JULY 1969              Planning permission of the erection of a theatre on the Barras Bridge site obtained 

 

1970                                            Building completed

 

NOV 1970               Official opening by Esther McCracken and the first production (Bartholomew Fair by Ben Johnson)

 

NOV 1970               University Theatre leased to Tyneside Theatre Trust

 

AUG 1977               Tyneside Theatre Trust went into liquidation

 

1978                                              TyneWear Theatre Company formed

 

JULY 1979 to 85/86 TyneWear Theatre Company lease Newcastle Playhouse

 

AUG 1987                TyneWear Theatre Company move to Tyne Theatre & Opera House and commences trading as Tyne Theatre Company          

 

JULY/AUG 1989       Tyne Theatre Company move to Newcastle Arts Centre as a peripatetic theatre company. Name changed to Northern Stage

 

NOV 1990                Artistic Director and Chief Executive Andrew McKinnon resigns

 

APRIL 1992             Alan Lyddiard is appointed as Artistic Director

 

JULY 1992               Northern Stage takes over management of Newcastle Playhouse

 

JULY 1998               After a successful Arts for Everyone application the Northern Stage ensemble is created

 

MAY 2004               Northern Stage leaves Newcastle Playhouse and the builders move in for a £9 million refurbishment. The company moves to temporary accommodation at Hawick Crescent Trading Estate in Byker

 

DEC 2004                Alan Lyddiard resigns

 

OCT 2005                Erica Whyman is appointed Chief Executive and Artistic Director

 

MAY 2006               The company returns to their former home and the building is renamed Northern Stage