Freedom Moving:
Then and Now
Part of Future Arts Centre's Our Freedom - Then & Now project.
Friday 28 November, 2025. 2pm & 7pm.
£10
Carers go free. Please email info@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk to request a carer's ticket (please note that carers tickets are not available to carers of those performing in the show).
Please check out our terms and conditions when buying tickets with us.
Our flagship performance has grown! GCT's annual platform showcasing new work by people with learning disabilities and autism is this year part of a national project. We are shoulder to shoulder with 60 other arts centres reflecting on what freedom means 80 years after the end of the Second World War as part of Future Arts Centre's Our Freedom - Then & Now project.
This is our response: our first full-length show involving more than 60 performers, dancers, musicians and our friends Sing United!
80 years ago, Gosforth Central Hall was opened as a place for all the community to gather. It was built as a memorial to "remember the brave people of our town, who gave their lives whilst serving in Her Majesties Forces and the Merchant Navy in the 1939-1945 war". The hall was very much built by the community of Gosforth; "Every rate payer and resident of Gosforth is aware that the Central Hall was built on behalf of the people of Gosforth as a war memorial for perpetual public remembrance."
It has grown and moved since then, specifically as we are now Gosforth Civic Theatre and a social enterprise with a mission to 'raise people's expectations of what people with learning disabilities can achieve' and in doing so, we welcome all the community in, with activities for all.
This performance piece uses dance, physical theatre and song to celebrate this journey of freedom, to honour its past heritage then and celebrate where we are now, informed by local community. We invite you to come along on this journey with us...
Freedom Moving is part of
Our Freedom: Then & Now
Our Freedom: Then and Now is a new UK-wide, locally-led arts and creative programme which will produce 60 new pieces of work reflecting on what ‘Our Freedom’ means to local people and their communities, following the 80th anniversary of VE/VJ Day.
Future Arts Centres will lead the programme, working with 60 arts centres and libraries, their communities and artists to create special cultural events, exhibitions and performances that are meaningful to people living in these places and across the UK.
Community-facing activities will run from May 2025, with most public events from July to November.
The programme is delivered in partnership with Libraries Connected and Open Eye Gallery, supported using public funding by UK Government through Arts Council England.
This is a seated event.
Seated shows
We have three main seated layouts for shows;
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floor seating with or without cabaret tables on floor level only [up to 100 capacity], or
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seating rake only [up to 119 capacity], or
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both seating rake with floor seating in front (in rows, or with or without cabaret tables) [up to 200 capacity].
Every seat on floor level and the first row on our seating rake is accessible to those who require a wheelchair space, an ambulant seat, or those who don’t have any access requirements. Thus, they will be bookable under the same ticket type and unreserved. When buying your tickets, we ask you to declare if you have any access requirements at the checkout so we can reserve any seats or space for those who need them.
Seating rake-only events
These events tend to be theatre or dance performances performed on floor level or film screenings. The front row of our seating rake can be made into wheelchair spaces (up to 2) or ambulant seats (up to 4).
Companion tickets
Carer/PA/Essential companion tickets
These are available for all events. They are limited to one per ticket order and can be booked by emailing info@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk and quoting the event name, booking reference on your ticket order and information you’re comfortable sharing on why a companion ticket is required.
Visiting us.
Accessibility
We are a fully accessible venue; all entrances are wheelchair accessible and automatic, there is an accessible toilet on the premises and each area of the building is on one level. Please let us know if you have any questions about access and find out how we can assist.
Carer’s go free, limited to one carer’s ticket per booking – order directly from the venue.
Ticket buyers can inform Gosforth Civic Theatre of any access requirements in the checkout for tickets or by emailing info@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk.
Your journey and parking
Gosforth Civic Theatre is right next to (literally 2 minutes walk from) Regent Centre Metro Station and Bus Interchange, which means we're on a host of major transport links including Tyne & Wear Metro, Arriva, Stagecoach and Go North East bus services and via car from Great North Road. Please visit our YOUR VISIT section of our website to find directions and the best way to arrive at GCT.
We have a small, free car park but this will be very busy and part reserved for artists and staff, so it's best to avoid planning on parking directly at the venue. Please keep this in mind if you're driving over; we detail alternative parking on our YOUR VISIT page so check it out!
Ticketing.
Buying tickets
You can buy tickets for advertised shows, events or activities by visiting our website. While all GCT promoted events and some selected third party promoted events will be available to purchase in person at the Theatre, some third party promoted events will only be available to buy online.
Fees
A booking fee applies per ticket when booking online through our ticketing platform; booking fees may vary when booking through other third party sites.
Concessions and carers
Concession tickets are available to people with disabilities, OAPs, under 18s and Asylum Seekers. We will endeavour to provide free tickets to carers where possible. Please contact us directly if you require carer's ticket.
Child and family tickets
A child is classed as anyone under the age of 14, and Family Tickets, where advertised, apply to a family of four where there is at least one adult and one child in the group. Babes in Arms, up to the age of 12 months, go free at all of our family shows.
Refunds
Refunds are only available up to 7 days before the date of GCT promoted events, otherwise refunds are at the discretion of the promoter. If an event must be postponed, rescheduled or cancelled, tickets purchased for the event will be valid for any new date agreed with the artist/promoter, and the ticket buyer entitled to a full refund if they are unable to attend the new date.
Receiving your tickets
We do not print physical tickets in house and instead email you a copy of your tickets. You can show us your tickets on a mobile device or simply give us the name of the lead booker when you arrive at the Theatre for the event. If receiving tickets from third party sites ran by external promoters (Seetickets/Wegottickets/ Ticket Source/ DICE etc you may need to provide your ticket for scanning.