When: 20th – 28th October 2017
Where: At various locations in Newcastle and Gateshead
£: Ticket prices vary, depending on the event. Some events are free
What is it?
This month, Juice Festival returns to the North East from Friday 20th to Saturday 28th October, for nine days of workshops and events, suitable for all ages and abilities. A multi-arts festival for everyone, Juice Festival celebrates the creativity of children and young people.
The opening weekend events kick off with Just Jam’s Hip-hop Battle, showcasing a diverse programme of dance styles and innovative new work, a variety of circus delights with Circus in the City, including workshops and performances; a celebration of all things manga with Anime Attacks, and Our Time, an after-hours night at Great North Museum: Hancock, celebrating how young people can take ideas from the past and present to shape the future.
Popping up in cultural venues, libraries and public spaces across Newcastle and Gateshead, the festival also includes exhibitions, performances, workshops, poetry and inclusive events for children, young people and families with additional needs.
Highlights include:
Illustrate at Gateshead Central Library (20th – 28th October)
Inspired by the theme of freedom, pupils from Gateshead primary schools have been working with artists to develop their own ideas to create illustrations of mythical characters and imaginary places. There will also be workshops throughout the week inspired by the exhibition. Free entry, drop in.
Anime Attacks at Gateshead Central Library and Shipley Art Gallery (21st October)
Anime Attacks will be celebrating all things anime and manga. The convention promises to be packed full of taiko drumming, food, manga artists, special guests and more. Suitable for 11+ years and tickets cost £7.50 online and £8 on the door.
Our Time at Great North Museum: Hancock (21st October)
Inspired by Freedom City 2017, Team Juice kick off the festival with an after-hours night at Great North Museum: Hancock. A party full of music, performances, installations and workshops, celebrating how young people can take inspiration from the past and present to shape the future. Suitable for 16+ years and tickets cost £5.
Circus in the City at the Big Top near the Civic Centre (21st – 23rd October)
Join Circus Central for a variety of circus delights for all the family, from workshops supported by circus members to performances from the Five Ring Circus and Penella Bee. Ticket prices vary.
Just Jam Battle Finals at Dance City (22nd October)
Organised by Bad Taste Cru, this hip hop battle showcases a diverse programme of dance performances. Expect to see classic street styles, innovative new work, alongside pieces from the young b boy and b girl crews. Tickets cost £12.
iPet at Northern Stage (23rd October)
A family performance about two magicians who happily start their act until their trusty iPad reveals itself as a cheeky prankster who disrupts the entire show. Eventually, no one knows who controls who anymore. Tickets cost £8 for adults and £6 for children.
Fairytales Gone Bad at Northern Stage (24th October)
Join a poetic storyteller for a performance that unwinds the true stories behind the happily ever afters and discover they’re maybe not as charming as you remember! Tickets cost £10 for adults and £8 for children.
Rumpelstiltskin at Northern Stage (24th – 28th October)
The award-winning team at balletLORENT present the world premiere of the beloved tale of Rumpelstiltskin. Full of action and humour, this fairytale will immerse you in a rural world of sheep, straw, spinning and sorcery. Tickets cost from £10, suitable for 7+ years.
Imagine That: Creative Family Day at Gateshead Central Library (26th October)
Juice Festival and Gateshead Library invite you to explore stories in new and exciting ways. Travel to distant lands with the Von Turr Salon, meet author Chloe Daykin to hear extracts from her book Fish Boy, make your own unusual book and have a go at creating your own illustration to be added to the pop up exhibition. Free, drop-in. Suitable for 8+ years.
Above and Beyond at Northern Stage (26th – 27th October)
Watch Bare Toed Dance Company’s aerial dancers climb, twist and spin – are they flying or falling? Take part and move on the earth and in the sky, harness your dancing energy and try out dance take-offs and landings using harnesses, ropes and green screen landscapes to fly above and beyond. Tickets cost £4 and suitable for 5+ years.
The Magic Fish at Dance City (26th October)
A classic Indian tale retold through dance, storytelling and beatboxing, for young thinking minds. In this interactive performance, children are invited to join King Manu’s adventure in a production to enchant the whole family. Tickets cost £9.50 for adults and £8 for students and children. Suitable for 5+ years.
What Once Was Ours at Northern Stage (27th October)
Created in consultation with young people, and set against the background of Brexit, this powerful new co-production between Zest Theatre and Half Moon combines striking original music and immersive design to explore how politics and national values impact on the complex lives of one family. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for under 25s. Suitable for 12+ years.
Comics Takeover at Seven Stories (28th October)
Love The Beano? Can’t get enough of superheroes? Juice is celebrating the end of the festival in style with a comics takeover at Seven Stories. The event brings together an eclectic mix of original comic art, as well as he opportunity to get hands on and create your own comic artworks in sessions led by Team Juice. Ticket prices vary, suitable for 8+ years.
More info: www.newcastlegateshead.com/juice-festival