Around 100 participants took part in the Toon Underground parade at Exhibition Park, showcasing local puppetry inspired by Newcastle’s hidden nature and featuring a giant Metro train puppet, in a vibrant celebration of community art and creativity.
Exhibition Park in Newcastle came alive on Saturday afternoon as around 100 participants took part in the ‘Toon Underground’ parade, a vibrant celebration of local puppetry and artistic creativity. The event, originally planned for Northumberland Street, was relocated to the park due to ongoing roadworks in the city centre.
Organised by Moving Parts Arts, the parade is a community-driven initiative designed to highlight the talents of local artists while focusing on a theme that delves into the often unseen and undiscovered areas of Newcastle. According to their website, the parade “explores the unseen and undiscovered places of Newcastle, its hidden nature and eco-system, and the ways in which we connect.”
Attendees were treated to an imaginative display that included a diverse array of puppets, featuring a unique blend of burrowing woodland creatures and fantastical earthy beings. These creations were set against a backdrop of toe-tapping live music, creating an engaging and immersive experience for visitors of all ages.
A major highlight of the event was the prominent inclusion of the new Tyne and Wear Metro train, represented by an impressive 15-metre-long puppet that took centre stage in the parade. Sarah McCourt, Head of Communications and Marketing at Nexus, which operates the Metro service, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. Speaking to ChronicleLive, she said: “We were delighted to see our new Metro train feature so prominently in this year’s Newcastle Puppetry Festival, which is a fantastically visual event for the city.”
The parade at Exhibition Park offered both residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy community spirit, innovative artistry, and a celebration of Newcastle’s unique character and environment. The event once again underscored the city’s commitment to supporting cultural events that bring people together through creative expression.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.movingpartsarts.com/toon-underground – Confirms the 2025 Toon Underground parade date and community-driven nature by Moving Parts Arts as part of Newcastle Puppetry Festival.
- https://www.movingpartsarts.com/what-s-on/toon-underground-parade-exhibition – Supports the parade’s theme exploring Newcastle’s hidden nature, ecosystems, and community connections.
- https://newcastlegateshead.com/events/toon-underground-parade-exhibition – Corroborates post-parade exhibition details at Great North Museum: Hancock and community workshop origins behind the creations.
- https://www.instagram.com/p/DIg4g5loC5w/ – Confirms the 2025 Newcastle Puppetry Festival dates (19-27 April) including the parade as an opening event.
- https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/new-metro-train-wows-crowds-newcastle-puppetry-festival – Documents the 15-metre Metro train puppet’s inclusion and Sarah McCourt’s Nexus quotes about its parade prominence.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references an event on a recent Saturday with current details such as ongoing city roadworks and a new Tyne and Wear Metro train, indicating recent occurrence. No indication that this is recycled or outdated content was found.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from Sarah McCourt, Head of Communications and Marketing at Nexus, appears uniquely sourced to this narrative with no prior online references found, suggesting originality and direct attribution.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from ChronicleLive, a well-known regional publisher with a strong local focus, generally regarded as reliable for community and cultural news relevant to Newcastle.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The details about the community event, including the involvement of Moving Parts Arts and Nexus, are consistent with known local cultural initiatives. There is no indication of time-sensitive changes that would undermine plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative provides fresh, locally sourced information about a recent arts event with direct quotes from a credible official. It is consistent with local cultural activities and backed by a reputable regional publisher, supporting a high confidence in its accuracy and current relevance.
