Salt & Smoke: Stories of Blyth 2026

Aim

We need to raise £1000 to enable us to deliver a high quality and engaging schools programme for up to 60 year 6 pupils in Blyth

Salt & Smoke: Stories of Blyth – The next phase of the journey

In September 2025, Salt & Smoke: Stories of Blyth transformed Blyth town centre with a promenade theatre experience celebrating some of the people, industries and communities that have shaped the town over the past 500 years.

Audiences travelled through streets, buildings and public spaces encountering stories rooted in Blyth’s history - its maritime heritage and journeys of exploration, the working lives of folk making their name in a thriving town and stories of love, resilience and change.

Almost 400 people attended across the weekend, with more than half of audiences coming from Blyth and wider Northumberland. 66% of audiences reported that this was their first arts or cultural event, demonstrating the project’s success in reaching people who are often excluded from cultural participation.

We know there is interest for us to re-present Salt & Smoke and would love to return to Blyth this autumn.

Salt & Smoke will create opportunities for Blyth residents and school children to participate in cultural activities and shape local storytelling as well as having a positive impact on their own wellbeing.

Over 50% of the funding needed to stage the show has been provided by Northumberland County Council. Funding will also come from ticket sales and Novo Theatre’s reserves. But there is a gap in our budget. 

To enable us to provide a high quality and engaging schools programme for up to 60 Year 6 pupils in Blyth we need your help!

Salt & Smoke: Stories of Blyth will help Blyth communities by:

• Strengthening local identity and belonging
• Helping residents and school children to connect with the history and heritage of their town
• Creating welcoming shared experiences across generations
• Supporting wellbeing and reducing isolation
• Animating the town centre and underused spaces
• Attracting visitors to Blyth and changing perceptions of the town
• Creating pathways for young people into creative participation and skills development

Salt & Smoke 2026 will build on proven audience demand and enable Novo Theatre to begin longer-term engagement with communities across Blyth.

The impact of Salt & Smoke in Blyth 

• Reduce barriers to arts participation
• Increase social connection and community cohesion
• Improve confidence, wellbeing and sense of belonging
• Create inclusive opportunities for participation across age groups
• Support young people’s creativity and aspirations
• Enable school children to connect with the history and heritage of their town.
• Amplify local voices and stories often underrepresented in cultural programming and showcase stories of Blyth to a wider audience both regionally and nationally.

How will Novo Theatre use the money raised?

Over 50% of the funding needed to stage the show has been provided by Northumberland County Council. Funding will also come from ticket sales and Novo Theatre’s reserves. But there is a gap in our budget. 

Any donation however large or small is very much appreciated.

Your support will mean we can deliver a high quality and engaging schools programme for up to 60 Year 6 pupils in Blyth we need your help!

Year 6  pupils will be invited to performances of Salt & Smoke. They will also participate in a post-show workshop that will explore how we build on the characters and stories the children encountered in the performance. We will also highlight the work that goes into creating theatre in outdoor and unexpected places and the many jobs and career options in theatre - inspiring the next generation of actors, producers, writers or technicians. 

If we reach our fundraising target of £1000 we will be able to deliver the schools programme as part of Salt & Smoke: Stories of Blyth in 2026. 

If we exceed the fundraising target any additional funds raised will contribute to the delivery of the longer-term programme in Blyth.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st July 2026 at 8:00pm