Miners, Mariners and Me | Rediscover the story of South Shields at The Customs House this March

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

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company has been awarded £95,551 from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants and £36,905 from Community Foundation, Newcastle Culture Investment Fund for Bus, a 2-year immersive theatre and storytelling project by artists with a learning disability and autistic artists across Newcastle and Sunderland. Led by members of The Twisting Ducks theatre groups, Spectrum (based at Northern Stage, Newcastle) and Sunderland Platform (based at Arts Centre Washington, Tyne and Wear), Bus explores everyday experiences and emotions of travelling by bus, from the people we meet to the stories that unfold along the way. Throughout 2026, a series of creative workshops across Newcastle and Sunderland will bring together people from marginalised communities, including people with a learning disability and autistic people, young people, refugees, older people, and LGBTQ+ communities to share their stories and feelings about travelling by bus. The stories and anecdotes gathered during these workshops will feed into the development of a new, immersive, multimedia performance, staged not in a traditional theatre but on a bus. In 2027, the Twisting Ducks Bus will tour venues in Newcastle and Sunderland, visiting schools, arts venues and festivals, including Sunderland Pride, Newcastle Mela, Northern Stage and Arts Centre Washington, inviting audiences to experience live performances based on real journeys, real people, and real voices. Alongside the live experience, an online Digital Story Bank will showcase recordings and creative contributions made by participants throughout the project. These stories will be collected and shared via QR codes placed at bus and Metro stations across the North East region, in partnership with Nexus. Jan Willem van den Bosch, Lead facilitator and Project Manager at The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company said: “The Twisting Ducks Bus project gives us a unique opportunity to take our work beyond traditional theatre spaces to reach new audiences, especially other marginalised communities across Newcastle and Sunderland. We all use the bus, and everyone has a story to tell. This project is about listening to those stories and creating something real and meaningful that people can connect with.” "Buses are important to me and without them I wouldn't be able to do the things I enjoy. Lots of different people use the buses but we don't know them or their stories. We want to go to different places that we have never been before to hear people's stories and to perform them on the bus.” - Twisting Ducks performer. 

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company has been awarded a £30,000 grant over two years from the Garfield Weston Foundation , a family-founded grant-maker that supports charities across the UK working to make a positive difference in their communities. The grant will support the Twisting Ducks to continue creating accessible opportunities for people with a learning disability and autistic people to come together and create, to have their voices heard, and to ensure the uniqueness and relevance of their art reaches more people. Jay Hare, CEO at The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation. This generous grant will help us continue to do what matters most - creating spaces where people with a learning disability and autistic people can express themselves through the arts, provoking thought and stimulating change. It enables us to sustain and grow our creative programmes, supporting over 800 people each year across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.”  Find out more about our groups and academies

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company has been awarded a Small Sparks Plus grant of £3,000 from Newcastle City Council, administered by Connected Voice, to support Fresh Club Night, an inclusive club night run by DJs with a learning disability and autistic DJs since 1998. Taking place on the first Thursday of each month at World Headquarters nightclub in Newcastle, Fresh club night is a welcoming, supportive night out for people with a learning disability, autistic people, and their friends, families, and carers. DJs from The Twisting Ducks DJ Academy in Wallsend perform at each event, bringing different themes every month, from 90’s Night to Girl bands vs. Boy bands . The Small Sparks Plus scheme helps VCSE organisations improve the health and wellbeing of local communities. This grant will enable The Twisting Ducks to continue delivering the monthly club night, providing an opportunity for people with a learning disability and autistic people to lead full and active social lives. Fresh Club Night supports the Stay Up Late campaign, a national movement challenging restrictive social care practices and tackling social isolation by making it normal for people with a learning disability and autistic people to go out and party. Hannah Eldridge, DJ Academy facilitator at The Twisting Ducks, said: “Fresh Club Night is such an important space for our community. It’s an opportunity for our DJs to express themselves and showcase their skills, and for everyone attending to enjoy great music, build social connections, and most importantly, have loads of fun. Our DJs work so hard to create a brilliant atmosphere every month, and we’re thrilled that this funding means we can keep the night going and welcome even more people.” Marc McAndrew, member of The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, and a regular attendee of Fresh Club Night, said: “I’ve been going to Fresh since I was 18, I'm now 43. I love going to Fresh Club night. It's a brilliant atmosphere, I see friends that I haven’t seen for a long time or would not see unless I went there. You also get to meet new people you have not met before, I’ve made loads of new friends there, and found a girlfriend there too. The music is great, and they always have new up-to-date music as well as some classics, which makes me get up and dance. I love Fresh, it's great and I look forward to it each month. I can’t wait for the Halloween one, bring it on!” Coming up at Fresh Club Night: Fresh Club Night: Halloween Spooktacular Thursday 6th November 2025, 6.30pm - 10.30pm Find out more Fresh Club Night: Jingle Bell Ball Thursday 4th December 2025, 6.30pm - 10.30pm Where: World Headquarters, Curtis Mayfield House, Carliol Square, East, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6UF Fresh Club Night takes place on the 1st Thursday of each month, 6.30pm - 10.30pm Cost: £6.00 per person (carers get in free). Tickets available on the door (for people aged 18 years +) Fresh club night is run by DJ’s from the Twisting Ducks DJ Academy. Find out more about joining The Twisting Ducks groups and academies

Team Twisting Ducks raised an incredible £3,099 by taking part in the AJ Bell Great North Run 2025, more than double our original target of £1,400! Seven fantastic runners, Cat, Michael, Sonia, Ailsa, Conor, Nigel and Sarah-Jane, took on the challenge, each with a fundraising target of £200. Together, they went above and beyond, showing just how much support there is for The Twisting Ducks’ work. Every pound raised will support our work across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, helping people with a learning disability and autistic people to express themselves creatively, develop skills and social connections, and achieve aspirations as performers, musicians and DJs. Lisa, Trustee and member of The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, said: “I want to say the biggest thank you and well done to all runners who took part in the Great North Run - you all made difference.”

Partner with The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company to create powerful and accessible information films that connect with your audience. Our professional filmmaking service transforms your message into engaging, easy-to-understand content for people with a learning disability and autistic people, helping you to reach more people, make a bigger impact and demonstrate your commitment to accessibility. Our filmmaking service brings your message to life through: Live action, animation, music, and infographics BSL signing, voiceover, and multi-language subtitles Talented performers with a learning disability and autistic performers Why choose film? Creative & impactful : Make your information easy to understand and engaging. Accessible : Clear communication designed for people with a learning disability and autistic people. Shareable : Perfect for websites, social media, training and conferences. Cross-promotion : Once signed off, we’ll share your film on our website, YouTube channel and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn), helping you to reach relevant new audiences.

The Twisting Ducks is delighted to have seven amazing runners taking on the AJBell Great North Run on Sunday 7th September 2025. The team includes dedicated supporters and members of staff, who collectively aim to raise over £1,500. All funds raised will directly support The Twisting Ducks’work with people with learning disabilities and autistic people across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. Among them is Ailsa, who said: “I have witnessed how inaccessible the arts can be for parts of our community in the North East. I feel passionate about supporting this charity who are actively promoting and striving towards a more accessible and equitable world. They are championing the voices of local people and celebrating what makes everyone unique.” Also on the team, Conor, said: "Having worked in the Theatre industry myself as well as studying & graduating with a Masters Degree (MA) in Theatre, I've seen first hand what incredible work charities like Twisting Ducks do towards bringing accessibility and opportunities to those who have difficulties accessing theatre." Father and daughter duo, Nigel and Sarah Jane are running together. Sarah Jane said: "I have personally seen the benefits it offers all its' members like my auntie Fiona. Their shows never fail to bring a smile to everyones' faces!" Cat, Drama Facilitator at The Twisting Ducks, said: "I'm really excited to use this opportunity to prove a point to myself, raise awareness for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome AND raise vital funds for The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, a charity I've had the joy of working for, for the past 4 years. Where everyday we're raising awareness and making beautiful work." Sonia, Drama Facilitator and Drama Support worker at The Twisting Ducks, said: "I have been lucky enough to have been working for this fantastic charity for the last four years. It would mean a great deal to me if you could spare a moment to help raise some money to support this wonderful cause." Michael, Drama Facilitator at The Twisting Ducks, said: "I will be running the Great North Run and I'd greatly appreciate your support in raising £600 for the amazing Twisting Ducks Theatre Company." 60,000 determined and dedicated runners make the AJ Bell Great North Run the World’s biggest marathon – famous for its warm North East welcome, unbeatable atmosphere and the millions raised for good causes. 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 their skills and social connections, and to achieve their aspirations as performers, musicians and DJ's. Meet Team Twisting Ducks Let's cheer on our fantastic team of runners as they take on the AJBell Great North Run and help make a difference! Visit their individual fundraising pages (click the links below) to follow their progress as they train and to make your donation.

Did you know that The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company offers an Accessible Health Resource service? One of our key specialisms is Easy Read - transforming complex documents into clear, accessible formats that supports people with learning disabilities and autistic people to engage, understand, and make informed choices. Why Easy Read matters Under the Equality Act 2010, Easy Read is a reasonable adjustment to help ensure people are treated fairly. If your organisation is funded (or partly funded) by the NHS or Adult Social Care, you're legally required to meet the Accessible Information Standard, which includes Easy Read. Accessible information isn't optional - it's essential. It empowers people, builds trust, and ensures no one is left out of important conversations about their health, rights or care. Our Easy Read service We’ve been delivering Easy Read for over 10 years, helping health and care organisations across the North East and beyond to create clear, accessible documents. Our team includes: A specialist Easy Read writer Experienced graphic designers People with learning disabilities and/or autistic people who are paid for their contributions and insight Our Easy Read service is part of our wider Accessible Health Resource service, a key part of our mission to make systems fairer, more inclusive and easier to navigate for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. What we can help with Health information leaflets Feedback forms Reports and research summaries Appointment letters Consent forms Public consultations Surveys