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All aboard for an unforgettable ride this Pride, as Newcastle-based train operator,   Lumo , continues its support for   Newcastle Pride  festival. With the return of the popular Lumo Platform stage and Newcastle Pride Market Village, Lumo is helping to make this year’s celebrations bigger and better than ever. The Lumo Platform, a dynamic live performance stage that was a huge hit at Pride in the City in 2024, will continue to bring the city’s queer community and allies together. A call out for local performers to take part on the stage is currently underway, with opportunities for North East artists to showcase their talents and highlight what it means to them to be ‘unapologetically visible’. In keeping with the tradition of collaboration, Newcastle Mela will once again be joining the celebrations, bringing a vibrant mix of culture and music to the Lumo Platform stage. Their ongoing partnership with Newcastle Pride celebrates the intersection of art, culture, and community in both the LGBTQIA+ and South Asian communities, the only collaboration of its kind in the UK. Newcastle Mela took over the Lumo Platform Stage last year! The Newcastle Pride Market Village will take over the heart of the city centre at Grey’s Monument and Old Eldon Square with a wide range of LGBTQIA+ businesses and independent creators. With market stalls getting booked up fast, vendors are encouraged to apply now to secure their spot to be a part of this year’s festivities. Martin Gilbert, Managing Director at Lumo, shared, “We are extremely proud to be supporting Newcastle Pride for a third year. Diversity and inclusion is an important part of our culture and service at Lumo, and Pride is an event that means a lot to our team, customers, and local community, so we are really pleased to be able to continue our support. The popular Lumo Platform stage will be returning for 2025 in the heart of the city and there are more ways for the people to get involved in the fun including the Market Village.” We took over Monument in style! Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, commented, “We are thrilled to have Lumo’s continued support for Newcastle Pride 2025, delivered in partnership with NE1 and Newcastle City Council. Their commitment to diversity and inclusion is what Newcastle Pride is all about. Lumo not only brings us the Lumo Platform and Market Village during the festival weekend but also provides inclusive and sustainable rail travel for visitors making their way to Pride from across the UK. We invite everyone to visit the Market Village to support LGBTQIA+ businesses and enjoy the incredible live performances and experiences we’ve got lined up this year.” Newcastle Pride 2025 will take place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July across various locations throughout Newcastle. The Pride Arena at Central Park in Times Square will host an impressive lineup of performers, including Pixie Lott and Gok Wan, along with a spectacular range of drag shows, DJs, tribute acts, and more. The streets around Grey’s Monument and Old Eldon Square will come alive with vibrant market stalls and festivities, making this year’s Newcastle Pride a truly city-wide celebration of love, unity, and inclusion. To find out more about securing one of the market village stalls or performing at this year’s event, visit:   https://www.northern-pride.com/ 2025 .

FESTIVAL goers won’t need to wait until July for this year’s Newcastle Pride celebrations to begin, with a programme of exciting events announced today for the city’s first ever Pride Fringe, set to take place from June.    A new addition to the North East calendar for 2025, Pride Fringe will offer a wide range of live entertainment, comedy and theatre, along with LGBTQIA+ networking opportunities at a host of local venues across the early summer months ahead of the highly anticipated Newcastle Pride Festival on 19th and 20th July, which is presented in partnership with NE1 and Newcastle City Council. As part of the celebration, North East drag royalty Pride Radio favourite, Ophelia Balls, will also be taking to the stage, debuting their very own one-woman show, ‘A Life Not in Heels’, Friday 20th June at Northern Stage. For the very first time, and without a safety net, Ophelia will be sharing heartfelt, hilarious, and unforgettable stories from their life as a legendary North East drag queen. Ophelia Balls will be debuting their very own one-woman show, ‘A Life Not in Heels’ The Fringe festivities will kick off on 5th June with ‘Al’s Pals’ at Newcastle’s The Stand Comedy Club hosted by local comedian, Al Stevenson, and featuring a range of North East comedic talent including Matt Reed, Maxine Wade, Catherine Young and Percy Savage. This will then be followed by Newcastle Pride’s ‘Laugh Out Proud’ fundraiser on the 9th June, also at The Stand Comedy Club, which will bring together some of the UK’s best LGBTQIA+ comedians for a one-night-only celebration of queer talent and community. All funds raised from the event will go directly to Northern Pride, who work to protect, promote, and provide for the LGBTQIA+ community..  Other highlights of the Pride Fringe programme for 2025 include an immersive screening of the Wizard of Oz at Tyneside Cinema on Thursday 12th June, featuring some of the region’s favourite drag artists. Pride Speed Friending at NQ64, will take place a week later, Thursday 19th, which encourages meeting new people through a mix of games, chats and chilled out vibes and the iconic ‘Pedro Pascal says Trans Rights Cabaret’ which will take place at the Alphabetti cinema on 19th July. Northern Proud Voices are back with their Newcastle Cathedral Concert Northern Pride is partnering with other LGBTQIA+ organisations and charities to bring more to Pride Fringe this year. Northern Proud Voices are back with their Newcastle Cathedral Concert on Friday 4th July, Curious Arts are showcasing Bi Curious George at Alphabetti a day earlier on Thursday 3rd. Northern Pride will also be partnering with Out to Swim who will be showcasing their inclusive swimming sessions at Heworth before enjoying a social event down on the quayside on Saturday 5th July. Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to join Out of Office, the LGBTQIA+ professionals network for an evening of business networking and a special panel discussion with leading figures from the region at Ward Haddaway’s Quayside premises, Thursday 26th June. What also promises to be fab additions to Pride Fringe, will be the Eldon Sq take over which will take place on Saturday 14th June, whilst queer makers and creatives will be invited to One Strawberry Lane for an indoor market, Queer Exchange, which will take place on Sunday 22nd June.  Jack Wonnacott, one of Pride Fringe’s producers, said: “It’s such an honour to be part of the very first Newcastle Pride Fringe, a fantastic way to kick off the festival even earlier this year. Having the opportunity to produce my own events for Fringe has been incredibly empowering. I’ve been involved with Newcastle Pride since 2019, and I know firsthand how much it means to both the city and the LGBTQIA+ community. That’s why it means so much to be trusted with something so special.” Haydn Brown, official photography partner of Northern Pride and another one of Pride Fringe’s producers, added: “It’s incredible to see the community coming together for another special celebration of what it means to be unapologetically visible. From the Pride Speed Friending at NQ64 to LGBTQIA+ comedy nights at The Stand, there really will be something for everyone to enjoy over the summer, and it’s a privilege to be involved with making this all happen.” Co-producers of Pride Fringe, Jack Wonnacott and Haydn Brown Following an incredible response to its creative commission call, Newcastle Pride is also almost ready to announce the worthy winners, who will have the chance to create and showcase their work during Pride Fringe Festival and Newcastle Pride 2025. Some events require tickets, which start from £3, and are available from 1st May. Market stalls registration also opens on 1st May. For the details of all the Pride Fringe events, when they go live, head to www.northern-pride.com/fringe

Newcastle Pride is set to make a spectacular return this summer, announcing its exciting lineup of music, drag, and culture, as it takes over Newcastle City Centre on 19th and 20th July 2025.  Presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1 , the festival promises to be bigger and better than the first-ever city-wide takeover in 2024, this year expanding to feature two stages in The Pride Arena with the support of Evnt Inspirations and Life Science Centre, and featuring a star-studded Saturday lineup of entertainment. Pop sensation Pixie Lott will be headlining the Pride Arena Pop sensation Pixie Lott leads the Saturday lineup, following her much-anticipated return to music last year after the release of her fourth album, Encino. Pixie scored a UK Number 1 with her first song Mama Do (Uh Oh, Oh Oh), before going on to release more chart toppers including Boys and Girls, and All About Tonight. Isolation Nation icon, stylist and award-winning national treasure, Gok Wan, will be taking to the main stage with an energetic DJ set that will fill the Pride Arena with the soundtrack to the weekend.  Gok Wan will be DJ-ing the event! Also joining the lineup will be Drag Race UK finalist and North East favourite Michael Marouli, who has toured the world as both a solo artist and with their drag group, Angels Of The North, selling out in both the UK and Australia. Bringing 90’s Eurodance vibes to the stage will be Italian sensation Livin’ Joy, who released various successful hits during the mid-1990s, including Dreamer, Don't Stop Movin’, Follow the Rules and Where Can I Find Love. Continuing the feel-good festival, Sunday will celebrate local artists and entertainment from tribute acts including ‘Taylor Swift’, ‘Sabrina Carpenter’, ‘Lady Gaga’, ‘Freddie Mercury’ along with queer art collective, The Future is Queer. The Pride Arena will also feature dazzling performances in the popular Dance and Cabaret tent, as it makes its welcome to return to the festival weekend.  As part of its commitment to supporting grassroots talent, Northern Pride, the charity behind the festival is actively seeking new and emerging local artists and creatives to take part across the entire festival. LGBTQIA+ creatives are encouraged to apply to be part of this unforgettable celebration of culture and community, with opportunities on six stages, from the Main Stage and Dance and Cabaret at the Pride Arena, The Platform Stage at Greys Monument, the Family and Youth Stage in the Theatre Royal and the Curious Arts Stage at Northern Stage. Applications are also open with paid opportunities to deliver workshops, or hands-on experiences across the entire festival. For more information head to www.northern-pride.com/takepart .   That Freddie Queen is just one of many amazing tribute acts performing at Newcastle Pride! Across the weekend, festival-goers will be able to enjoy cocktails, delicious street food, and exclusive VIP experiences, making it a celebration like no other for the city. Stephen Patterson, Chief Executive at Newcastle NE1, commented: “We're thrilled to partner with Newcastle Pride once again for 2025 and are excited to unveil such an incredible lineup across the weekend. This year's festival will be the biggest yet and a vibrant celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community in the North East.” While it's set to bring a party atmosphere, Newcastle Pride remains at its core a celebration of love, equality, and the LGBTQIA+ community – a chance for the community to be unapologetically visible. In addition to the live music and performances, the weekend will feature community and wellbeing zones , the iconic Market Village showcasing LGBTQIA+ businesses and independent creators, and the annual Pride march, bringing thousands together in a powerful display of unity and visibility. Weekend tickets are now available to purchase from £25.00, or individual Saturday tickets can be secured from £20.00 and Sunday tickets from £7.50.  For full details of the programme and lineup for Newcastle Pride, to buy tickets, and to apply to take part as a local creative or artist, visit www.northern-pride.com . Early Bird tickets for the Pride Arena are on sale with Saturday tickets from £20, Sunday from £7.50 and full weekend tickets from £25. VIP tickets are also available for those looking to upgrade their experience.  Full details of the programme for Newcastle Pride, the Pride Fringe events and much more, head to www.northern-pride.com  and follow Northern Pride on socials to stay up to date with all the latest news.

Short films deserve the spotlight! They’re a chance to discover fresh voices, log more gems on Letterboxd, and witness the future of filmmaking unfold.   For years, Tyneside Cinema have been proud to host the Iris Prize Festival, bringing the very best in LGBTQ+ short films and features to the big screen. On Wednesday 26 February, the 2025 edition arrives with another bold and breathtaking selection—all within a single feature-length runtime! This year’s theme, Heroes, Heartbeats, and Shorelines, weaves together stories of identity, transformation, and the unexpected connections that shape us. All Tickets are just £5.

Newcastle Pride is set to return for a city-wide takeover this summer, following the success of last year’s transformative event.  Presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1 , the festival, which will take place across the 19th and 20th July , promises an even bigger lineup of celebrations, live entertainment, family activities and access to health and wellbeing support.  Today, Northern Pride, the charity behind the event also announced some big changes which they believe will make this year’s event even better. New venues are on board to amplify the city takeover. First up is the iconic Theatre Royal which will place host to the incredibly popular Family and Youth Zone. Whilst independent theatre, Alphabetti, will support the delivery of a new zone. The Trans+ Zone will provide a safe, celebratory, and empowering area for the region’s trans and non-binary community.  Elsewhere, Northern Pride teases a brilliant lineup yet to be announced, that will take to the Pride Arena Main Stage on Saturday 19th July, whilst a new look to Sunday 20th will see a host of tribute acts and local artists provide the entertainment. Working with Evnt Inspirations and Life Science Centre, a new layout to The Pride Arena will create more space for festival attendees to enjoy with the welcome news that a second stage will play host to the popular Dance and Cabaret zone.  Festival goers won’t need to wait until July for the fun to begin, as Pride Fringe will take place across June and will bring live entertainment, comedy, theatre and new experiences along with networking opportunities across a whole host of city venues. Plus Northern Pride will run its artist commission callout with Creative Central NCL, supported by Curious Arts.  Cllr Karen Kilgour, leader of Newcastle City Council said: “Last year’s celebrations represented a huge milestone for Newcastle, with more people than ever able to experience pride. “With over 82,000 people engaging with the festival and a positive economic impact of roughly £4m, which benefitted the city, local people, local bars, restaurants and hotels, we are delighted to support the return of Newcastle Pride this summer. “I look forward to joining in the celebrations and reinforcing our solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community at a time when we are seeing an abhorrent rise in discrimination, both in this country and across the world.” Stephen Patterson, Chief Executive at Newcastle NE1, said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Northern Pride to support another city takeover. The move from the Town Moor into the heart of the city was an incredible success last year. Alongside the positive economic impact, it was fantastic to see such crowds enjoying everything Pride has to offer, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2025. This event format creates so many opportunities for local businesses and those in the city to support the festival and benefit from its positive impact and we hope to see many more getting involved this year.” Thousands took to the town and were unapologetically visible! Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride added: “We are delighted to be bringing an even bigger and better Newcastle Pride to the city centre this year to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. After such a positive response from our community, supporters and partners, who embraced last year’s festival, we’ve been overwhelmed by the continued support. We are very grateful to be continuing partnerships with Newcastle NE1, Newcastle City Council, Curious Arts and so many more, and can’t wait to continue building on great foundations to deliver another brilliant event together.” Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Ginger Johnson dazzled the crowd. Early Bird tickets for the Pride Arena are on sale with Saturday tickets from £20, Sunday from £7.50 and full weekend tickets from £25. VIP tickets are also available for those looking to upgrade their experience.  Full details of the programme for Newcastle Pride, the Pride Fringe events and much more, head to www.northern-pride.com  and follow Northern Pride on socials to stay up to date with all the latest news.  Meet the Artist! Newcastle Pride 2025 designer Mack Sproates (they/he) is a queer theatre-maker, artist, facilitator and zine-maker based in Newcastle. Their work is joyful, playful, cut and stick, silly and raw, aiming to help marginalised people’s voices feel seen and heard. They are inspired by DIY punk scenes, pop-culture, music, comic books and are a co-host of Alphabetti’s queer cult comedy cabarets, such as Happy New Queer, JAWS (but gay) and GAYLIEN.

Northern Pride are delighted that their Pride in the City 2024 festival is up for a prestigious award, which will be the first of its kind in a shake-up to the North East England Tourism Awards.   For the first time in the history of the North East England Tourism Awards, Destination North East, the team behind the awards, are giving the public the opportunity to decide the winner of one of three new categories including the Tourism Festival and Events category, which was introduced for the 2024-25 awards cycle.   Finalists in the three new categories, designed to shine a light on the tourism industry’s amazing volunteers, up-and-coming new talent and the unforgettable events and festivals that have delighted audiences over the past 12 months have been revealed ahead of the glitzy final in March.   The new categories – Volunteer of the Year, Tourism & Hospitality Rising Star and Event or Festival of the Year – were introduced following feedback from the region’s visitor economy to ensure even more of the area’s tourism industry could be showcased at the annual awards ceremony in Spring 2025.   Rigorous judging has been taking place since entries closed in December 2024 with finalists from across the region eagerly awaiting the results.   Designed to champion those dedicated volunteers who keep our visitor economy ticking, the Volunteer of the Year category was open to those volunteering within the tourism and hospitality sector. Celebrating those new to the industry, whether they are fresh out of training or exploring a new career, The Rising Star Award will shine a light on the most exciting new talent in the visitor economy, from amazing apprentices to superstar trainee managers to those making a real impact on their business or organisation. The Tourism Festival or Event category is for all of the unforgettable live events and festivals that light up the region and entertain visitors and locals alike. After the huge success of 2024’s Pride in the City campaign, Northern Pride are thrilled to be announced as a finalist, alongside, Durham Fire & Ice, Kynren, and Northumberland County Show. Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride said, “We’re deeply honoured to be nominated for this prestigious award, and it’s a reflection of the incredible support we’ve received from both our festivalgoers and the local community. Over 80,000 people attended last year, and our festival created a £4 million impact on the local economy, making a meaningful difference in so many ways. Most importantly, we’ve worked hard to create a space where the LGBTQIA+ community came together, celebrate, and feel seen. We now turn to our supporters to help us win this award, every vote matters, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports our bid to win.”   Chair of Destination North East England John Marshall said, “We are delighted to be able to showcase even more of our tourism and hospitality superstars with these new local categories, designed especially for North East England. From showstopping events to brand-new tourism talent and the army of volunteers who delight visitors throughout the year, these new categories are truly reflective of our varied and diverse visitor economy.   “Best of luck to our finalists – it’s going to be an unforgettable night in March as we announce the winners!"   Ste added, “We need your help to win this award, and it’s easier than ever to show your support! The public vote opens on Wednesday, January 22nd at 10 am, and we’ll have three weeks to rally together and make a difference. The voting period will close on Wednesday, February 12th at 5 pm, and your vote will directly decide the winner in this category. This is our chance to showcase the incredible impact our festival has had on the LGBTQIA+ community and our commitment to being “unapologetically visible”, let’s make sure our festival gets the recognition it truly deserves!”   “A huge thank you to everyone that made the festival possible, our team of volunteers, the creatives, artists and performers, our sponsors and partners, and of course the queer community for supporting our first ever city-wide takeover in 2024!”

‘PROUD ALLIES’ , a global workplace training programme created by two North East charities has been updated and relaunched in a bid to combat the rise in anti LGBTQIA+ sentiment, eroding of rights and increased hate crimes across the UK. The ‘Proud Allies’ training programme, a collaboration between Curious Arts and Northern Pride, has been updated for 2025 and uses data and insights combined with an interactive, creative approach to learning. The team has already delivered courses to over 2000 people across seven countries and has recruited 5 new members of the training team to deliver the growing demand. The charities hope that the launch of this updated programme will drive noticeable change when it comes to creating warm and welcoming spaces and workplaces for LGBTQIA+ people in the UK and internationally. High-profile clients who have already invested in the ‘Proud Allies’ training include Twitch (Amazon), Sky, Nexus Tyne & Wear Metro, St Oswald’s Hospice, Crafts Council, Engage London and The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria. Bookings for 2025 are already filling up and the team behind the training are urging businesses to take a meaningful look at what inclusivity looks for their teams in 2025. The training provides a learning experience that increases confidence in supporting and advocating for LGBTQIA+ people and the community and is available for groups from 8 to 16 with bespoke packages offered for larger groups including conference-style presentations. Training can be delivered in person or via Zoom using interactive tools to bring the training to life. Morning, afternoon and evening sessions available throughout the year. Twitch (Amazon) took part in the training in 2024. Speaking about their experience, a representative said. “Curious Arts delivered their Proud Allies Training for our creative & production teams that acknowledged our sizeable LGBTQIA+ community. Opting for bespoke delivery that allowed for an open & positive learning experience which recognised our position as a Europe-wide team by providing us with custom-made materials for those outside of the UK.” Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride said, “This training is instrumental for organisations looking to empower and educate their teams when it comes to what it means to be an LGBTQIA+ ally.” “The training is shaped and presented by a representative team of professionals from the LGBTQIA+ community, including former education professionals and allies from the police force who have varied lived experiences, and has been designed to build confidence in creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments for LGBTQIA+ people.” Proud Allies is an accessible, informative, and interactive learning experience designed to increase awareness and understanding of intersectional communities, and culture, and is a practical way for organisations to invest in their employees and demonstrate their commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Ste continued, “The relaunch of the training comes at a challenging time for LGBTQIA+ communities. The training shares the social and political picture of life for LGBTQIA+ people, along with key learning and tools to support teams to be active in their allyship, covering a range of topics, from opening up the basics when it comes to acronyms and inclusive language, exploring how gender identity and expression can empower everyone, whilst also looking to historical milestones and how legislation and activism can impact the creation of safer, more welcoming spaces.” North East Mayor Kim McGuinness Speaking about the importance of investment in inclusivity training, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said, “In our North East we won’t accept hate and discrimination and the Proud Allies training is equipping organisations with positive and effective tools so they can create inclusive environments that make the region a safe and welcoming place to live, visit and do business. It is encouraging to see organisations from across the world looking to the North East to understand what it means to commit to equity, diversity and inclusion in a meaningful way. “We have a thriving tourism and hospitality sector here in the North East and the region has a fantastic reputation for being friendly and hospitable place to visit. With millions of people experiencing what the North East has to offer each year, we have a responsibility to make sure that every single one of them enjoys the same exceptional welcome, and this training empowers every organisation to do just that.” Whilst suitable for all organisations who are committed to championing LGBTQIA+ inclusion, there are added benefits for those working in public-facing roles, front of the house, customer service, marketing, HR, management teams, and board members or trustees. Sessions can be delivered in-person or online, for a small team or an entire company. Proud Allies training is available from £1100 +VAT for a course for 16 people, with discounts for block bookings and for qualifying organisations. For more information visit www.northern-pride.com/training or email training@npride.org.uk

HE.SHE.THEY. Returns to Newcastle for a Night of Music, Inclusivity, and Celebration with DJ Folamour The internationally acclaimed, award-winning rave series, HE.SHE.THEY. , is set to make a spectacular return to Newcastle this November, bringing with it a night of unforgettable house and techno led by French DJ and producer Folamour . Known for its commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and boundary-pushing creativity, HE.SHE.THEY .has built a reputation across the globe as a safe space for everyone, regardless of gender, race, or sexuality, where people can be unapologetically themselves. The highly anticipated event will take place on26th October at NX, located on Westgate Road, and promises to be an all-night celebration of individuality, humanity, and the joy of coming together. With previous line-ups featuring artists like Honey Dijon, Ewan McVicar, and Hannah Laing, the night will see Folamour, known for his infectious blend of house, funk, disco, and soul, headline the decks. Folamour’s vibrant energy, groovy beats, and iconic bucket hat make him a must-see performer at some of the world’s biggest festivals, including Glastonbury, Coachella, and Tomorrowland. But this event is not just about the music. It’s a homecoming for Steven Braines, the co-founder of HE.SHE.THEY., who was born in the North East and is deeply proud to bring his world-renowned brand back to the place he still calls home. After Steven caught up with Northern Pride the beginnings of beautiful partnership was formed between HE.SHE.THEY, Northern Pride and the NX team. So much so, friends of Northern Pride get an exclusive discounted tickets! Northern Pride proudly presents a stellar line up of DJs taking over Room Two as HE.SHE.THEY. Present Folamour at NX this Saturday. EMpTy , a queer and non-binary multidisciplinary creative, designer and DJ will take to the decks after Abby Harris opens. Abby, a friendly face both here in Newcastle, with her regular bookings across the city & residency on Slack Radio, and in her home of Middlesborough, where she can be found organising her 'Spectrum' Open Decks workshops for Women & the Queer community. Kular returns to Newcastle to close Room Two for Northern Pride. Kular h as played up and down the country including Birmingham and London. Kular has his own event and with this has taken it around the world to the likes of Ibiza & Canada. Expect some catchy vocals mixed with Latin percussion and underground sounds. Steven Braines: The Visionary Behind HE.SHE.THEY. Steven Braines is no stranger to the world of electronic music and inclusivity. A proud son of the North East, Braines has made an indelible mark on the global music industry since relocating to London. With over a decade of experience, he has co-founded  HE.SHE.THEY. , an international movement that blends world-class house and techno events with a mission to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality in nightlife spaces. Beyond just throwing some of the most exciting parties on the planet, the  HE.SHE.THEY.  brand extends to a globally recognised record label and fashion line, with stage takeovers at iconic festivals like  Glastonbury  and  Coachella , and residencies in legendary venues like  Amnesia  in Ibiza. Braines’ influence goes far beyond events. As the founder of  The Weird & The Wonderful , a talent management company that has overseen the careers of some of electronic music’s biggest names, Steven has guided artists like  Maya Jane Coles ,  Tale of Us , and the Mercury-nominated  Nadine Shah  to critical and commercial success. He even managed his former flatmate  KDA  to a UK number one hit, demonstrating his knack for identifying and nurturing talent. In addition to his work in music, Steven has championed inclusivity and diversity, speaking on global stages from Miami to Amsterdam about creating safer and more representative spaces for all. Recognised as a leader in the LGBTQ+ community, Steven has been shortlisted for the LGBTQ Leader Award at the UK Diversity Awards 2024 . His work on multiple boards, including the N ight Time Industries Association(NTIA) and the Brit Awards EDI , has helped shape policies and conversations around equity, diversity, and inclusion in the music industry. His CV includes stints as a music journalist, qualified psychologist, and drag queen (performing as the infamous Sandra Spitz), making him a true polymath whose contributions to both culture and community are vast. “When I left the North East for London,” Steven recalls, “venues here weren’t exactly known for taking inclusivity seriously. It felt like there was so much work to be done to create spaces that welcomed everyone, no matter who they were or how they identified. But coming back now, I’m incredibly proud to see how much things have changed. Newcastle has embraced inclusivity in nightlife, and it’s amazing to bring  HE.SHE.THEY. home to a place that’s ready to celebrate that.” HE.SHE.THEY.  was born out of the desire to create a place where people could be free from judgment, and that ethos has resonated with audiences worldwide. From the bustling dance floors of London’s Fabric and Fold to stage takeovers at iconic festivals in New York City, Chicago, and Detroit, to Europe’s clubbing capitals of Berlin, Paris, and Ibiza,  HE.SHE.THEY. has flown the flag for diversity and inclusivity in electronic music. And now, it’s time for Newcastle to join the party. Steven adds, “This event is more than just a rave. It’s a celebration of humanity. I want everyone from Newcastle and the North East to come together for this night, buy their tickets, and let’s show the world what an incredible, inclusive party we can have. I want you all to make me proud and have the best night ever, where everyone is welcome, no matter who you are.” So, whether you come as you are or decide to bring out your boldest look,  HE.SHE.THEY.  is the place to experiment, be free, and celebrate who you are. The ethos is simple: as long as you’re kind and tolerant, you’re part of the family. Make sure you’re part of what’s set to be the ultimate party of the year, as  HE.SHE.THEY. returns to its co-founder’s roots in Newcastle for a night of music, unity, and unapologetic celebration.

GET CURIOUS for an evening of live performance and entertainment celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture and creativity at Live Theatre this November. Live Theatre is Curious Cabaret  is a collaboration between the venue and Curious Arts , a North East arts charity and producers of the award-winning Curious Festival. Taking place on Friday 8th November  at  7:30 pm , the event offers a dynamic mix of cabaret, comedy, art, and drag, hosted by legendary avant-garde performer David Hoyle . David Hoyle , known for his sharp satire and fearless critiques of society, first rose to fame in the 1990s as the Divine David. His bold, captivating performances have graced venues such as the infamous Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Soho Theatre in London and Manchester’s flagship arts venue Factory International. Hoyle’s recent shows include Diamond and Ten Commandments, and he continues to tour internationally. The evening will be BSL interpreted, and feature a lineup of North East talent presenting new work. This includes Mama Rhi , a cabaret artist known for bold feminist lip sync and burlesque performances exploring body acceptance, female sexuality, and joyous celebrations of love. Mama Rhi is quickly building a name for herself through her satirical, sexy, and rebellious style. Also performing are WhatsApp Ross & Johnny the Biblical Rapper , played by Rosa Postlethwaite  and Tessa Parr . This hilarious duo brings subversive, norm-challenging energy with humour and socially engaged performance. Veggie Stripper , a high-energy black drag king from Newcastle, adds to the mix with his campy, dramatic performance style, bringing visibility for queer people of colour and AFAB drag artists to the North East. Sweet Boy , an eccentric, camp non-binary drag artist, will showcase new work full of clownery, blending drama, comedy, and playful chaos. Drag Artists Veggie Stripper & Sweet Boy Mimi , a self-described "lanky, witchy" poet, will deliver a spoken word piece, blending classical theatre with contemporary stories, reflecting today’s diverse world. Queer dance artists Jesse Salaman  and Toi Guy  will present a new durational movement piece, using sound and choreography to transform the theatre space. Live Theatre’s JD Stewart  said, “ Live Theatre is Curious  is a platform for diverse voices, shining a spotlight on extraordinary talent within the LGBTQIA+ community. Audiences can expect an unforgettable evening filled with joy, defiance, and artistic brilliance.” The event is supported by Arts Council England . Don’t miss out on this incredible night of experimental and entertaining performances, book your tickets now:   Live Theatre is Curious Cabaret Venue: Live Theatre, Newcastle Date: Friday 8 November, 7.30 pm Tickets start at £6. Age recommendation: 16+ (Under 18’s accompanied by an adult) British Sign Language Interpreted event.

In our first year taking over the city, we’ve been nominated in the category for best Metropolitan Festival, which looks to recognise a festival that most convincingly made a city its own!   Well, we think that the 82,000 people that joined us across our Pride in the City festival will agree, we most certainly transformed the city into the best, unapologetically visible, queer celebration the region has ever seen, in fact, 78% of attendees said it was our best festival EVER!… so please head to the UK Festival Awards nomination page and vote for Northern Pride!    Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1, welcomed record numbers to this year’s festival across Newcastle city centre, with over 82,000 people engaging with the joy of pride, supporting a positive economic impact of c £4m.   “From the satellite events which started earlier in the month, to the main events and through visitors to Newcastle during the weekend, including those who were able to enjoy from the sidelines, the positive impact on the city has been huge.” says Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride.   “After such a positive response from our community, supporters and partners, who have embraced the citywide takeover, to receiving our economic impact and satisfaction data this week, we’ve been overwhelmed at the success of this year’s event. We set out to create a more accessible, unapologetically visible pride celebration, but also a festival which would benefit the city, local people, local bars, restaurants and hotels and we’ve achieved that together and we are so grateful to everyone who made this possible.”  The economic impact and satisfaction survey confirmed that for a third of attendees, this was their first experience of pride. 75% of participants identified as LGBTQIA+, with 73% of attendees visiting from outside of Newcastle city centre postcodes. Of those in attendance who had experienced pride before, 70% said it was ‘better than previous years’, with 90% confirming they would return next year. Overall perception scores were positive, with most scoring 8+ out of 10.    We would like to take this opportunity to once again, thank everybody that made the festival happen ! From our team of volunteers and event teams, to every single creative, artist, performer that took part, and to all the amazing LGBTQIA+ friends families and allies that turned out in their thousands to join us in our mission to be unapologetic visible!   Stay tuned for more information about 2025… but for now get voting!

Positive economic impact c £4m 1 in 10 pride participants stayed overnight in Newcastle 90% of attendees would come again next year Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1, welcomed record numbers to this year’s festival across Newcastle city centre, with over 82,000 people engaging with the joy of pride, supporting a positive economic impact of c £4m.  “From the satellite events which started earlier in the month, to the main events and through visitors to Newcastle during the weekend, including those who were able to enjoy from the sidelines, the positive impact on the city has been huge.” says Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride. “After such a positive response from our community, supporters and partners, who have embraced the citywide takeover, to receiving our economic impact and satisfaction data this week, we’ve been overwhelmed at the success of this year’s event. We set out to create a more accessible, unapologetically visible pride celebration, but also a festival which would benefit the city, local people, local bars, restaurants and hotels and we’ve achieved that together and we are so grateful to everyone who made this possible.”  The economic impact and satisfaction survey confirmed that for a third of attendees, this was their first experience of pride. 75% of participants identified as LGBTQIA+, with 73% of attendees visiting from outside of Newcastle city centre postcodes. Of those in attendance who had experienced pride before, 70% said it was ‘better than previous years’, with 90% confirming they would return next year. Overall perception scores were positive, with most scoring 8+ out of 10.  Stephen Patterson, Chief Executive at Newcastle NE1, said: “In what is our 10th year supporting Northern Pride, it is amazing to see the continued success of the festival following the move from the Town Moor into the heart of the city. To see such crowds enjoying the live performers and Market Village near Grey Street, to the Family & Youth Zone, satellite events and the main stage, the city was quite literally brimming with pride. This year’s change in format created even more opportunities for local businesses and those in the city to support the festival and benefit from its positive impact and that should be celebrated. The impact is beyond expectation and we’re incredibly proud to have been able to support Northern Pride again this year.”   Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, added: “This year’s celebrations are a huge milestone for Newcastle, with more people than ever able to experience pride in their own way. Across all events, but in particular with the March taking place through the city centre, this year’s festival succeeded in bringing together even more of the LGBTQIA+ community, business partners, allies and supporters to stand in solidarity, in what will be a historic shift for the city centre celebrations.”

Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1 , is celebrating success after welcoming record numbers to this year’s Northern Pride festival in a citywide takeover.  Following its move from the Town Moor, this weekend’s main events ran from Friday to Sunday, with tens of thousands of people participating in the array of entertainment across the city, from the Curious Arts Stage and the Family and Youth zone to the Market Village, Lumo Platform and the main arena at Times Square.  From the satellite events which started earlier in the month, to the main events and through visitors to the city this weekend, over 82,000 people engaged with the joy of pride, including those who were able to enjoy the buzz and the on-street entertainment from the sidelines. This year the event succeeded in creating a more accessible pride celebration for all and a huge nod to this year’s theme of ‘unapologetically visible’. With the sun shining community members, allies, local people and businesses came together to fill the streets of Newcastle with a colourful message of hope for the annual March. Starting and ending at the Civic Centre this year’s March had over 16,500 participants. Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, said: “We’re overwhelmed by the success of this year’s celebrations. It’s been a pleasure to see individuality in all forms celebrated in so many ways. With this year’s theme, unapologetically visible, we set out to encourage past, present and future generations of the LGBTQIA+ community to be their most authentic selves in whatever way that manifests itself to best reflect their journey." “As well as achieving our purpose to bring the LGBTQIA+ community together, we’re excited to review the data this week to show in more detail the economic impact the event has been able to drive, from the satellite events that led us to this weekend to the visitors to the city." "A huge thank you to our partners, supporters, the local businesses, our creatives, performers and volunteers, who embraced pride to show their solidarity and support throughout. We couldn’t have done any of this without them." “It was incredible to truly see Pride in all its manifestations across the city. From art and theatre to live performances, crafts and film screenings. With families, friends and strangers, able to experience Pride in the City in their own way across the packed programme of activities. All with one common call to action, to be “unapologetically visible”.