10 years of
Gosforth Civic Theatre

North East Culture Awards
Best Museum or Cultural Venue 2025

The only public-facing theatre in the UK founded and guided by people with learning disabilities.

About us

Shows that are new and on sale

What's On

Don't miss these gigs & shows coming up!

What's On

View everything coming up

Give the gift of culture

Get a GCT Gift Voucher for music/theatre lover in your life

Activities at Gosforth Civic Theatre

Get Involved

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Work placement programme

We take on a small number of trainees each year to work as part of our cafe team. Trainees work across all areas of cafe operation - barista, customer service, kitchen prep.

Find out more

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Community activities for adults

We're home to a variety of community groups that meet regularly throughout the week. Creative sessions to special interest groups, there's something here for everyone.

Find out more

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Plenty of activities for young people to explore their creativity and have some fun. Whether that's learning dance moves, hanging out at GCT Gaming Social, or diving into drama training with Famous 4.15.

Find out more

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Activities for people with learning disabilities

Interested in getting active through sport and wellbeing or expressing yourself through dance? Our experienced team creates a welcoming environment to try new things and make friends.

Find out more

Your Visit

Discover what we have to offer

How to get here

We're just a two-minute walk from Regent Centre Metro Station, making Gosforth Civic Theatre easy to reach by Metro, bus or car. Located just off Gosforth High Street and Great North Road, we're convenient to reach from both north and south

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Accessibility

We're an accessible public venue, welcoming everyone. All entrances are automatic and wheelchair accessible; the building is on one level, with two Blue Badge parking spaces and an accessible toilet.

Find out more

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GCT Cafe

Our cafe serves fresh, seasonal food from our deli counter and delicious breakfast options from our brunch menu. Our daytime menu is available Tuesday to Sunday, 8.30am–4pm. You'll also find our bar in the foyer, open for all events.

Find out more

Hire our space

Make Gosforth Civic Theatre your own!

At Gosforth Civic Theatre, we celebrate diversity, the artistic, and the authentic you. Located in Gosforth, Newcastle, our alternative urban venue offers a canvas to create something special.

Become a member

Are you a Good Friend, Champion or Trailblazer?

Support our public cultural venue, imagined by people with learning disabilities and enjoyed by thousands of people every year. Together, we can keep this place open, creative and welcoming.

Support Us

Ways to make a difference

Our aim is to reduce social exclusion and division by bringing people together through shared cultural, creative, and community activity.

We generate close to £800,000 a year through performances, hires and trading. It forms the backbone of how we operate. An additional £500,000 from grants and donations is needed each year to keep GCT open and vibrant.

Support GCT

Job vacancies and latest news

What's Happening

Join Our Team as Director of Philanthropy and External Relations at Gosforth Civic Theatre

4 min read

Member of Gosforth Civic Theatre Gaming Social community nominated for BAFTA

From GCT Gaming Social to BAFTA Finalist

2 min read

Online and on stage: Young voices are wired into new production

6 min read

Our Freedom: Then & Now Exhibition and Celebration

Gosforth Civic Theatre Featured in Our Freedom: Then & Now Exhibition

3 min read

the Guardian's Felicity Cloake visits Gosforth Civic Theatre in Newcastle

Guardian writer Felicity Cloake to kick off cycling food adventure in the North East with special friends in tow

2 min read

Gosforth Civic Theatre win Best Cultural Venue at The North East Culture Awards 2025

Gosforth Civic Theatre takes home prestigious regional culture award

2 min read

Keep up to date with our socials

What's Happening

“Charismatic clarinettist Arun Ghosh performs a feel-good IndoJazz set, with soaring melodies and hypnotic South Asian rhythms.”

Arun Ghosh brings his sextet to the theatre for an evening of live jazz, joined by Chris Williams, John Ellis, Gavin Barras, Dalbir Singh Rattan and Dave Walsh.

Presented by Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music with GemArts and Jazz North East, with support from Arts Council England.

Come along for the opening concert of this year’s NFOJAiM!

Thu 24 Sep | 7.30pm doors

Grab your tickets via the 'What's On' link in bio.

Lighting can completely change how a space feels ✨

At GCT, our venue lighting gives you the flexibility to transform the atmosphere for different events, from warm to colourful.

Our bars, skylights and venue lighting can all be used to bring your colour scheme to life. And if you’re planning a wedding, it’s a lovely way to make the space feel different from the ceremony to the evening celebrations 💛

Next Friday night is looking tasty… 🌮

We’re welcoming @flankman_ncl to GCT on 21 August, from 4–8pm, serving up Mexican-inspired street food with steak, hand-pressed tacos and loaded steak fries 🤤

There’ll be plenty to choose from, including gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options, so bring your mates, grab a drink from the bar and make a Friday night of it!

No tickets needed, just turn up hungry!

Off the Rails is coming to GCT next week!

We're excited to be hosting a one-night-only screening of Off the Rails. After the film, we'll be joined by Sally Phillips and North East director Jules Williamson for an exclusive live Q&A, before The Stellas take to the stage for an after-party packed with songs from the film's soundtrack.

The evening is a fundraiser in support of Gosforth Civic Theatre and Cancer Research UK, so every ticket sold will help support the work of both organisations.

Fri 14 Aug | 6.30pm doors | 7pm screening

Grab your tickets via the 'What's On' link in bio

We'd love to shine a spotlight on our studio!

Our studio was created as part of our 2023 refurbishment and is home to a variety of community groups, classes, performances, corporate meetings and private events.

And every December, it transforms into a magical winter wonderland, where the big man himself, Santa, welcomes families for a festive story. (Yes, we know it's only summer... but we can't help getting excited! 🎅)

With space for up to 60 people, the studio is perfect for workshops, small gigs, meetings, celebrations, or as a breakout space alongside a theatre hire.

Interested in learning more about our spaces? Find out more via link in bio

We're introducing temporary cafe opening hours for August while we are a little quieter.

Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Saturday: 8.30am – 4pm (open later for events on 7, 14, 21, 26 & 27 August)
Sunday: Closed

We will then be open 7 days a week from September - so watch this space for more on that.

Planning a family day out? Looking for your next gig? Or just fancy trying something a little different? We've got plenty happening at GCT this August.

See what's on and book your tickets via the 'What's On' link in our bio

#LiveMusicUK #theatreuk #newcastlemusic #streetfood #summerschool

Hello, August 👋

We've got another great month ahead at GCT, with live music, family shows, community activities, film screenings and plenty more to get involved in.

Have a look through to see what's coming up this month, and let us know what you're most looking forward to! ❤️

That’s a wrap on GCT Beer Festival 2026 🍺❤️

A massive thank you to everyone who came along this weekend. It was so lovely to see the venue full of people enjoying great beer, live music and spending time together!!

A big thank you to all of our brilliant performers: @twigmusicncl, @jamagotchiband, @phantombagman, @marinajosephinaa, @theearlypurple, @eddiedoyle_music, @callum.oneil.music, WIG and Mouthful Voices.

Thanks as well to @mini.crafters101 for keeping the little ones entertained, @hizzys.pizza, @meatstackuk and our kitchen team for keeping everyone fed, and to our amazing staff who worked so hard to make the weekend happen. And a huge thank you to our sponsor @sweeneymillerlaw.

We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate 10 years of GCT. Thank you for being part of it ❤️

Today’s the final day of GCT Beer Festival, and what an incredible weekend it’s been! 🍺❤️

It’s been amazing to see so many of you through our doors, and celebrating 10 years with us.

There’s still time to join us! It’s your last chance to try this year’s beers before they’re gone, enjoy some live music and soak up the final day of the festival.

Here’s what’s happening today (12pm-6pm):
From 12pm: Delicious food from our kitchen
12pm-4pm: Mini Crafters
12.45pm-1.15pm: Mouthful Voices
1.45pm-2.15pm: @callum.oneil.music
2.45pm-3.15pm: WIG
3.45pm-4.30pm: @eddiedoyle_music
5pm-6pm: @theearlypurple

As always, we’re family and dog friendly, so bring everyone along for one last festival day. We can’t wait to see you! A huge thank you to our sponsors @sweeneymillerlaw 🙌

#gosforthcivictheatre #gosforth #newcastle #beerfestival

What a start to GCT Beer Festival! 🍺🍻

Thanks to everyone who joined us last night to kick off the weekend. If you missed it, don’t worry... we’re only just getting started!

With sunshine on the forecast, our garden and courtyard are the perfect place to spend the day. Or, if you’d rather keep cool, head inside our lovely air-conditioned venue.

Here’s what’s happening today, 12pm–11pm:
From 12pm: @meatstackuk will be serving up their delicious burgers in the courtyard as they celebrate their own 10th anniversary!
12pm–4pm: Family-friendly fun with @mini.crafters101
4.10pm-4.55pm: Live music begins with @marinajosephinaa 6pm - 6.45pm: @phantombagman 7.30pm - 8.15pm: @jamagotchiband first set 9pm - 9.45pm: Jamagotchi second set

Great beer, great food, live music and hopefully plenty of sunshine... what more could you want? Come down and celebrate 10 years of GCT with us! 🙌

#gosforthcivictheatre #gosforth #newcastlebeer #gctbeerfestival

GCT Beer Festival weekend has arrived!! 🍻

The bars are stocked, the stage is set, and we can't wait to welcome you through the doors.

Entry is £8 for over-18s (kids go free) and you can pay on the door. Your ticket includes a branded pint glass to use (and take home afterwards!) plus a wristband so you can come and go all weekend.

Here's what's waiting for you...

🍕 Friday | 4pm-11pm: Funk, soul, fresh pints and pizza. TWIG is getting the weekend started, with Hizzy's Pizza serving all evening.

🎉 Saturday | 12pm-11pm: Family fun during the day, then 90s anthems and indie into the evening with Jamagotchi, Phantom Bagman and more. Plus Mini Crafters, Meat:Stack and plenty of beer.

🎮 Sunday | 12pm-6 pm: A more laid-back finish to the weekend with brilliant local music, good food, retro gaming and the last of the festival beers.

Getting here: If you're driving, we'd recommend avoiding our small car park as it'll fill up quickly over the weekend. Our 'Your Visit' page has all the parking information, but if you can, walking or public transport is the easiest way to get here: https://www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk/your-visit

Proudly supported by @sweeneymillerlaw

Some bands play a gig and move on. Others become part of your story. 🐝

Ten years ago, King Bee played one of GCT’s opening weekend performances.

Weeks later, they returned to film their Bee to the Flower music video, creating the original mural that became one of the most recognisable parts of our building thanks to @mural_life .

The connections kept growing.

@kingbeefunk founder Dave Wilde’s landscaping company Wilde Gardens created our beer garden and returned to build the planters outside the theatre.

This Friday, Dave returns with his new band Twig to play our Beer Festival with their first ever performance as a band.

It is more than a return visit. It is another chapter in a story that has been growing for ten years.

Come and be part of it.

🍻 GCT Beer Festival
🎶 Twig live on Friday
📍 Gosforth Civic Theatre

#GosforthCivicTheatre #GCTBeerFestival #Twig #LiveMusic #Gosforth #NewcastleMusic

The Beer List for GCT Beer Festival is ready! 🍺

We have 32 taps of beer over the weekend from some of our favourite local and national breweries, with some favourites returning and first-time breweries for the festival too. As usual, we've carefully selected a range of styles from crowd-pleasing pilsners and refreshing sours, to punchy Belgian styles and satisfying stouts. Including a beer from St. Dominic's Brewery which was brewed with our Company Members!

All beers will be on from the start on Friday and available until they sell out across the weekend.

Here's the list of breweries and beers, with the full beer menu available to download from our website on Friday!

@sidbiesbrewco | @barneybeer | @luckiesbrewing | @twicebrewedbrewco | @vauxbrewery | @sureshotbrew | @riggandfurrow | @firstandlastbrewery | @stdominicsbrewery | @brasscastlebeer | @campervanbrew

GCT Beer Festival is supported by @sweeneymillerlaw.

A group of people with learning disabilities imagined a cultural space for everyone - and then helped make it real.

Ten years later, Gosforth Civic Theatre is full of gigs, coffee, dancing, theatre, weddings, workshops, meetings, conversations and familiar faces.

From fewer than 50 events to more than 60,000 visits a year. From an idea to an award-winning venue for Best Cultural Venue.

Alongside everything else that happens here, the GCT Beer Festival has become part of the story too - three days of live music, great beer, street food and celebration across the whole building.

What began as one group's vision has become a place thousands of people use, enjoy and value.

This weekend, join us in raising a glass to 10 years of GCT! And a big thank you to our sponsor @sweeneymillerlaw 🍻

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@gocivtheatre

10 years of Gosforth Civic Theatre

North East Culture Awards Best Museum or Cultural Venue 2025

Shows that are new and on sale

What's On

Don't miss these gigs & shows coming up!

What's On

Give the gift of culture

Activities at Gosforth Civic Theatre

Get Involved

Work placement programme

Community activities for adults

Activities for young people

Activities for people with learning disabilities​

Your Visit

Discover what we have to offer

Make Gosforth Civic Theatre your own!

Are you a Good Friend, Champion or Trailblazer?

Support Us

Ways to make a difference

Job vacancies and latest news

What's Happening

Join Our Team as Director of Philanthropy and External Relations at Gosforth Civic Theatre

From GCT Gaming Social to BAFTA Finalist

Online and on stage: Young voices are wired into new production

Gosforth Civic Theatre Featured in Our Freedom: Then & Now Exhibition

Guardian writer Felicity Cloake to kick off cycling food adventure in the North East with special friends in tow

Gosforth Civic Theatre takes home prestigious regional culture award

Keep up to date with our socials

What's Happening

​

Follow us on Instagram

10 years of
Gosforth Civic Theatre

North East Culture Awards
Best Museum or Cultural Venue 2025

Activities for people with learning disabilities