Read Leslie Guy’s reflection on The Uncanny Carnival, a project developed by Programme Committee member Seymour Mace.
Updates
Uncanny Carnival: Corridor8 long read
Posted: 14 August 2025
NewBridge Gallery is now closed until Friday 16 October.
You can join us on 5 September and 3 October for Saturday Social. You can still shop NewBridge Books throughout the weekdays!
Read Leslie Guy’s reflection on The Uncanny Carnival, a project developed by Programme Committee member Seymour Mace.
Writer Leslie Guy spent the day with us as a Steward for Uncanny Carnival in June, hosted at the City Stadium. She reflects on her time and the event:
“This is important for understanding events like Uncanny Carnival and The NewBridge Project more broadly. Those friends from Shieldfield include crowds of kids chasing bubbles and older folk sitting on folding chairs in front of the stage. There are families from the coast and locals from across the road, which is a rare mixing at an art event. NewBridge has genuinely made the crossover into a community-oriented art organisation. They have real people involved in almost everything they do; real people not being used as material, or to tick diversity boxes, but who come because they like it. And they are properly encouraged to make whatever art they like.”
Photographs by David Hall
The Uncanny Carnival is a carnival like no other! A joyful, rebellious celebration of self-expression, silliness, and solidarity. It’s about showing up as your whole self, on your own terms, and honouring the fools and misfits who paved the way.
The carnival featured games and performances, stalls, and activities by local grassroots organisations — including North Tyneside Art Studio, ReCoCo, NewBridge Books, and Chilli Studios. There was face painting and bubbleology, dressing up, and a Photo Booth by artist David Hall.
People enjoyed an uncanny reimagining of Punch and Judy by Silly Billies, explored a compost heap, and joined in communiti-tea making with The Comfrey Project. On-stage entertainment included local comedian Elaine Robertson hosting Open Drag Collective, a Fancy Dress Parade, and more. There were live performances from Felt Nowt, Seymour Mace, Sound Games, and Open Drag Collective.
The Uncanny Carnival was developed by artist Seymour Mace with The NewBridge Project’s Programme Committee: Holly Argent, Ellie Armon Azoulay, Dan Goodman, Kaan K, Shelly Knotts, and Seymour Mace.
The NewBridge Project is a charity, registered charity no. 1173849.
We are grateful to our funders, including Arts Council England, Newcastle City Council, Garfield Weston Foundation, Jerwood Foundation, Community Foundation North East, Newcastle University and the The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
We are proud to be a Gallery of Sanctuary.
