20/05/2026
For local history and community month we're looking back at some of our past projects and the stories we've told of Northumberland's people and places.
In 2023, Novo Theatre partnered with singer-songwriter Katie Doherty to create a brand new musical inspired by the 19th century Northumberland heroine and social reformer Josephine Butler.
Josey began life as a 20-minute audio musical - written by Katie Doherty, directed by Joe Hufton and commissioned by The Space Arts - with the ambition of developing the production into a full touring musical.
A series of workshops, with women of all ages across Northumberland to discuss womenโs rights and activism today inspired the script. The digital musical also features a community choir of women from across Northumberland as well as voices from young women from local schools, Cramlington Learning Village and Dukeโs Academy in Ashington.
In November 2025, Novo Theatre secured funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, which will go towards delivering a community engagement programme and the stage production will be developed in partnership with Indignant Arts and Northern Stage (subject to funding outcomes later this year) ๐ค
Grab a cuppa, put your feet up and re-listen to the audio musical of Josey the Indignant Daughter on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/2CNtEbZbXLUKBhe0kIihND
