Gosforth Civic Theatre, the arts venue run by disability arts charity Liberdade, continues to bring high quality music, theatre and dance to Gosforth this Spring as it continues to bounce back after two challenging years.
At the core of the programme is performance, with no fewer than six pieces of live, original theatre and dance between April and June including pieces of younger audiences and performances open to families. That is alongside a thread of live music from GCT Folk Club and local promoters Jumpin Hot Club, F54 Live and Wandering Oak, as well as the return of comedy to the Theatre.
Liverpool-based, female led theatre company All Things Considered bring their show Sleepover to GCT on 7 April to kick off the season of performance. They invite you to a 90s sleepover to discuss all the best things about being a teenager, leave the responsibilities of your grown-up world behind and embrace your teenage self who might just have something to tell you about how to live your life now. Mortal Fools follow soon after as their Ensemble Young Company return with a brand-new show, and their first live performance since 2019! Devised and performed by young people from all over Northumberland, Flux is a contemporary, dynamic and poignant piece of theatre, showcasing an original soundtrack, bold set design, and the incredible talent and insights of young people.
June brings two more must see shows, one of which is a must for all the family. On 18 June, Becky Sharrock and Lisette Auton’s adaptation of The Secret Garden includes brand new folk songs, performed by the cast, and it’s hoped this beautiful reimagining will introduce a new generation to the transformational magic of the garden. A week earlier, Alison Stanley’s acclaimed show Life of Reilly is a play about family dynamics and how that can change when an ordinary North East family receive an autism diagnosis for their son.
Following the success of Rendez-Vous dance’s opening of The Monocle in February, you can expect to see more dance on the bill this Spring. Returning to GCT are Fertile Ground who will be showcasing their ground-breaking, multi-media dance show Myths & Dreams on Friday 6 May. It’s an ambitious and innovative programme created by four choreographers. The Company’s new season combines dance, film and digital sculpture in an imaginative evening performed by the cast of top North East emerging professional dancers – including a pre-show VR experience and curtain raiser film by Liberdade. Visitors to GCT also have the chance to get to see a scratch-performance of a brand new piece of work from emerging regional dance company Meta4Dance on 22 June as they present a showing of their work, Confluence.
GCT Folk Club continues with two gigs from nationally renowned artists. Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have long established themselves as one of the UK Folk scene's most rewardingly enduring partnerships and they visit GCT on Monday 2 May to revisit and reinterpret songs which span their career. Then a month later acclaimed guitarist and songwriter, and Lau’s very own, Kris Drever comes to Gosforth supported by Americana singer-songwriter Rachel Baiman.
Other musical highlights include ethereal, indie and electronic crossover gigs from caroline (1 April), James Heather (29 April) and Mary Lattimore (1 June), while Jumpin Hot Club brings us Americana and Country in the form of David Ramirez (30 April), Laura Veirs (11 June) and Chris Smither (18 June). Something a bit different? Songwriter for The Delines (who are playing GCT on 14 July), Willy Vlautin, launches his new book, The Night Always Comes, on 9 May while pop-punk troubadour Jeff Rosenstock pogoes into town on 16 April.
Comedy fans can get excited for The Lost Voice Guy’s Comedy Showcase on 25 June. The Britain’s Got Talent winner hosts his first comedy night at GCT complete with his brand new Geordie accent! See sets from Steve Royle, Lauren Pattison and a very special guest. For those who want to hear stories of adventure don’t miss a talk from mountaineer and explorer Stephen Venables with his show Life After Everest on 4 April.
Along with a packed programme, the return of a busy community programme and continuing the growth of GCT Kitchen - including a new menu for Spring due to be announced - Gosforth Civic Theatre are committed to making GCT a safe space for everyone. Full information is available from gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk.
To book tickets visit www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk/whats-on.
The Full Programme:
April
Fri 1 Music caroline
Mon 4 Spoken Word Stephen Venables - Life After Everest
Thu 7 Theatre Sleepover
Tue 12 Family GCT Gaming Social Special
Wed 13 Theatre Flux
Sat 16 Film Family Film: Ghostbusters Afterlife
Sat 16 Music Jeff Rosenstock: No Dream Tour with Fresh & All Away Lou
Fri 22 Dance Meta4Dance Company: Confluence
Sat 23 Film Family Film: Encanto
Thu 28 Music The W
Fri 29 Music James Heather
Sat 30 Music An Evening with David Ramirez
May
Mon 2 Music Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman
Fri 6 Dance Fertile Ground: Myths & Dreams
Sat 21 Dance Eliot Smith Dance: Life & Other Works
Sat 28 Music Chuck Prophet plus Our Man in the Field
June
Wed 1 Music Mary Lattimore
Fri 3 Music Kris Drever & Rachel Baiman
Thu 9 Theatre The Life of Reilly
Tue 14 Music Laura Veirs with special guest Joni
Sat 18 Theatre The Secret Garden
Sat 18 Music Chris Smither + Zak Trojano
Sat 25 Comedy The Lost Voice Guy Comedy Showcase
Visitors to GCT also have the chance to get to see a scratch-performance of a brand new piece of work from emerging regional dance company Meta4Dance on 22 June as they present a showing of their work, Confluence. Snow Rider 3D has really simple gameplay advice and controls.