Middlesbrough has a well deserved reputation for a vibrant nightlife, great live music scene and world class events.
mima, Middlesbrough's stunning, contemporary new art gallery and developments, such as the groundbreaking Temenos project underline Middlesbrough's spirit for innovation and creativity.
We are proud of our heritage showcased at the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, the Dorman Museum as well as at our iconic Transporter Bridge, celebrating its centenary in 2011.
Key Facts
- mima and the Bottle of Notes are both situated in Centre Square, the largest civic space in Europe and a fabulous showcase for hosting events such as the BBC's Last Night of the Proms or extreme snowboarding.
- Middlesbrough hosts the world's best Festival of Animation and Computer games, Animex.
- Middlesbrough Mela is the one of the North East's largest multi-cultural events.
- Music Live is one of the UK's best music festivals with a well-deserved reputation for hosting the hottest up and coming artists.
- Middlesbrough Town Hall is a Grade II listed building and attracts the big names in rock, pop, classical music and comedy.
- The Transporter Bridge, celebrating its centenary in 2011, is the only bridge in the UK licensed for bungee jumping.
- Middlesbrough Theatre was one of the first new theatres built in England after the Second World War.
Middlesbrough Town Hall
The Victorian Gothic Town Hall is one of Middlesbrough's most distinctive buildings, providing an ideal-sized setting for big name, mainstream live acts and productions from across the UK.
The Town Hall's typical programme includes something for everyone from classical music to pop and rock, comedy's top stars and craft fairs.
Previous acts that have visited are Jimmy Carr, Jools Holland, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Arctic Monkeys and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.
Download: Middlesbrough Town Hall latest programme and classical season brochure
Middlesbrough Town Hall Spring 2012 Brochure
Fabulous comedians including Omid Djalili, Sarah Millican, Reginald D. hunter, Rich Hall, Jimmy Carr and Love Middlesbrough ambassador Patrick Monahan, The Band of the Yorkshire Regiment in a free performance, gorgeous world-class classical music, our coverboys The Maccabees, a roof-raiser from the Wildcats of Kilkenny and Cattle & Cane, Shelby Lynne, Bob Geldof, Brendan Cole: live & Unjudged for you Strictly fans, Hansel & Gretel and so much more!
Middlesbrough Town Hall Classical Season 2011/12
Enjoy the 2011/12 Middlesbrough Classical Concert Series, bringing you the finest classical sounds from some of the worlds’ greatest orchestras!
Middlesbrough Town Hall - Previous brochures
Middlesbrough Town Hall Autumn / Winter 2011 Brochure
Enjoy the best of comedy with Sarah Millican, Dave Gorman, Omad Djalili, Jason Byrne and the Big Mouth Comedy Gala raising money for the Yorkshire Regiment and Zoes Place Baby Hospice, rock with Toploader, jazz with the star of our cover Stacey Kent, classical music including the world premiere of Middlesbrough’s very own Symphony!
Middlesbrough Town Hall Summer 2011 Brochure
Top comedy, WorldFest, Intro Festival to Tartuffe, Shaolin Warriors, colin Fry and excellent fare for children - there's something for everyone at Middlesbrough Town Hall this summer!
Middlesbrough Town Hall Spring 2011 Brochure
From top comedy from Sarah Millican, Ed Byrne, Mark Watson, Jimmy Carr, Stephen K. Amos, Tim Vine and many more to top notch music from Jools Holland, the Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular, the Bootleg Sixties and Keep It Cash the Spring programme at Middlesbrough Town Hall is packed including a classical programme with the best of international orchestras as well as theatre for all the family. Don't miss great classes in performance, a glee club, carnival arts and much more!
Middlesbrough Town Hall links
Middlesbrough Town Hall on facebook
Middlesbrough Town Hall on twitter
Middlesbrough Theatre
Middlesbrough Theatre has quite a remarkable history. From it's conception in the late 1920's to its opening as the first architect-designed theatre to be built after the Second World War - it is the result of a 27-year dream and the unswerving dedication of theatre lovers in Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough Theatre has an intimacy that belies its 486 seat capacity. A winning combination that has enabled the theatre to play host to a wide variety of performances from big bands and stand-up comedy to full-scale amateur musicals and Indian dance.
Middlesbrough Theatre continues to serve its community hosting performances from leading actors and renowned companies as well as by providing first class facilities to local amateur operatic and dramatic societies as well as young students from local dance schools and performing arts colleges.
Famous faces who have performed at Middlesbrough Theatre
Emlyn Williams ♦ Joyce Grenfell ♦ Jean Kent ♦ Fulton Mackay ♦ John Laurie ♦ Dame Edith Evans ♦ Marius Goring ♦ Dame Flora Robson ♦ Dame Judi Dench ♦ Dame Janet Baker ♦ Max Adrian ♦ Dame Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson ♦ David Kossof ♦ Julian Bream ♦ Robin Hall and Jimmy MacGregor ♦ Larry Adler ♦ John Heddie Nash ♦ John Ogden ♦ Stephane Grappelli ♦ Warren Mitchell ♦ Hinge and Bracket ♦ Pam Ayres ♦ Tony Benn ♦ Chris Barber ♦ Colin Baker ♦ George Baker ♦ Trevor Bannister ♦ Rodney Bewes ♦ Honor Blackman ♦ Arthur Bostrom ♦ Gyles Brandreth ♦ Ronal Brautigam ♦ Marcus Brigstoke ♦ Elkie Brooks ♦ Mike Burns ♦ Anne Charleston ♦ Phil Cool ♦ Peter Dean ♦ Paul Daniels ♦ Peter Egan ♦ Julie Felix ♦ George Galloway ♦ Lisa Goddard ♦ Jeremy Hardy ♦ Kim Hartman ♦ Roy Hattersley ♦ Barbara Hatwell ♦ David Jacobs ♦ Louise Jameson ♦Eric Knowles ♦ Barry Norman ♦ Dara O'Briain ♦Michael Portillo ♦rober Powell ♦ Punt and Dennis ♦ Dave Spikey ♦ Prunella Scales ♦ John Suchet ♦ John Shuttleworth ♦ The Temperance Seven ♦ Midge Ure ♦ Pieter-Dirk Uys ♦ Birmingham Royal Ballet ♦ The Bollywood Brass Band ♦ The Yorkshire "Imps" ♦ The Glenn Miller Orchestra ♦ The Scarborough Spa Orchestra ♦The Syd Lawrence Orchestra
Download: Middlesbrough Theatre History
Middlesbrough Theatre Gala Anniversary Programme 2007
Middlesbrough Theatre celebrated its 50th Anniversary on the 21st October 2007, a Golden Anniversary Gala Concert was held and a souvenir programme was produced. Download the pdf or a copy of the programme can be bought for ahe price of £3.00 including postage from the theatre box office.
History of Middlesbrough Theatre in Text
Download: Middlesbrough Theatre latest programme
Middlesbrough Theatre Spring 2012 Brochure
Brilliant theatre, comedy, music, dance and fantastic community productions are on offer for this season at Middlesbrough Theatre.
Middlesbrough Theatre - Previous brochures
Middlesbrough Theatre Autumn 2011 Brochure
Middlesbrough Theatre is helping to celebrate two important anniversaries. The Centenary of the Transporter Bridge is being marked with a week of plays, written or set around 1911, the highlight of which is a rare revival of Bernard Shaw’s Fanny’s First Play - at the time his greatest West
End hit. The 40th anniversary of the Rosedale (now Tees Valley)Gilbert and Sullivan Society will be marked with a sparkling new production of the operetta which launched them back in 1971 – The Gondoliers. With visits from Georgie Fame, Joe Pasquale and Mike Harding, two Gothic dramas and a brand-new comedy by Nick Lane there is something for everyone!
Middlesbrough Theatre Summer 2011 brochure
This Summer Tees Valley's Playhouse has something for everyone with great plays like Ibsen's Ghosts and Dirty Dusting by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, the fantastic return of Charles Ross with One-Man Star Wars, from Motown to Copellia, a classical ballet in three acts and a fantastic season of family programming including the return of the Outdoor Theatre Season in mima Gardens.
Middlesbrough Theatre Spring 2011 brochure
This Spring there's a fantastic programme on at Middlesbrough Theatre with something for everyone! From Punt & Dennis to Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, works by Berthold Brecht and Sir Alan Ayckbourn plus The Drifters and The Naked Truth starring Claire King, Maureen Nolan, Michelle Heaton, Julie Buckfield and Leanne Jones! Browse online
Middlesbrough Theatre links
Middlesbrough Theatre on facebook
Middlesbrough Theatre on Twitter
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum opened on the 28th October 1978 – the 250th anniversary of Cook’s birth. It is housed in a purpose-built building close to the granite urn marking the site of Cook’s birthplace cottage in Stewart Park, Marton, Middlesbrough.
The museum tells the story of one of the world’s greatest navigators and mariners through themed display galleries, temporary exhibitions, associated activities and events and a lively education programme.
There is full disabled access throughout and additional facilities such as the Discovery Room (education & activities), the Endeavour Room (meetings & events), the Resolution Resources Room (archive & research), gift/book shop, and a café.
Download: Middlesbrough Museums What's On 2011
Middlesbrough Museums - What's On 2011
The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum links
The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum on Facebook
Dorman Museum
The history of the region's geological, social and industrial heritage can be seen at the Dorman Museum. The museum opened to the public in 1904 and has on display the largest publicly-owned collection of Linthorpe Pottery as well as an amazing ornithological collection, perserved in its original Edwardian setting. Enjoy the great range of eight themed display galleries, full disabled access throughout and additional facilities such as café and education suite.
The museum is located next to Albert Park and the Cenotaph just off Linthorpe Road. Middlesbrough railway and bus stations are a 20 minute walk away on a mostly level route.
There are frequent buses 11,12,27 & 63 that travel along Linthorpe Road.
Parking is permitted on the street to the front and side of the museum.
Please use our postcode TS5 6LA to locate us using Sat Nav systems or route planner websites.
Download: Middlesbrough Museums What's On 2011
Middlesbrough Museums - What's On 2011
Dorman Musem Links
The Year in Events and Festivals
Middlesbrough hosts a brilliant calendar of events throughout the year drawing in an international mix of performers and audience. Below find a summary of the big cultural events of the year so you can avoid missing out on a great time.
Animex World-class professional animation festival (February)
Now into its second decade, Animex exists to bring artists, designers, directors, producers, professionals and students together for a week of events and activities revolving around the creation of animation and computer games.
AV Festival International festival of audio visual and electronic arts (March)
AV Festival is an international festival of electronic arts, featuring visual art, music and moving image. A biennial event, the Festival takes place across NewcastleGateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough in North East England. The Festival includes new commissions, exhibitions, concerts, performances, film screenings, workshops and debate at many of the region's outstanding cultural venues and public sites.
Intro (formerly Middlesbrough Music Live) a festival of live music and cutting edge arts (June)
Intro brings together a mind-boggling array of great new talent spread over a dozen locations in the heart of Middlesbrough.
A fresh new name will see the festival known as INTRO from this year, and will again feature dozens of bands spread across ten stages right in the heart of the town centre.
Making waves nationally, as a brilliant festival to catch up and coming talent, the likes of The Sunday Times, the Telegraph and the Guardian have ranked it alongside major players like Glastonbury and V among the Top 100 Festivals in the U.K.
Middlesbrough Literary Festival A feast of literature and entertainment (June-July)
Middlesbrough Literary Festival on facebook
Middlesbrough Literary Festival on twitter
Middlesbrough Mela A celebration of diverse cultures and sports (July)
One of the north east's largest multi-cultural events celebrates its 22nd birthday in 2012.
Middlesbrough Mela Sponsorship Opportunities
Middlesbrough Mela Sponsorship Opportunites
Exciting opportunities exist for businesses who act quickly to become partners in this vibrant festival. Multiple sponsorship levels are available.
Download the sponsors pack and/or use our Contact form and select "Mela sponsorship."
Middlesbrough Mela Community Website
Middlesbrough Mela on facebook
Discover Middlesbrough (September)
2 week festival in partnership with Heritage Open Days celebrating the best of Middlesbrough.
2011 marks an important anniversary for Middlesbrough as we celebrate the centenary of our iconic Transporter Bridge come discover the best of Middlesbrough!
SuperGay Middlesbrough LGBT Pride (September)
Christmas Celebrations (November - December)
Lights switch on, reindeer parade winter festivities and special events.
Christmas Celebrations in Middlesbrough