A new play telling the story of asylum, care and survival is coming to Northumberland
It's part of a festival of contemporary performances, school engagement, and projects runs from October to December
Cambois’ much-loved community arts charity, The Tute, today launches its most ambitious season yet: RUDE HEALTH 2025. This bold programme of contemporary performance, school engagement, and participatory projects runs from October to December, tackling urgent themes like public health, belonging, grief, care, womanhood, and place — all from one of the most unexpected artistic epicentres in the UK: a repurposed miners’ welfare institute in South East Northumberland.
Led by German-born dance artist Esther Huss and playwright Alex Oates, The Tute’s pioneering model combines hands-on community involvement with internationally respected art-making. Following the success of last year’s inaugural Rude Health Festival — which saw RSC veteran Trevor Fox and feminist dance pioneer Jacky Lansley take the stage in Cambois — the 2025 programme promises even more adventurous, socially resonant work.
“We’ve really carefully considered the needs of our community, and put together a programme that is relevant and meaningful to our neighbours - to explore the challenges that are affecting their well-being, choices and sense of identity — and we’ve curated a set of projects that respond with care and imagination,” said Joint CEO and Artistic Director Esther Huss.
“It’s incredibly humbling that artists we’ve long admired, like Liz Aggiss and Alistair MacDowall, want to support that vision. There’s a sense that something special is happening here in Cambois.”
“We’re proving that tackling public health issues and creating community impact doesn’t mean compromising on artistic ambition,” added Joint CEO and Artistic Director Alex Oates.
“Our audiences deserve the same calibre of work you’d see in London or Edinburgh — and we’re bringing it here.”
🎭 Festival Events
AJAYU by Yuvel Soria
Friday 3 October, 7:30PM
A ritualistic, multi-cultural dance experience inspired by Bolivia’s Day of the Dead. Melding Bolivian, Kuchipudi, and Afro-Diaspora dance with poetry and live percussion, AJAYU explores food, death, and remembrance in a sensory, celebratory performance. The night culminates in a communal meal and storytelling circle.
Here Be Dragons by Unfolding Theatre
Saturday 4 October, 1:30PM
A family-friendly musical adventure written by Lindsay Rodden and directed by Annie Rigby. Join a band of dreamers and explorers on a magical journey across the North East. A show for anyone who’s ever wanted to fly away — or find their way home.
Cambois Hidden Depths Revisited
Sunday 12 October, 5pm
A celebration and continuation of last year’s historic street theatre event, attended by over 300 people. Includes live performances from actors Christopher Connell and Lucy Elizabeth Davis, film premiere of a new dance film by Esther Huss and Meerkat Films, and panel discussions in partnership with Novo Theatre.
Stronger Shores Exhibition
Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm
The Tute has been working in partnership with Stronger Shores to explore the coastline and its environmental impact on our health. Poet Linda France has worked with the writing group to produce poetry inspired by the ecological marvels of our shores and Esther Huss has made a film with The Tute troupe dance group. There’s work made with Cambois primary school and an art installation featuring a book made from Kelp.
Hexed! By Lucy Suggate and Charlie Ford
Saturday 15th November, 7.30PM
A performance gathering by two of the UK’s most exciting artists. Dance maker Lucy Suggate and visual artist Charlie Ford explore the notion of a ‘Hex’, what it means to feel hexed and what we can do about it. Inspired by the Women of the north report, Charlie and Lucy take a look at the inequalities faced by women in our region and question whether it’s a curse that can be lifted. The artists will be working with our community groups during the week to make work that will feed into the performance gathering.
All of It by Alistair McDowall
Friday 21 November, 8PM
A rehearsed reading of an exhilarating solo performance about one person’s entire life — delivered in a breathless 45 minutes. Written by Royal Court alum Alistair McDowall, who will join the audience for a post-show Q&A.
Film Night: Women, Dance & the Sea
Friday 28 November, 7:30PM
A curated screening of short films by Jacky Lansley, Rosemary Lee, Liz Aggiss and Esther Huss, exploring the sea, coast and human stories.
Crone Alone by Liz Aggiss
Saturday 29 November, 8PM
The grand dame of anarchic dance returns with a fiercely funny, poignant and subversive solo exploring aging, value and performance itself. Expect clipped dances, poetic outbursts, and one unforgettable crone.
“You can’t take your eyes off her… genuine, personal, purposeful and profound.” – Seeing Dance
From the Sea (Work-in-Progress) by Alex Oates
Friday 5 December, 7.30PM
A sharing of a work-in-progress play about asylum, care, and coastal life, co-created with people with lived experience. Marjorie, a wildlife volunteer, finds more than just seals washed up on her local beach. Directed by Amy Golding, with support from immigration experts, followed by a post-show panel discussion.
🌱 Ongoing Community & School Projects
Integral to The Tute’s mission is working within our local community and schools to embed a sense of creativity and foster empathy at every stage. This year we’re zoning in on the youngest members of our community with some innovative targeted interventions;
Write Now
Local author Hilary Elder is guiding students at Bedlington Academy through a five-month creative writing project, resulting in a published collection of short stories. The project builds literacy, confidence and empathy through storytelling.
Be Moved
Led by early-years dance specialist Skye Reynolds, this five-week programme uses movement to support emotional literacy in young children (ages 3–7). Working with Bedlington Station Primary, Cambois Primary and The Tute’s playgroup, Skye helps children from challenging backgrounds understand their bodies and emotions through creative self-expression.
Twinkle Arti
Playwright and children’s author Danielle Slade adapts her award-winning book Twinkle Arti into a magical ‘show in a suitcase’. With puppetry by Aileen Kelly and direction by Ruth Mary Johnson, this part-reading, part-performance will tour five local schools to support children impacted by parental mental health and substance abuse.
About The Tute
The Tute is an artist-led organisation based in Cambois, South East Northumberland. We produce cutting-edge performance and participatory arts projects with and for our local community, while welcoming national artists for radical collaboration. We believe health, culture and community belong together — and that world-class work belongs everywhere.
🎟 All events are FREE to attend and bookable via [www.thetute.uk ](http://www.thetute.uk |newtab)
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the North East Combined Authority as the Lead Authority. It’s also made possible with generous support from QTS, better together.