Party befitting biggest citizen next month

May 3 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

PLANS to hold the biggest and best birthday party in the North East this year were revealed yesterday to celebrate the Angel of the North turning 10.

The centrepiece will be a party in the shadow of the sculpture on Sunday, June 22.

Thousands are expected for the big day, and some of the biggest names in North East entertainment are signed up to provide the fun. Artists from the Baltic, musicians from the Sage Gateshead and Generator studios, professionals from Dance City and storytellers from Seven Stories and Live Theatre will be present to make it a birthday to remember.

They will transform the site around the Angel into an extravaganza of film, music, merchandise, food and drink.

Part will be covered in decorations by the Baltic’s team of freelance artists and schoolchildren, to form a fitting backdrop to musicians from the Sage who will be busking and leading songwriting workshops.

North East folk legend Alistair Anderson will perform his work Clog on the Tyne complete with clog dancers and musicians.

The music will climax with the buskers joining musicians on stage to lead the audience in a performance of The Ballad of the Angel. Newcastle music organiser Generator is bringing three bands to the party to add to the atmosphere. Dance City has also commissioned choreographer Neville Campbell to create a 15-minute work with professional dancers for the event, while the She’s Got It Dance Company are creating a piece that will involve a crowd of people creating the shape of the angel and of a heart.

A new short play – details of which are being kept under wraps – will be performed by staff of Seven Stories and a group from Live Theatre’s Youth Theatre.

Gateshead Council director of communities and culture David Bunce said: “We believe that it is important to mark the transformation that the Angel of the North has inspired in Gateshead both culturally and in regeneration.

“We’ll be bringing excellent local bands and artists, dancing and the theatre to the Angel on June 22 to give Gateshead’s biggest citizen the biggest birthday party that the borough has ever seen, complete with all the birthday trappings.”