Howaymanay marked a new chapter for Newcastle’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, building on years of tradition on the Quayside while giving the night a new artistic shape and fresh identity. Working with NE1, Newcastle City Council and AH Events, I curated the street theatre programme for its first year, creating moments that felt welcoming, playful and unmistakably Newcastle. The programme brought together brilliant local artists alongside established acts from across the country, from Spark! Drummers and roaming immersive performers to fire and pyro dancers, stilt walkers, party dancers and street singers threading through the crowd. I commissioned two giant illuminated lantern puppets, Magpies: Two for Joy by Moving Parts Arts, alongside hands-on encounters like photobooths, the Curious Arts Groove and Glow installation and the much-loved Rimskis piano. It was special to help shape the first Howaymanay and be part of an evolving city tradition, welcoming thousands of people into the new year on the Quayside.