An exhibition of works by ex-Barnard Castle School Art teacher Douglas Pittuck forms the centrepiece of an art trail to celebrate the life and work of the artist.

The exhibition will provide a unique opportunity to view privately owned paintings and stetches by the artist inspired by the local area.

During April, there will be opportunities to view the famous Pittuck mural in St Mary’s Parish Hall and attend presentation of creative works produced by local students at other venues in the town.  Gallery usually closed Sunday and Monday.

The Witham Hall Disco Is Back.. for the SECOND time since 1988!

Let’s bring back the traditions of the 1980s with a soundtrack to match.

You can look forward to dancing to tracks such as Yazz – The only way up, Double Trouble and the rebel MC – Street tuff, Womack and Womack- Teardrops and Dexy’s – Come on Eileen.

Nick is best known for his global expedition – ‘Running The World 196‘.

In November 2019, Nick was crowned the first person to run a marathon in every country in the world. Along with this, he sets a number of world records and has a wild, eclectic story to tell. Tales of muggings, war zones, dog attacks, extreme exhaustion, and the sheer scale and diversity of our planet. His talk is accompanied with stunning photography and videography from around the world.

He is a British Endurance Athlete, writer, and speaker. From a small shy boy in the south of England, with a passion for sport – to a successful career in banking, to then becoming one of the most widely travelled athletes in the world. And all before the age of 30.

Nick says: “If I’m lucky enough to get to the point in life when I’m old and grey, chatting with my grandchildren I want to know I’ve explored every inch of the planet. I believe that it’s the crazy things, the things that no one is doing, and the things that we’re afraid to do… which are in fact exactly that which leaves a positive mark on the world.”

Written and performed by Mark Farrelly
Directed by Linda MarloweFresh from its Off-Broadway debut and milestone 100th performance, Mark Farrelly’s hugely acclaimed solo play comes to The Witham.From a conventional upbringing to global notoriety via The Naked Civil Servant, Quentin Crisp was one of the most memorable figures of the twentieth century. Openly gay as early as the 1930s, Quentin spent decades being beaten up on London’s streets for his refusal to be anything less than himself. His courage, and the philosophy that evolved from those experiences, inspire to the present day.

Naked Hope depicts Quentin at two phases of his extraordinary life: alone in his Chelsea flat in the 1960s, certain that life has passed him by, and thirty years later, giving a performance of his one man show An Evening with Quentin Crisp in New York.

Packed with witty gems on everything from cleaning (“Don’t bother – after the first four years the dust won’t get any worse”) to marriage (“Is there life after marriage? The answer is no”), Naked Hope is a glorious, uplifting celebration of the urgent necessity to be your true self.

Mark Farrelly’s West End credits include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opposite Matthew Kelly. He is directed by EastEnders star Linda Marlowe (Berkoff’s Women).

90 minutes including interval

FRANK – A tribute to Frank Sinatra by Frank Cognoscenti and his jazz orchestra.

Enjoy a thrilling evening of Sinatra’s greatest hits, swingers and torch songs in the company of Frank Cognoscenti, one of the UK’s most prolific performers of the Sinatra repertoire, as he gets under the skin of one of the 20^th Century’s greatest stars.

Experience stunning recreations of Sinatra’s greatest concert arrangements from his 60 year career, from Harry James ‘All or Nothing at all’, Tommy Dorsey’s ‘Marie’ to ‘Live at the Sands’ ‘Come Fly with me’ , ‘Fly me to the moon’, ‘September of my years’, the intimate saloon songs ‘One for my baby’, ‘I’m a fool to want you’, ‘Here’s that rainy day’, Nelson Riddle Capitol years classics‘ I’ve got you under my skin’, ‘I get a kick out of you’, ‘I’ve got the world on a string’, the legendary ,’It was a very good year’,‘Summer wind’, ‘Girl from Ipanema’ and the Iconictrilogy, ‘That’s life’ , ‘New York’,‘My Way’ and more.

Frank Cognoscenti has performed everywhere from Ronnie Scott’s in London, Singapore, New Jersey and Palm Springs California and now presents a concert version of his self-produced theatre show.

Two opera classics are drawn together in this wonderfully observed re-creation of life in a south Italian village as a travelling theatre visits and emotions erupt. The award-winning production by Damiano Michieletto presents vividly the fast-moving, shocking events brought about by secret love and uncontrollable jealousy. The music is full of Italianate melody in the great choruses that bring the villagers together in celebration and revelry, alongside the solo arias and tense confrontations that provoke violence and tragedy. With thrilling singing and intense drama, ‘Cav and Pag’ distils into one wonderful night out, the enduring appeal of Italian opera in its most familiar form.
The Royal Opera
(12A as live) | Approx. 3hrs

Kinky Boots The Musical, filmed live at the Adelphi Theatre in the heart of London’s West End, is strutting onto the big screen! With songs from Grammy and Tony award winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, book by legendary Broadway playwright Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), and direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray), the musical is based on the film written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth.
Inspired by true events, this huge-hearted hit tells the story of two people with nothing in common – or so they think. Charlie (Killian Donnelly) is a factory owner struggling to save his family business, and Lola (Matt Henry) is a fabulous entertainer with a wildly exciting idea. With a little compassion and a lot of understanding, this unexpected pair learn to embrace their differences and create a line of sturdy stilettos unlike any the world has ever seen! But in the end, their most sensational achievement is their friendship. This unmissable musical theatre event celebrates a joyous story of British grit transforming into a high-heeled hit as it takes you from the factory floor of Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan!

For the first time Ireland’s Heidi Talbot and Scotland’s Adam Holmes are joining forces to tour, write and record an album of original material together. Between them they have been nominated for multiple BBC Folk Awards, SAY awards, Irish music awards and played for First Ministers and US Presidents.

This new collaboration will see the pair work under the name “Arcade”, with plans to record and release a new album of songs in 2019 produced by Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow).

Heidi Talbot was born in Ireland, became a folk star in the USA as a member of the Irish American band Cherish the Ladies, and now lives in Edinburgh. With a background like that, it’s hardly surprising she should develop a style that switches easily between Celtic and Americana, but subtlety is Talbot’s magic ingredient. From her gossamer voice to the delicate re-working of traditional and contemporary material that has earned her rave reviews for her records and live performances.

The girl from Co. Kildare, who spent several years in New York, slips effortlessly between musical worlds but retains a personal modesty rooted in traditional folk.

“A voice that’s both awestruck and tender” The New York Times

Edinburgh based singer song writer Adam Holmes with his band The Embers combine the rhythm and blues, country and folk music textures of classic artists such as The Band, Neil Young and Ryan Adams and The Cardinals.

Adam’s musical education began in the infamous folk clubs of Edinburgh taken along by his mother, a huge fan of UK folk music. He witnessed the legendary live sessions that took place. His father’s influence was equally strong, a love of classic American singer songwriters (notably Neil Young and Townes Van Zandt) which he passed onto to his son, now evident in the transatlantic quality to Adam’s music.

Showcasing the diverse creative talent of TeesdaleArtNet (TAN) artists working in Teesdale, this is the 3rd collaborative annual exhibition from TeesdaleArtNet. Including textiles, jewellery, painting, prints, ceramics, sculpture and collage, this show introduces exciting new unique work.

Admission is free, all are welcome to the preview, and most of the work is for sale.

This year the TAN Open Studios will be running concurrently during the final week of this exhibition from 23rd May – 31st May, the perfect opportunity to meet the makers! The gallery is usually closed Sundays and Mondays.

Teesdale Artists Network members are all visual artists living or working in Teesdale, at different stages of their creative careers who aim to support each other through joint working, exhibitions, training and professional development opportunities.

New members are always welcome.

Thirty years after starring in “The Wizard of Oz” beloved actress and singer Judy Garland arrives in London to perform sold-out shows at the Talk of the Town nightclub. While there, she reminisces with friends and fans and begins a whirlwind romance with musician Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband.

Starring Oscar winner Renée Zellweger

Running time: 118 mins

Award-winning artist, Victoria Melody, presents her new show Professional Stranger, about her attempts at becoming a stand-up comedian.

Wearing technology that shows in real time what happens to the brain when you tell jokes, Victoria reveals what happened when she immersed herself into the world of British amateur stand-up comedy.

One life in the hands of 12 women.
Rural Suffolk in England, 1759. As the country waits for Halley’s comet, a young woman is sentenced to hang for a heinous murder.
When she claims to be pregnant, a jury of 12 matrons are taken from their housework to decide whether she’s telling the truth, or simply trying to escape the noose. With only midwife Lizzy Luke prepared to defend the girl, and a mob baying for blood outside, the matrons wrestle with their new authority, and the devil in their midst.
James Macdonald (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) directs Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything, Funny Cow) and Ria Zmitrowicz (Three Girls, Mr. Selfridge) in this bold and gripping thriller from Tony Award-nominated writer Lucy Kirkwood (Chimerica, Skins).

A new play by Lucy Kirkwood  |  Broadcast live from the National Theatre in London.
15 TBC  |  Running time: 180 minutes (TBC)

This unique combination continues to entertain people of all shapes and sizes with their wonderful selection of northern songs delivered with consummate musicianship by two of the UK’s best known and loved singers – Billy Mitchell (Lindisfarne, Jack the Lad, Pitmen Poets) and Bob Fox (Warhorse Songman, Fox and Luckley, Pitmen Poets) are taking to the road together in 2020 to tour their show 5 Star B&B throughout the UK.

Their last tour as a duo was back in 2010 where their sold out performances earned glowing reviews. Their individual busy schedules have prevented them from reuniting… until now!

And what a treat it is! The duo’s ability to connect with the audience is immediately evident as they lead you through some of their favourite songs including original Lindisfarne classics and trad folk arrangements: Sally Wheatley, Meet me on the Corner, Dance to your Daddy, Collier Laddie’s Wife, Big River, Galway Shawl and many more…

Dante’s Divine Comedy is an epic journey through the afterlife: it encompasses the horrifying drama of Inferno and its damned, the lyrical mysticism of pilgrims on mount Purgatorio and the dazzling spheres of Paradiso with their endless configurations of light.

The poem was inspired by the agony of Dante’s own exile, and traces his path from crisis to revelation guided by his literary hero Virgil and his lost love Beatrice.

In this new work, The Royal Ballet’s trailblazing Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor collaborates with an award-winning team – contemporary composer Thomas Adès, artist Tacita Dean, lighting designer Lucy Carter and dramaturg Uzma Hameed – to bring us closer to Dante and his extraordinary vision.

The Royal Ballet
Music: Thomas Adès
Choreography: Wayne McGregor
Conductor: Koen Kessels
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
(12A as live) | Approx. running time: about 3 hours