Families in Gateshead can enjoy free entertainment during the May half-term break as the Metrocentre marks its 40th anniversary with the return of its mascot characters, the Metrognomes.
From 25 May to 31 May, 2026, the centre will host a new theatrical production titled The Metrognomes Present: Back to the Metrocentre. The show features characters Herbert, Sherbet, Maggot, and Rusty as they team up with an inventor named Percy Veer to build a time machine back to 1986, the year the shopping centre first opened its doors.
Each performance lasts approximately 30 minutes and takes place at Exhibition Square. There is no need to book in advance, so families can simply turn up to watch the show. From Monday to Friday, performances take place at 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm. On Saturday, shows are at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm, while Sunday performances are at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.
The Metrognomes Present: Back to the Metrocentre show is part of a series of celebrations marking four decades of the centre, which opened on the site of the former Dunston Power Station. As part of ongoing investment for this anniversary year, the centre is also developing a 6 million pound project called The Crescent in the upper Green Mall, which will highlight independent and emerging brands.
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