NewcastleGateshead will launch its first festival for children and young people this weekend, showcasing a mouth-watering range of performances, events, activities and workshops with something for all ages from 0 to 18.

Juice will run from 27 September � 30 November and is a highlight of NewcastleGateshead�s world-class programme of festivals and events for 2008, developed by culture10.

Opening events

Celebrating the strength of young people�s cultural activity in NewcastleGateshead, the fun and interactive programme is all about doing, not just viewing. It kicks off with the first visit by inspirational young artists from the poorest communities of Rio de Janeiro, AfroLata, who have collaborated with local young people to create an energetic, colourful opening performance at Dance City: Favela to the World.

Established as a cultural and artistic outlet for teenagers from the slums of Rio, otherwise drawn into a culture of drugs and conflict, AfroLata (a sub group of world-famous musicians AfroReggae) create exciting percussion performances using instruments made solely from recycled materials. Following an AfroReggae workshop for community leaders from North East England earlier this summer, three local youth groups have been creating and rehearsing their own performances around issues of conflict and unity which will premiere alongside AfroLata on 28 September.

The Royalty Theatre Youth Academy from Sunderland, the Hexham Bistas and Pe Na Rua based in Newcastle include more than 30 young people from across the region aged from 14 to 21, all of whom will appear on stage together with AfroLata this weekend.

A highlight of Juice, Favela to the World is also a celebration of the launch weekend of the Cultural Olympiad and the festival itself has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire mark (see notes to editors).

A popular, annual event for all the family, Gateshead Family Sculpture Day at Saltwell Park will also help to kick off Juice (28 September) with its fairytale theme of Turrets and Towers. The following week will see the opening of a brand new exhibition inspired by the work of award-winning local author David Almond at Seven Stories the Centre for Children�s Books entitled Winged Tales of the North (opens 2 October) plus a special Meet David Almond event (4 October) in partnership with the Great North Run Cultural Programme.

October half term

During October half term (25 October � 2 November), Juice will really come alive with a host of events involving many of NewcastleGateshead�s award-winning family attractions and cultural venues as well as activity happening in some exciting and unexpected locations.

Highlights include Winged Tales of the North at Seven Stories, an interactive, role play trail with Live Theatre, a treasure hunt for all the family around the �city of stories�, and exciting new child-friendly installations brought to life in the city�s heritage buildings.

Stretch, an incredible, interactive performance piece involving more than six miles of elastic stretched across an immense space, brings together sculpture, dance, sound and video. Located in the Robert Stephenson Centre, short performances by dancer Ragnhild Olsen are followed by the opportunity for the young audience to explore the stretchy sculpture for themselves. (Performance Fri 31 Oct � Sat 1 Nov)

The Kurdish Garden, a magical, multi-sensory carpet in the Castle Keep will also offer children an unforgettable experience. Created by Italy�s leading theatre company for children, TPO, Kurdish Garden combines motion capture technology with emotive performance. A visual landscape is created as dancers weave their way across the carpet triggering images and soundscapes with their movements. The audience are in turn invited onto the carpet to take part in the performance and are able to shape the landscape as they too trigger images and sounds in real time. (Performances Sat 25 � Wed 29 Oct)

With events for all ages, The Suggestibles comedy troupe have created a special Juice workshop which is set to be a hit with the young and young at heart. Creators of You Tube phenomenon Pour Quoi, a short film by The Suggestibles that poked fun at �Free Running� and became an instant hit all over the internet, will offer a fun and frivolous workshop with tips for young comedy film-makers of the future. There�ll even be the opportunity for the best films created to be screened on the festival website and shown alongside the original Pour Quoi on You Tube. (Workshop 27 Oct)

Also during October half term, look out for The Squeeze, an information point, chill out space, mobile cinema, interactive hub and a car � this multi talented Juice-mobile will be making pit stops around Newcastle and Gateshead and amongst other things screening the best entries from the Portrait of a Region competition (see notes to editors). Plus, be sure to check out the wide range of workshops or Halloween themed events across a wide range of venues and attractions: try your hand at carving a pumpkin at BALTIC, sing with your family at The Sage Gateshead or prepare for those hairs on the back of your neck to stand up as you risk meeting The Grey Lady - Theatre Royal�s resident ghost.

Festival finale

A newly commissioned, contemporary opera of David Almond�s award-winning novel, Skellig, will premiere at The Sage Gateshead in November providing an enchanting festival finale. Co-commissioned by culture10 and The Sage Gateshead, Skellig will challenge all preconceptions of traditional opera with music by innovative American composer Tod Machover (who has worked with artists from Yo Yo Ma to Prince) and the libretto written by the author David Almond himself.

Music will be performed by Northern Sinfonia and the chorus will be made up from young singers from across the North East, including members of Quay Voices, The Sage Gateshead�s own youth choir. The extensive set construction will be managed by experienced designer Rae Smith, who has worked closely with expert colleagues from one of the region�s leading theatres, Northern Stage, where part of the set has already been built and stored. (Performances 24, 25, 27, 28 and 29 Nov)

The Juice website includes details of all events, activities and workshops � see www.juicefestival.co.uk.

Stella Hall, creative director of culture10, said: �Juice was initially inspired by Councillor Pauline Allen who identified the need for a children�s festival that would celebrate the strength of young people�s cultural activity here and welcome children from near and far to take part.

�Working in partnership with key NewcastleGateshead agencies and with young people themselves, we�re incredibly proud to present an exciting mix of activities to see and do over a fun-packed two months in this first festival of its kind in NewcastleGateshead.

�Throughout the run of Juice, you�re invited to discover, join in and share in stories old and new and find ways in which to tell them. There will be workshops, events and activities. You can interact with art installation Stretch, feel the magic of The Kurdish Garden, search for clues in our Treasure Hunt, make a film for Portrait of a Region and lots, lots more. We�ve squeezed loads of events into our first year for families and young people of all ages to get involved in � so do come along and take part!�

Gateshead-born and Whitbread award-winning children�s author David Almond said: �It�s great to have Juice happening right here in NewcastleGateshead � a place that�s rejuvenating itself and moving boldly into the future.

�It�s dead right that Juice is a festival for the young and the young at heart. I love the way that many of the events show that young people are capable of producing works of art that are worth being seen by everyone. It all emphasises the fact that young people are active citizens. So get involved, explore your own talents, take an active part in the rejuvenation of this wonderful part of the world. Enjoy the festival.�

Cllr Pauline Allen, Newcastle City Council�s executive member for culture, leisure and customer services, said: �I am delighted to be championing this exciting festival which I�m sure will inspire our city�s young people to get involved in arts and culture and show that it can be fun. Juice will also be an amazing opportunity in giving young people across the region the chance to learn about other cultures while celebrating their own.

�The region has played an important role in children�s literature and this festival will highlight the work of some of these successes including the work of David Almond�s Skellig which will be brought to life for the first time in an amazing new opera.�

Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Cllr Linda Green said: "We've got a proud pedigree of world-class festivals and stunning cultural events in Gateshead and I know this ground breaking festival for our younger residents and visitors is going to add another exciting element to the mix.

"In Gateshead we're firmly committed to working with and providing for everyone in the borough from our youngest to our oldest and most experienced residents. Our contribution to the Juice Festival is just one part of that but I'm doubly delighted that we are working with such a high profile Gateshead figure as David Almond on our contribution to the festival."

-Ends-

Notes to editors

Juice will run from 27 September � 30 November and is a highlight of NewcastleGateshead�s world-class programme of festivals and events for 2008, developed by culture10.

Culture10 is an annual curated programme of exceptional cultural festivals and events across NewcastleGateshead and North East England, and works in partnership with NewcastleGateshead Initiative, and cultural funders Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, One North East, Northern Rock Foundation and Arts Council England, North East.

Culture10 commissioned and co-commissioned a wide range of events for Juice � including Winged Tales of the North (in partnership with Seven Stories),

Favela to the World (in partnership with Dance City), Live Theatre�s Tudor Heritage Trail (in partnership with Live Theatre), Treasure Hunt and Pour Quoi (both commissioned by culture10 as part of Juice, created by The Suggesstibles), We Got Mittens Too! (in partnership with The Lit and Phil in association with Northern Stage and Newcastle College) Skellig (in partnership with The Sage Gateshead) and The Squeeze (which was commissioned for Juice and will play Portrait of a Region films during its travels during Juice half term week and travel down to Liverpool in December to project the film. For this project culture10 is working in partnership with Tyne & Wear Museums and Tyneside Cinema; Portrait of a Nation is run by the Heritage Lottery Fund.) Theatre Juice has been created especially for Juice by Northern Stage and partners.

Cultural Olympiad Juice has been granted the London 2012 Inspire mark (as part of the Cultural Olympiad. London 2012�s Cultural Olympiad is a four year UK-wide programme of culture which will welcome the world and inspire young people).

The London 2012 Inspire mark recognises outstanding projects and events helping deliver the Games' lasting legacy. Part of the London 2012 brand family, it is the badge of the wider Inspire programme which has sport at its heart and London at its centre, but it is more than London and more than sport. It is for London and the UK, for sport and culture, for education, volunteering and business opportunities.

Headline event listings; full listings are available on the website www.juicefestival.co.uk:

LAUNCH WEEKEND

Sunday 28 September is the official launch day of Juice Festival. Details�

The Squeeze � Juice on the loose!

An info point, a chill out space, a mobile cinema, an interactive hub and a car � The Squeeze is a multi talented Juice mobile which will be making pit stops around Newcastle and Gateshead during half term. Make sure you get the Squeeze!

Check the website to find out where the scheduled pit stops will be. www.juicefestival.co.uk

Favela to the World

Sun 28 Sept, 5.30pm

Dance City, www.dancecity.co.uk, 0191 261 0505

PRICE: �5 / �8

AGES: 11 - 18

AfroReggae is a cultural group from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, which works with the city�s poorest communities transforming the lives of young people through arts-based activities. This performance includes performers from NewcastleGateshead and promises to be loud, colourful and jam packed full of energy and life.

Gateshead Family Sculpture Day

Sun 28 Sept, 11am � 4pm

The Grove, Saltwell Park, www.gateshead.gov.uk, 0191 4338420

PRICE: Free (small fee for nails, tool hire and raku tiles)

AGES: 5yrs+

This year�s theme is Turrets and Towers � create castles, bridges, knights and princesses. Eight professional artists will be on hand to help you create and capture your fairytale world with wood and nails. The event also features exciting ancient Japanese art of Raku Pottery.

The Big Draw

Wed 1 � Fri 31 Oct

Around NewcastleGateshead, www.campaignfordrawing.org

PRICE: Free

AGES: All

Everyone is invited to join The Big Draw � experiment with pencils, crayons, charcoal, sand, clay, digital imagery, vapour trails and even fire.

Winged Tales of the North

Thurs 2 Oct � Sun 2 Nov; Mon-Sat 10am � 5pm, Sun 11am � 5pm

Seven Stories, the Centre for Children�s Books, www.sevenstories.org.uk, 0845 271 0777

PRICE: Adult �5.50, Child �4.50, FAMILY: �16

AGES: 8+

This new and exciting exhibition will give you a flavour of David�s impressive body of work to date � beginning with David�s first award-winning, young adult literary novel 'Skellig', through to 'Jackdaw Summer.� Take a journey through the extraordinary experiences of his young characters as they find wonder in the world and in themselves.

Meet David Almond

Sat 4 Oct, 4.30pm � 6.30pm

Seven Stories, the Centre for Children�s Books, www.sevenstories.org.uk, 0845 271 0777

PRICE: Free (ticketed event � booking is essential)

AGES: 8-13yrs

David has written a new story especially for the Great North Run Cultural Programme, Harry Miller�s Run, which tells the tale of a young boy taking part in the Junior North Run and his chance encounter with Harry Miller, an old man with a fantastic story to tell. David will read the story at a special event at Seven Stories where he�ll also talk about writing for the BUPA Great North Run and his plans for the future.

Stretch

Installation Mon 13 � Fri 17 Oct,

Performance Fri 31 Oct � Sat 1 Nov, 11.30am and 3.30pm

Robert Stephenson House (behind Central Station), www.juicefestival.co.uk, 08448 112121

PRICE: �4

FAMILY: �12 (2 adults 2 children / 1 adult 3 children)

AGES: 6+

Six miles of elastic stretched across one stage. Come and stretch yourself.

Stretch brings together sculpture, dance, sound and video to create a dynamic experience for every age and ability � see the short performance with dancer Ragnhild Olsen, then explore the elastic sculpture yourself.

Over a two-week residency in Newcastle, the collaborating artists will re-discover and develop Stretch. Watch out for details on how you can get involved during the installation.

Stretch is by Sophia Clist and was originally commissioned by Crying Out Loud www.cryingoutloud.org

Each session lasts approximately 1 hour

Looking For Bill

Sat 25 Oct, 2 � 4pm

Around Newcastle, www.northernstage.co.uk, 0191 230 5151

PRICE: Free

AGES: 10+

Be prepared to catch glimpses of Shakespeare�s characters in unusual places as Northern Stage, Theatre Royal and Live Theatre come together to perform Shakespeare across the city. Expect the unexpected; from Macbeth in lifts and Hamlet in the Metro station to Romeo and Juliet at Grey�s Monument.

The North East Read:

Look out for copies of Skellig around NewcastleGateshead � if you find one, pass it on and share your story of how and where you found it!

Skellig is co-commissioned by The Sage Gateshead and Culture10 as part of Juice.

Xperience 08

Sat 25 � Sun 26 Oct, www.xperience08.com

Beaconsfield and Longsands Beach, Tynemouth

PRICE: Free

AGES: All

Experience exhilarating extreme sports at North East England�s biggest festival of BMX, skateboarding, surfing and winter sports. Be inspired, then get stuck in!

Live Theatre�s Tudor Heritage Trail

Sat 25 � Sun 26 Oct; Sat 25 Oct 10am and 1.30pm, Sun 26 Oct 10am and 3pm

Live Theatre, www.live.org.uk, 0191 232 1232

PRICE: �5 adults; �3 children (under 16)

FAMILY TICKET: �12

AGES: 8yrs+

Take on the role of a researcher and join an eccentric playwright who needs your help to research characters for their new play. With the wizardry of the sonic quill families will come face to face with a series of intriguing historical figures.

Outdoor clothing and sensible footwear is essential. Max 20 people per trail. Trail begins at Live Theatre and lasts for 2 � hours.

The Kurdish Garden

Sat 25 � Wed 29 Oct

Sat 25 Oct: 6.30pm; Sun 26 Oct: 11am and 2pm, Open play (free) 3pm � 5pm; Mon 27 Oct: 11am and 2pm; Tues 28 Oct: 11am and 3.30pm, Open play (free) 12.30pm � 2.30pm; Wed 29 Oct: 11am and 2pm

The Castle Keep, www.juicefestival.co.uk, 08448 112 121 / 2

PRICE: �4

FAMILY: �12 (2 adults 2 children / 1 adult 3 children)

AGES: 4 � 8yrs

Feel The Kurdish Garden come to life. Use your feet and find your way into the Kurdish Garden. See dancers create a journey on a magic carpet that triggers images and sound - an unforgettable experience for eyes, ears, knees and toes.

A spellbinding interactive performance from Italy�s leading children�s theatre company.

Originally commissioned and co-produced by the Lyric Hammersmith. Produced by Crying Out Loud www.cryingoutloud.org

Spooky Science Week

Sat 25 Oct � Sun 2 Nov; 10am - 6pm Monday to Saturday, 11-6pm on Sundays. (Last admission is 4pm) On Friday 31 October open until 8.00pm

The Centre for Life, www.life.org.uk, 0191 243 8223

PRICE: �7.65 per adult; �5.55 children up to 16; 4 and under free; concessions �6.55

FAMILY: �23.10

AGES: 4 � 12yrs

Have a spooktacular time at Life as we host a range of ghoulish activities and eerie experiments. On Halloween enjoy apple bobbing, our monsters shooting gallery and spooky stories.

Treasure Hunt

During Half Term Week

Across NewcastleGateshead, www.juicefestival.co.uk

PRICE: Free

AGES: ALL

Take a magical mystery tour of our fair city created by the Suggestibles comedy troupe. Follow the clues to some of the famous and not so famous landmarks and discover the stories and myths that make NewcastleGateshead the best city in the world. For more information about the treasure hunt and to download a map visit www.juicefestival.co.uk

Half term Workshops

Get yourself out and about this half term and take part in some fantastic workshops or Halloween themed events. Why not try your hand at carving a pumpkin at BALTIC, sing with your family at The Sage Gateshead or prepare for those hairs on the back of your neck to stand up as you risk meeting The Grey Lady; Theatre Royal�s resident ghost...

Pick up a programme, or check out the website for the full listings: www.juicefestival.co.uk

Portrait of a Region

Mon 27 � Fri 31 Oct, Screened throughout half term

Various venues (check the website) www.juicefestival.co.uk,

PRICE: Free

AGES: 14 -19yrs

Calling all young filmmakers! Are you aged 14-19? Got something to say about the North East? Then tell us! We want you to make a film, of any style, on any format, no more than one minute long; telling us what makes your region so special.

The best of the entries will be screened at the Juice Festival during October half-term from The Squeeze, our very own mobile cinema. The winner will receive a master class at the Tyneside Cinema with an industry professional of your choice.

How to enter: You need to register first by visiting www.northeastmovies.co.uk then just complete your profile and upload your film to Portrait of a Region...

Portrait of a Region is part of a nationwide project called Portrait of a Nation, an initiative led by Tyne and Wear Museums in partnership with Tyneside Cinema and Culture10, to get young people talking about their heritage and identity. www.portraitofanation.net . Portrait of a nation will be screened in a secret location as part of Juice and Northern Lights Film Festival in November.

Pour Quoi

Mon 27 Oct, 10am � 12pm

Northern Stage, www.youtube.com/user/thesuggestibles, 0191 230 5151

PRICE: �4

FAMILY: �12 for 4 tickets (2 adults 2 children / 1 adult 3 children)

AGES: 10yrs+

Pour Quoi is a short comedy film making fun of Free Running, made by the Suggestibles comedy troupe that became an instant hit all over the internet. The Suggestibles are hosting a fun workshop where you�ll learn what makes a good comedy video. Then you can go out onto the streets and make your own film with the best ones to be shown along side the original Pour Quoi films on You Tube. (If you have mobile phone cameras bring them along with you!)

Theatre Juice

Wed 29 Oct, 7pm

Stage 2 Northern Stage, www.northernstage.co.uk, 0191 230 5151

PRICE: �4

FAMILY: �12 (2 adults 2 children / 1 adult 3 children)

AGES: 10+

Join us for an evening of work by the region�s best young performers. An exciting and diverse mix of short pieces created by local directors. A snapshot of the high quality work that participatory theatre in the region is creating.

Krocodile Klub

Fri 31 Oct, 7 - 11pm

Caedmon Hall, www.thelawnmowers.co.uk, 0191 478 9200

PRICE: �2 (carers go free)

AGES: 16yrs+

Krocodile Klub is a nightclub run by and for people with learning difficulties. There is a chill out area, bar and great music provided by the learning disabled Krocodile Krew DJs.

Locked In

Sat 1 Nov, 7.30pm

Caedmon Hall, 0191 4338420

PRICE: �5

AGES: 12yrs+

An exciting new hip-hop drama by Half Moon. On the 20th floor of an abandoned East End tower block, Blaze (a Caribbean MC) and Tariq (a Bengali DJ) rip up the airwaves on a leading pirate station.

We�ve Got Mittens Too!

Tues 4 � Sun 16 Nov (no performances on Mon 10th / Tues 11th Nov)

Weekdays at 7.30pm, Weekends at 3.30pm and 7pm

Lit & Phil, www.litandphil.org.uk, 0191 230 5151

PRICE: �12 and �8 concessions

AGES: 9yrs + (under 16yr olds have to be accompanied by an adult)

This original promenade theatre production has been devised to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War and is inspired by stories and people connected with the Literary & Philosophical Society (Lit & Phil) and The Mining Institute.

There will be a maximum capacity of 30 per show.

Northern Children�s Book Festival

Sat 22 Nov, 10am � 4pm

Newcastle Library Service, Civic Centre (also events at Seven Stories, Lit & Phil and Tyneside Cinema), www.ncbf.org.uk, 0845 002 0336

PRICE: Free, tickets to be booked in advance

AGES: 5 � 15 (Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult)

Europe�s largest annual celebration of reading. Meet some of your favourite authors and illustrators, and bring the world of books to life via interactive sessions. The fabulous line up includes: Steve Barlow & Steve Skidmore, Steve Weatherill, Korky Paul, Debi Gliori, Julia Donaldson, Steve Cole, Julia Golding, Liz Million, Jeremy Strong, David Almond and Nick Butterworth.

This year is the National Year of Reading and to coincide with November�s theme of Screen Reads there will be an amazing selection of craft activities.

Skellig

DATE: Mon 24, Tues 25, Thurs 27, Fri 28, Sat 29 Nov, 7pm

Hall One, The Sage Gateshead, www.thesagegateshead.org/skellig, 0191 443 4661

PRICE: �19.50 (under 19s �5 all areas)

AGES: 8yrs+

Composer: Tod Machover

Librettist: David Almond

Director: Braham Murray

An enchanting contemporary opera of David Almond�s award-winning novel. Skellig is both magical and thrilling, dark and sinister as it leads audiences of all ages into the coarse world of an ambiguous angel and transcends all preconceptions of traditional opera.

Michael is desperately worried about his premature baby sister: between anxiety about her and the move to a new house, Michael�s parents don�t have much time for him. Exploring the condemned garage at the end of the new garden, Michael finds a half-dead, spiteful old tramp. Skellig is a filthy, smelly, ungrateful old man, who feeds off dead bluebottles, Chinese takeaway, Newcastle Brown Ale and the dead mice that the owls bring him. However, Michael and his new friend Mina look after him, wondering about the bumps where his shoulder blades are and why he has such an affinity with owls.

First Draft

Tues 25 � Thurs 27 Nov

Tues 1.30pm & 7pm, Thurs 7pm only

Live Theatre, www.live.org.uk, 0191 232 1232

PRICE: �6 Adults; �5 concessions

AGES: 5+

See six new plays written by children aged 9 and 10 from Bridgewater School in Scotswood, Newcastle. The plays have been developed through a series of workshops and the result is an imaginative and innovative production showcasing the region's next generation of writing talent.

Kathie Wilcox

Media and PR Manager, Destination & Events

NewcastleGateshead Initiative

T +44 (0)191 243 8806 F +44 (0)191 222 1282 E kathie.wilcox@ngi.org.uk NewcastleGateshead Initiative 4th Floor, Central Square South, Orchard Street, Newcastle NE1 3AZ http://www.NewcastleGateshead.com