“It was raw, it was from the heart, it was magic.”

— Audience member

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.

Three people look out of a glass window overlooking St. James park in Newcastle.

A man holds a microphone in front of his face, singing - a bass player is situated behind him.

Three girls hold up microphones and sing.

Three men in high visibility clothing sing into microphones.

An image taken from behind the musicians, heads are seen over sheet music.

A man in black jacket stands with his arms stretched open wide.

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.