Event Line-Up Announced for The Customs House Takeover Festival 2024

Monday 27^th May

The Takeover Open Exhibition | From 12pm, open all week

Check out the fantastic artwork displayed in our gallery as part of The Takeover 2024 Open Art Exhibition which celebrates the artistic talent of young creators in the North East as part of the annual Takeover Festival. The exhibition features work from young artists from a range of backgrounds and age groups, including individual artists, youth groups and schools.

The Garfield Movie | 11am & 2pm

Come along to our cinema throughout May to watch The Garfield Movie!

Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.

Book your tickets here

Crafts workshop | 12pm-2pm

Free drop-in session, come and have some (possibly Garfield themed) creative time!

Tuesday 28^th May

BreakOver 2024 | 12pm-6pm

BreakOver returns for 2024.
One of the UK’s top Youth Breaking Jams.

DJ: KhanFu (Mad Dope Kru)
Host: Ken Masters (Bad Taste Cru)
Judges: Jelly (Bad Taste Cru), Jackson (Battalions), Crazy AL (Trash Dollys)

U25 and U12 Breakin Battles
£300 1^st place
£150 2^nd place

Tickets are £5.

Grab your tickets here!

All those competing must register by heading to:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1053193509086718

Wednesday 29^th May

Esports Tournament – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 10:30am – 2pm

After the success of our first E-Sports tournament earlier in the year we are bringing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe back on our huge 220 inch cinema screen.

Open to those aged 11 – 16 years old, players will battle it out in single elimination style rounds until only one winner remains.

With only 15 places available, make sure to sign up fast!

1^st place prize – £50 games voucher
2^nd place prize – £30 games voucher

(vouchers can be redeemed for the gaming platform of their choice)

£5 entry for competitors.

Important Information

Tickets only need to be purchased by those taking part in the tournament – spectators do not need to buy a ticket.

Tickets from players must be shown on the day where you will register your name and age before the tournament begins.

Event Timings:

10:00am – Player Registration
10:30am – Tournament begins

Tickets available here!

Musical Theatre Quiz hosted by Glen Richard Townsend | 5pm-7pm

Do you know your Heathers from your Hamilton? Your Sister Act from your Six? Your Wicked from your West Side Story?

If so, get ready to test your knowledge of West End and Broadway hits, show tunes and all things musical theatre in our jam packed pub-style quiz hosted by the one and only Glen Richard Townsend.

Team sizes 2-6 players.

No booking is needed however you can ring Bella’s to reserve yourself a table by ringing – 0191 427 3737

The Greatest Showman, Sing-a-long! | 7:30pm

Don’t miss the chance to belt out your favourite tunes as we present a spectacular sing-a-long version of The Greatest Showman in our main auditorium!

Sing along to all your favourite hits including This Is Me, A Million Dreams and The Greatest Show as the screen lights up with the magic of P.T Barnum’s extraordinary circus.

Whether you’re a die hard fan or are experiencing ‘The Greatest Showman’ for the first time, this event promises to be fun for the whole family.

This is a Pay What You Decide event.

Tickets can be booked via our website here!

Thursday 30^th May

Puppet Making Workshop led by Georgia Hill | 10:30am

Join us for a morning filled with creativity and fun as we invite your young ones to transform a range of recycled materials into puppets inspired by their favourite books and stories.

Led by the fantastic Georgia Hill, freelance prop, costume and puppet maker for theatre and TV!

Suitable for those aged 5 – 10 years old we only have 20 spaces available, so be quick to sign up!

Important Information

Young ones must be accompanied by an adult for the workshop.

This is a free event but a place must be booked for everyone in attendance including parents/carers.

Book your space here! 

Musical Theatre Intensive (Day 1 of 2) led by Chloe Millar and Sarah Wilson | 10:00am – 3pm

Join us for an unforgettable two-day Musical Theatre Intensive!

Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just starting your journey, this intensive workshop is designed for anyone passionate about performing musical theatre.

Spread across two days at The Customs House, you’ll work with performers Chloe Millar & Sarah Wilson in this fun, engaging workshop learning songs and routines from Musicals, Disney and Pop. All abilities are welcome to come and dive right into this encouraging and exciting environment to learn new performance, movement and vocal skills and showcase their talent.

Places are £20 each for the two days and you can secure your place via our website – https://www.customshouse.co.uk/events/musical-theatre-intensive/

Headshots Session with Photo by Jordan | 10:30am – 2:30pm

Professional Photographer Jordan Embleton will be hosting a headshot session at The Customs House on Friday 2nd June.

Priced at £30, you will receive a high quality industry standard headshot to help boost your success with your acting career!

Limited to 6 slots.

Spaces available to book via our website here.

The Customs House Youth Theatre Presents – The Periodicals | 3pm

Set in the near future – a group of young people live as a feral group of techno-savvy fugitives, living off-the land which is a rubbish dump.

They stay out of sight of the authorities – particularly the education authorities who are desperate to get them back into school because the optics are not good. However, school has lost its allure. When the young people are in school, they are overlooked and underestimated – seen as being more trouble than they are worth.

So now, for this group, school’s out forever…

The show will be performed by our Senior Youth Theatre in our main auditorium.

You can book your tickets on our website here!

Kara-show-ke with Jen Stevens & Glen Richard Townsend | 5pm – 7pm

Join us for a night of show-stopping fun at our Musical Theatre Karaoke Night in Bella’s Bar & Bistro.

With live piano accompaniment from the brilliant Jen Stevens and hosted by Glen Richard Townsend come along to sing all of your favourite West End and Broadway hits, and your have your chance to shine in the spotlight.

No booking is necessary however you may wish to reserve a table by ringing Bella’s on – 0191 427 3737

Friday 31st May

Musical Theatre Intensive – Day Two led by Chloe Millar and Sarah Wilson | 10:00am – 3pm

Day two of our Musical Theatre Intensive.

Premiere – DEMONS by Jonathan Iceton | 7:30pm

Our Takeover Young Writer in Residence play for 2024 is back with DEMONS by Jonathan Iceton.

Following on from the successes of our previous Young Writer in Residence plays, Where Did All The Magpies Go? by Holly Readshaw, Down The Lines by Owen Saunders, DEMONS will be directed by Aiden Nord.

Hidden away in the musty basement of Xaos Games, Low-Fell’s premier Dungeons and Dragons group meet each week in secret. Or, they used to. Once a thriving, nerdy community boasting multiple campaigns, now only five consistent members remain, and even then it’s a miracle if they all show up on time. Ti, Dan, Matt, Samantha, and Jade are a group of otherwise unlikely friends who gather around the table each week to fight goblins, compare polyhedral dice, and forget the doldrum of their normal lives. But recently, it’s seemed like even these five might be drifting apart. One fateful evening, they sit down and try to play a game, but their personal lives keep getting in the way. Will their characters (or their friendships) survive the night? Or will their own demons overcome them?

DEMONS is a Pay What You Decide event and tickets are available now – https://www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre/demons-by-jonathan-iceton/

This year’s Takeover Festival would not be possible without the generous support from the Chloe & Liam Together Forever Trust. To find out more about the fantastic work the charity offer, visit their website – https://togetherforevertrust.com/