Beauty & The Beast pantomime in Newcastle

“It's an absolute pleasure to come back and make people laugh like that tonight. The mams, the dads, the grannies and grandas and the kids are rolling around the floor laughing. There's no better feeling in the world," said Charlie Richmond who plays Daveed Granola.

Places to visit in Newcastle upon Tyne

There's lots to see and do in Newcastle. The ‘new castle’ which lends its name to the city is centuries old: it dates from the reign of King Henry II, 840 years ago. You can climb its steep, honey-coloured stone steps to visit the great hall before watching a video that explains the role of the fortress through the ages.

Great Exhibition of the North

The Great Exhibition of the North started with a spectacular opening event by the River Tyne, between Newcastle and Gateshead, in North East England. The 2018 festival was billed as a celebration of northern arts, design and innovation.

Pizza Punks Newcastle restaurant

The space now has a hip, contemporary feel. It’s very much decor of the moment. Picture brickwork walls, a concrete floor plus industrial-style metal piping on the ceiling. The restaurant’s white pillars bear Pizza Punks’ anarchist-style logo; a ringed, hand-drawn capital ‘A’. There's more elaborate graffiti-style artwork at the back of the room, near the steps down to the toilets. It is the company’s first restaurant in England, following openings in Glasgow and Belfast.

Cinderella at Tyne Theatre and Opera House

“It’s very traditional. It comes from a British music hall tradition. The biggest and most important member of the cast is the audience. It’s quite a Victorian thing. It’s full of double entrendre. The kids don’t get the slightly naughty stuff, and the mams and dads do, so there’s something for everybody.  There’s a language that everyone in Britain understands when they come to a pantomime,” said Connor Byrne, who plays Baron Hardup in Cinderella, about pantomimes.

Things to do in Warkworth, Northumberland

In The Companion Guide to Northumbria Edward Grierson describes Warkworth as “one of the most exciting small towns in Britain.” After a stroll through this settlement of 1,000 people I’d probably have chosen the word ‘relaxing’ or perhaps ‘picturesque’ rather than ‘exciting.’