North East

County Durham

• Darlington Arts Centre

  Contemporary venue with two small theatres, presents a wide range of performing arts events, alongside community arts projects, workshops and training.

  
  
• Darlington Civic Theatre

  Dating back to 1900, when it was known as the New Hippodrome and Palace of Varieties, this large traditional venue hosts national touring companies.

• Eden Theatre, Bishop Auckland Town Hall

  Small theatre with retractable seating, used for wide range of theatre events, films and exhibitions.

• Empire Theatre, Consett

  A former variety hall, then a bingo hall, which now offers a mixed programme, including film, youth theatre, amateur groups and music.

• Jack Drum Arts

  Jack Drum Arts delivers a wide range of creative arts programmes and is due to take up residence in the Elite Civic Hall in Crook, where it will establish a digital film and media studio, a costume hire business and a regular programme of drama, music and media activities.

• LampLight Arts Centre (formerly the Stanley Civic Theatre)

  Intimate venue, used extensively by community dance schools, choirs, theatre groups and musicians, with occassional professional tours.

• Steam Shed

  An inclusive theatre company based at Darlington Education Village. Established in September 2006 by the world-class theatre company Chickenshed.

  
  
• The Gala Theatre, Durham

  Modern theatre, attracting leading theatre companies, which has recently begun producing its own theatre shows.

• Theatre Cap a Pie

  Cap a Pie works with young people, creating professional productions, as well as running The Store, a studio theatre seating 70, the Mirrorball Youth Theatre and Sparkle and Shine-on Children’s Workshops.

Northumberland

• Alnwick Playhouse Arts Centre

  Venue with mixed professional programming, which is also home to a range of amateur music, dance and youth theatre companies.

• Northumberland Theatre Company (NTC)

  NTC is a professional small-scale touring theatre company based at the Playhouse, Alnwick. Artistic policy is to provide professional touring theatre of the highest quality, particularly to theatreless zones in rural areas where access to live theatre is otherwise limited. Runs InterACT, a one year, fully mentored training programme for people either originate from the North of England, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Cleveland, Durham and Cumbria or who have received their higher education / theatre training in those counties. All InterACT trainees will receive a modest training bursary and some additional support for travel and necessary relocation.

• Phoenix Theatre

  Small scale venue with mixed amateur and professional programming.

• Queen’s Hall Arts Centre

  Early Victorian theatre, hosting international and national touring acts as well as local community groups.

• The Maltings Theatre and Arts Centre

  Attracting audiences and performers from both sides of the border, this arts venue is also home to a youth theatre which stages productions throughout the year.

• Theatre Sans Frontieres

  An international touring theatre company, which produces and tours plays by world authors in their original language. Their style is vibrant and dynamic, with performances enhanced by mime, mask, puppetry, clowning, dance and live music.

• Three Over Eden Theatre Company

  An artist-led theatre company founded in 1999 to create new pieces of work.

Tees Valley

• Arc

  Arc delivers a programme of professional and community arts projects, with three theatre spaces, a youth theatre and a wide range of touring productions.

  
  
  
  
• CTC Theatre Company

  CTC creates theatre experiences for children and young people. The company tours professional theatre productions to schools and venues within Tees Valley, the North East and nationally.

• Forum Theatre Billingham

  Hosts theatre, music and comedy, including shows direct from the West End. Forum's School of Performing Arts runs classes for ages 6-16.

• Middlesbrough Theatre

  Despite originally being called The Little Theatre, this is a surprisingly big venue. It was set up in 1957 by local amateur group Middlesbrough Little Theatre and hosts a mix of amateur and professional shows.

• Open Clasp Theatre Company

  The North East's only professional women's theatre company. They run issue-based drama workshops with women's groups and create theatre which is taken to community and mainstream venues across the region.

• Saltburn Community & Arts Association

  A small theatre run by a charitable trust. Hosts theatre, music and comedy events.

• Town Hall Theatre, Hartlepool

  Small venue, hosting drama, ballet, classical and rock music, alongside local groups.

Tyne & Wear

• Arts Centre Washington

  Converted 18th century farm, offering a focus for arts activities, with a theatre, gallery, artists' studios, recording studio and rehearsal rooms.

• Bruvvers Theatre Company

  Established for 36 years, the company has until now, worked in schools and community settings and has recently set up residency at The Round.

• Buddle Arts Centre

  Community arts resource in a Grade II listed former school building, including a theatre, gallery, workshops, plus music, digital and darkroom facilities. Performing arts programming mainly carried out by in-house organisations or external promoters.

• Cloud Nine Theatre Productions

  The company aims to take live theatre to places other theatre companies would not contemplate, including walking a play along an 84 mile stretch of Hadrian's wall!

• Lawnmowers Independent Theatre Company

  The Lawnmowers Independent Theatre Company is a unique company run by and for people with learning disabilities. Based in Gateshead, the company run residencies, workshops and apprenticeships.

• Live Theatre

  Home to the Live Theatre Company, a professional touring company, as well as a youth theatre and groups for new writers.

  
  
• Monster Productions

  0ne of the UK’s leading producers of children’s theatre for the under-sevens and provider of youth theatre programmes at the Buddle Arts Centre.

• Newcastle Arts Centre

  Basement studio theatre, seating up to 200, which is fully licensed for theatre and public entertainment programmes.

• Northern Stage

  Northern Stage is the largest producing theatre company in the North East of England. The new building has three performance spaces, and showcases local, national and international theatre.

  
  
  
  
• Sunderland Empire

  Largest theatre in the North East, with seating on four levels, opened in 1907 and now hosts major national touring companies.

• The Customs House

  Previously home to a morgue and a banana ripening warehouse (watch out for a few strange smells!), this Grade II listed building now boasts two auditoria and is home to a range of community arts projects, including youth theatre and dance groups.

• The Journal Tyne Theatre (formerly Newcastle Opera House)

  Opened in 1867, the theatre is a unique Grade I listed building situated in the city centre of Newcastle. Primarily a national touring house, it can seat up to 1,100 over four levels.

• The People’s Theatre

  Home to one of the largest and oldest established amateur theatre companies in the country, this 500-seater venue stages up to 12 shows each year, with many members going on to become actors, technicians and set designers in the professional theatre.

• The Round

  The north east's only theatre-in-the-round, and the north's only theatre specialising in work for children and young people. Opened in summer 2007.

  
  
• Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne

  This large scale venue hosts major tours of drama, dance, musicals, opera and ballet. It serves as a base for the RSC for its Northern residency, as well being the North East home of Opera North, the Northern Ballet Theatre and the Royal National Theatre.

• Whitley Bay Playhouse

  Opening in 1913, as the Kursaal, this venue has changed its name and identity a number of times and now is home to a range of professional and amateur performing arts events and film. Hosts the Kursaal Drama Club for young people.