Olivier award-winning Theatre N16 Ltd open new theatre Laurels in Whitley Bay

Besties, we bring exciting news: a new venue has opened in Whitley Bay! The Laurels Theatre, named after comedy legend Stan Laurel, is situated above the tapas bar of the same name and aims to be a chilled out, accessible space where theatre, visual arts and comedy can come together.

Founded by Olivier Award winning Theatre N16, the Laurel Theatre’s opening season will include critically acclaimed Geordie artist Serena Ramsey (New Diorama Theatre’s emerging Artist of 2019), a new version of Phoebe Éclair Powell's ground-breaking Wink set in Whitley Bay, and an adaptation of Jonathan Tulloch’s The Season Ticket.

When Theatre N16 Ltd was founded in 2015, it was designed with a simple premise – no frills, no hire fees and loads of support. Over 300 productions came through its doors across three different venues with the company forming a producing arm (Eastlake Productions) whose shows included the Olivier award-winning Flesh and Bone at Soho Theatre. However, the company was plagued with challenges including losing two different leases and the sad passing of their Executive Producer. With 40k of debt and many bills to pay, Jamie Eastlake fought on determined to uphold the N16 model and support the artists he cared about and in September 2020, he opened Laurence’s in Blythe.

Eastlake said: “Laurences was born during the pandemic – but that was only phase one. Phase two was about doing the same but slightly bigger. Find another building down the Northeast coast, one that could fit a restaurant and a bar and a full-time theatre space in it. We’re not sure how we’ve done it, but we’ve built it. It’s cost six figures and it’s beautiful and we can’t wait to welcome you all through our doors!”

The small space to share big stories, the Laurels aims to be the space where everyone on the North East coast and beyond will flock and support exciting new work on its journey to break in the big time, and we at West End Best Friend wish them every success.

For more information, please click here.