FAQs - NEigHBouRHood EvENts Attending the event What is North of the Tyne, Under the Stars? North of Tyne, Under the Stars is a series of spellbinding outdoor events taking place across Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside in February and March 2022. The project is divided into smaller-scale “Neighbourhood Events”, taking place in local parks and the large-scale “Festival Finale” taking place in Newcastle City Centre, as well as projects taking place in schools. The events are all connected by the tale of a mysterious and magical Story-Weaver called down from the stars to spin a new story for the region. What are the Neighbourhood Events? The neighbourhood events will bring the tale of the Story-Weaver to local parks on her quest around the region. The experience will include a fire garden, a beautiful soundscape and a large-scale video projection. The content is the same for all of the regional events whichever location you choose to attend: Blyth, North Shields, Wallsend, Byker, Fenham or Hexham. What is the difference between the Neighbourhood Events and the Festival Finale? The neighbourhood events act as a teaser or trailer for the Festival Finale. The finale is a bigger event which builds on the same story, but involves a further five large-scale video and sound installations. You can find out more about the Festival Finale event here. What time does it begin and end? The neighbourhood events are open between 18:00 and 21:00. You can visit at any time during these hours. We expect that visitors will spend around 40 minutes enjoying the installation, so we advise that the latest you might chose to arrive is c. 20:20. Do I need a ticket? No, this event is FREE and open to all so there’s no need to book. Will I have to queue to get in? If the events become very busy, we may need to control access for brief periods, but we do not anticipate long wait times. We expect the events to be busier at the beginning of the evening, so you may choose to wait and come later on. How do I get to the event? The neighbourhood events are designed for a local audience, so please walk or take public transport where possible. If you have to drive to the event, please be mindful and respectful of local residents and avoid parking in residential streets. Where is the main entrance for each event? Ridley Park, Blyth Please use the main park entrance on Ridley Avenue. Follow the directions of the stewards and volunteers on arrival. Northumberland Park, North Shields Please use the gate on King Edward Road (not Tynemouth Road). Pedestrians arriving at other entrances will be signposted to the King Edward Road entrance. Richardson Dees Park, Wallsend Please use the entrance on North Road. Pedestrians arriving at other entrances will have to walk round to the North Road entrance. Ballast Hills, Byker The entrance for this event is from Ford Street. Please follow the directions of the stewards and volunteers on arrival. Nuns Moor Park, Fenham Please use the main entrance on the corner of Studley Terrace and Brighton Grove. Follow the directions of the stewards and volunteers on arrival. Abbey Gardens, Hexham The best way to access this event is from Beaumont Street, opposite Queen’s Hall Arts Centre. Please follow the directions of the stewards and volunteers on arrival. Is the event suitable for children? Yes, this event is suitable for families and people of all ages. Are toilets and refreshments available? Yes. Public toilets and café facilities are available during the event hours as follows: Ridley Park, Blyth: usual park facilities Northumberland Park, North Shields: usual park facilities Richardson Dees Park, Wallsend: usual park facilities Ballast Hills, Byker: Brinkburn St Brewery and Kiln Café, opposite the site, will be open for refreshments and toilet facilities. Nuns Moor Park, Fenham: toilet and café facilities will be available at The Bike Garden. Abbey Grounds, Hexham: toilets are the usual park facilities. Café facilities will be available at Queen’s Hall Arts Centre. Will the events be cancelled in bad weather? The events are unlikely to be cancelled in bad weather, such as rain or light winds. If it does rain, please still join us and don’t forget your waterproofs! Please avoid bringing umbrellas which may block the view of others. In the event of severe weather, particularly high winds, please refer to the website and our official social media channels for the latest updates. The events take place outdoors in park locations after dark. Please dress for the weather and wear sensible footwear as some areas of the park may be muddy underfoot. Is there allocated seating? There is no seating provided at this event. Access Are the events accessible? We aim to make our events as inclusive as possible. If you have any comments or suggestions around access, please email [email protected] Is the event wheelchair accessible? The events all have step-free access. Whilst some areas of the installation are on grass the event can be viewed and enjoyed from a hard-standing pathway. Is the event suitable for those who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing? The fire and video installations are highly visual. However, the video installation does involve spoken word. If you would like to receive a transcript of the text in advance or after the event we would be happy to supply this. Please email [email protected]. Lost property & people I've lost something at the event, what do I do? If you lost something whilst you were attending any of the North of the Tyne, Under the Stars events, please get in touch with us via email at [email protected] with a description of the item. What do I do if I lose someone at the event? If you lose someone or need assistance, please alert an event steward or volunteer. In the event of a lost child or vulnerable person, the stewards will implement an official procedure. Other Who are the organisers of the show? North of the Tyne, Under the Stars is produced by Pinwheel and DAT Events and commissioned by the North of Tyne Combined Authority. Find out more about the organisers here. Who are the artists involved? The artists for the neighbourhood events are: Concept: Katy Fuller Creative Lead: Simon Sharkey Video Design: NOVAK Composer and Sound Design: Roma Yagnik Fire: LightFires Find out more about the artists here. Where does the money come from to fund the events? The events are funded by North of Tyne Combined Authority. How do I get involved in future events like this? You can follow us on social media and sign up to our newsletter via our website to find out first about opportunities and upcoming events. For volunteering opportunities, click here for further details.
