T. Dan Smith: Hero or Villain

Was T. Dan Smith a visionary who transformed Newcastle, or a politician whose ambitions came at too great a cost?

In the 1960s, T. Dan Smith imagined a radically different future for Newcastle. Smith's idealised vision of modernist transformation in Newcastle, encapsulated by the phrase the “Brasília of the North”, promised modern architecture, better housing and a new identity for a changing region. But the demolition of established neighbourhoods, controversial planning decisions and his eventual conviction for corruption left a legacy that continues to divide opinion.

Join filmmaker Tom Draper for a talk exploring the life, ambitions and contradictions of one of the North East's most influential political figures.

Drawing on photography, film and archival material, Tom will examine how Smith presented his vision of the future, how others documented the changes taking place, and how his reputation has been constructed and challenged in the decades since.

How do we reconcile the ambition to improve people's lives with the destruction of the places they called home? And how have photographs, films and historical accounts shaped our understanding of Smith and the city he helped create?

Taking place alongside Side's exhibition Under Development: What Happens When Cities Change?, this event invites us to look beyond the familiar labels of hero and villain, and consider the complex history of a man whose vision helped reshape the North East.

About Tom Draper

Tom Draper is a filmmaker and director of the forthcoming documentary Brasília of the North, which examines the legacy of T. Dan Smith and his impact on the politics, society and built environment of North East England. This project was awarded the Doctoral College Prize at Newcastle University in 2026.