SIDEQUEST – a Hartlepool-based organisation which creates participatory arts projects across Tees Valley and the North East – invited some of its “sickest mates” from across Hartlepool for a night of live art, music, drag, spoken word, burlesque, art-making and more!
SIDESHOW was described as “part-performance, part-party, part-gig and part-creative experiment.”
A spokesperson said: “It brought together artists and audiences for a night where disciplines collide, artists could take risks and you were introduced to your new favourite night out.”
Acts on the bill included Mama Rhi – Seaton Carew girly and Queen of Burlesque, TYYGRR – spoken word (maybe even a song), aka Tyler Gracie, SQ Assistant Producer; Beatnik – playing three new songs, featuring Max Duggan, SQ Creative Intern; Celia Grace – playing songs from her latest EP for the first time, former Creative Intern; Strawberry Fatcake Erotika – Hartlepool’s very own Drag Idol 2026 finalist; Connor Dorian – performing Spoken Word in Hartlepool for the very first time; Gabriel Gustard & Meghan Darby – a live drop-in workshop and exhibition of their work – SQ Associate Artists and Will Short of Dole Train – DJ set
The evening was hosted by Lucy McLellan, Ell Hockney and Aaron Bowman.
The project marked an exciting milestone for SIDEQUEST as it entered its second year.
“It’s hard to believe SIDEQUEST is already one,” said SIDEQUEST Director Aaron Bowman,
“This first year has been about proving that brilliant, ambitious creative work can come from Hartlepool and Teesside, and that it can happen in places and with people who are often overlooked
“If our first year has taught us anything it is that there’s an enormous appetite for exciting projects such as SIDESHOW. We’re only just getting started. We’ve fundraised close to £150,000 in our first year of operation across our programme of work and we couldn’t be more pleased to see art in all its forms thriving in Hartlepool once again”
