About Us
Making any space a theatre space since 2012.
Theatre Space North East is built on the belief that theatre is for everyone and shouldn’t be trapped inside the walls of a venue.
We feel that it can, and should, happen anywhere there are people, whether that’s a park, a classroom, a pub or a church yard. Ever since our first production in August 2012 we have been finding ways to create accessible theatre for audiences of all ages and background.
Starting life as a community project with amateur performers, Theatre Space staged its first show, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in Barnes Park, in the west of the city. Some 22 people – cast, crew and volunteer audience guides came together to share this well-loved tale against the beautiful backdrop of the public park. The following year, back by popular demand, the company returned with The Tempest.
From there the company began to grow, supporting new writing and local actors, as well as working with schools across the region and running regular youth theatres. In 2016, Theatre Space North East became a Community Interest Company – a social enterprise focused theatre company, with a new base in the heart of the city. Following a crowd funder TSNE took the lease on a former factory on the corner of Brough Road and Nile Street, creating ‘Collective Space’ providing a home for the growing props and costume collection as well as a rehearsal base for future productions. The next year Collective Space became home to the script and score library for the city, housing over 2500 books as part of its lending service.
TSNE continued to grow expanding its summer show to a 3 show summer season, staging an annual Christmas tour, working with 30 different schools, running community theatre training as well as youth theatres, until in early 2021 TSNE CIC applied for Charitable status. It is hoped that the next step in the journey, with a wonderful shiny new board full of ideas and know how, will let the organisation grow, while sticking to its core ideas – create accessible theatre, work with local people, contribute to education and to provide opportunity to all.
Theatre Space consists of our registered charitable incorporated organisation Theatre Space North East CIO (charity number: 1198576) and our wholly-owned subsidiary, the non-profit community interest company Theatre Space Trading CIC (company number 10059355).
Both organisations work together and independently to deliver our work throughout the year.
