Northern Stage, the largest producing theatre in the North East, is shining a spotlight on homegrown talent this Christmas with its magical new production of Beauty and the Beast.
This year’s festive production, devised by Katie Mitchell and Lucy Kirkwood, directed by Bryony Shanahan, with staging and costume design by Verity Quinn, invites audiences into a magical world filled with favourite characters, live music from the Insect Orchestra, mischievous fairies, a Thoughtsnatcher machine and a very helpful rabbit, but what makes this Christmas particularly special is the incredible array of North East talent on stage. Newcastle-born Bridget Marumo stars as Beauty, Davey Hopper from South Shields plays Father, and Bishop Auckland’s Conor McCready takes on the role of the Beast, alongside an ensemble of performers and creatives rooted in the North East.
For Northern Stage, regional representation is core to their mission. The theatre wants young people from across the region to see artists who sound like them, look like them, and come from the places they call home.
Children from across the region will be among the first to experience the show, thanks to Northern Stage’s Pay It Forward scheme, which provides free and subsidised tickets for families and school groups who might not otherwise be able to attend. Through the Pay It Forward scheme, audiences are invited to donate the cost of a ticket to help children and families experience theatre at a time when the festive season can be financially challenging. Hundreds of local young people will enjoy Beauty and the Beast through this scheme alone, often their first-ever trip to the theatre.
Natalie Ibu, Artistic Director of Northern Stage said “Beauty and the Beast is a story so many of us know and love, but what makes this year extra special is seeing children from across the North East experience a cast of North East talent bringing it to life. These artists live, work and train here.
“For children to see people who sound like them and look like them telling big, magical stories, that matters. It shows them that these are roles they can aspire to and, thanks to the generosity of our audiences through our Pay It Forward scheme and programmes like The Big Give, even more children will be able to join us this Christmas and enjoy the magic of the theatre.”
Northern Stage is also taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025, aiming to raise £3,000 which will be match-funded, helping to provide even more free tickets for young people across the North East.
With a proudly North East cast centre-stage and hundreds of local children preparing to experience the production at little to no cost, Beauty and the Beast promises to be a celebration of regional talent, community spirit, and the transformative power of seeing yourself represented in the stories you love.
Tickets are on sale now. For performance dates, access performances and booking, visit https://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/beauty-and-the-beast/ or call 0191 230 5151.