Friday marked my first visit to North Shields’ newest multi-disciplinary performance space, Red, located in the heart of the Dock industrial area. A collaboration between John Peacock and musician Craig Redpath, Red houses a music venue and rehearsal space, recording studio, office spaces, and the reason for my visit – a cinema and lecture room.
I joined a small, invited audience for a private screening of a short film by young Newcastle filmmaker and student, Dan George. Together, just over 30 minutes long, was conceived and shot during the latter days of lockdown, continuing into the early period of relaxed restrictions. It serves as an abstract exploration of a mindset reshaped by isolation, stepping hesitantly back into a society forever altered.
Made with zero budget using only an iPhone and Handycam, this ‘kitchen sink’ drama blends acted scenes with imagery from daily walks – the so-called “hour of freedom” – interspersed with abstract visuals and commentary that capture the distrust and social tension of the time. The brave and intensely personal lo-fi aesthetic is striking: gritty and stark, yet beautiful. Saturated colours and a lack of optical sharpness give the film a dreamlike quality, mirroring a descent into change, confusion, and ultimately, redemption.
Though not yet released publicly, Together is well worthy of festival entries – for which donations would be warmly welcomed. I sincerely hope it reaches a wider audience. It is a compelling, affecting portrait of a moment in time that reshaped both individuals and society.
Follow Dan George and Red North Shields:
🎥 @dangeo_unchained
🎶 @rednorthshields
📍 @ilovenorthshields
