The Customs House South Shields
The Customs House South Shields is a leading arts centre, theatre, cinema, cultural venue, and community hub located on the banks of the River Tyne in South Tyneside. Serving audiences from South Shields, South Tyneside, Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, County Durham, and the wider North East. The Customs House offers a vibrant year-round programme of live theatre, comedy, music, dance, cinema, exhibitions, creative learning, and community activities.
As a cultural cornerstone within South Tyneside, The Customs House is committed to making high-quality arts and entertainment accessible to everyone. Its programme combines nationally touring productions, locally produced theatre, family shows, pantomime, independent cinema, youth theatre, creative workshops, and community-led projects, providing opportunities for people of all ages to participate in and enjoy the arts.
The organisation's vision is to be an inclusive, creative, and welcoming cultural destination where people can connect, learn, create, and be inspired. Through collaboration, co-creation, and artistic excellence, The Customs House aims to enrich lives, champion local talent, celebrate diverse voices, and ensure that culture plays a central role in the social, economic, and creative wellbeing of South Tyneside and the wider North East.
The Customs House is particularly recognised for its work in arts participation, cultural engagement, creative learning, youth development, accessibility, equality, diversity and inclusion, community partnerships, artist development, new writing, family entertainment, theatre production, cinema screenings, and heritage conservation. Through its extensive programme of performances, events, festivals, workshops, and outreach initiatives, it continues to create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to experience the transformative power of arts and culture.