1. NORTHUMBERLAND STREET
Newcastle, NE1 7AF
2. SPACE SIX
Floor 6, Commercial Union House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, NE1 6QE
3. ALPHABETTI THEATRE
FESTIVAL HUB
St. James' Boulevard, Newcastle, NE1 4HP
4. DANCE CITY
Temple Street, Newcastle, NE1 4BR
5. OUSEBURN FARM
Ouseburn Road, Newcastle, NE1 2PA
6. SEVEN STORIES
30 Lime Street, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
7. THE CLUNY 2
34 Lime Street, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Newcastle is a well connected city with a good bus service, Metro, large train station, National Express and Megabus stations, airport, nearby ferry terminal, and being just off the A1.
DANCE CITY and ALPHABETTI THEATRE are a 10 minute walk from either Central or St. James' Metro stations. The nearest bus stops are Westgate Road/Rutherford Street or Westmorland Road/Discovery Museum.
SPACE SIX and NORTHUMBERLAND STREET are very close to Metro stations Haymarket and Monument. You can get buses to Pilgrim Street, Eldon Square and Haymarket station.
OUSEBURN FARM, SEVEN STORIES and THE CLUNY 2 are a 15 minute walk from either Manors or Byker Metro stations. The closest bus stop is New Bridge Street (St. Dominics).
If you have accessibility requirements please contact us via email before booking your tickets at , so we can advise directly on venue facilities and capacity.
Entry to SPACE SIX is by elevator but is accessible by most wheelchairs. There is no hearing loop.
ALPHABETTI THEATRE's downstairs area has wheelchair friendly access. There is no hearing loop. Regrettably, the upstairs to the venue where the 6-day Puppet Making Masterclass is taking place, is not currently wheelchair accessible.
DANCE CITY has excellent accessible facilities and there is an Induction Loop at the box office. Click here for more information.
OUSEBURN FARM has excellent accessible facilities for wheelchairs, but there is some uneven surfaces in the outdoor areas. Click here for more information.
SEVEN STORIES has excellent accessible facilities and there is a hearing loop in the attic, which is accessed via a sizeable lift. Click here for more information.
THE CUNY 2 is accessible via a lift but does not have a hearing loop.
The Little Fawn Caravan has accessibility issues due to the nature of the structure. Please get in contact before booking if you require extra assistance.
Some City Centre car parks are now free after 5pm. Visit Get Into Newcastle for further details of these.
There are two car parks near DANCE CITY and ALPHABETTI THEATRE - Blandford Square car park and Grainger Town multi story.
SPACE SIX and NORTHUMBERLAND STREET are most easily accessible by foot or public transport due to City Centre bus lanes taking precedence over driveable roads, however the nearest car park is the NCP car park on NewBridge Street West.
There are a few parking spaces very close to OUSEBURN FARM, SEVEN STORIES and THE CLUNY 2. If these are full then head to the car park on Foundry Lane, just off Lime Street nearby.
What are the numbers next to the event titles? eg. E3: GIRAFFE
These are the event numbers ie. EVENT 3: GIRAFFE. They run in chronological order on ticketed events at the festival. Sometimes shows have multiple performances, in which case these numbers help both us and audience members to make sure the right ticket is being booked or processed.
What events are suitable for teenagers?
Many of the adult and Scratch Space shows are suitable for teenagers, however please still stick to the age recommendations given for each event as some shows contain nudity, swearing or challenging themes. All of the Outdoor Events are suitable for all members of the family.
Can i bring a child into a show if they are under the recommended age range?
All of the age recommendations have been carefully selected by the artists performing at the festival. These have been chosen in relation to the content suitability of the show. Some shows contain adult themes and some shows include content that is too complicated for most younger audiences. We will refuse entry to a child if they are under the age recommendation for some adult shows. We cannot accept any responsibility if a child young than the age recommendation is upset or affected by a show and refunds will not be given.
Can I attend the festival if I have accessibility requirements?
Yes! All of our venues have wheelchair access facilities. Dance City and Seven Stories have a hearing loop. You can find more information on accessibility further up this page. Regrettably, the 6-day Puppet Making Workshop is not wheelchair accessible as takes place upstairs. The venue is working on making changes to this for the future but needs to secure capital funding to make it happen. If you have accessibility requirements, please contact us before booking your tickets so that we can provide assistance wherever necessary. Carers are eligible for concession tickets.
Where can I get tickets and passes from?
All tickets and passes are bookable through our booking page. For all ticketing information, click here.
Where do I pick up my pass from when I arrive at the festival?
THE MAKER and THE PUPPETEER pass holders will be given their passes at the beginning of their first workshop session.
THE PUPPET ENTHUSIAST pass holders will need to come to Alphabetti Theatre and collect their pass from the Box Office/Info Point.
Where can I get a hard-copy brochure from?
We have invested more in distribution this year to get the brochure as far afield as possible. We will have brochures in info points at most major cultural centres and transport stations in the North East, Teesside, Leeds, York and Hull. We will post out brochures to all of the UK puppetry hubs and theatres. You can download a digital copy of the brochure, map and schedule here or from the link at the top of this page. There will be brochures available from all venues during the festival week.
Is there an information desk and box office at the festival?
Yes! Our festival hub is Alphabetti Theatre and we will have our central box office and info point there. It will be open Monday 8th - Friday 12th April, 10am - 6pm.
On Saturday 13th April the box office and info point will move to Ouseburn Farm between 10am - 4.30pm. During these times you will be able to book tickets from these info points or online up to 1 hour before the start of the show. After that point any remaining tickets will transfer to the show venue where they can be purchased on the door. We advise all audience members to book online wherever possible.
How do I get involved in the festival?
There are many ways to get involved in the festival such as through volunteering, internships and artist opportunities. Click here for more info.
Does my young child need a ticket?
All children need a ticket for ticketed events. Concessionary tickets are offered to children aged 12 and under.
Will there be photographers at the event?
Yes. We have two photographers and a videographer documenting the festival. This collection of images is very important to the future of the festival an to evaluate our performance. Signage will displayed at sites where photography is taking place. If you see our festival documenters (who will be wearing a lanyard) and you do not want to be included in any footage or pictures, please let them know and they will ensure to keep you out of shots. Click for information on our Safeguarding Policies and our Data Policy.
