Alexander Millar and the Appeal of the Gadgie
Alexander Millar’s Gadgie, the Geordie working man clad in flat clap and creased suit jacket, crops up everywhere in his artistic work. In this piece I explore what exactly it means.
Tag: newcastle
How the Metro Map Distorts Tyne and Wear
The Tyne and Wear Metro map has become the dominant way of visualising Newcastle, Sunderland and their suburbs. It does not offer us the full picture.
I, Daniel Blake’s Geordie in Crisis
Ken Loach’s latest film is set in Newcastle and stars Dave Johns as a traditional Geordie facing up to the challenge of living and getting by in 21st century England.
Four Visions of T. Dan Smith
T. Dan Smith remains as one of Tyneside’s most controversial political figures. Hero or villain? Visionary or crook? Smith’s legacy distilled into four narratives.
Joseph Cowen: Geordie Entrepreneur, Politician and Radical
At the foot of Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, stands a bronze statue of Joseph Cowen (1829-1900), strategically placed to remind contemporary Geordies of his extraordinary influence as they travel up towards the Tyne Theatre and Opera House which was designed and operated under his guidance. Cowen dominated Tyneside politics between the years 1850-1900: as… Continue reading Joseph Cowen: Geordie Entrepreneur, Politician and Radical
A Few Views from the Tyneside Cinema Roof
Yesterday, I was frantically trying to take the perfect photo of the crumbling Old Paramount Theatre (also known as the Old Odeon) on Pilgrim St. for a forthcoming blog post on this site, from Pilgrim St., Blackett St. and High Friar Lane, but unfortunately could never get quite the right angle (this will be obvious from… Continue reading A Few Views from the Tyneside Cinema Roof
Newcastle Brown Ale: from Miners to Hipsters
For Geordies, Newcastle Brown Ale, Broon or dog – never Newky Brown – still remains as one of the defining icons of Tyneside’s culinary heritage. A dark brown, malty brew, said by some to work like rocket fuel, and said by others, to cause you to go on a mad one in Toon. While the… Continue reading Newcastle Brown Ale: from Miners to Hipsters
Toon on Television: Our Friends in the North
It would be easy to suggest that the major theme of Peter Flannery’s historical epic Our Friends in the North (1996) is corruption, as politicians, the police and seedy London gangsters are all seen to engage in dishonest activities, protecting themselves, bribing those in positions of power and selling out their friends in order to make a… Continue reading Toon on Television: Our Friends in the North
Toon on Television: Spender
‘So tell me about Newcastle.’ Detective Spender: ‘You read the paper’s don’t you? Full of winos, pushers, junkies, dole-wallers…England’s armpit.’ With Spender (1991-1993), Jimmy Nail teams up with writer Ian La Frenais in what first appears as a thinly disguised attempt to rescue Nail from typecast obscurity following his part in the seminal Geordie favourite… Continue reading Toon on Television: Spender
Ojay Speaks: Stephen Oliver Jones in Conversation
Last week I talked to Stephen Oliver Jones about his life, music and future plans. In this unedited interview, Ojay reveals all.
