Northern Stage opened on 27 August 2006 with a huge outdoor event. A 1000 strong crowd was treated to seven performances, each based on the seven letters of IMAGINE.

Starting at Grey’s Monument in Newcastle, the crowd marvelled at the opening performance from atop the 40 metre high column. Fireworks splashed from the top of the Monument before sliding down ropes and igniting a huge spray of fire from the four corners of the base. The crowd was then invited to take a lantern and follow the torch bearers up Northumberland Street, led by drumming band Boom Dang from The Sage Gateshead. Performances from Seven Stories, Jambo Africa, Dance City and Live Theatre lined the route.

On reaching the theatre, Boom Dang performed in the University car park before audiences were led around the building to the new foyer entrance on Union Square. The final letter of IMAGINE, E by Tyneside Cinema, was shown on a large screen outside the theatre before Dream State Circus performed their Fire Dance on the lawn.

The new Northern Stage was then christened with a fire and light show, with 10 foot flames choregraphed to music, leaping from the top of the building. Cath Campbell’s sculpture Escapology was officially unveiled and lit up while the word IMAGINE was spelt out across the front of the foyer and gold wristband holders were invited to take their seats for the building’s opening performance in Stage 1.

On a black curtain, splitting the Epic Stage into two, Matilda Leyser performed Night Plane. Actress and aerialist, she climbs into the night sky. Vulnerable and determined, she takes a journey across the uncertain and shifting landscape of the unknown, wrestling with demons in the search for light.

With two single members, the curtain was unzipped from ceiling to floor, revealing the lit-up Stage 2 behind. To audience applause, a sweeping back of the curtain, revealed the enormous Epic Stage – the largest in the north east –populated by a lone girl with a single candle. Over one hundred performers began to fill the stage, all carrying candles, until a sea of small lights filled the black stage. Following a poem performed by the participants by Samuel Johnson, commissioned for the reopening of Drury Lane in 1761, chief executive Erica Whyman, officially opened the building, thanking all those involved, past, present and future.

As the building sprang into life, a late night party began in all the spaces. A veil of sensuality was cast over Stage 3 with balletLORENT’s cabaret piece, la nuit intime. As guests wandered throughout the space, performer’s danced on tables, around poles, above the audience on platforms. Blurring the division between audience and dancer, la nuit intime creates a beautiful and moving collage of imagery, movement and music.

Stage 2 burst into life with a live VJ set from motion and audio specialist NAME, using visuals from their film chronicling the demolition and reconstruction of the theatre. A huge screen lit the space, which thronged with late-night drinkers and dancers keen to show their moves on the stage-come-dancefloor.

Lying with the animals theatre company were on hand to provide entertainment to the party. Up in the Dickinson Dees Suite, Dolly the Sheep entertained those brave enough to enter, with her flirtatious manner and bakewell tarts. Two cheeky chimps caused mayhem in the foyer, whilst one sad gorilla appealed to the crowd to help find her missing budgie, plastering up ‘Lost’ posters around the theatre.

At 3am more hardened partiers were given coffee and croissants care of McKenna’s Restaurant as the theatre closed its doors on its opening party. This would only be for a short time, as Bank Holiday Monday Family Day was fast approaching…

Click here for details of Bank Holiday Monday Family Day