Helen Brown looks at the forthcoming season at Newcastle’s Northern Stage, which marks artistic director Erica Whyman’s final Christmas show, The Borrowers

NEWCASTLE-BASED Northern Stage has just returned from a rewarding session at Edinburgh Fringe. Its critically- acclaimed show Close The Coalhouse Door opened a new venue at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Mark Calvert, Northern Stage’s creative associate and artistic lead at St Stephen’s says: “Northern Stage at St Stephens was such an exceptional project to be part of. To have 163 performances, performed by 17 companies, throughout our time in Edinburgh, was an enormous undertaking for a new venue, but one that felt absolutely right for Northern Stage to take on at this moment in its life.”

Looking forward to the autumn season, it opens on Wednesday (until next Saturday) with English Touring Theatre’s W Somerset Maugham’s murdermystery, The Sacred Flame, which is also a fascinating exploration of love. A young First World War hero, Maurice Tabret, dies at home in his bed.

His nurse points a finger of suspicion at his beautiful wife, Stella.

Sep 27 and 28, Stage 2: Lucy and the Hawk, a comedy about loneliness and peregrine falcons. Part mystery and part peculiar romance, this Switchback and ARC Stockton production, in association with Northern Stage, is also described as a love letter to the landscape of Northumberland . Elliott and Lucy’s lives are about to change forever. Stage 2.

Oct 3 to 5, Stage 2: What the Animals Say is David Ireland’s story of Eddie, the captain of Celtic, and Jimmy, a penniless actor who are impatiently waiting for their ship to come in. Recommended for 16 plus, Ireland’s hilarious satire pokes fun at the politics of peace, reconciliation, football and Mel Gibson and promises to make you laugh in ways you probably shouldn’t.

Oct 11 and 12: Renowned choreographer Wayne McGregor’s dynamic style and ground-breaking approach across dance, film, music, and science has led to a truly unique work. Far is set to a haunting score by critically acclaimed composer Ben Frost.

Oct 30 to Nov 3: One of this country’s most exciting touring companies, Headlong Theatre, has produced a modern version of Euripides’ classic tragedy Medea. With her husband gone, Medea can’t work, can’t sleep and fuelled by anger at her husband’s infidelity, might be driven to commit the worst possible crime.

Nov 13 to 17: Byrony Lavery’s heart-wrenching and deeply human story, Beautiful Burnout, follows five young fighters as they aim for the bright lights, far from Glasgow’s mean, grey streets.

Dec 3 to 29: For the Christmas audience, Erica Whyman’s last show for Northern Stage is Mary Norton’s classic tale of Pod, Homily and a courageous Arrriety in The Borrowers, an adventurous treat for children aged seven-plus and their bigger human beans.

  • For ticket details and more productions: northernstage.co.uk