The Culture Vulture

Continuing my indie venue shout outs – a few weeks ago, I swung by The Teahouse - Purveyors of Finest Tea, Newcastle (formally Quilliams) for some tea & lunch time scran with my laptop. It was lush – energetic atmosphere (love the buzz of a city centre venue), big love for the décor, beaut food, great tea and lush staff (indie venue staff, make the place for me!).
The Tea House is open LATE every single night……there has been the beginnings of a mainstream late night “dry” mov...ement in many Northern cities; it’s great to see. I really struggle with meetings after 7pm (as a freelancer, I have them often), to not end up in a pub or bar, which inevitably ends up with several gins and a fuzzy head the next day (Not always a bad thing....). But being able to go somewhere LUSH late night, eat some cake and get a pot of green tea (may be I’m showing my age) is perfect!
AND, The Tea House has a mini cinema downstairs…..they run a small but perfectly formed weekly film screening (you can’t book, you have to just chance it!) and you can also hire the space out for private parties too!
Check them out next time, you’re in Newcastle!
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I recently caught up with Artistic Director Shelley from Mad Alice Theatre Company! A lush theatre company based in Consett, Co. Durham that I’ve been working with for the last six months on their family show Rose & Robin ahead of its February NE Tour.
I absolutely loved Shelley’s journey into the sector- a real heart over head moment!

Takeover 2020 is a happening – an annual youth arts festival and leadership opportunity for anyone 13-18 years old. They are looking to recruit a diverse team of young folks to plan, market and deliver this year’s five day festival at Customs House, South Shields during May half term.
Recruitment is currently open for young people to join the team.
I’m working on this, so they’ll get to work with me (alongside loads of other amazing creative professionals & artists)! Yahooo!

Loving the Write Like A Girl project….and they are FINALLY bringing a gig to Newcastle on 13th February at Prohibition Cabaret Bar Newcastle - Write Like A Girl Newcastle.
Only 17% of UK songwriters are women. Write Like A Girl aims to put female song writing talent back in the spotlight – and inspire more women to create original music. Write Like A Girl Newcastle presents an intimate night of live music and storytelling from some of the best up-and-coming female talent. The... musicians alongside playing also sit together, tell stories and interact on stage in a writers round format….
YAS. All over this. Tickets available now and only £5. #ganonlasses
Link up for thing gig! Hattie Murdoch, Beth Keeping, Jenny Lascelles AND Culture Vulture fave Becca James.
Tickets & info: www.tickettailor.com/events/writelikeagir l/335933…
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So exciting to bring this family show to Thought Foundation.....
ON A FORGOTTEN WORLD the king has vanished and reading has been outlawed...
Only ONE person has what it takes to rebel against the system and save her people.
... Her name? Space Rebel Princess
Our fearless young princess raised for royalty but not for rocketry, dreams of becoming an astronaut! Outsmarting the confines of her palace upbringing, and with the help of YOU (our audience), the princess must break free of the fear that holds her back, and boldly go where no princess has gone before!
But first....OUR REBEL PRINCESS NEEDS YOU!
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Planning your half term happenings with your minis?! Thought Foundation have got it covered.

#AD I’ve been invited along to see Where There’s Muck There’s Bras by the amazing Kate Fox at Arts Centre Washington this coming Thursday, 7.30pm
I can’t wait....THIS has been a lecture/performance that I’ve not managed to catch before so I’m buzzing to be taking Mama Horts. This one woman show, showcases and celebrates the sung and unsung stories of Northern women. Kate Fox is an amazing lass herself, culture vulture fave, stand up poet and BBC Radio 4 presenter.
... I can’t wait to hear about some Northern heroines. And I will take the opportunity to take in their Youth Arts - Bright Lights exhibition; an exhibition of 11-19year old Sunderland young creatives. 🙌
Tickets and info: www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/…/where-th eres-muck-theres-br…/
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This looks class!

Well this is a bit exciting......I'm in the North East final (X Factor voice over style) for sole trader/self-employed trader of the year 2020. How canny and lush is that!?!?
I think it's a big step forward that a few "creatives" are in the finals across categories - creative businesses ARE proper businesses and it's amazing to see them recognised as such. AND that self-employed is even a category! yahooo!
Thank you Federation of Small Businesses, I'm looking forward to attending the awards. Well done to all the fellow finalists (especially Myndr & Crystlsd!)

Nice foodie list covering the North....
Great to see my pals at Horticulture Newcastle & Scream For Pizza getting a shout out! 🙌🙌🙌

Just doing this now.....just running a social media conference and interviewing Rosie Ramsey! Thank you to everyone who attended Influencing in 2020 yesterday at Gosforth Civic Theatre!
As a self-employed person, doing this type of thing, to see it in action, to receive all those tweets, tags, photos, DMs, emails - telling me how much you enjoyed it, that it really hit the right note and vibe, that it was a "non conference style conference" and you had a lush time - means the... world to me. Certainly gave me a little spring in my step!
And after all those lush, real, empowering talks....I'm ready to take on the bliddy world!
Official photos will be incoming next week and I will be announcing next year's date in the next few weeks!
Photo credit: Marion Botella - Creative Photographer & Set Designer
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After working on Pages of the Sea, a project instigated by Danny Boyle, in which beaches across the country were transformed into the faces fall soldiers & unsung heroes to mark 100 years since Armistice and the end of the first world war, I’ve been increasingly obsessed with sand art. Using public open spaces and the sand to create messages to the world.
Artist Jax Higginson used their talent to create this very powerful message on Roker Beach, Sunderland this morning. A be...autiful piece of sand art that screams volumes about the dis-empowering and often invisible nature of mental health struggles in society on Time to Talk Day 2020. Time to Talk Day 2020 is a campaign that encourages people to talk about their mental health.
To find out more about the day visit www.time-to-change.org.uk
Also small little gripe at local press – it took me all of 2minutes to find out who this local artist is by doing some digging…. and yet you are reporting it as “some woman”. Jax is a local artist & you can check them out at FlowFree & they are a founder of North East Skinny Dip too!
Image credit - Brian Priest Aerial Photography
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Joining a choir can quite literally transform lives......singing your heart out is good for the mind, body and soul.
If you’re looking for a choir to join - I suggest checking out Beccy Owen's Pop-Up Choirs, Pop Choir Project - Sunderland & Low Fell Community Choir Gateshead.

130 people came to my social media & influencing event tonight....how canny is that?! Currently on a post event high.
Which, as we are keeping it real, means being on the metro home with my balloons from Imaginarium Balloon Studio and I’ve got smoked salmon in my bag to scran for tea!
So many thank yous: ... Sail Creative, Crystlsd, Nomipalony, The Slow Traveler, Miller Grey, For the Love of the North, Katie Meehan, MINT Business Club & Rosie Ramsey for amazing contributions.
Huge thanks to host venue Gosforth Civic Theatre and my event’s team who made it happen!
Shall we do it all again next year?! 🤭🤭🤭
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I’m all about being real! I will be talking about that later tonight at Influencing 2020. Part of being real is about being honest and shunning the social media drive for perfection!
So my realness... - I had a rubbish day yesterday pre-event. Everything went wrong. - I had a tantrum at life. ... - My skin is a nightmare at the moment. - I have to speak on stage lots tonight and I’m a bag of nerves.
Keep it real folks. What’s your realness?
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The well-being effect of crafting can’t be restated enough- especially when it comes to sewing and stitching. It’s immersive and absorbing - a creative distraction.
If you’re looking to do some stitching - check out Make & Mend Company - their positive embroidery 🧵 hoops are lush! You can order kits and get stitching empowering quotes to brights up your day!
... AND, I’ve heard rumbles of the next Make & Mend Festival this Summer too; a full day of crafting and creative shenanigans!
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Join Curious Arts at Gateshead Libraries Central Library this February half term, Saturday 15th February for Mini Pride! A celebration of everything that's unique about families through free activities.
🌈 Stories from Curious Storytime's Granny Gladys.
🌈 Crafty activity with lush artist Lady Kitt
... 🌈 Drop in arty happenings for minis with Thought Foundation
Book your family's free tickets: http://bit.ly/curiousminipride
I will be there too - so if you see me, say HIYA!
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I am totally here for this....cool as cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce.