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Highlights Rural Touring Scheme Forthcoming ProductionsHighlights Rural Touring Scheme is a network of 50 village halls, schools and community centres who are committed to offering professional, entertaining and exciting events in their communities. Northumberland, including the districts of South Lakes, Eden, rural Carlisle, Teesdale, Wear Valley and Tynedale. They are part of a national network of Rural Touring Schemes, under the umbrella of the National Rural Touring Forum. Together, they offer high quality entertainment for all ages and the opportunity of a great night out on your doorstep. Whether it's music, dance or theatre, whatever your age there is something for you to enjoy at a Teesdale Village Hall near you! FORTHCOMING PRODUCTIONSUGLY BEAUTY - LEMPEN PUPPET THEATRE CO.
In the Kingdom of Rumour there lives an unhappy Princess. Princess Suzanna the Beautiful. "What a lovely show, very touching!" Sophie Curtis, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Whorlton Village Hall CHARITY SHOP CABARET - TRIFLE GATHERING PRODUCTIONS
The Charity Shop Cabaret is a mixture of cutting edge theatre and old school cabaret. The show invites you on a hilarious journey into Elspeth Garter's charity shop: a welcoming world of rummage and romance, jumble and joy, bingo and the bizarre. Not having had a customer for eight months, Elspeth and her trusty volunteers (Marion Startright and Leonard Barlin) fill their days with high energy dance routines, titillating tea ceremonies and absurd frugal tips for frugal times - all set to the classic sounds of vintage vinyl resident DJ (Friedo) "Fantastically funny and surreally absurd from start to finish. Go and see and fall in love."
Bowes and Gilmonby Parish Hall NEARLY LEAR - SUSANNA HAMNETT: CANADA
A mischievous re-telling of Shakespeare's great play What if the great and tragic story of King Lear were told by a clown? In this one woman tour de force, actress Susanna Hamnett plays the Fool - and every other character - to tell a very personal and poignant story. Susanna braves the most savage storm in English literature with breathtaking hilarity and heartache. An emotional roller coaster ride that will enchant both lovers of Shakespeare and those who think 'Shakespeare's not for them.' Nearly Lear blends exuberant storytelling, music, song, film and clowning as well as Shakespeare's rich poetic text to take its audience firmly into the heart of this great story. The company are from Canada and are here on their first UK tour, following which they will be appearing on Broadway.
The Witham Hall, Barnard Castle LICENSED TO TRILL - THE OPERA DUDES
Two modern day Mario Lanzas performing some of the world's most romantic music in their own unique vocal arrangements. Opera Dudes comprise a posh former Cambridge scholar and an ex-builder turned international operatic tenor. Tim Lole and Neil Allen combine their musical and vocal pedigrees with an injection of humour and charm. Don't be surprised to find your feet tapping, your sides splitting and your heart breaking. Neil and Tim always go the extra mile to ensure their audience have a great time. Stainton and Streatlam Village Hall WHO'S BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR? - FREEHAND THEATRE
Who indeed? A playful and musical interpretation of a well known tale - with porridge and bears and one two three chairs. A tale that's not too big and not too small but just right. So you think you know this story? Well, take it from us, it's not so easy to tell when it's wintertime and the bears won't wake up - Zzzzzz - what do bears dream about? But spring in the air puts a spring in all our steps and one little girl is always a step ahead. And when small bear gets lost, we all have to go on a bear hunt! "Freehand Theatre's superb creations are a joy to see. They provide real and effective theatre." Times Education Supplement Cotherstone Village Hall ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT - HIJINX THEATRE
Ill Met By Moonlight is set on the border of Wales and England at a time, not so long ago, when country people believed in faerie-folk. A descendant of Puck still roams the countryside causing mayhem and madness wherever he goes. By his shape-changing interference he attempts to thwart the growing love between two lonely country folk. The results of his malicious meddling are often hilarious and sometimes tragic. Ill Met by Moonlight is written by Charles Way, an award winning playwright whose work has been produced all over the world. The play has received outstanding audience and critical response and is performed in Hijinx Theatre's unique style which mixes music, movement and visual imagery.
Whorlton Village Hall THE UNHAPPY KING - TIM DALLING
Newcastle's Tim Dalling, the renowned madcap accordionist from folk-comedy phenomenon The New Rope String Band, has been let out on his own with his new one-man show - a double bill of music, stories and humour. In the first half of the performance, Tim performs The Unhappy King, a strange fable where the hunt for happiness turns a nation upside down. Audiences are taken to a disturbing and hilarious world of miserable kings, tortured jesters and the search for the happiest man alive. The story is told using masks, puppetry, shadows, music and set. The second half showcases Tim's soulful voice, funky accordion and comic tendencies as he plays a selection of his own songs and those created from the poems of Louis MacNeice, Sean O'Brien and Julia Darling. Hamsterley Village Hall THE ATLANTICS
The Atlantics are a five piece band playing classic rock n roll and 1950s style jive and rhythm and blues, influenced by Bill Haley and His Comets, Little Richard, Big Joe Turner, Chuck Berry and numerous other 50's artists. They also write and play their own original rock n roll tracks. With guitar, double bass, sax, piano, drums and four vocalists, The Atlantics create a big authentic 1950's sound and a great atmosphere at live shows with that big beat vibe that keeps people dancing all night. Boldron Village Hall THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL - QUONDAM THEATRE
The Wife of Usher's Well is a modern retelling of the famous supernatural ballad - the warm and engaging story of a soldier son's supernatural return to his mother for one last night together. It's a piece of musical storytelling theatre about a timeless situation, set here in modern times, as mother and son fight to say the things they always meant to say.
Bowes and Gilmonby Parish Hall MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET - THE FARNHAM MALTINGS
A new play for the whole community that promises to warm the coldest of places through long winter nights. Welcome to New York. Welcome to wintertime 1947. Welcome to Miracle on 34th Street. Valentine Davies' classic holiday tale has been described by many as twentieth century Christmas Carol, with its warm, funny story of an old man who insists that he actually is Santa Claus. Using their own inimitable style Farnham Maltings has transformed everyone's favourite Christmas story into two hours of magical, rough edged theatre complete with Santa's grotto, thanksgiving parade and newly fallen snow...
Mickleton Village Hall BIRD WATCHING - ALEX HORNE
Following his previous three critically acclaimed shows, Alex once again tackles a subject that other comedians would shy away from. Having conquered science, body language and Latin, this year he turns his attention to birdwatchers - or twitchers, birders, dudes, ornithologists, whatever you want to call them - a breed of enthusiasts too often ignored (perhaps feared) by the comedy world. "I'm not a birdwatcher myself, but my Dad is. He's been watching birds for as long as I've known him (almost 29 years). Whenever we were in the car on family holidays he'd knock frantically on the window if we passed a kestrel hovering above the motorway and we'd all have to look up and say, yes that's very nice Dad, well done." Barningham Village Hall WHAPWEASEL
Whapweasel are no longer the best kept secret on the English ceilidh dance circuit. The word is out. After seven years of dignified obscurity the Whaps were propelled into the limelight in 2003 when their third CD 'Relentless' was released. Their exuberant stage show, wily dance tunes and witty self composed songs are their trademark. They are first and foremost a dance band but are now busy developing pieces designed as much for listening as for dancing (though they have devised a way for audiences to dance while remaining seated; experts are baffled..) Meanwhile, hang on to your hats; the Mighty Wind of Whao is heading your way.. The Witham Hall, Barnard Castle CAROLLING AND CRUMPETS - JOHN KIRKPATRICK
This show peels away the commercial gloss of modern Christmas to reveal the life and death struggle behind many mysterious and murky goings-on in midwinter. As a singer, dancer and instrumentalist, John Kirkpatrick has been one of the most prominent figures on the English folk scene for many years. "An evening with John Kirkpatrick guarantees an evening of variety and entertainment of the highest quality. Folkworks said of him ' one of the major figures of the English folk scene, John is much acclaimed as a musician, composer, singer, songwriter...in fact, he could be called the Renaissance Man of folk music." Barningham Village Hall ------------------- Highlights Rural Touring Scheme Contact Details:Telephone Number: 01768 353954 Email: info@highlightsnorth.co.uk Website:www.highlightsnorth.co.uk |
