Our Friends in the North : The Thatcher Years Review (Newcastle Theatre Royal)

Ad - we were provided with press tickets for this performance in October 2026.

📆 Mon 19 - Sat 24 Oct 2026

🫶 Audio described and captioned performance with pre-show touch tour on Sat 24 Oct at 2:30pm
⌚ 2 hrs including interval
🎫 Standard tickets available from £23 🎫 £10 18-30s tickets available (with membership)
✅ Contains strong language, flashing lights, injury detail, scenes of a sexual nature, use of slurs and offensive language, adult themes, strobes and loud noises.

🎟️Book: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/our-friends-in-the-north/

Please note, during this performance the upper floors of the theatre will only be accessible via stairs. Contact the theatre directly for more information.

About Our Friends in the North

A Live Theatre, Eastlake Productions and Newcastle Theatre Royal production.

BAFTA-winning BBC drama and cultural landmark Our Friends in the North returns to the city where it began in a new stage adaptation by original writer Peter Flannery and award‑winning director Jack McNamara.

Marking 30 years since the series became a defining British drama, this adaptation revisits four Newcastle friends – Tosker, Geordie, Nicky and Mary – who come of age during the Thatcher years, a period of seismic political and social change, testing their friendships, ambitions and relationships.

Focusing on a pivotal chapter of the original story, the production is funny, tender and fiercely political, capturing both intimate personal journeys and sweeping national shifts.

A proudly local drama in a gripping theatrical form, Our Friends in the North speaks as urgently now as ever – exploring what it means to belong, and how the past continues to shape the present.

Whether you’re rediscovering this era‑defining story or meeting these characters for the first time, don’t miss this major new production at Newcastle Theatre Royal for a strictly limited run.

Our Review

To follow.....

About Newcastle Theatre Royal

📌 Newcastle Theatre Royal. 100 Grey Street. Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE1 6BR. Doors open 1 hour prior to each performance. You can visit the Green Room Bar or 100 Grey Street Bar before this time (check opening hours). The Green Room offers a range of theatre-themed cocktails which are fun and they often run a special cocktail to match in with the current show

🚃 You can travel for free on Tyne & Wear Metro / Shields Ferry for up to 2 hours before your performance and 2 hours afterwards to/from Monument Metro Station. Simply show your theatre ticket to inspectors if asked (and if the gates are closed, show your ticket at a manned gate).

🚗 Paid parking is available nearby at Dean Street Car Park (NE1 1PG) or other City Centre Car Parks (check car park closing times). 🍷 I recommend The Green Room, Gaucho, PTMY, Dabbawal, Lola Jeans, Cafe Andaluz, Hen & Hops, Mowgli & Fat Hippo for pre-theatre dining. I have dined at all of these restaurants and can personally recommend as providing good value pre-theatre dining within easy walking distance. If you're visiting on a Saturday in term time or on any day during school holidays, you can also pre-order afternoon tea at The Green Room inside the theatre (children's pictured below for £10). 24 hours notice is required.

🧥 There is no cloakroom and luggage, large backpacks, laptops and holdalls are not permitted. Booster cushions are available (please ask a member of staff), bag checks are in place. Please see here for a list of items which are not permitted.

♿ Wheelchair spaces, free companion tickets, accessible toilets & lifts are available. You can find out more about access here: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/plan-your-visit/access-information_access-facilities/ 🍧 A range of food & drinks are available to purchase inside the theatre and their sale provide much-needed income to the theatre. Bag searches are in operation and banned items include alcohol which has been purchased outside of the venue (including wrapped gifts), cans, glass, metal, ceramic containers and stong smelling or noisy food. You cannot take hot food into the theatre. Selected performances do not allow any external food or drinks to be brought into the theatre (medical exemptions aside). The theatre is cashless. 💰Several discounts are available including £10 tickets for those aged 18-30 for selected performances, theatre membership and group bookings.

What's Next at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Find out more & book here: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/

28 - 31 October 2026 - Cinderella by Northern Ballet
10 - 14 November 2026 - The Hollow
24 November 2026 - 17 January 2027 - Jack & the Beanstalk
18 - 30 January 2027 - Mean Girls
9 - 13 February 2027 - Dirty Dancing
23 - 27 Februray 2027 - Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
11 March 2027 - The Great Opera Mystery
13 - 17 April 2027 - Paranormal Activity
20 April - 1 May 2027 - Matthew Bourne's Cinderella
10 May - 15 May 2027 - Grease
8 - 19 June 2027 - Cats
19 - 24 July 2027 - Everyone's Talking About Jamie