Everything You'll Want To Do This October
Your autumn plans sorted
Ilkley Literature Festival
Discover new writers, encounter new ideas and meet your favourite authors when Ilkley Literature Festival returns this autumn. This year’s exciting line-up features northerner Si King, Jacqueline Wilson and Dame Margaret Hodge, and children won’t want to miss the bookworm trail.
2ND–18TH OCTOBER
Across Ilkley
ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk
The Highwayman
It’s 1769 and it seems Yorkshire is the place to be. The Highwayman is a thrilling theatrical new romantic adventure set in the region where Dick Turpin was caught.
7TH–10TH OCTOBER
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
sjt.uk.com
Pussycat Dolls
With support from Lil’ Kim and Deja Vu, The Pussycat Dolls are celebrating 20 years of their debut album PCD, and they’ll be performing their biggest hits live in Newcastle.
9TH OCTOBER
Utilita Arena, Newcastle
utilitaarena.co.uk
Crease
Following sold-out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe, Soho Theatre and Live Theatre, Geordie comedians Your Aunt Fanny are back with Crease, their new hour-long sketch show, where audiences are invited to a true crime-themed hen party for more hilarious shenanigans. If you miss this show, they’ll also perform at Live Theatre from 29th to 31st October.
10TH OCTOBER
Arc Stockton Arts Centre
arconline.co.uk
All At Sea
Inspired by the notorious ‘Canoe Man’ case, this new play by Northern playwright Alison Carr sees a ‘widow’ undertake the complex plan to secure an insurance claim after her husband fakes his own death… but the real drama is yet to come.
UNITL10TH OCTOBER
Live Theatre, Newcastle
live.org.uk
Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet
The smash-hit, internationally acclaimed, award-winning phenomenon is back as Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare take on Romeo and Juliet. What can possibly go wrong in this tipsy take on the tragic tale?
10TH OCTOBER
Middlesbrough Town Hall
boxoffice.middlesbrough.gov.uk
Oktoberfest Newcastle
It’s party and pint time as Oktoberfest returns to Newcastle with a huge traditional Bavarian beer hall. There’ll be live music, street food and endless entertainment – a fun opportunity to celebrate with friends this autumn.
10TH, 17TH & 24TH OCTOBER
Times Square, Newcastle
oktoberfest.org.uk/newcastle
Mrs. Doubtfire
This West End hit comedy musical based on the beloved film is heading to Newcastle. Mrs. Doubtfire features all the hilarious moments we know and love, but with new music and dances. The whole family won’t want to miss it.
UNTIL11TH OCTOBER
Newcastle Theatre Royal
theatreroyal.co.uk
Six The Musical
Six The Musical is making its royal return to Darlington. The international smash hit musical follows the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII as you’ve never seen them before. They each take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing 500 years of history into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power.
13TH–17TH OCTOBER
Darlington Hippodrome
darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
Susan Calman: Tall Tales
Susan Calman hasn’t been on tour in 10 years! Tall Tales is her new show about cruising, driving tanks, cats and getting older. Prepare for an evening of belly laughs, and probably some dancing.
14TH OCTOBER
St George’s Hall, Bradford
bradford-theatres.co.uk
An Evening with Sunderland Legends Peter Reid and Kevin Phillips
Celebrate and relive Black Cats history with two of the club’s most iconic figures, then ask them the questions you’ve always wanted to ask in a live Q&A. Sunderland fans won’t want to miss this opportunity.
15TH OCTOBER
The Customs House, South Shields
customshouse.co.uk
Katherine Jenkins
The biggest selling classical artist of this century, Katherine Jenkins is on a brand-new tour to celebrate her incredible 25 years in music.
15TH OCTOBER
York Barbican
yorkbarbican.co.uk
18TH OCTOBER
The Glasshouse, Gateshead
theglasshouseicm.org
Ginger Johnson: Show Pony
Lanchester’s Drag Race superstar and Celebrity Masterchef champion, Ginger Johnson, is on a psychedelic adventure in search of love, light and the little horse that got away. Expect bucketloads of chaos and comedy.
17TH OCTOBER
Northern Stage, Newcastle
northernstage.co.uk
Oktoberfest Beverley
It’s party and pint time as Oktoberfest returns to Beverley with a huge Bavarian beer hall. There’ll be live music, street food and endless entertainment – a fun opportunity to celebrate with friends this autumn.
17TH OCTOBER
Beverley Racecourse
oktoberfestbeverley.co.uk
Sir Nigel Gresley: The Legend Returns
Don’t miss your chance to ride behind one of Britain’s icons from the golden age of steam, No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway between Pickering and Grosmont this autumn as the railway celebrates 150 years since the birth of visionary railway engineer Sir Nigel Gresley.
17TH–20TH OCTOBER
North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering
nymr.co.uk
Cats
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s multi-award winning musical Cats is coming to Hull as the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one. This brand-new production is directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie.
20TH–24TH OCTOBER
Hull New Theatre
hulltheatres.co.uk
Living North’s Christmas Fair
Join us for a jam-packed day at the biggest and best seasonal shopping event in the North East, with more than 250 carefully-selected stands, from artisan designer-makers, local food producers and fashion retailers to homewares, gifts and accessories, and of course special Christmas decorations. Early-bird discounted tickets are on sale now!
22ND–25TH OCTOBER
Newcastle Racecourse
livingnorth.com
Moonlight On The Lake
Take a sparkling stroll about Peasholm Park celebrating the heritage of Scarborough and the park with hundreds of handmade lanterns and illuminations reflecting on the surface of the water. This is a unique opportunity to experience the park at night and a fun event for all the family.
23RD–24TH OCTOBER
Peasholm Park, Scarborough
scarboroughfair.uk
Tales from the Shadows
This Halloween, Seaton Delaval Hall’s Basement and Stables will transform into a world of mysterious tales and curious characters with an interactive trail inspired by ghostly legends, wicked witches, giant spiders and anything else that lurks in the dark.
FROM 24TH OCTOBER
Seaton Delaval Hall
nationaltrust.org.uk
Things I Took from the Dark by Reece Shearsmith
For decades, Reece Shearsmith has been collecting terrible things – from the screaming skull of Glamis Castle to a talking mongoose called Gef. Now, the co-creator of The League of Gentlemen, Psychoville and Inside No. 9 is revealing them. Celebrating his illustrated memoir Things I Took from the Dark: The Museum of Me, Reece will move between storytelling and performance before offering the chance to ask him questions… if you dare.
25TH OCTOBER
Royal Hall, Harrogate
harrogatetheatre.co.uk
28TH OCTOBER
Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle
tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
The internationally-celebrated novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has been adapted for stage with a production starring Joe McFadden and Charlie Brooks. With everything audiences love about a whodunnit combined into a coming-of-age story, this murder mystery is bound to be popular.
27TH–31ST OCTOBER
Grand Opera House York
atgtickets.com
There’s A Monster In Your Show
Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventure is being brought to life on stage as There’s A Monster In Your Show heads to Durham in the form of a new musical show. At just 50 minutes long and with original music, this is the perfect introduction to live theatre for children.
28TH–30TH OCTOBER
Gala Durham
galadurham.co.uk
Steve Backshall’s Deadly Live!
This autumn half term, award-winning wildlife presenter Steve Backshall is bringing Deadly Live! to Stockton, based on the hugely popular BBC Deadly franchise. There’ll be daring stunts, mind-blowing experiments and cutting-edge science in this wildlife spectacle.
31ST OCTOBER
Stockton Globe
stocktonglobe.co.uk
Chariots, Treasure and Power: The Melsonby Hoard
The Melsonby Hoard, the largest hoard of Iron Age metalwork to ever be found in Britain, is shedding new light on Iron Age Britain’s technological skill, artistry, trading links and society. It is now secured by the Yorkshire Museum and this exhibition showcases objects alongside digital resources and interactive elements, so visitors can dive into the archaeological, scientific, and conservation work shaping future research. Find out more at livingnorth.com.
UNTIL SUMMER 2027
Yorkshire Museum, York
yorkshiremuseum.org.uk
