Click on the posters below to find out more!
Bitesize was a series of fantastic shows created by local musicians and theatre hosted by venues across Sunderland between April and June 2023.
Each show engaged local communities and groups to gather stories, recruit actors, create the soundscape or help build the set designs.
The shows were provocative, laugh out loud, interactive and most of all in a place that was local to you!
Scroll to find out more about our four fantastic shows.
The ticket price included sharing of food that is themed to the show….think Bovril and pies for football, slushies and sausage rolls for your trip to Bognor Regis!
Sweet Caroline and the Football Boots.
We Make Culture’s piece tells the story of ‘Sweet Caroline’ a young girl from Sunderland who is desperate to be a footballer and who teams up with her older neighbour to fulfil her dream. Laura Brewis, founder and director of We Make Culture, explained: “It’s a story of discovering your talent, overcoming stereotypes, finding your team and having confidence in yourself.
“As part of the development of the piece, we’ve been working with sporting organisations and girls’ football teams in the city, including Washington AFC, North East Sport and the Foundation of Light. We have also gathered stories of older women to show the differences between girls’ experiences of playing football now and in the past.
The Food Bank Generation Game
Jamie Brown, Associate Producer at Theatre Space North East, introduces their show The Food Bank Generation Game…
“We’re working closely with Sunderland Community Food Bank to highlight the huge problem of food poverty through a ‘game show’ theatrical performance. We want to shine a spotlight on the increasing dependency on food banks across the region.”
Redcoat by The Six Twenty
Melanie Rashbrooke, Founder and Artistic Director at The Six Twenty, explained: “We’re working with Cozmic 3piphany a group that gives young LGBTQ+ people in Sunderland a voice. We are working with the group to develop and adapt our one-man show Redcoat which has been touring north east venues. Redcoat is about identity and belonging.”
Milk, Two Sugars by Woven Nest Theatre
Liv Hunt, Co-Artistic Director at Woven Nest Theatre and her colleagues Elliot and Poppy are working across three care homes in Sunderland.
Liv describes Milk, Two Sugars: “Our immersive, multi-sensory show will be for older adults in care homes, hospices or community centres. The show will be performed one-to-one at the care homes with two larger shows on 31st May and 2nd June.”
