This is Family... Northern Stage launch new season of work
The upcoming season at Newcastle's Northern stage theatre will be all about family - in all its many forms
A new season, a new message - that's from the creative team at Newcastle's Northern stage theatre.
Next year's season - This Is Family - launches today, with a range of North East produced work, and touring shows set to arrive here over the next 12 months.
It is the third in the "This is..." trilogy of seasons from artistic director Natalie Ibu.
Natalie explains, “This is Family is about community, tribes; how we gather and how we define ourselves.
"Whether that’s celebrating youth activism and uniting to take a stand against racial prejudice, the patriarchy and the climate crisis in Hannah Lavery’s Protest; the unlikely bond an ailing Geordie carpenter and a struggling single mum from London form to take on a system that’s stacked against them in I, Daniel Blake; or an intimate new show created by our Young Company that delves into connection and the ways in which the world we are living in can make us feel lonely; it’s about doing life together.
"And as a producing theatre company, a venue, and a charity that collaborates on creative projects in our communities, that’s exactly what we’re here for.”
Natalie will also be directing the premiere of Hannah Lavery's "Protest" - a look at the environmental crisis, and making a difference with your voice.
Hannah Lavery says, “Making change in our communities, and in our wider society, can often feel impossible; we often feel powerless in the face of the problems we are all facing.
"When I was growing up, my mother would often take me to demonstrations and protests.
"She taught me that we when we come together within our communities, within our workplaces and in solidarity with people across the world, we can be part of the change we want to see.
"I hope this play offers young people the same hope and inspiration, it is said by many that we are living in such divisive times, and this is in many ways true, but there are many of us are looking and desiring ways to come together, to show solidarity, to make change within our communities.
"Protest was written in response to that desire, to create a town that chooses hope and kindness.
"A play which shows too, an intergenerational coming together.
"Three girls holding the hands of their grandmothers making a stand for their community, for their town, for all of us.”
It follows Natalie's award nominated turn directing Claudia Rankine's The White Card at Northern Stage in 2022.
READ MORE: Adaptation of I, Daniel Blake arrives at Northern Stage
Other highlights of the season include North East actor Dave Johns' stage adaptation of heart-breaking film I, Daniel Blake, and a new show from Northern Stage's very own Young Company called Am I Alone In This.
Northern Stage tell us they are committed to making the programme as accessible as possible, including making £10 tickets available for all shows, offering captions, audio description and British Sign Language at live events, and relaxed approaches to the programme and time frames for workshops.
You can find out more about all the shows planned for next year and how to get tickets via the Northern Stage website.