Northern Stage
ENTRY
from £12
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Newcastle upon Tyne
What it’s like
A three-stage theatre in Newcastle city centre with plays, touring shows and relaxed, captioned and audio described performances built in.
This is a theatre, not a soft play or a farm, so what a visit looks like depends entirely on what's showing. Othello is on at £12 a ticket, which gives you a sense of the kind of programme this is: proper drama and touring productions rather than a dedicated kids' show every week. If you've got older children who are studying a text at school or are curious about live theatre, this is the sort of venue where that clicks into place, but it isn't set up as a toddler or family soft-play alternative.
Where it earns its keep is access. Certain performances are relaxed, with reduced sound and lighting changes, which matters if you've got a child who finds a packed, dark auditorium a lot. Others are captioned or audio described, and Stage 1 has five wheelchair positions with a free carer ticket on offer if your child or anyone in your group can't attend unaccompanied. Staff also do familiarisation tours if your family wants to walk the space before committing to a full show, which is a thoughtful touch rather than a standard theatre offer.
The building itself is easy with a pram or a wheelchair: step-free throughout, a changing places toilet in the Stage 1 lobby, and lifts rather than a maze of stairs. There's a café for coffee and pastries on weekday mornings and pre-show pizza, though the café bar itself was closed until the end of January 2025, and walk-in food isn't guaranteed so booking a table ahead is the safer bet if food's part of the plan. It sits two minutes from Northumberland Street, so it's an easy add-on to a day of shopping in the city centre.
Parking is standard bay parking via an app rather than a dedicated car park, though blue badge holders get free parking in the evenings and at weekends. Given it's on Newcastle University's campus, expect a fairly grown-up, city-centre feel rather than a big family car park out front.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Older children and teens rather than toddlers, depending on the show
- Booking
- Book in advance via website or box office
- Parking
- Free for blue badge holders 5pm-midnight weekdays, 6am-midnight weekends
- Food
- Café bar with espresso coffee, pastries and sandwiches weekday mornings
- Wheelchairs
- 5 wheelchair positions Stage 1, 2 in Stage 2, all seats removable in Stage 3
- Getting there by bus or train
- Newcastle city centre location, 2 minutes from Northumberland Street shopping area, on Newcastle University campus
- Worth knowing
- Become a member to get 20% off tickets
- Othello is the current listed production, priced at £12, so check what's actually on before assuming it's a kids' show
- Café bar was closed until 28 January 2025, so food options may be limited around that date
- Familiarisation tours can be arranged with the box office if your family wants to see the space before booking a ticket
- Book a food table about 24 hours ahead rather than relying on walking in
Plan your visit
What kind of shows are on?
It varies. Othello is currently listed at £12 a ticket, which gives you an idea of the level of drama on offer rather than a fixed kids' programme.
Is this suitable for young children?
There's no set age range given, and the current production listed is an adult play, so it suits older children more than toddlers.
What are relaxed and captioned performances?
Relaxed performances cut down on sudden sound and lighting changes, captioned ones show the dialogue on screen, and audio described ones narrate the action for anyone who needs it. Some performances offer all three, and you don't need an access need to attend one.
Do we need to book?
Yes, book online or through the box office in advance. Table reservations for food are recommended about 24 hours ahead too.
Is there parking?
It's standard bay parking through the PayByPhone app rather than a car park on site. Blue badge holders get free parking from 5pm to midnight on weekdays and all weekend.
Can we get a wheelchair space?
Stage 1 has five wheelchair positions and Stage 2 has two, with all seats removable in Stage 3. Call or email the box office to book, and a free carer or companion ticket is available if needed.
Is there a baby changing or accessible toilet?
There's a changing places toilet in the Stage 1 lobby and an accessible toilet in the Stage 2 lower entrance lobby, plus a hearing loop across all public spaces.
What about food?
There's a café with coffee, pastries and sandwiches on weekday mornings, plus pizza before shows. Walk-in orders aren't guaranteed so booking a table ahead is the better bet.
Are assistance dogs allowed?
Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the building.
How do we get there?
It's right in Newcastle city centre, two minutes from Northumberland Street and on the university campus, so it's easy to combine with a day of shopping.
Is there a way to save money on tickets?
Members get 20% off tickets, worth looking at if you plan to come back for more than one show.
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