Creative Engagement at The Customs House

05/03/2025

Last week we hosted CUSTOMIZE our first MC Night in with spots from MC Flecky and MC Tolman with .d.s_music & guest DJs on the decks.

We are delighted to announce that we return on 25 March with Makina Legends MC Rockeye & Genno D in the place to be, with ADS, Anderson & Stutta on the decks.

7-10pm ft. open spots

26/02/2025

It was such treat to host the Young M**s and their little ones from getting crafty before seeing Cousin Dennis in A Recipe For Disaster 👩🏻‍🎨🎨🖌️

13/02/2025

🎉 Exciting News for The Takeover Festival 2025! 🎉

We're thrilled to announce that we have received vital support from the Hays Travel Foundation for the Takeover Festival 2025! This funding will take our award-winning festival to new heights, offering even more opportunities for young people to shine in the arts! 🌟
With this generous support, we’ll be able to:
🎭 Offer a platform for young artists & performers to showcase their talents
🎤 Provide workshops, live performances, and hands-on festival management experience
🌍 Expand our diversity & inclusivity efforts, amplifying voices from across the region

The Takeover Festival is all about empowering 13-18-year-olds to take the lead in producing and delivering a festival that celebrates their creativity. From live performances to workshops, esports tournaments, and more, we’re excited to continue providing young people with unique opportunities that will have a lasting impact on their careers and personal growth. 🙌

A huge thank you to the Hays Travel Foundation for supporting the future of the arts and giving young people a space to thrive! 💙

The Customs House in South Shields is set to take its award-winning Takeover Festival 2025 to new heights after receiving crucial funding from the Hays Travel Foundation. The Foundation, renowned for supporting local causes and registered charities focused on helping young people thrive in sport, he...

07/02/2025

Join us for a night of pure Makina as DJ A.D.S brings the beats, with headline sets from MC Flecky & MC Tolman, plus open mic slots for anyone ready to step up.

Date: 26/02/2025
Location: Bella’s, The Customs House
Time: 7-10pm

Adam Cogdon

06/02/2025

🎤Entries are open for our Monologue Slam for aspiring actors aged 11-25
🎭We have an all star industry panel, which will be hosted by the amazing Alfie Joey
📌More information can be found here: https://www.customshouse.co.uk/get-involved/creatives/
📅 Deadline: 3 March at midday

The Customs House is invested in nurturing North East talent.Our current open opportunities are below:

05/02/2025

🎨If you're out and about today in sunny South Shields, and fancy getting your arts and culture fix, why not head to The Word to see the Making Waves Exhibition (on until 27 April)

👉

This exhibition brings together different arts projects which have taken place in South Tyneside in 2024, supported by Arts Council England. Together these projects explore what arts and culture is and where you can experience culture in South Tyneside. Through […]

03/02/2025

We are delighted to be part of MAKING WAVES- a celebration of ACE supported work in the Borough. The exhibition features our friends & project with the lovely Elizabeth Kane, open until March! 🎤🎸🎨⚽️🎭

26/11/2024

📍We would love to hear from members of our community to shape the future of our cultural and heritage spaces. Join us at the South Tyneside Creative Community Forum to share your ideas and feedback on how we can make our venues even better. Do you have a vision for an exciting event? Thoughts on making our attractions more welcoming and inclusive? We’d love to hear it all!

☕️Come along, connect with fellow community members, and help us build spaces that reflect our unique creativity and heritage

Refreshments provided.

12/08/2024

We're just under a week away from the Ocean Road Mela 2024, and we are looking forward to the music, food and family activities that it will bring! You can see the detailed programme in each of the images of this post.

The Ocean Road Mela is an event that is planned and coordinated by local organisations and members of the community, such as CREST, The Customs House, CAST, Showbiz, the South Shields Bangladeshi Welfare Association, the South Shields Bangladeshi Caterers Federation, The Cultural Spring, Ocean Road Community Association, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums and local volunteers. It has the support of local schools, South Tyneside Council, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Centre, Northumbria Police and SeaChange Cafe, between others.

We thank the Levelling Up Funding, through the South Tyneside Cultural Partnership Group, and also the Barbour Foundation and the many local sponsors, which make this community event possible.

19/07/2024

Only The Beginning… is our upcoming co-production with ThickSkin and will be a highly physical, fast-paced show all about what it takes to be a female footballer and the bonds created through grassroots sport.

We will be hosting an open afternoon at The Customs House on Thursday 15th August where we will invite both those currently playing and those who have played in the past but no longer do, to share their stories and experiences with writer Susan Mulholland helping to influence the story we will tell.

If you or someone you know may feel like they have a story to tell then we would love to hear from you!

To register your interest, you can scan the QR code on the post or follow the link in our bio!

https://forms.gle/gnAQqbe9jCKuvetW6

11/06/2024

We are looking for small business holders, established businesses, individuals and organisations to hold stalls at our event.
Complete our form to register your interest https://forms.gle/Xkc3HGHk4BGhcPNr7

05/06/2024

There are still a few spaces left for our next All-day Life Drawing class! Join us this Sunday, 9th June, 10:30-4pm in The Customs House Gallery for a day of art.

£50 per person, all materials provided! 📢

Book your place at this link: https://www.customshouse.co.uk/events/all-day-life-drawing/

Or if you have any questions or queries, get in touch by email at [email protected]

31/05/2024

In the next few weeks we will be running some free workshops with Bright Futures' own Ladies group, on Wednesday mornings at The Customs House. If you would like to learn more about this group or/and are interested in taking part, get in touch with 07485301481 or [email protected]

Glass coaster workshop: 5th June
Intro to drama: 12th and 26th June
Chainmail workshop: 3rd July

23/05/2024

We still have spaces left for our Takeover Esports Tournament!

After being a smash hit back in January, we'll once again be setting up Mario Kart onto our massive cinema screen for players to battle it out to win a £50 games voucher!

Open to those aged 11-16 and £5 to register...you don't want to miss out! 🎮🎮

Register here - https://www.customshouse.co.uk/events/esports-tournament/

14/05/2024

Swipe for more info on some of our brilliant Takeover events!

Fancy your chances in our Mario Kart Esports Tournament? Or need yourself some new headshots? 

Make sure you book your spaces to avoid disappointment - head to the link in our bio!

03/05/2024

We are very pleased to announce our event line up for this year’s Takeover Festival 2024! 📢📢

- The Takeover Open Exhibition
- BreakOver 2024
- Esports Tournament / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- A Bella’s Musical Theatre Quiz
- The Greatest Showman, Sing-a-long
- Puppet Making Workshop with Georgia Hill
- The Customs House Youth Theatre 
- Headshot Sessions with Photos by Jordan
- A Two Day Musical Theatre Intensive
- Kara-show-ke with Jen Stevens
- DEMONS by Jonathan Iceton

Always such an important week in our calendar, The Takeover Festival offers a jam packed range of events and activities to get involved with over the May half-term.

This year’s Takeover would not be possible without the generous support from the Chloe & Liam Together Forever Trust.

For more information on programme and how to book, head to the link in our bio!