!