Happy Birthday to Us!

This year, the theatre turns 40.

In 1969, planning permission was granted for a new theatre on the Barras Bridge site and in 1970 the University Theatre opened. Since then, the building has been known as Newcastle Playhouse and Gulbenkien Studio and for the last five years – taking its name from the theatre company within – as Northern Stage.

Our birthday programme holds a lot of treats for the year. There’s our bold birthday project Northern Stages; a global conversation about Northernness with 40 artists from across the world. Some highlights include a welcome return to Newcastle for Peter Brook with a new play 11 and 12, Sheffield-based Third Angel with Class of ’76 and the brilliant ATC with Eurydice.

We’re working with 40 babies and their parents in our project First Steps. And watch out for our big 40th Birthday Summer Fete (details TBA) and other exciting events across the year.

We believe Life Begins at 40 and we’re looking forward to another 40 years.