April 2013
Walking With Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular, featuring life-size animatronic T-Rex, Triceratops and other prehistoric monsters, comes to Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on 24-28 April. (metroradioarena.co.uk)

January 2013
Strictly Come Dancing Live! hits the stage at the Metro Radio Arena from 22-24 January with judges Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli casting their expert eyes over the celebrity star turns.

April 2013
The Gateshead International Jazz Festival takes place at The Sage Gateshead (5-7 April) with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra headlining a weekend of jazz stars, including The Brand New Heavies. (thesagegateshead.org)

January 2013
Hartlepool has emerged in the last 20 years into a tourist friendly destination with a distinctly maritime feel. Its transformation is at its most impressive around the former South Docks, which are now home to a vibrant 500-berth marina, full of luxury yachts and surrounded by waterfront bars, restaurants and shops (thisishartlepool.co.uk).