Celebrating 20 years with twenty paintings commissioned by Gallerina to help champion the North – our landscape, our coast, our people and streets but above all our talent. Gallery usually closed Sundays and Mondays.

The D Project Dance Company offer a wonderful dance workshop for 4+ years inspired by all things BIG!

Play with scale through movement and dance, interacting with props and letting your imagination run wild as we delve into a world where anything is possible!
Explore all things BIG, grand and spectacular through movement! How can we make ourselves large, how big can we make things collectively. This fun workshop will help build the confidence to be bigger in more ways than one.

This workshop is aimed at age 4+ and their families, but all ages are welcome.

Regarded as one of the world’s greatest tenors, Jonas Kaufmann has captivated audiences across the globe with his incredible voice.

Join Jonas Kaufmann this summer for a spectacular outdoor concert, captured live at Berlin’s iconic Waldbühne amphitheatre. The star tenor will perform famous arias and timeless Italian songs from his bestselling album Dolce Vita, in what promises to be a magical night of music under the stars.

120 Mins (including 20 minute interval)

Sheelanagig for over a decade have brought their array of foot-stomping folk tunes to audiences across the globe.

A quintet with a well-stocked armoury of stringed instruments – guitar, fiddle, double bass – added with the rhythmic energy of flute and drums and a bagful of joint-jumping tunes, these boys from the South-West of England create a real dynamic which is inherent in both their furious dance medleys as well as their interestingly arranged original pieces.
Putting the groove into a selection of traditional and original European Folk music dating from the medieval times to present day, it’s difficult – nay, impossible – for your limbs to remain stationary when you’re within earshot of them in full flight. The fact that they often play with a knowing wink shouldn’t obscure their impeccable technique, and outstanding musicianship that raises the roof in every place they play.
2018 sees an exciting brand new line up including flautist Luke Phillips-Griffiths fresh from the Newcastle Folk Music circuit, and Alex Bishop – acclaimed folk guitarist and luthier, who both bring an exciting new direction and energy to the groups much loved sound. Busying themselves this spring the band are preparing to hit the road to tour across France, Switzerland and Australia and will return for the summer festival season and a UK tour in November.
A completely top night out – Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2
The musicianship is tight and intense – Songlines

A collaborative exhibition from the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and The Age of No Retirement, inspired by the programme of events within the Great Exhibition of the North

Society is changing; demographics are changing. One of the major achievements of modern society is that people are living for longer - one in three babies born in the UK today will celebrate their 100th birthday.

As a society we are starting to realise the potential of this new age – an age where opportunities are vast and we are no longer bound by how old we are. It’s time to challenge existing stereotypes of what it is to be ‘old’; to understand that with a positive vision of ageing we can achieve so much more and to believe that our age does not define us.

Throughout September the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and The Age of No Retirement are hosting a month-long exhibition: ‘Age Does Not Define Us’. Through inspirational photography, films and a series of talks, in the historic setting of The Witham Art Centre, the personal narratives of people who demonstrate that age cannot and does not define them will encourage us all to radically rethink our understanding of age and ageing today. Living our lives to the full has no age limit. Age Does Not Define Us, is an exhibition for all ages and is key for every moment of our lives. It shows that how many birthdays we have had does not define who we are or how we should be seen. This is about living the best of ourselves, at every step of the way.  Gallery usually closed Sundays and Mondays.

Winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society's 'Young Artist Award', internationally acclaimed concert pianist Clare Hammond comes to Witham with a programme that showcases the sheer range of expression and imagination possible on the piano. 

With the romanticism of Rachmaninov’s second piano sonata, stately poise of Haydn’s Sonata in C major and Debussy’s portrayal of a fireworks display in Paris, this promises to be an exhilarating and inspiring evening!

The programme will include:

HAYDN - Sonata in C major, Hob XVI:48 (11’)
MENDELSSOHN - The Bee's Wedding Op. 67, No. 4 (2')
CHOPIN - Études, Op. 25 (30’)

INTERVAL

DEBUSSY - Selection from Préludes (20’ - Voiles, Feuilles mortes, Feux d’artifice, La cathédrale engloutie, Les Collines d’Anacapri)
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (arr. Rachmaninov) - Flight of the Bumblebee (2')
RACHMANINOV - Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36 (1931 version) (21’)

by Polly Stenham after August Strindberg

Vanessa Kirby (The Crown, NT Live: A Streetcar Named Desire) and Eric Kofi Abrefa (The Amen Corner) feature in the cast of this brand new production, directed by Carrie Cracknell (NT Live: The Deep Blue Sea) and broadcast live from the National Theatre to cinemas.

Wild and newly single, Julie throws a late night party. In the kitchen, Jean and Kristina clean up as the celebration heaves above them. Crossing the threshold, Julie initiates a power game with Jean – which rapidly descends into a savage fight for survival.
This new version of August Strindberg’s play Miss Julie, written by Polly Stenham, remains shocking and fiercely relevant in its new setting of contemporary London.

Join popular local artist Anne Mason for a day learning to paint using acrylics or to improve your painting skills.

The subject for this workshop is the graceful hare who has inspired so many artists. Anne will talk you through how she paints a hare and guide participants in creating their own picture.

Down on his luck in the suburbs, John Falstaff plans to hustle his way to a comfortable retirement by seducing the wives of two wealthy men.  For a fat Englishman, a Welshman and a Frenchman, the only way is Windsor…Unknown to him, it’s the women of Windsor who really pull the strings, orchestrating Falstaff’s comeuppance amidst a theatrical smorgasbord of petty rivalries, jealousies and over-inflated egos.

From the World's Most Spectacular Opera series, experience the love, laughter and loss of La Bohème at the magnificent Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.  Puccini’s beloved classic – the original bohemian love story – has long captivated audiences around the world. His music swells with love, soars in ecstasy, crackles with jealousy and cries with heartache. With lavish sets and costumes transforming the harbour-top stage into a romantic Paris winter, Opera Australia's glittering production will be an unforgettable delight.

FAREWELL TOUR Chilli Enterprises presents the legendary Eddie and the Hot Rods. Standing only.
The band famed for their top ten hit ""Do Anything You Wanna Do"" will present a high energy stage show that has earned them plaudits from all over the world during some 40 years of touring. Fronted by Barrie Masters this band know how to deliver a solid set that engages their audience, voted one of the Top 100 most influential bands by Mojo Magazine.

Also introducing our special guests The Thieves: A Young Mod/Indie Band from Bishop Auckland
Co Durham
Frankie Dobson - Lead Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter
Will Mills - Bass / Vocals

Eddie & The Hot Rods were included in the Mojo Top 100 of most influential bands and they are often cited as an inspiration for some of the high profile new bands – young Irish rockers, The Strypes being one example. One of the most highly influential and recognisable names from the English Rock scene,
Eddie & The Hot Rods have enjoyed a career that has now spanned over 40 years.
Although often categorised as one of the founding fathers of the punk era, they were simply interested in playing loud, fast, in your face Rock ‘n’ Roll rather than bad mouthing the Queen or fermenting anarchy.
The energy and attitude certainly endeared them to the punks, but the hard and fast style that made Eddie & The Hot Rods one of the most exciting bands of the era has never really dated or gone out of style.
Thanks to this enduring appeal, the band still tour all over the world as well as find time to write and record new material that now joins their classic back catalogue.
Led as ever by Barrie Masters, the line up of Simon Bowley (drums) Dipster (bass) and Richard Holgarth (guitar) has been on the road almost continuously for the last 14 years, serving up a high energy mix of those classic Eddie & The Hot Rods songs including “Teenage Depression”, “Quit This Town”, “Life On The Line”, “Gloria” and the Top Ten UK “Do Anything You Wanna Do”, alongside newer songs taken from their last two studio albums, including “Better Without You”, “Bad Time Again” and “Why Should I Care”.
Eddie & The Hot Rods have been seen out and about with Status Quo on their 2012 arena tour and often with old friends like Nine Below Zero, Dr Feelgood and From The Jam and as well as regular trips to Europe, and have toured the USA on five occasions.
Whether it’s in an Arena, Theatre, Club or Festival, Eddie & The Hot Rods always deliver a blisteringly energetic blast of good old Rock ‘n’ Roll."

Irresistibly frothy and lavishly theatrical, The Merry Widow has enough tangled affairs, narrow misses and jealous lovers to fuel a French farce.  The tiny principality of Pontevedro is on the verge of bankruptcy, and the dashing Count Danilo must rescue his country by marrying the newly widowed and fabulously wealthy Hanna Glawari. Only when they meet does he realise that she’s his childhood sweetheart – and that she hasn’t forgiven him for jilting her years ago.

Winners of the 2016 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Original Track .

The Rheingans Sisters make playful, powerful and richly connecting music that is wholly contemporary while deeply anchored in folk traditions. Drawing on their pan-European musical scholarship (having studied extensively in France, Sweden and Norway) and their spirited mission to make connections between the music of different geographical roots, they have developed a rich artistic approach to the deconstruction and reimagining of traditional music alongside their own beguiling compositions. Since the release of their award-winning album Already Home (2015) audiences across the UK, Europe and Australia have been captivated by their live performances; as full-hearted performers and on-stage improvisors - via the adventurous use of fiddles, voices, banjo, bansitar, tambourin à cordes, poetry and percussion - The Rheingans Sisters are a unique and unmissable act on the folk and world music stage today. Their hotly anticipated third album 'Bright Field' is released in March 2018.

"Superb" - The Independent

“Magnificent… music you wish to return to again and again” ★★★★★ - Songlines

“The Rheingans Sisters enchanted one and all with their reverie on stage” - The Canberra Times

“Quite simply extraordinary”- fRoots

A tale beginning with a remarkable incident on the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940. The soldier who escaped from Hitler’s clutches at the last minute was Alex Turner. 
Four years later his son, Neville Turner, was born in Crook.

Wolsingham Grammar School and Edinburgh University prepared Neville for a fulfilling career in the veterinary profession, a lifestyle he loved. He often said that for someone with a deep affection for the natural world and the Northern Pennines it was a fabulous way to spend one’s working days.
However this busy and rewarding professional life was punctuated by serendipitous events which were to enrich his already busy schedule.
He achieved success as a writer, contributing to many local and national publications. Combined with his pictures, his writing was used in three successful quality “coffee-table” books, “Hill Farmer”, “The Border Collie”, and “The Dales Vet- a working life in pictures”.
His extensive collection of pictures of the Red Grouse were used by Saatchi and Saatchi in advertising campaigns for a “famous” brand of Scotch whisky.
His photographic library was used in hundreds of illustrated presentations which in 1996 moved from a parochial level to a global platform. For 22 years he has been in constant demand, presenting his illustrated lectures on cruise ships worldwide. He and his wife Chris have visited over 130 ports in 58 countries, including Bombay, Rio, Tahiti, the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, Auckland, Acapulco, and Zanzibar.

In his presentation at The Witham, Neville tells how fortunate he has been, and how writing, photography, music making, history, a love of the natural world, and travel, have all contributed to “A Wonderful Life”.

Vane Women Press presents Barnard Castle's own Judi Sutherland reading from her exciting new book, The Ship Owner's House.  Vane Women Press presents Barnard Castle's own Judi Sutherland reading from her exciting new book, The Ship Owner's House.   Afterwards, Q&A and a chance to buy the book!

The Shape of Water is a fantasy drama in which a mute woman working in a research facility develops a relationship with an amphibious creature.

CAST INCLUDES Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer
DIRECTOR(S) Guillermo del Toro
Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director

Northern  Stage's  vivid  and  dynamic  production  relocates  H.G.  Wells'  iconic  novel  to  the  North  East  of  England,  in  an  inventive  re-telling  of  a  sci-fi  classic. 

In  the  unfathomable  darkness  of  empty  space,  an  invisible missile  starts  its  journey  to  Earth  from  Mars.  And  another.  And  another.  And  another...  Ten  missiles  fired  at  the  unsuspecting  Earth  and  rushing  through  the  empty  gulf  of  space.  Ten  missiles  carrying  an  invading  force  of  Martians,  their  intellects  vast,  cool  and  unsympathetic.  Hour  by  hour,  day  by  day,  closer  and  closer  the  Martians  come,  ready  for  war  and  the  massacre  of  mankind.  The  War  of  The  Worlds charts  the  fortunes  of  a  band  of  survivors  as  they  become  refugees  in  their  own  country,  forced  to  flee  from  an  unknown  and  unprovoked  enemy,  and  battle  against  the  devastation  and  destruction  of  their  planet.  Northern  Stage's  vivid  and  dynamic  production  relocates  H.G.  Wells'  iconic novel  to  the  North  East  of  England,  in  an  inventive
re-telling  of  a  sci-fi  classic.

"Laura  Lindow’s  adaptation  of  the  sci-fi  classic  is  a  thrilling  parable  of  complacency  that  allows  a  brilliant  cast  to  shine”
The  Guardian  ★★★★

A spectacular new show featuring live music and contemporary dance, based on familiar rock and pop songs.  With talented young local soloists, and youth and adult choirs.

Humanist hymns, ancient Chinese poems, feminist battle cries, and the title track’s reflections on the rise of racism in Britain make this Bella’s most wide reaching and richly rewarding album to date.  Bella Hardy, acclaimed songwriter and traditional music luminary, released Hey Sammy in November 2017, a record that bears the stamps of extensive musical expeditions far from home.

This autumn, Bella takes to the road with only her two fiddles and harmonium for company, stripping back the instrumentation from her latest record to return the songs to their newly written forms, and performing solo with the ‘Hey Sammy’ Acoustic Tour.

Bella Hardy, BBC Folk Singer of the Year 2014, found her first home in folk music through a childhood love for ballad books. A self-taught “fiddle singer”, she began performing at Cambridge and Sidmouth festivals from the age of 13. Her debut album Night Visiting, released ten years ago, established her reputation as a songwriter when her first original composition Three Black Feathers earned a BBC Folk Award nomination.

Bella has since become a regular on radio and television, notably singing solo in a sold-out Albert Hall at the Proms. She’s written and recorded with everyone from Beautiful South founder David Rotheray to folk luminary Eliza Carthy, and performed with the great Mary Chapin Carpenter on her UK tours. Her seven-week residency in the Chinese city of Kunming was arranged by the British Council and the PRS For Music Foundation and resulted in the 2017 recording and release of Eternal Spring - an album of songs and poetry made in collaboration with Chinese singers and musicians.

It seems entirely fitting that Bella Hardy should mark a decade of remarkable recordings with the exceptional step forward that is Hey Sammy.

“The Peak District troubadour springs another surprise… her eye for a bittersweet lyric hasn’t deserted her” - The Sunday Times

“Inspired by feminism, racism, and international travels, this is an accessible proposition, reaching out, standing tall” - The Guardian

“She relocated to Nashville, dividing her time between songwriting and working as a ranch hand; and the city of Kunming, in Yunnan Province, on assignment for the British Council. Her new album, Hey Sammy, bears the marks of both of those foreign stints.” - The Financial Times

“There are many levels on which to admire Bella Hardy. That voice, of course – so vulnerable, exposed and unadorned... but, as we first discovered with Three Black Feathers, she’s also one of the best songwriters of her generation” - fRoots

"A voice that can by turns soar, seduce, sigh and sparkle, Hardy's performances can't be faulted” - R2 Magazine

When we can have sex whenever we want, with whomever we want, why settle for a normal relationship? With the promise of fresh excitement just a swipe away, is Kat’s long-term lover really her lifelong dream?

One Life Stand is a late-night search for intimacy across a city obsessed with sex and screens, exposing the loneliness sometimes found in modern relationships, where the expectations of love and lust are ever-changing.

Written by Eve Nicol with music by James Frewer and Honeyblood, this is the latest gig theatre production from the award-winning company behind All We Ever Wanted Was Everything.

Middle Child are a Hull-based company creating gig theatre that brings people together for a good night out with big ideas. They tell untold stories which capture the electrifying moment when the beat drops, mixing original live music with bold new writing.

No prior experience is needed for this fantastic workshop, this is all suitable for both beginners and the more experienced.  

Aim of the session:
To design two 7x7 cm lino blocks which can be thought about before the session; or I can supply a choice of designs that can be used.
We will transfer the designs to lino blocks and carve this out with lino cutting tools.
When the lino block is cut we will take a print onto paper initially to see if we are happy or if there are other areas that we wish to cut away before printing onto the bag.
We will then choose a colour to print and transfer the print onto the tote bags.
The ink that we will use is easy to clean up with soap and water.
Once printed the bags will take a few day to dry and will then will need to be fixed with a warm
Ideal Christmas gift !!

TeesdaleArtNet's second exhibition at the Witham will feature work from over 30 artists and makers all living or working in Teesdale, and will run alongside our autumn open studios event. It is a wonderful opportunity to see a rich variety of art and high quality craftwork all produced in our beautiful dale - and maybe buy something really special for Christmas. Gallery usually closed Sundays and Mondays

A Fantastic Woman is Chilean drama in which a transgender woman struggles to adapt after the death of her boyfriend. CAST INCLUDES Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco, Aline Küppenheim, Nicolás Saavedra, Amparo Noguera.  This film is in Spanish with English subtitles.
"Exquisitely compassionate portrait of a trans woman whose mourning for a lost lover is obstructed at every turn by individual and institutional prejudice." -- Variety.
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Britain’s Ultimate Pop Star, Cliff Richard is celebrating 60 years in the music industry and he wants to invite you to the most fabulous big screen party of the year!

103 album releases, 123 single hits and the equivalent of 20 years spent in the UK charts. Britain’s Ultimate Pop Star, Sir Cliff Richard is celebrating 60 years in the music industry and he wants to invite you to the most fabulous big screen party of the year!

The 60th Anniversary Tour will be broadcast LIVE to your local cinema on Friday 12 October 2018, with special encore screenings on Sunday 14 October in celebration of Cliff's 78th birthday. Featuring a selection of his greatest hits across six decades, this will be Cliff Richard's most exciting tour yet. His incredible energy and passion on stage will sweep you off your feet and be sure to have you swaying in the aisles.

DANGEROUS  DESIRES,  FAMILY  SECRETS  AND  POLITICAL  INTRIGUES  TWIST  THROUGH  EVERY  MOMENT  OF  DARING  CHOREOGRAPHY  IN  KENNETH  MACMILLAN’S  BALLET  INSPIRED  BY  TRUE  EVENTS.

Mayerling  is  a  classic  of  the  Royal  Ballet  repertory,  with  its  emotional  depth,  haunting  imagery,  and  one  of  the  most  demanding  roles  ever  created  for  a  male  dancer.  Kenneth  MacMillan  choreographed  a  complex  work  around  the  psychologically  tormented  heir  to  the  Habsburg  Empire,  Crown  Prince  Rudolf.  From  the  ballet’s  start,  the  glamour  of  the  Austro-Hungarian  court  is  contrasted  with  undercurrents  of  sexual  and  political  intrigue  that  drive  the  story  to  its  violent  climax  in  a  double  suicide.  The  large  cast  allows  for  impressive  ensembles  in  addition  to  the  ballet's  many  solos  of  distinctive  character  and  pas  de  deux  of  disturbing  eroticism.  This  ballet,  bursting  with  intensity,  madness  and  passion,  proves  that  sometimes  the  truth  is  more  scandalous  than  fiction.
CHOREOGRAPHY  KENNETH  MACMILLAN, MUSIC  FRANZ  LISZTARRANGED  AND  ORCHESTRATED  BY  JOHN  LANCHBERY

Rachel wants to tell you a story. A true story. The story of the dancing plague of 1518. A story of 100s of women dancing in the streets. And not stopping.

She also wants to tell you that in 2018 everybody is welcome on our streets, she has great comebacks to cat calls and spends most of her time feeling safe.
But she can’t do that because, she said she’d tell the truth. She’ll do that instead.

Told with tenderness and a racing heartbeat that echos the B.P.Ms of the tracks on your playlists titled ‘Guilty Pleasures.’

Luke is a Singer-Songwriter from Canterbury, Kent, who in 2013 was nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for both the Horizon Award for Best Emerging Talent and The Young Folk Category. He was also winner of Fatea’s “Male Artist of the Year 2014” and 2016.

Over the past few years he has steadily been developing a reputation for himself in the Folk & Roots circuits either through his solo shows, many festival appearances or when opening for such luminaries as Fairport Convention, Show of Hands, Steve Knightley, Martyn Joseph, Seth Lakeman, Karine Polwart, Oysterband, Paul Brady, Glen Tilbrook and Sarah Jarosz .

As well as playing solo, Luke also performs as a Duo or Trio. In addition to the UK, he regularly tours across Europe playing in France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany and in 2016 and 2017 visited the USA to play at the International Folk Alliance conference in Kansas. Luke has completed several joint headline tours with Grammy Award winning songwriter Amy Wadge, with Folk Award winning duo Greg Russel and Ciaran Algar and American singer-songwriter Rebecca Loebe.

Luke is an ever present in the live music scene, gigging relentlessly all over, and he remains a prolific songwriter in demand across the United Kingdom and Europe.

About Willy Porter
Searching for the shaman that lives inside the guitar has led Willy Porter on a musical and personal odyssey spanning over two decades, 11 albums, and multiple continents. He has literally logged millions of miles across America, Canada, the UK, and Europe, touring solo, as well as with various incarnations of the Willy Porter Band and in support of artists like Tori Amos, Paul Simon, Jethro Tull, Sting, and Jeff Beck.
Porter’s journey remains defined by an independent drive to evolve as a musician and human, affording him the freedom to create the next song on his own terms. Equally accomplished as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Porter’s songs weave a universal perspective about the questions, struggles, and triumphs of human existence. His live shows are guitar-driven events-- equal parts grit, soul, and muscle--that are electrifying, dynamic, and wholly original in the way that Porter’s voice blends and fuses with his virtuoso fret work.
In addition to making a life in music, Willy makes an impact in the local and global communities he visits. He has supported food sustainability, international peace efforts, and domestic assault advocacy for various organizations as well as promoting messages of inclusivity and service through his music and partnerships.
Willy Porter lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife, two children, and their dog Beagle/Terrier, Charlie.

Whistle Stop Opera: Little Mighty Presents: If I Say Jump.  Jenny’s a vicar. But she’s got problems. Her creepy ex-husband keeps sending her flowers and won’t sign the divorce papers. The church hall is being renovated by a dodgy builder, who’s being investigated by the police. And her best friend Danny has turned up in the vestry with a gun. Danny has anger issues. He’s just had a fight with his best mate Benson. They’re in too deep and running out of options. So when he turns to the church Jenny has to choose between doing the right thing or doing the legal thing.
A bold and exhilarating tale of contemporary Britain, If I Say Jump is a show for anyone who has ever asked themselves “why did I just do that?” It skilfully blends storytelling, comedy, original music and a live soundscape to chart a morally ambiguous quest for peace and wellbeing in a chaotic time.

Come and explore the dark skies and stars creatively with artist Gemma McColl from Suitcase Studios as part of the North Pennines Stargazing Festival.  Enjoy learning how to paint on silk and create your very own constellation to take home!

This event is part of the North Pennines Stargazing Festival (20 October to 4 November 2018). For information on other events in the programme, visit  www.NorthPenninesStarFest.org.uk 

Headlining the 2018 North Pennines Stargazing Festival, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE will be looking at the wonders of space and what it can teach us, and will also offer insights into the world of space exploration and a perspective on women in science and engineering.

As well as fronting The Sky at Night, Maggie has appeared in many programmes, including Stargazing Live, The Science of Doctor Who, and In Orbit: How Satellites Rule Our World.

She is an engaging and passionate speaker whose enthusiasm for science and learning is infectious. This event is part of the North Pennines Stargazing Festival (20 October to 4 November 2018). For information on other events in the programme, visit  www.NorthPenninesStarFest.org.uk 

National Theatre Live: King Lear By William Shakespeare.  Considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written, King Lear sees two ageing fathers – one a King, one his courtier – reject the children who truly love them.  Their blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery, as family and state are plunged into a violent power struggle with bitter ends.

Evening Standard ‘With finely measured intelligence McKellen traces Lear’s inexorable movement from pomp via rage and shambolic delirium to melancholy tenderness and the agony of belated self-knowledge.’★★★★★

Metro ‘In Jonathan Munby’s thriller-paced and intimate production, McKellen meticulously explores Lear’s delusions of grandeur. The transformation from monarch to shuffling wreck is a complete portrait of decline, not just of a man, but of a nation too.’★★★★

I Newspaper ‘When a performance is as voraciously anticipated as Ian McKellen’s portrayal of King Lear there is an inevitable risk that reality must defeat expectation. But McKellen does not disappoint…. The modern setting, raw and visually potent, reinforces the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s emotional truth.’★★★★★

The Times ‘Nuanced and powerful.’★★★★

Guardian ‘Smart, lucid, superbly detailed.’ ★★★★

The Stage ‘This King Lear is an intensely moving experience.’★★★★★

Evening Standard ‘Ian McKellen's detailed, intelligent performance is a triumph.’★★★★★

Independent ‘Ian McKellen adds to the roster of his greatest achievements with this extraordinarily moving portrayal of King Lear.’★★★★★

Daily Telegraph ‘Ian McKellen reigns supreme in this triumphant production.’★★★★★

Chilli Enterprises proudly presents live in concert the acclaimed singer songwriter Ady Johnson.

Ady is an inventive songwriter who's ebullient on stage delivery of life affirming and romantic songs has resulted in numerous festival performances including Latitude and the Cambridge Rock festival.  Ady joins us at The Witham fresh from a tour with Ivor Novello award winning musician Scott Matthews.
Earlier this year Ady released a new album to critical acclaim: "London Songs which follows his debut album Tell The Worry Dolls...might well be the first contender for album of the year....deserves to be massive"....9/10 Press Association.

BBC 6 music Tom Robinson recently conducted a live interview with Ady proclaiming ""He's damn good live""

Special guests for the night include local musicians, Andy Yeadon and Moray Nellis who will perform songs from their new album The Beast Below as well as the excellent Robin Koob on violin.

A great live show, not to be missed.

ANTONIO  PAPPANO  CONDUCTS  AN  INTERNATIONAL  CAST  IN  THE  SECOND  OPERA  OF  RICHARD  WAGNER’S  EPICDER  RING  DES  NIBELUNGEN.

Wagner’s  Ring  cycle  is  one  of  the  greatest  works  of  all  opera.  Keith  Warner’s  production  is  conducted  by  Antonio  Pappano,  Music  Director  of  The  Royal  Opera,  and  this  final  revival  is  cast  with  an  outstanding  international  array  of  Wagnerian  specialist  singers.  The  full  cycle's  four  operas  journey  from  the  beginning  of  a  world  to  its  destruction,  with  gods,  heroes  and  monsters.  This  epic  myth  portrays  every  type  of  human  emotion  in  music  and  ideas  of  extraordinary  power.  The  Ring  is  always  a  special  event  in  the  operatic  calendar:  once  experienced,  never  forgotten. Die  Walküre  (The  Valkyrie)  is  the  second  opera  in  the  cycle,  and  features  several  of  the  Ring’s  musical  highlights  –  the  sparkling  Magic  Fire  Music  and  the  electrifying  Ride  of  the  Valkyries.  But  among  the  musical  fireworks  and  Norse  mythology,  at  the  centre  of  this  opera  are  the  unforgettable  characters  and  the  complex  entanglements  between  them,  including  twins  Siegmund  and  Sieglinde,  and  Wotan  and  his  Valkyrie  daughter,  Brünnhilde.

MUSIC  RICHARD  WAGNER DIRECTOR  KEITH  WARNER CONDUCTOR  ANTONIO  PAPPANOSIEGMUND  STUART  SKELTONSIEGLINDE  EMILY  MAGEEWOTAN  JOHN  LUNDGRENBRÜNNHILDE  NINA  STEMMEFRICKA  SARAH  CONNOLLY

"

Climate change is massive. Bees aren’t.  Our fuzzy little friends need our help and so we’re launching a political party disguised as a party party disguised as a show. Multi award-winning theatre company, ThisEgg, invites you to save the world - one bee at a time. A new comedy for children and adults alike. Plant the seed for change, join the Bee Party. Before it’s too late…

Journeys End

JOURNEY'S END is a British war drama, set in 1918, in which a company of British soldiers await their fate as the German army prepare an offensive. 

CAST INCLUDES Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Asa Butterfield, Stephen Graham, Toby Jones, Tom Sturridge
""Powerful, passionate and superbly acted"" - Guardian
""An outstanding cast savours performing a play that has stood the test of time. Avoiding sentimentality, this is a valuable rejoinder to those who would sugar-coat mass slaughter.""  - EMPIRE"

Castle Players present Terence Rattigan's story of love & duty, courage & fear.  Set in 1942, on the Lincolnshire coast, interweaving the experiences and decisions of three couples against a backdrop of war time uncertainty, The Castle Players bring to life this classic inspired by Rattigan's time in the RAF.

When Winston Churchill saw Flare Path in '43 'he said he was very much moved by this play. It is a masterpiece of understatement... But we are rather good at that, aren't we?

NATALIA  MAKAROVA’S  PRODUCTION  OF  THIS  19TH-CENTURY  CLASSIC  BALLET  BRINGS  AN  EXOTIC  WORLD  OF  TEMPLE  DANCERS  AND  NOBLE  WARRIORS  TO  LIFE

Marius Petipa’s fantasy, set in legendary India, tells the tale of a temple dancer and the prince who loves her but marries another. The famous, moonlit ‘white act’ – The Kingdom of the Shades – is a corps de ballet highlight, as multiple images of the prince’s lost love haunt his mind. The choreography allows two opposing ballerinas to shine, while a bronze idol comes vividly to life in a stunning solo. Throughout, the melody and moods of Minkus’s music perfectly match the fluidity and precision of the classical choreography and the drama of the storytelling.

CHOREOGRAPHY  NATALIA  MAKAROVA  AFTER  MARIUS  PETIPA
MUSIC  LUDWIG  MINKUS
ORCHESTRATED  BY  JOHN  LANCHBERY"

Troilus and Cressida swear they will always be true to one another. But in the seventh year of the siege of Troy their innocence is tested, and exposed to the savage corrupting influence of war, with tragic consequences.

Virtuoso percussionist Evelyn Glennie collaborates with RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran to create a satirical futuristic vision of a world resounding with the rhythm of battle, broadcast live to cinemas from Shakespeare's home town.

The Greek army is encamped under the walls of Troy and, at the point at which the play begins, the war has reached stalemate. The Greeks are quarrelling amongst themselves. Achilles, their greatest champion, refuses to fight and has withdrawn to his tent with his lover, Patroclus. Equally at odds with themselves, the Trojans are debating the value of continuing the war merely for the sake of keeping Helen.

Troilus is much distracted from these military concerns by his love for Cressida, the daughter of a Trojan who has defected to the Greek camp. The young lovers are eagerly assisted by Cressida's uncle Pandarus, who acts as their go-between. However, after only one night together they are parted when Cressida is sent to join her father in the Greek camp. Almost immediately she betrays Troilus with the Greek Diomedes and, discovering this, Troilus is plunged into despair.

With the fall of Troy certain, Troilus vows revenge on Achilles.

Two halls showcasing approximately thirty 'handpicked' designers, artists & craftspeople from around the region and beyond. Meet the makers and buy or commission handcrafted goods of gallery quality, with original work and a strong 'up-cycled' theme. Watch demonstrations and ‘have-a-go’.
Admission is free but a donation to St Teresa's Hospice would be gratefully received.

Three Teesdale artists, Sharon Loddey, Jane Young and Ann Whitfield join together with singer/songwriter Alice May exploring life’s pathways. Gallery usually closed Sundays and Mondays.

Hannah James has been an unmatched force of innovation in British folk for nearly two decades.

A multi-faceted performer, James’ virtuosic talent spans all her four disciplines: singer, accordionist, composer and clog dancer. She has amassed an international touring career, multiple award nominations, and credits in some of Britain’s most respected folk projects, including Lady Maisery and Songs of Separation.

In 2015, James introduced her one-woman show, JigDoll. This innovative debut reinvented the notion of solo performance by combining all James’ disciplines simultaneously for an immersive, unforgettable song and dance experience. Utilising cutting-edge looping technology with vocal, accordion and composition skill, a multi-layered soundscape was woven onstage, providing the backdrop for James’ spellbinding fusion of traditional and wholly original dance.

Now, the JigDoll Ensemble sees James enhanced by three masters of their instrument: percussionist András Des (Hungary), fiddle player Kate Young (Scotland), and bassist Marti Tarn (Estonia) perfectly articulate James’ visionary ideas for song, tune and dance. The resulting live masterpiece debuted  at 2017’s English Folk Expo, gaining an awestruck standing ovation from distinguished folk industry professionals from around the globe. The JigDoll Ensemble is set to stun audiences when it tours in 2018.

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN journeys from the streets of Paris to the heart of a superb exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, whose extensive collection of Degas’ works is the most representative in Britain. With exclusive access to view rare and diverse works, this film tells a fascinating story of Degas’ pursuit for perfection through both experimentation with new techniques and lessons learnt from studying the past masters.

“Art is not a matter of what you see, but what you make other people see.” Edgar Degas. Sometimes frustrated by his own failings, Degas was consumed by obsessive principles and failing eye sight but his determination to capture everyday life was evident in every mark he made. Never fully satisfied, many of Degas’ drawings and sculptures were kept in private during his lifetime but, now through close examination, they can be seen as some of the most beautifully detailed and expressive works in the modern era. Using written accounts by friends and commentators, and the narration of letters written by Degas himself, this film reveals a more complex truth behind one of the most influential French artists of the late 19th-century and serves as an exploration of the complex workings of Degas’ artistic mind.

Broadcast live from the National Theatre, Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play Shakespeare’s famous fated couple in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power.

Caesar and his assassins are dead. General Mark Antony now rules alongside his fellow defenders of Rome. But at the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love. In a tragic fight between devotion and duty, obsession becomes a catalyst for war.
Director Simon Godwin returns to National Theatre Live screens with this hotly anticipated production, following broadcasts of Twelfth Night, Man and Superman and The Beaux’ Stratagem.

The Nutcracker has long been one of the most delightful ways to discover the enchantment of ballet – and makes for a delicious seasonal treat for all the family. Tchaikovsky’s much-loved music is matched to a magical adventure on Christmas Eve for Clara and her Nutcracker doll. Their journey to the Land of Sweets brings with it some of the most familiar of all ballet moments, such as the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers. Peter Wright’s production for The Royal Ballet keeps true to the spirit of this Russian ballet classic, with period details and dancing snowflakes. The many solo roles and ensembles put the world-class skills of the Company to the fore in this Christmas classic.

MUSIC  PYOTR  IL’YICH  TCHAIKOVSKY, CHOREOGRAPHY  PETER  WRIGHT AFTER  LEV  IVANOV

Multi-award-winning drama The Madness of George III will be broadcast live to cinemas, in National Theatre Live’s first ever broadcast from Nottingham Playhouse.
Written by one of Britain’s best-loved playwrights Alan Bennett (The History Boys, The Lady in the Van), this epic play was also adapted into a BAFTA Award-winning film following its premiere on stage in 1991.
The cast of this new production includes Olivier Award-winners Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Wolf Hall, NT Live Coriolanus) in the title role, and Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey, Upstairs Downstairs, After the Dance).
It’s 1786 and King George III is the most powerful man in the world. But his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic as he succumbs to fits of lunacy. With the King’s mind unravelling at a dramatic pace, ambitious politicians and the scheming Prince of Wales threaten to undermine the power of the Crown, and expose the fine line between a King and a man.

Enh National Ballet Akram Khan’s Giselle.  Filmed  live  at  the  Liverpool  Empire  in  October  2017

Hailed  as  ‘a  masterpiece  of  21st  century  dance'  from  English  National  Ballet,  Akram  Khan’sGiselle  comes  to  cinemas  for  the  first  time  in  2018,  giving  ballet  fans  the  opportunity  to  see  this  award-winning  production  in  glorious  high  definition  on  the  big  screen.  One  of  the  greatest  romantic  ballets,  Giselle has  been  re-imagined  by  celebrated  choreographer  Akram  Khan  with  Artistic  Director  and  Lead  Principal  of  English  National  Ballet,  Tamara  Rojo,  dancing  the  role  of  Giselle,  one  of  a  community  of  migrant  workers  cast  out  of  their  jobs  in  a  condemned  garment  factory.

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is a mystery drama in which a renowned detective's holiday is interrupted when a murder is committed aboard the train on which he is travelling.

CAST INCLUDES Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Lucy Boynton, Sergei Polunin, Marwan Kenzari, Olivia Colman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Tom Bateman, Miranda Raison
DIRECTOR(S) Kenneth Branagh
"Kenneth Branagh’s lavish, all-star take on the Agatha Christie classic is endearingly nostalgic" - Guardian"

A beautiful blend of original and traditional songs drawn from her folk background combine to inspire and celebrate the festive season.  From humble beginnings in a rural farm shop in 2012 Emily has honed a unique, family friendly Christmas night out. In 2016 she released the accompanying album from which her song ‘Find Hope’ was play-listed on BBC Radio 2. Her material has also been featured on BBC Songs of Praise Christmas special.

Sing along with traditional carols, tap your toes to upbeat instrumentals or simply close your eyes and let Emily’s evocative voice help you dwell on the joy and peace that Christmas can bring.

Joined by her band on guitars, fiddles & vocals.

Beautiful…my new favourite Christmas song  Clare Balding, BBC Radio 2
The freshest sounding folk album in an age  Sunday Express ****