Newcastle Duo Blends Sourdough Baking with Community Arts in Unique Hub
In a heartwarming tale of culinary and creative connection, Newcastle musicians and bakers Niamh Bellicanta and Tim Evans have transformed their mutual love for sourdough 'culture' into a thriving community space. The couple, who initially bonded while working at Piratti's Bakery in Newcastle's bustling city centre, have now established Theydy's, an innovative arts and ecology hub located within the Clyde Street Arts precinct in Hamilton North.
A Dual Meaning of 'Culture' Drives Their Vision
Bellicanta explains that the term 'culture' holds a beautifully dual significance for their venture. "Culture has two meanings here," she says. "There are a lot of cultural activities that happen here. One of those is music. Sometimes, people who are running workshops hire out the space for a day, and we have some textile things here, like this loom, which is Tim's."
"The other culture that's happening is that we're baking sourdough. We're using a four-day slow ferment process, and we're open in the mornings, on Friday morning so far, for sourdough bread and pastries, and we're doing sourdough pizza in the evening."
Fostering Ecological and Cultural Knowledge Sharing
Evans emphasises that Theydy's is designed to be more than just a bakery or performance venue; it's a platform for sharing vital ecological and cultural knowledge. The couple actively seeks connections with diverse environmental groups, recently hosting an event for Voices for the Valley, which included a film screening and information session about the impacts of the Moolarben Coal mine expansion proposal on the Mudgee community.
"We're inviting other people who have knowledge of cultures to bring those in and share something," Evans states. "Our friend Byren Sawell has started making kombuchas and bringing those in. We'll be working towards running more workshops where people with knowledge can come and share practical ecological knowledge and cultural knowledge with whoever's interested in learning that."
From European Tours to a Newcastle Community Space
Before launching Theydy's, Bellicanta and Evans spent a year touring Europe with their band, Frog Impostor, which they describe as "prog folk meets Latin party." Upon returning to Newcastle, they constructed a custom trailer for their bakery operations. The decision to establish a permanent hub came somewhat spontaneously after plans to share a shed at 50 Clyde Street with a friend fell through.
"We had already gotten our teeth into the idea of setting up a bit of a space and decking it out a bit. Yeah, so we just decided to go full hog," Bellicanta recalls with a laugh.
Creating an Inclusive and Safe Community Environment
While the couple personally manages the van, bakery, and shed—with the shed exclusively dedicated to Theydy's—they are adamant that the space belongs to the wider community. Bellicanta coined the name Theydy's with a future vision of it evolving into a "Gentlethem's Club." Their daily routine involves operating Piratti's Bakery in the morning and Bellicanta's pizza in the evening, often interspersed with live musical performances.
Evans highlights their commitment to inclusivity: "Part of it is trying to create an alternative and safer space for more edge or marginalised groups in the community who have so much to share and get so much value out of doing this together but they're either excluded or don't feel safe in what's currently offered out there."
Upcoming Events and Community Support
Theydy's calendar is already filling with exciting events, including a performance by Berlin-based touring band Flora Falls on Wednesday, February 4, followed by Melbourne's Greek hyper-pop project Baby Ouzo on Friday, February 13. Bellicanta promises, "We're going to have a big bill here and some stalls, and it's going to be cool, a mad night."
Clyde Street Arts director Katerina Skoumbas expresses her enthusiasm for having Bellicanta and Evans as part of the precinct. "Clyde Street Arts has become an experimental playground, where live events connect major exhibitions in The Creator Incubator, conceptual sound gigs in 12B Lounge and community life into one constantly evolving site," she says. "What Tim and Niamh are doing is one example of all kinds of creative collaborations happening here where everyone is welcome."
This unique Newcastle initiative beautifully demonstrates how shared passions—whether for sourdough baking, music, or ecological awareness—can blossom into vibrant community assets that enrich local cultural landscapes and foster meaningful connections.
