Originally built as a Civic Theatre, i.e. for the people of the borough, we are striving to continue the tradition that has been elemental to the theatre’s existance from day one. It has a long heritage of of being a focal point in the region, initially as The Kursaal, then The Playhouse, then The Essoldo, before reverting back to The Whitley Bay Playhouse.

The Culture Quarter’s aim with the building would be to provide a wide-ranging programme that would consist of the following:

• A year round programme of high quality professional shows, from week long residencies to single nights. Examples - Birmingham Stage Company; Hull Truck theatre Company; Northumberland Theatre Company; local companies such as Cloud Nine Theatre and Dodgy Clutch Theatre; tie-ins with local festivals like the Newcastle Comedy Festival, or Mouth of the Tyne Festival; and many, many more…
• A residential Community Theatre company providing a selection of shows and events including plays, musicals, concerts, rehearsed readings, poetry readings, lunchtime entertainment and Pantomimes.
• Events management for events around the region such as Mardis Gras Parade, International Folk Music and Dance Festivals, Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, Open Air concerts and performances and many others which are still in development.
• A central “Artistic Hub” where like minded people can come and socialise throughout the day and the evening, and feel part of the arts and culture in North Tyneside.
• A localised arts workshop where people can come and train and hone their skills in acting, singing, dancing, music, technical theatre, fine arts, sculpture and creative writing.
• An outreach programme that will take educational theatre to schools in North Tyneside, and allow them to access a ‘real theatre’ to educate students in the performing arts industry. This will hopefully include induction and workshop days featuring the Royal Shakespeare Company.

We hope that this programme of events will allow all residents and visitors to North Tyneside to be able to access culture and the arts in some way. And furthermore, it is our intention to continuously consult with local professional practitioners, education specialists, theatre companies, and above all local residents, to be able to deliver a programme of events, shows and entertainments which will appeal to everyone, as well as putting the Whitley Bay Playhouse on the cultural map of Great Britain.

There are so many other possibilites for what Whitley Bay and North Tyneside could and should be. Other towns and regions around the country have extremely active arts programmes which are fully sustainable and generate a huge amount of pride and pleasure.

Why not Whitley Bay?

For further information on this or anything else simply contact us