Newcastle Pride and Alphabetti Theatre Launch Trans+ Zone: A Celebration of Joy, Community and Creativity
- Alex (they/them)
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Hosted at Alphabetti Theatre in collaboration with Newcastle Pride, The Trans+ Zone aims to be a safe, celebratory, and empowering area for the region’s trans+ and non-binary community. The event includes: fun and relaxed workshops for participants to engage with; merch stalls by some awesome queer artists; helpful information leaflets; The Radical TJOY exhibition; plus food and drinks available to purchase from the Alphabetti Bar.
This event is free and drop in, so feel free to pop by the Trans+ Zone and soak up some good, kind vibes or hang around and get excited for the chaotic queer cabaret: The Pedro Pascal says Trans Rights Cabaret happening in the evening. Either way, we'd love to see you there!
Here are some more details on some of the exciting activities, stalls and art for you to check out throughout the day…

Chill & Chat Badge Making
Make your own good vibes gender, pronoun or silly little badges with the option to have a relaxed chat while you make.
Zine Making
Make your very own zine (a self published mini magazine) full of gender affirmations, your identity journey, helpful trans+ tips or advice, or just fill it full of things that make you feel happy and good, using collage, comics, poetry and creative writing.
Post Card Making
Unleash your passions and activism by designing your own unique Trans Joy postcard. Come up with a bold concept, create interesting visuals or powerful messages. You will also have the option of designing a postcard to feature in the Radical TJOY art exhibition, which will also be used as a backdrop for an exciting cabaret on the evening.
Radical TJOY Exhibition
Curious Arts have commissioned a selection of incredible local Trans+ artists to design some artwork to feature in the Radical TJOY Exhibition held in Alphabetti’s Main Theatre. The art work aims to spread trans hope and joy, whilst also celebrating some of our fantastic talented artists in the community.
Information Stall
A stall full of helpful charities that support trans+ and non-binary folks and allies, with information about youth groups, support groups, websites and more.
Ilex Mori @ilex_mori - Merch Stall
Ilex Mori sell a mix of character prints, stickers and keychains of various designs from franchises like Pokemon, Mario, Pikmin (a lot of nintendo), but also with a large lean to LGBTQIA+ with pride animal stickers and also some exciting new keychains on the way.
PyDesigns @pydesignsuk - Merch Stall
Conveniently cute accessories and trinkets inspired by queerness, neurodiversity, and Japanese culture. Pydesigns is created by Miller Power, a trans, disabled, and autistic artist. They will also be stocking a fantastic protest postcard art by Dan Draws Stuff who is a trans traditional artist.
The Pedro Pascal says Trans Rights Cabaret (7.30PM - Late)
This chaotic queer cabaret includes a star-studded line up of acts ranging from drag, poetry, live music and more, celebrating trans icons, celebrity crushes and a homage to Stars In Their Eyes…but Trans. Open to all LGBTQIA+ Folks, their allies, Zaddies and of course, most importantly Pedro Pascal!
Pride Fringe 2025

Festivalgoers won’t need to wait until July for this year’s Newcastle Pride celebrations to begin, with a programme of exciting events announced today for the city’s first ever Pride Fringe, set to take place from June.
A new addition to the North East calendar for 2025, Pride Fringe will offer a wide range of live entertainment, comedy and theatre, along with LGBTQIA+ networking opportunities at a host of local venues across the early summer months ahead of the highly anticipated Newcastle Pride Festival on 19th and 20th July, which is presented in partnership with NE1 and Newcastle City Council.
This sounds absolutely incredible—so much thought and love clearly went into creating a space that’s not just Retro Bowl College safe but joyful and inspiring. I’m especially excited about the zine making and the Radical TJOY exhibition, and you had me at "Pedro Pascal says Trans Rights Cabaret"!