Tourism and travel

The action in the skies will be taking pride of place over the Sunderland International Airshow weekend, and on the ground, there will be plenty more to see and do.

This year, the Sunderland Live team are proud to announce that Disney will be previewing their brand new Planes 2: Fire and Rescue movie at Sunderland International Airshow. Due for general release on 8 August 2014, trailers for the film will be shown on the big screens over the weekend, and the main attraction will be a real, interactive fire truck, equipped with interactive screens, plus a fancy dress race and a Fire Hose coconut shy!

BBC Radio 3 brings together leading thinkers for a weekend of provocative debate, new ideas, music and performance, with many of Radio 3’s usual programmes coming live from the Sage Gateshead.

Now in its ninth year, BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival returns to Sage Gateshead from Friday 31 October – Sunday 2 November 2014 for a weekend of provocative debate, new ideas, live music and performance.

The festival brings together high-profile figures from the worlds of arts, science, politics and literature to discuss and challenge current thinking on a range of topics, this year focusing on a theme of ‘The Limits of Knowledge’, with lectures and discussions on subjects including the role of the imagination, self-knowledge and the mysteries of the financial world.

BBC Radio 3 transports much of its weekend schedule to Sage Gateshead as part of the festival, allowing Free Thinking audiences the chance to see many of BBC Radio 3’s regular programmes being broadcast live from the venue, including CD Review, In Tune, Live in Concert, Music Matters, Sound of Cinema and Words and Music.

All events are free to the public. Tickets will be available from Monday 6 October. For further information visit www.sagegateshead.com/freethinking.
Free Thinking is broadcast on BBC Radio 3 over the weekend of 31 October – 2 November and in the three weeks following the festival. All the debates and lectures will be available as free downloads.

Highlights across the weekend include: • folk musician Eliza Carthy • John Lanchester unlocks the mysteries of the financial world • Alison Light asks if there’s more to learn about the working-class past • Elif Shafak, Turk

This summer SA Productions are back!

After wowing audiences with their unforgettable production of ‘Our House’ in 2012, this top class team, with the addition of sensational director Mark Hedges (Cameron Mackintosh’s ‘Oliver’ and ‘Les Miserables’), return with the award winning musical ‘Sunshine on Leith Byker’; featuring the songs of The Proclaimers including ‘I’m Gonna be [500 miles]’ and ‘I’m on my Way’.

Head to BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead during the August Bank Holiday weekend for a fun-filled, colourful weekend of activity inspired by the Daniel Buren exhibition Catch as catch can: works in situ at the gallery. Activities will take place from Saturday 23 August until Monday 25 August from 11.00 each day.

KALIEDOSCAPE
Sat, Sun & Mon at 11.00-16.00 / Baltic Square & Level 1 / FREE

Families are encouraged to create a landscape of colour inspired by French artist Daniel Buren. They can make rainbows using giant prisms with assistance from BALTIC artists and afterwards take a plunge and build a model boat with colourful sails ready to put to sea or take home as a momento of the day.

Suitable for children aged 13 and under and their family.

Kaleidoscope Making Workshop
Sat, Sun & Mon at 11.30 or 13.30 / BALTIC SHOP
£6.95 per child / Book: balticmill.eventbrite.co.uk

Families can take part in a Kaleidoscope Making Workshop in BALTIC SHOP with regional artist Kit Kingsbury. Kit will help the kids to build their own Kaleidoscope, add coloured beads and paper into the view finder and decorate the cardboard case. When the workshop is finished, the kaleidoscope will be ready to take home.

Suitable for children aged 6+. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Jelly-Fun Desserts in BALTIC Kitchen
£1.50

Children will have the perfect excuse to play with their food in BALTIC Kitchen. The ground floor eatery will be serving colourful jelly desserts which can be stacked or cut into pieces to make a unique work of art. Post it on Instagram using #mybalticvisit for everyone to see. The desserts will be served throughout the weekend, look out for more exhibition inspired dishes on the Daily Specials menu.

The School of Arts and Cultures at Newcastle University is thrilled to present the 2014 Newcastle University MFA Degree Show. The exhibition is the interim show for the 1st year MFAs and the culminating show for the 2nd year MFAs.

The MFA degree show presents a wide range of media, exemplifying the diversity within the practice of fine art. Included are works by Kathryn Brame, Lorna Bryan, Alex Charrington, Kevin Myer Christensen, Rachel Derbyshire, Sarah Dunn, Billy Flynn, Ben Jeans Houghton, Paul Martin Hughes, Soonwon Hwang, Ute Kirkwood, Rosalind May McLachlan, Nigel Morgan, Jennifer Prevatt, Sofija R. L. Sutton, and Scott Aaron Tait.

The MFA at Newcastle University is a two-year studio-based programme in Fine Art that promotes critically engaged artistic practice. The programme is designed to advocate interdisciplinary experimentation that deepens independent practice-led research. The exhibition showcases the talents of the postgraduate students at Newcastle University.

Whitley Bay Film Festival 2014 presents:
Chosen by our Patron Ian La Frenais – Quadrophenia with special guest Director Franc Roddam

With a stellar performance by Phil Daniels, the story set in London and Brighton re- tells Townshend’s tale of a young Mods struggle to come to terms with life amidst a haze of drug-fuelled paranoia.
In celebration of this cult, mod classic , the event will kick off with a head turning scooter rally along the sea front, that may provoke a few nervous glances, but, be rest assured it’s all in celebration of this master piece of cinematic history. The film will be followed by a Q & A with director Franc Roddam.

We are delighted that Franc Roddam, Director of Quadrophenia will be joining us at the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay for this highly unique and exciting event. Music and Media Historian Chris Phipps will interview Franc as well as provide an opportunity for audience questions following the screening.
Dress code…”sharp”

Certificate: 18

Town and city streets will be closed to traffic on 27 June, as thousands of people descend in celebration of all things cycling at Sky Ride NewcastleGateshead.

One of fifteen major events taking place across the country this summer, Sky Ride NewcastleGateshead will be a brilliant day out, with something for everyone. Since 2009, the number of cyclists jumping on their bikes in Gateshead and Newcastle once a month has increased by 20%, whilst 11,000 cyclists have already taken to the streets as part of Sky Ride.

Whether you are looking to challenge family and friends in the Sprint Zone, find out more about cycling opportunities or just want to enjoy the music, entertainment and competitions, it’s all on offer along with an awesome route to ride. It doesn’t matter how old you are, how old your bike is, or how fast you ride – at Sky Ride NewcastleGateshead it’s all about getting on your bike and having fun.

If you haven’t been on your bike for a while, don’t worry. The bike experts at Halfords are offering a free bike safety check (worth £14.99) to everyone who registers for Sky Ride, and they’ll be there on the day to help out with any last-minute problems too.

Sky Ride is not the only chance to get cycling in the region this summer – a packed schedule of guided rides, including Sky Ride Local rides, led by British Cycling trained Ride Leaders, and fabulous women-only Breeze rides mean you are never too far from a bike ride.

Sky Ride NewcastleGateshead rolls into town on 27 June; don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this fun, free celebration of cycling. Register now at goskyride.com. Let’s Ride NewcastleGateshead!

Grab your skateboard, hop on your BMX or dribble your basketball to intu Metrocentre, as Nickelodeon Skills Tour is coming to Gateshead!

Robinson’s Fruit Shoot and Nickelodeon have once again teamed up to bring you Fruit Shoot’s Nickelodeon Skills Crew Tour. The tour invites families with children to show off their impressive skills.

To help inspire and motivate kids from across the UK to get involved and get active, Fruit Shoot and Nickelodeon have recruited a formidable Skills Crew, a six-strong troop of skilled record breakers who will be touring the country giving kids the chance to try out a variety of active skills. At each stop of the tour, kids can meet the crew, watch them perform their amazing skills and even have one-to-one coaching with them as they share some of their awesome skills

There is also the chance to win a family weekend @ Nickelodeon Land Blackpool.

For more information tel. 0191 493 0200 or visit www.intu.co.uk/metrocentre

Jeremy Hardy has been a stand-up comic since 1984 and will be one until he dies or wins the lottery.

Jeremy is best known for his work on Radio 4, notably on News Quiz, I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue and Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation. In 2010, he published a book, My Family and Other Strangers, chronicling his desperate search for interesting ancestors.

“In an ideal world, Jeremy Hardy would be extremely famous, but an ideal world would leave him without most of his best material.” The Guardian.
“A comic genius.” Sandi Toksvig

Suitable for 15+ years.

We are delighted to announce that Pop Factor – The Concert will return to the PLAYHOUSE on 31st May 2015!

***“It’s like a night out, but for kids!”***
This electric show pays tribute to all your favourite songs and stars from the charts, placing you in the heart of your very own pop concert!

Totally live and interactive, led by a brilliant cast of professional performers, Pop Factor will take you racing on a non-stop, high energy ride that will have you singing along and partying in true Pop Star fashion!

Great fun & great value, with something for the whole family!

We’ve squeezed in hits from all your favourite popstars including One Direction, Taylor Swift, Little Mix & Justin Bieber (and many, many more!)

Post show meet and greets, cast signings and competitions with prize giveaways make Pop Factor great fun, with something for the whole family!

Get ready, bring your dancing shoes & join us for the ultimate party!!