Tyne Theatre & Opera House
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Newcastle upon Tyne
What it’s like
A working Victorian theatre with family shows, backstage tours down into the understage machinery, and pizza before curtain up.
This is a proper old theatre, the sort with a working stage and a history to match, and you can either watch something on it or go poking round behind the scenes. Family-friendly shows like Winnie the Pooh turn up on the programme alongside bigger ticketed productions, so it's worth having a look at what's on before you commit to a date.
If your kids are more interested in how a theatre actually works than in sitting still for two hours, the 75-minute guided tour is the better bet. You get taken backstage and down into the understage areas where all the old machinery lives, which is the sort of thing that sticks in a kid's memory longer than another panto ever will. It's £17.50 a head for the tour, and worth knowing it involves a fair few steps.
Tickets for the bigger shows aren't cheap. The Opera Boys, for example, comes in at £36.55 a standard seat online, which stings a bit for a family outing, though family tickets exist (two adults and two children, or one adult and three) if you're going as a group. Under-18-months sit on your lap for free as babes in arms; anyone older needs their own seat, even toddlers who'd rather sit on you anyway. Once tickets are booked they're non-refundable.
The 1867 Café Bar does hot drinks and sweet treats, and there's pre-show pizza on offer if you want to feed everyone before you find your seats. There's no lift in the building, so if wheelchair access matters to you, stalls level is the one to book.
Need to know
- Booking
- Book online, by phone (0191 243 1171), or in person at 1867 Cafe Bar
- Food
- 1867 Café Bar serving hot drinks and sweet treats
- There's no lift, so stalls level is the only fully accessible seating.
- Family tickets cover two adults and two children, or one adult and three, all under 16.
- Concessions are available for under 16s and over 60s where offered.
- Gift vouchers can be bought online, by phone, or at the café bar.
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
It depends on the show. The backstage tour is £17.50, while a bigger production like The Opera Boys is £36.55 a standard seat online.
Does my toddler need a ticket?
Under 18 months counts as a babe in arms and doesn't need one, though some shows lower that to 6 months. Once they're older than that they need their own seat, even sat on your lap.
How do we book?
Online through the website, over the phone, or in person at the 1867 Café Bar. Accessible or carer bookings need a phone call rather than online booking.
What's the backstage tour like?
It runs 75 minutes and takes you through the understage areas and machinery as well as backstage. There are a lot of steps involved, so it's not great if anyone has mobility issues.
Is there food?
The 1867 Café Bar does hot drinks and sweet treats, and there's pizza on offer before shows.
Can we get a refund if plans change?
No, tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable once booked.
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