The Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society was established in 1793 and soon became one of the major homes of the Newcastle Enlightenment, but it didn’t originally have the home it has today. 23 Westgate Road, the so-called ‘Lit & Phil’ building was constructed from 1822 and opened in 1825; it includes its extensive library and society rooms. And it is where ClassicsFest 2025: Why Cicero Matters is happening.
The building, like much of the 19th century centre of Newcastle, was built in classical style, with the Greek revival style building being designed by John Green, working with stone mason John Ions of Gateshead. A rear wing to the building was added in 1895. The building is Grade II* listed on the National Heritage List for England.
On the staircase up to the man first floor part of the building there is a marble statue of James Losh, a Newcastle man, who lived from 1763-1833. The statue, made from marble dates from 1836 and commemorates Losh because of the prominent role he played in the Newcastle Enlightenment around the turn of the 19th century and in particular the part he played in the campaign work on Tyneside to bring about the abolition of slavery in the British Empire, which came about in the 1833, the year Losh died, through the work of Prime Minister and local MP Earl Charles Grey, whose monument can be found in the very centre of Newcastle today.
Given that winters in the first half of the 19th century tended to be considerably colder than those of today, it is interesting to note that in the statue, Losh is dressed in a Roman toga. This was, of course, another nod to the classical days of Ancient Rome and Greece and that Newcastle’s enlightenment was somehow connected to those days.
It seems very appropriate therefore, that it is the Lit. and Phil. that has been chosen as the venue for the majority of Newcastle’s ClassicsFest 2025.
What have the Romans ever done for us?
This much asked question, often asked in jest and modified to ask about other groups of people is perhaps best answered by Roman expert, Professor Mary Beard who commented:
“to ignore the Romans is not just to turn a blind eye to the distant past. Rome still helps to define the way we understand our own world and think about ourselves from high theory too low comedy. After two thousand years it continues to underpin western culture and politics, what we write and how we see the world, and our place in it”.
It is exactly this kind of sentiment that lies behind the establishment of ClassicFfest2025 in Newcastle this month and in particular the legacy of the great Roman statesman and orator Cicero.
ClassicsFest 2025
ClassicsFest 2025: Why Cicero Matters is a three-day festival taking place from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 May 2025, hosted presented by The Lit & Phil in Newcastle upon Tyne in collaboration with Newcastle University’s School of History, Classics & Archaeology.
This year’s festival explores the enduring relevance of Marcus Tullius Cicero, bringing together leading academics, writers, and performers to discuss themes of politics, power, and corruption – topics as relevant today as they were in ancient Rome. Highlights include:
- A discussion with Dr. Vittorio Bufacchi (University College Cork) and Prof. Arlene Holmes-Henderson MBE (Durham University) on Cicero’s ongoing significance.
- A dramatic reimagining of Cicero’s prosecution of Verres, exploring corruption in both ancient and modern contexts.
- A staged reading from Imperium, followed by a panel discussion featuring Chi Onwurah MP and Dr. Kathryn Tempest (University of Leicester).
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero lived in the Roman Empire from 106 BC until his death on 7 December 43 B.C. Cicero was a scholar, lawyer, writer and stateman, who is said to have “vainly tried to uphold republican principles in the final civil wars that destroyed the Roman Republic”.
It has also been said of Cicero that, “Cicero made his reputation as an orator in politics and in the law courts, where he preferred appearing for the defence and generally spoke last because of his emotive powers.
“Cicero refused to attach himself to any school. He was trained by Molon of Rhodes, whose own tendencies were eclectic, and he believed that an orator should command and blend a variety of styles…
“Cicero’s rhetoric was a complex art form, and the ears of the audience were keenly attuned to these effects. Of the speeches, 58 have survived, some in an incomplete form; it is estimated that about 48 have been lost.”
It is Cicero’s attack on Verres, the governor of Sicily, which marks the centre point of the ClassicsFest this year. Of that attack, it has been said that the Sicilians had been forced to turn to Rome for help against the extortion and plundering undertaken by their governor Verres. Cicero is said to have been “a natural point of contact: he had been quaestor in Sicily only a few years earlier, knew the province well, had close ties with various leading locals, and saw himself as their patron. He agreed to act as the Sicilians’ legal representative…”
The intention is not just to revive interest in Cicero and the Classics generally, but through examining his reaction what he perceived as corruption and his thoughts on politics and power, to see what we can learn from Cicero, to help us navigate the sometimes very murky waters of the political world today.
The organisers hope that those attending ClassicsFest 2025, will see that Cicero does indeed matter and that his words can echo down the centuries and have important things to tell us today. We live in a world where many rulers, like Verres, are still corrupt and are still trying to extort and use the people they govern.
Booking for ClassicsFest 2025
To find out more about ClassicsFest 2025 and to book a place at one of the many events please see here.
Tickets are still available for these events:
- Imperium: Cicero’s Plays
- Cicero, Facebook & Cyber Friendships
- ClassicsFest Competition Finale
- ClassicsFest 2025 Festival Finale
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