Meet our team for the AJBell Great North Run 2026

Launching in September 2026 - Performing Arts Academy at Alnwick Playhouse (ages 16+) - DJ Academy at Blyth Family Hub (ages 16+) - Youth Theatre groups at Morpeth Pavilion (ages 10-14 & 15-19)

The Twisting Ducks' Spectrum theatre group is opening its doors to new members. The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is inviting people with a learning disability and autistic people (aged 16+) who live in Newcastle to attend a free taster day for its Spectrum Theatre Group at Northern Stage on Thursday 30th July , from 10am-12.30pm. The event comes as The Twisting Ducks launches a rare opportunity to join its funded theatre group in Newcastle. Membership is free and no previous performing arts experience is required. Spectrum Theatre Group meets weekly at Northern Stage and offers members the chance to develop creative skills, build confidence, make friends and create original theatre performances in a supportive environment. The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is a charity that works with people with a learning disability and autistic people to tackle inequalities and drive social change through performing arts and issue-based theatre. Based across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, The Twisting Ducks supports over 800 people a year to express themselves creatively, build skills and social connections, and achieve aspirations as performers, musicians, and DJs. It is an exciting time to join Spectrum Theatre Group as members are currently developing BUS, a major two-year immersive theatre and storytelling project funded by Arts Council England and Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund. The project will explore the experiences of bus travel and bring together stories from people with a learning disability and autistic people as well as other marginalised groups including young people, refugees, older people, and LGBTQ+ communities. The project will culminate in a touring multimedia performance staged on a bus, visiting schools, arts venues and festivals across the region in 2027. Spectrum theatre group is for residents of Newcastle aged 16+ with a learning disability and or autism. The Twisting Ducks is particularly keen to hear from people whose voices are currently underrepresented, including young adults aged 18-25, people from the global majority, women, non-binary and trans people. Jan Willem van den Bosch, Lead facilitator and Project Manager at The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company said: “Spectrum Theatre Group at The Twisting Ducks is a welcoming space where people can build confidence, make work together and express themselves creatively. Our taster day is an exciting opportunity for people interested in joining our group to come and see what we do.” Neil, member of Spectrum Theatre Group, said: “Spectrum is a friendly and supportive group. We get to do a variety of things like singing, acting and script-writing.” Kevin, member of Spectrum Theatre group, said: “We learn how to do new things. It’s about expressing yourself and having fun… and it’s free!”

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company is proud to announce that we have been awarded Bronze accreditation through the Investors in the Environment (iiE) scheme, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and strengthening sustainable practice across our work. The announcement comes as we join celebrations for World Environment Day , reflecting our commitment to caring for the environment through the work we do in theatres, community spaces and cultural venues across the North East. The Investors in the Environment scheme is an accessible and proven framework that supports organisations to improve their environmental performance. Run by a sustainability charity, iiE has been helping organisations of all sizes for over 15 years to take practical, measurable action on sustainability. Our Bronze award recognises the strong foundations we have already put in place, including a signed Environmental Policy, the early development of an Environmental Management System, and a broad range of practical actions across waste, travel, procurement, staff engagement and community projects. A key strength highlighted in our environmental audit was our commitment to accessibility. We have developed Easy Read environmental materials to ensure our environmental work is accessible to people with a learning disability and autistic people. Each of our performing arts groups now has a Green Champion who is passionate about the environment and help encourage green actions such as recycling, switching off lights and equipment, re-using materials and sharing ideas for how their group can be more environmentally friendly. We have also introduced a wide range of practical environmental actions across the organisation, including: A strong waste reduction approach with a clear commitment to recycling. Significant reductions in paper use, including a 95% reduction in Board meeting papers through the use of second-hand iPads. Inclusive and sustainable travel planning, including accessible travel guides and increased use of public transport and online meetings. Creative environmental projects such as our Green Champions and the Bus project, which embed environmental thinking into our artistic and community work.

Join Team Twisting Ducks at AJ Bell Great North Run! We have limited spaces remaining for this year's Great North Run on 13th September 2026, and we'd love for you to join our team! Registration fees are already paid, all you need to do is commit to raising a minimum of £200 for The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company. Sign up to run for a great cause and help support our work, creating opportunities for people with a learning disability and autistic people across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. To sign up, email: alex@thetwistingducks.co.uk Deadline: Friday 29th May 2026

For Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) Awareness Day, we're looking back at our beautiful exhibition 'In Our Hands' which took place in September 2025. Over four months of weekly sessions, we supported young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities to be creative through sound, light, texture and movement. Together, we collaboratively created an exhibition of soundscapes, scrapbooks and visual artworks inspired by the artists’ own passions, interests and choices. This film captures some of the joy, creativity and connection that came from the project, including some lovely reflections from parents about what the experience meant to their children This project was kindly supported by Community Foundation North East and Ringtons

Limited spaces available to join The Twisting Ducks funded theatre groups The Twisting Ducks is offering a rare opportunity for local people with a learning disability and autistic people to join funded theatre groups taking place weekly in Newcastle upon Tyne and Wallsend, North Tyneside. We are looking to welcome new members and further diversify our theatre groups so that all voices are represented. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and in particular, would love to hear from people from the global majority, young people (18-25), women, non-binary, and trans people. Membership is free of charge. No previous performing experience is needed, just an interest in performing and a commitment to attend weekly sessions. If you're creative, love to express yourself, and want to be part of a supportive and inspiring community, we’d love to hear from you. About The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company provides accessible arts opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. The charity supports over 800 people a year to express themselves creatively, to develop skills and social connections, and to achieve aspirations as performers, musicians and DJ's. By using issue–based art forms, The Twisting Ducks help people speak up about social issues to provoke thought and stimulate change. Find out more about spaces available in groups in Wallsend and Newcastle upon Tyne below:

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company presents Miners, Mariners and Me A new play by The Twisting Ducks Customs House Academy The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company presents Miners, Mariners and Me , a new performance written and performed by local artists with a learning disability and autistic artists, taking place at The Customs House , South Shields on Tuesday 17th March 2026 . The performance takes place during Neurodiversity Celebration Week , a global initiative that celebrates the skills and talents of neurodivergent people while challenging stereotypes about neurological differences. Miners, Mariners and Me rediscovers the story of South Shields, past and present, through drama, song and dance. Along the way, audiences will journey to Roman Arbeia, venture down the coal mines and explore the salty chaos of the fishing industry. Celebrating the vibrant people and iconic figures who have helped shape the town into what it is today, Miners, Mariners and Me is funny, playful and full of heart, and presents South Shields as seen through the eyes of the people who call it home. The performers, who meet weekly at The Customs House, are part of The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, a charity providing accessible arts opportunities for people with a learning disability and autistic people across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. The Twisting Ducks supports over 800 people a year to express themselves creatively, develop skills and social connections, and to achieve aspirations as performers, musicians and DJs. Miners, Mariners and Me takes place at The Customs House, South Shields on Tuesday 17th March at 7pm . Standard tickets are £10 (students £8, carers go free), and are available from customshouse.co.uk or by calling The Customs House Box Office: 0191 454 1234 Kelly Anders, CEO at The Customs House, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Miners, Mariners and Me to The Customs House. Having The Twisting Ducks back with their warmth, creativity and inclusive spirit is a real joy for us, and we’re thrilled to host their latest production.” Sonia Hudson, Drama Facilitator at The Twisting Ducks, said: “ Miners, Mariners and Me is a joyful celebration of South Shields, created by people who know and love the town. We travel from Roman Arbeia to the coal mines and the fishing industry, with plenty of humour and imagination along the way, including a surprise visit from a wish-granting mermaid! It’s funny, heartfelt and full of local pride, and we’re really proud to share it with our community.” Lisa, performer in Miners, Mariners and Me, said: “It’s a show about us, about South Shields. I really love doing drama. I feel important to be part of a show.” Miners, Mariners and Me Tuesday 17th March 2026, 7pm (approx running time 1hr) The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields NE33 1ES Tickets Standard: £10, Student: £8, carers go free Book tickets: customshouse.co.uk or call The Customs House Box Office 0191 454 1234

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company has been awarded a grant of 19,989 from The National Lottery Community Fund to create a film exploring the theme of future housing and support needs for people with a learning disability. Led by artists with a learning disability, this grant will enable The Twisting Ducks Core group to deliver creative workshops with parents and carers and produce a film that explores this theme from parent and carer perspectives. The group developed the project in response to their own lived experience and anxiety caused by not having housing and support plans in place for when parents and carers are no longer able to support them. The film will be showcased at an event in North Tyneside, where attendees, including people with a learning disability, carers and service providers, will be supported to share their ideas for ‘planning for the future’. Jay Hare, CEO at The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, said: “For many people with a learning disability and their families, the future can feel uncertain, especially when there isn’t a clear plan for housing and support. This project has grown directly from the lived experience of our artists who want to open up honest conversations that families often find difficult to start. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can bring people together to share their anxieties, hopes and ideas, and begin imagining futures that feel safer, more independent and more possible.”

Fresh returns on Thursday 5th February 2026 with Fresh Club Night: The Valentine’s Remix Join us for a fun, friendly, and welcoming night, where our DJs will spin a playlist of great ballads and all your favourite love songs. Whether you come with friends, a partner or on your own, everyone is invited to feel the love on the dancefloor. Expect a relaxed atmosphere, big sing-along moments, and plenty of chances to have a great time together. Optional dress code: Wear red or pink if you can, we’d love to fill the room with Valentine’s colours! Let’s celebrate love, friendship and good music ❤️ Fresh is an inclusive club night run by DJs with a learning disability and autistic DJs since 1998. It’s a welcoming, supportive night out for adults with a learning disability, autistic people, and their friends, families and carers. Event details: Fresh Club Night: The Valentine’s Remix Thursday 5th February 2026, 6.30pm - 10.30pm Venue: World Headquarters, Curtis Mayfield House, Carliol Square, East, Newcastle NE1 6UF For people aged 18+ Click to find out more