NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL AND MICHAEL HARRISON TEAM UP TO OFFER FREE THEATRE TRIPS FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN
Weird – a brand new musical from West End producer Michael Harrison – makes its worldwide premiere at Newcastle Theatre Royal
More than 5,000 schoolchildren from across the North East will have the opportunity to be the first in the world to see a brand new musical thanks to an exciting new collaboration between Wallsend-born theatre producer Michael Harrison and Newcastle Theatre Royal.
Michael, widely considered as one of the industry’s leading theatre producers with credits including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Starlight Express, has a long association with the iconic Grey Street venue and has chosen his hometown theatre for the world premiere of his newest venture, Weird (Wed 28 – Sat 31 Jan 2026), an electrifying pop-powered musical reimagining Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth.
Telling the dramatic tale of the Scottish king through the eyes of the three witches, Weird – written by Nick Butcher (The Little Big Things), and siblings Kerri Watt and Fraser Watt – will combine witchcraft, mischief, mayhem with a soundtrack of newly created pop anthems, when the production hits the stage at Newcastle Theatre Royal in January 2026.
As part of an initiative to provide more pathways for young people to be able to access live theatre, Newcastle Theatre Royal has joined forces with Michael Harrison to pledge that the first five weekday performances will be earmarked for schoolchildren from across the region with ticket prices waived to enable them to see the new musical free of charge.
The initiative will also provide the pupils – from Year 5 and above – with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a world premiere on their doorstep, inspiring them and instilling a love of theatre, culture and live performance from an early age.
UPDATE: Friday 21 March, 12 noon. Due to the phenomenal number of applications we have received, registrations are NOW CLOSED.
Our team will review all registrations of interest and we will provide a further update as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest and support.
Performance dates and times will be:
Wednesday 28 January, 6.30pm
Thursday 29 January, 10am & 1.30pm
Friday 30 January, 10am & 1.30pm
Approximate running time 70 minutes (no interval)
For further information, please take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions below or email schools@theatreroyal.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
What school years are eligible for tickets?
The initiative is aimed at pupils in Year 5 and above who attend schools in the following postcode areas: NE, DH, DL, SR, TS and CA.
What is the maximum number of tickets my school can apply for?
We have not set a maximum number of tickets that each school can request. However, we want to be able to provide this unique opportunity to as many young people from across the region as we can, so it may be that we will allocate less tickets to your school than you requested.
When will I find out if my request for tickets has been successful?
Registrations of interest are now closed and we have received a phenomenal number of enquiries. It may take us 4 weeks to get back to your request. If you have not heard from us 4 weeks after submitting your request, please contact our Schools Team: schools@theatreroyal.co.uk