cultureAUGUST09
London Classic Theatre presents
The Beauty Queen
of Leenane
By Martin McDonagh
Thursday 10 - Saturday 12 September, 7:30pm
Tickets: �13 (�12 concessions, �11 Friends)
Gala Theatre
Box Office 0191 332 4041
www.galadurham.co.uk
THE FEELGOOD MUSICAL TAKE THATWITH THE
SONGS OF
'Take That's own
Mamma Mia'Guardian Unlimited
DAILY MIRROR MAIL ON SUNDAYDAILY EXPRESS
METRO WHATSONSTAGE
DIRECT FROM
THE WEST END
Tuesday 8 � Saturday 12 September
08448 11 21 21
www.theatreroyal.co.uk
15
This was self-evident in Bewick's day
when nature was a lot redder in tooth and
claw. But it seems injustice played on his
mind.
One of his most famous illustration is
called Waiting for Death and it shows a
once proud and strong horse standing
emaciated, having outlived his
usefulness.
There's nothing funny about it but it
illustratesaneternaltruth�thateverydog
(or indeed horse or human) has his day
and is thereafter reliant on the sympathy
of others.
This exhibition was put together by the
Ikon Gallery in Birmingham and it was
brought to the North East by the Friends
of the Laing Art Gallery, to be shown
alongside the first ever Northern Print
Biennale, showing the best in
contemporary print-making from around
the world.
It is a great shame that it can't be a
permanent fixture in the city where
Bewick learned his trade and made his
living. Despite the fact that Bewick's
birthplace, Cherryburn, is preserved as a
visitor attraction and is well managed by
the National Trust, there have always
been those who believe his contribution
is not recognised as well as it might be in
Newcastle.
Maybe this is being rectified. If you
enjoy looking at the Tale-Pieces
exhibition, you could then cross the road
to the new City Library where many
artefacts relating to the engraver are now
on public view � often for the first time in
years.
ThereyouwillseeBewick'sworktable,
a surprisingly delicate piece of furniture,
which was passed to his daughter and
was bequeathed by her to the collector
John Pease.
Also included in the Newcastle
Collection, whose treasures are on show
at the library, is a box of Bewick's tools,
some of his pictures and even his stuffed
pet corncrake � the latter a clear
indication of how life has changed for
citizensofNewcastleinthelastcoupleof
hundred years.
In 1804, a critic wrote of Bewick's
accomplished tale-pieces: "A very
ingenious and entertaining variety...
subjects of common and familiar life,
such as have not been touched by other
artists, but full of characteristic truth, and
frequently of original humour."
There are 140 engravings in the
Laing exhibition and every one
of them fully supports the
maxim that a picture is
equal to a thousand
words.
Thomas Bewick:
Tale-Pieces is at the
Laing Art Gallery,
Newcastle, until
October 18. Visit
www.twmuseums.
org.uk/laing
On show at Newcastle
City Library: The King's
Birthday, a cautionary
vignette by Thomas
Bewick.

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