Virtual festive events from Tyneside's cultural venues
30 November 2020
Whilst Tyneside's museums, galleries, theatres, science centres and dance studios cannot open their doors to you this Christmas - we've created lots of virtual content to bring a bit of festive culture to you at home.
Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort
Rumbustious Ruling Romans Family Fun Activity: How to celebrate Saturnalia
You don’t need to be ancient or Roman to have some winter family fun like the Romans did! Follow these easy steps to festive fun and see if you can spot any traditions in Saturnalia that are similar to your holiday traditions.
Dance City
Dance Edits
Friday 11 December
Dance City’s annual Dance Edits platform is going online this festive season! Settle in for an eclectic evening of dance as eight artists and companies from the North East and beyond perform short works in a variety of styles and concepts. The performances will be livestreamed straight from the Dance City theatre and tickets are ‘pay as you feel’ starting at just £3!
Discovery Museum
Santa vs Science
Saturday 12 December, 10-11am and 1-2pm
£5 per family (resources are not provided / booking essential)
Join the Discovery Museum team to do your own experiments and try to find out which is best Santa’s magic or science. Activities are virtual and will take place via zoom.
Great North Museum: Hancock Virtual storytime and crafts with Albany Mouse
At 10am on Thursday mornings join Albany Mouse and Amy for a free, virtual, museum storytime on @TheGreatNorthMouse Facebook page.
At 10am on Friday mornings join Albany Mouse and Amy for a free, virtual, museum craft session on @TheGreatNorthMouse Facebook page.
Life Science Centre
Engineer a Gingerbread House competition
Life Science Centre has cooked up the perfect competition for fans of The Great British Bake Off, with Andrew Smyth, an Aerospace Engineer and a former finalist of the TV show - Engineering a Gingerbread House.
For the chance to win £250 to spend in Life Science Centre's gift shop and café, bakers will need to share a photo of their gingerbread house creations on Instagram by midday on 14 December with #EngineerGingerbreadHouse and tag @ScienceAtLife.
For more activities to do at home this Christmas, follow @ScienceAtLife on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, with lots of festive-themed fun planned for its #LifeGoesONline programme.
Live Theatre
From 11 December
From the coolest new writing talent, online and free to unwrap from 11 December.
Northern Stage
The Emperor's New Clothes
Saturday 12 - Thursday 31 December
This Christmas, Northern Stage is bringing theatre to your living room as the creative team behind the likes of The Snow Queen & A Christmas Carol, and Kitchen Zoo, the makers of WOLF! and The Three Bears at Christmas, weave their creative threads together to spin a brand new festive take on Hans Christian Andersen's classic folktale, The Emperor's New Clothes. Suitable for ages 3+
Sage Gateshead
Christmas Cracker (on YouTube)
Friday 18 December
Sage Gateshead are hosting a free streamed Christmas concert, Sage Gateshead Christmas Cracker, featuring some of the North East’s most illustrious musicians and rising stars. Sam Fender will perform with Royal Northern Sinfonia, orchestra of Sage Gateshead in a special collaboration. Joining them on the bill are Newcastle-based alt-pop musician Martha Hill, in a new big band style collaboration with “brilliant young jazz pianist” (The Guardian), Paul Edis; three-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winning Teesside trio The Young'uns; Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir, who performed for Prince William in 2019; and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia with Chorus Director Timothy Burke, featuring more than 50 amateur singers from all walks of life. Presented by award-winning saxophonist Jess Gillam and The Futureheads’ Ross Millard, Sage Gateshead Christmas Cracker, which will be filmed in the iconic building, promises plenty of festive fun and some magical Christmas collaborations
Shipley Art Gallery
Winter Wellness
The Shipley Art Gallery has teamed up with five local artists from the North East of England to create an activity booklet for families. Inspired by art from the Shipley collection, they feature fun art and crafts for children to do on their own or with an adult. Activities include calligraphy, embroidery, painting, drawing, decoration-making and origami.
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
'I SPY' HOLIDAY trail
During December we’re challenging children to 'spy' any items around their home that they would like to see in our museum. If they draw us a picture and email or post it to us we’ll enter them into a prize draw.
Sheila's Mini Mewseum Show - Family Holiday Activities
Children's activities inspired by Sheila's Mini Mewseum Show, to be enjoyed at your own pace at home.
