2023 has been nothing short of amazing for Unfolding Theatre, and we're delighted to share some of our most cherished moments with you here:

New Beginnings for North East Deaf Youth Theatre at Gosforth Civic Theatre

One of the highlights of the year has been establishing North East Deaf Youth Theatre at Gosforth Civic Theatre. We've really enjoyed settling into our new venue (thanks to Scott, Helen and the team for making us feel so at home), and it's been heartening to witness the growth in confidence of our young performers each month. A huge thank you to our Creative Associate EJ Raymond for bringing so much creativity and fun to the sessions and championing the programme!

A Street Like This Premieres, Tours and Triumphs

Premiering and touring A Street Like This was a massive milestone for us, and winning a North East Culture Award in the Performance of the Year category was (as writer Alison Carr told us on the Metro journey to the ceremony) ‘the cherry on top’. The process of shaping the show was made even more special by the incredible group of people in Sunderland we collaborated with, who not only became good friends but even formed their own band. The power of co-creation!

Empowering Voices with East End Story Makers and No Voice Too Small

Our commitment to providing platforms for children and young people to express themselves was clear to see with the success of our East End Story Makers and No Voice Too Small projects. All voices matter and we are so proud to have offered the space for so many children and young people to amplify theirs. A heartfelt thanks to Abigail Lawson and Luca Rutherford - who have worked with us to deliver these programmes - for their support, encouragement, and inspiration!

It's Playtime at Queen's Hall

We love to place play at the heart of our projects! Collaborating with Queen's Hall, Hexham for It's Playtime has brought much festive joy to children and families as they become I.M.P. Agents of Play, exploring the venue this Christmas, and solving missions. And the fun continues throughout the festive period! Book a mission date here.

The Odyssey: Episode 4 - The Island of the Sun

Being a part of the large-scale National Theatre Public Acts project, particularly directing The Island of the Sun, at The Fire Station, was an extraordinary experience. The community cast, alongside Steven Stobbs and Christina Berriman Dawson, delivered stunning performances with beautiful renditions of Sean Cooney’s original songs. Artistic Director Annie Rigby supported 11 community cast members to rehearse and perform on the National Theatre’s Olivier Stage as part of the final production of the series, "The Underworld" by Chris Bush.

Looking ahead to 2024, we are really excited for the projects that lie ahead. The support and enthusiasm of our community and audience continue to drive us, and we can't wait to share more memorable moments with you in the coming year.

Wishing you a restful holiday season and we’ll see you in 2024!

Wrapping Up 2023: A Year of Growth, Creativity, and Community for Unfolding Theatre