“It was raw, it was from the heart, it was magic.”
We, The Crowd was a remarkable collaboration with Sage Gateshead and Newcastle United Foundation. It explored what football and music mean to people in Newcastle’s West End. From children at In Harmony at Hawthorn Primary, to older people at Walking Football in Benwell, everyone we met talked about togetherness. This led to the making of a performance celebrating how music and football forge friendships and bring communities together.
The performance featured 59 diverse performers from Royal Northern Sinfonia, Backyard Rhythm Section, West End Voices, young people from CHAT Trust, Hawthorn Primary and New Writing North’s Young Writers’ City at Excelsior Academy. They collaborated with composer, Fred Phethean, to create new music that they performed live at St James’ Park.
We, The Crowd was funded by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s programme, Sharing The Stage. It supports innovative collaborations between professional artists and non-professionals.
Presented in association with Sage Gateshead, Newcastle United Foundation and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
Creative Team
Director
Annie Rigby
Performer & Deviser
Alex Elliott & Kat Pierce
Performers
West End Voices, In Harmony at Hawthorn Primary, Young Writers’ City at Excelsior Academy, Gipsy Lipstick at CHAT Trust, Northern Sinfonia Wind Quintet, Backyard Rhythm Section
Designer & Production Manager
Simon Henderson
Composer & Music Director
Fred Phethean
Choir Leader
Kat Davidson
Stage Manager
Tori Copeland
Photography
Von Fox Productions
Graphic Design
Wayne Gamble
Supported by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Sharing The Stage programme.
A Street Like This is a new production from Unfolding Theatre about the unexpected friendships that arise when something unforeseen happens, changing the way people define themselves forever.
Set – and created - in Sunderland, A Street Like This explores what unifies people in a city, where division exists, and what keeps people apart. What change could happen in a city like Sunderland that reminds us we’ve got more in common than divides us?
Alex wearing an apron throws flour in the air, raining down over Luca with her arms open.
Celebrating Age aims to promote a positive image of ageing; challenging outdated negative preconceptions, and actively engage older people in their local communities. Together we answer and explore the question; “what would an age-friendly world look like to you”?
A series of creative summer workshops for deaf children and young people that explore creative writing, acting, lighting and backstage skills.
