Poppy Ackroyd Brings Her Expansive Piano Music to Gosforth Civic Theatre

Poppy Ackroyd returns to Newcastle on Friday 26 February 2027 for a performance at Gosforth Civic Theatre. The composer, pianist and violinist has built a distinctive body of work by exploring sounds that conventional playing techniques often leave untouched. Her music moves between contemporary classical composition, electronics and the tactile noises made by the instruments themselves.

It is a particularly interesting booking for Gosforth Civic Theatre. The venue’s intimate auditorium offers the sort of listening environment in which the quieter details of Ackroyd’s arrangements can come through. Much of her work rewards close attention: a piano string struck or muted by hand can be as important as the melody played on the keys.

Poppy Ackroyd at Gosforth Civic Theatre

Ackroyd trained as a pianist and violinist before developing a method of composing from sounds recorded on both instruments. Rather than simply layering conventional performances, she experiments with the body and strings of the piano, recording percussive textures and small gestures that can be transformed into rhythmic patterns. Similar techniques with the violin allow her to create pieces that sound considerably larger than their original sources.

Her early albums Escapement and Feathers introduced that approach, while Resolve broadened her palette through collaborations with other instrumentalists. She has also worked as part of Hidden Orchestra. Across those projects, the emphasis has remained on finding unfamiliar possibilities within acoustic sounds.

The Newcastle show offers a chance to hear those ideas in a live setting. Listeners drawn to contemporary piano music, adventurous instrumental composition and the meeting point between acoustic and electronic performance will find plenty of reasons to take an interest.

Date, venue and tickets

Poppy Ackroyd plays Gosforth Civic Theatre, Regent Farm Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, on Friday 26 February 2027. The event is advertised for 7.30pm. Ticket availability, entry arrangements and any changes to the running order should be checked with the venue or authorised ticket seller before travelling.

See Gosforth Civic Theatre’s official website for venue information and current booking details. The performance also appears in F54 Live’s authorised ticket catalogue.