A talk by Dr Margaret Bradshaw and John O’Reilly from Plants on the Edge Project, part of Teesdale Special Flora Trust.

Hear about the impact of the climatic and vegetation changes since the last Ice Period on the rare plants of Teesdale and whether these plants will survive the Age of Man.

This talk is taking place alongside the ‘Teesdale’s Tiny Giants’ Exhibition at The Witham Gallery, Barnard Castle during August. Entrance free. Please come along and visit.

Booking link: Climate Change: Will the Tiny Giants Survive? - The Witham

A complex man who survived the horrors of fighting in the First World War, Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden / Peter Capaldi), a soldier decorated for his bravery on the battlefield, became a vocal critic of the government’s continuation of the war.

Directed by Terence Davies. Running Time 137 minutes.

Shown with subtitles. Tickets £5.00. Booking link: FILM: Benediction (12A) - The Witham

Slapstick Picnic would like to cordially invite you to its summer tea party, where marvellous feats of performance and culinary capers await. Over tea and cucumber sandwiches, we ask that you prepare to witness the impossible – the entirety of Oscar Wilde’s classic play of manners, affairs and handbags being performed by just two rather dashing entertainers.

From the creators of The HandleBards, comes a fantastically wild(e) new production, ripping up the recipe book and celebrating silliness. With Slapstick Picnic, you can have your cake and eat it.

This performance will be cabaret style (round tables and chairs) in our Victorian Music Hall.

Why not enjoy a picnic in a box (sandwiches, sweet treat and a glass of beer, wine or alcohol-free alternative) for only £6 per person? You can book your picnic as an optional extra.

Running time 90 minutes (no interval). Tickets £8-£10. Booking link: The Importance of Being Earnest (8+) - The Witham

The wait is over! After 2 long years, maestro André Rieu is performing from his hometown of Maastricht once again! We are proud to present André’s brand-new summer concert – Happy Days are Here Again!

The concert will be a jolly and captivating summer event on the iconic Vrijthof square, featuring popular feel-good classics, show-tunes, and of course, joyous waltzes. Together with the wonderful Johann Strauss Orchestra and very special guests, André is bringing an uplifting and romantic party to your local cinemas!

Running time 180 minutes (including interval). Tickets £14 | £12. Booking link: André Rieu’s 2022 Maastricht Concert: Happy Days are Here Again - The Witham

Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd) and John Heffernan (Dracula) lead the cast in Shakespeare’s romcom of sun, sea and mistaken identity. 
The legendary family-run Hotel Messina on the Italian Riviera has been visited by artists, celebrities and royalty. But when the owner’s daughter weds a dashing young soldier, not all guests are in the mood for love.

Following the award-winning success of National Theatre Live’s Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night and Antony and Cleopatra, director Simon Godwin returns with this irresistible comedy, broadcast live from the National Theatre stage.

Running time 180 minutes. Tickets £12 | £10. Booking link: National Theatre Live: Much Ado About Nothing (12A) - The Witham

Re-live the hits from rock gods such as Journey, Aerosmith, Queen, Bon Jovi, Kiss, AC/DC, Van Halen, and many more!

If you are a fan of live Classic Rock, this is the show for you!

With 3 West End credited vocalists and backed by a live 5-piece band.

Tickets £20 - £22. Booking link Anthems of Rock - The Witham

Back by popular demand at The Witham!

Led by professional Ukrainian violinists Kostia Tsepkov and Iryna Zagorna, with Penny Jones on cello and Jill Russell/Paul Donovan on viola, Sophia Strings has appeared at a range of venues and events across the North East.  They will play a wide range of short popular classics and lighter music. There will be something for everyone including a dash of Ukrainian traditional music. Joining them will be the young Ukrainian emerging artist Sofia Nikolaiets who will sing some well known tunes.

Photo credit: Teesdale Mercury

Tickets £12 | £10. Booking link: Sunday Classics: Sophia Strings - The Witham

Making a very welcome visit to The Witham on the final leg of her rescheduled ‘First Farewell Tour’, the charismatic Peggy Seeger – singer, songwriter, feminist, icon, – is the undisputed queen of folk and political song. Join Peggy and her son Neill MacColl, an exceptional musician in his own right, for a glorious evening of up-close performance by these two world class musicians. Expect to hear some of Peggy’s new songs from her hugely successful ‘First Farewell’ album, some traditional favourites, a few surprises, and plenty of relaxed family banter.

Tickets £20- £22. Booking link: Peggy Seeger and Neill MacColl: First Farewell Tour - The Witham

Getting rave reviews from their live shows and playing to increasingly growing audiences across the UK, NE Street Band perform their Bruce Springsteen show here at The Witham.  

Expect a fun filled, audience engaging 2 hour + show of all things Bruce Springsteen. As well as playing all the ‘classics’ the band also cover songs from Bruce’s incredible ‘Seeger Sessions’ shows which are now becoming an integral part of the bands set.

This is a standing gig. Tickets £17 | £15. Booking link: NE Street Band: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen - The Witham

The original principal cast have returned for the second film along with new additions Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Shown with subtitles. Running time 124 minutes. Tickets £5. Booking link: FILM: Downton Abbey: A New Era (PG) - The Witham

Following first class reviews, That’s Entertainment Productions presents a brand-new tribute to the classic Fawlty Towers TV series.

Starring the award-winning Comedy Impressionist and Britain’s Got Talent star, Drew Cameron.

Based around the classic TV show everybody loves, this tribute show, performed in the style and variety of Fawlty Towers, offers an ingenious homage. With side-splitting moments, rollicking resemblance and fun audience interaction, its bursting with riotous escapades from all your favourite characters in new adventures and mishaps, and some unexpected surprise guests! Fasten your laughter seatbelts for a frenzied comedy show to captivate and delight audiences young and old!

“Our show is inspired by the classic BBC comedy Fawlty Towers. Please note, that the content of our show is entirely original, and no use is made of the scripts or other materials from the TV programmes. We are not linked to or authorised in any way by the BBC or others involved in the TV programmes”.

Tickets £22 | £20. Booking link: Phoney Towers: The Stage Show (12+) at The Witham event tickets from TicketSource

With a score that includes Butterfly’s aria, ‘Un bel dì, vedremo’ (‘One fine day’) and the ‘Humming Chorus’, Giacomo Puccini’s opera is entrancing and ultimately heart-breaking. Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s exquisite production takes inspiration from 19th-century European images of Japan.

Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Sung in Italian with English subtitles

Running time: 2hrs and 45 minutes (including one interval).

Tickets £12-£14. Booking link: ROH: Live Screening – Madama Butterfly - The Witham

Elysium Theatre Company present: Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House translated by Michael Meyer with Alice Frankham as Nora and Danny Solomon as Torvald.

Nora is a happily married woman with a loving husband and three beautiful children. Everything seems perfect in her happy home. But when a man from her past appears demanding what he owes her, her ideal life unravels and, as she realises the truth of her marriage, she is forced to make the ultimate choice.

Don't miss this thrilling play!

Tickets £14 | Under 16s £12. Booking link A Doll’s House - The Witham

The Reg Vardy Band returns to The Witham…

Premier Brass Band of North East England; 36 Times North of England Champions; Wainstones Cup winners 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019; French Open Champions 2017; Scottish Open Championships runner-up 2021.

Like every brass band, the Reg Vardy Band had to cease activities in early 2019 due to the pandemic, however, after lockdown restrictions were lifted, the band played their first concert for almost two years in The Witham, and looks forward to continuing progress into 2022 and beyond.

Tickets £14 | £12. Booking link: Reg Vardy Band - The Witham

A rollicking new comedy by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) and Oliver Chris (Twelfth Night).

After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to win the heart of his old flame, Lydia Languish. Back on British soil, Jack’s advances soon turn to anarchy when the young heiress demands to be loved on her own, very particular, terms.

Emily Burns directs this spectacularly entertaining new version of Sheridan’s The Rivals. Featuring a cast including Caroline Quentin, Laurie Davidson, Natalie Simpson and Kelvin Fletcher.

Running time 180 minutes.

Tickets £12 | £10. Booking link: National Theatre Live: Jack Absolute Flies Again (12A) - The Witham

A star-studded cast alongside a showcase of local talent.
Starring…
FREDDIE DAVIES – “Mr. Parrot-Face” Himself.

Your Master of Ceremonies 
ALFIE JOEY – Popular Comedian and BBC Newcastle Breakfast Show Presenter.

*** A SHOWCASE OF LOCAL TALENT *** 
EUPHORIA CHOIR – “Teesdale’s Popular Choir” with upbeat choral versions of classic songs.

Plus many local performers to be announced.

Suitable for all ages.  We anticipate the show will finish around 8.30pm.

Tickets £10 | under 16s £8. Booking link: A Fundraising Variety Show: Starring Freddie Davies and Alfie Joey - The Witham

Indie-folk-pop quintet, Unkle Bob, originally formed in 2004, their legacy was two albums, Sugar and Spite (2006) and Shockwaves (2010).

Back in April 2020, Unkle Bob announced reunion plans, tour dates and a re-release of their debut EP. These plans were largely scuppered by the turn in global events that followed. Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, the newly reformed group began working on new material.  A Kickstarter fundraiser followed allowing the band to complete several sessions together at Foel Studios, Wales .

It's a story of friendship, connection and the shared musical journey of five members; guitarist Stuart Cartwright, drummer Ron Yeadon, keyboard player Geoff Widdowson, bass player Chloe Peacock and singer, Rick Webster.

This is a standing gig.

Tickets £12 | £10. Booking link: Unkle Bob - The Witham

Natalie Black sets the tribute industry alight with her stunning replica show that she has been been performing around the world since 2011, from weddings to cruises, TV work and even featuring in the 2020 hit film ‘Greed’ alongside Steve Coogan.

This stunning show is not to be missed for any Adele fan – Natalie’s unrivalled likeness in both vocal quality and appearance makes this a night to remember. Natalie will perform all of your most loved Adele songs from her 4 album past catalogue with such hits as ‘Set fire to the rain’, ‘Make you feel my love’, ‘Someone like you’ and ‘I drink wine’. 

Expect to see replica costumes, moving heartfelt story telling and the infamous Adele cackle!

With live 4-piece band.

Tickets £22 | £20. Booking link: Adele Tribute: Hometown Glory - The Witham

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR – A FANGTASTIC FAMILY PANTOMIME

Tom Rolfe Productions can’t wait to present their latest TREAT full of plenty of TRICKS this Halloween.

All is calm at Creaky Towers until the wicked Belladonna wreaks havoc on the Halloween party because she doesn’t receive an invitation! Will Tommy the Ghostbuster manage to save the day? Will everyone live happily ever after? Find out by booking your tickets today!

This is a very family friendly show with plenty of fun for everyone with nothing anymore scary than any other pantomime.

Tickets £10 | Family of Four £36. Booking Link: Halloween Spooktacular! - The Witham

HAYDN, a PREMIERE and some “MUSICAL” moments.

The Aquarius Quartet (Louise Latham and Anthony Banks violins, Adrienne Spilsbury viola and Mary Dainton cello) return to the Witham with a wide-ranging programme featuring early and late quartets by Haydn (the elegant and poised Opus 9 no.4 and the mighty “Emperor” quartet, Opus 76 no.3), the first performance of Adrienne Spilsbury’s atmospheric second quartet “day, turning” and arrangements, by the veteran arranger Bill Thorp, of songs by Jerome Kern.

Tickets £12 | £10. Booking link: Sunday Classics: Aquarius Quartet - The Witham

THE PITMEN POETS: BILLY MITCHELL, BOB FOX, BENNY GRAHAM AND JEZ LOWE

THE FINAL, NEVER TO BE REPEATED, ONE AND ONLY LAST FAREWELL TOUR!

A night of songs and stories laced with Northeast humour and humanity.

Tickets £20 in advance (£22.50 on the door). Booking link: The Pitmen Poets Ride Again - The Witham

Michael Heaviside was a Geordie Miner from Craghead. He became a soldier, went to war and for an extraordinary heroic adventure in May 1917, was awarded the Victoria Cross. This show follows Michael’s story and the tale of the ‘War To End All Wars’ is woven within this. Songs from the time sit alongside original music to lift the story to greater heights, and the show features stunning projected visuals which make use of archive and original graphics to provide a fascinating visual backdrop.

Fool’s Gold are acoustic musicians Steve & Carol Robson.  Their shows combine live acoustic music, interwoven with powerful stories and projected visuals. Their shows have a strong theme and a narrative that runs through them.

Tickets £10-£12. Booking link: Fool’s Gold: Beat The Drum - The Witham

The Royal Ballet’s dazzling Principals lead an evening not to be missed, their sparkling talents a perfect fit for a diamond anniversary. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Friends of Covent Garden, this programme recognises the amazing support of all ROH Friends past and present.

The showcase will demonstrate the breadth and diversity of The Royal Ballet’s repertoire in classical, contemporary and heritage works. It will also include world premieres of short ballets by choreographers Pam Tanowitz, Joseph Toonga and Valentino Zucchetti as well as The Royal Ballet’s first performance of For Four by Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon and a performance of George Balanchine’s Diamonds.

Tickets £12-£14. Booking link: ROH: Live Screening – The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration - The Witham

Back in 1971 LINDISFARNE released their ground-breaking first album and began to attract the fervent fan base that followed them for decades.
In October that year they released their second album ‘FOG ON THE TYNE’ which topped the UK charts for six weeks in spring 1972.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this classic album, Lindisfarne frontman BILLY MITCHELL and founder member RAY LAIDLAW tell the group’s amazing story with a combination of superb songs, vital video, tall tales and of course, scurrilous gossip.

Tickets £22.50. Booking link: The Lindisfarne Story: 50 Years of Fog - The Witham

Tom McConville has for many years been regarded as the top fiddle player in the country.

His live performance combines a rollercoaster of musical delights from fast, rhythmic dance tunes through beautiful slow airs and of course, great singing – all presented with his inimitable sense of humour and style. He is currently touring with his own band, members of which include:
Guitarist David Newey is a singer songwriter;
Phil Murray on the acoustic bass guitar; and
Shona Kipling playing accordion.

Tickets £11-£12. Booking link: Tom McConville Band - The Witham

Why not join Santa and his cheeky elves ‘Peas and Carrots’ live on stage in our fun-packed family pantomime as they prepare for a Christmas like no other.

Our toe-tapping, jingle-belling, Christmas cracker of a show is guaranteed to get you in to the festive spirit, singing along and rolling in the aisles with laughter in time for Christmas Eve.

Free gift for each child ticket purchased! Spot prizes for the best Christmas jumper too!

Running time approx. 45 mins.

Tickets from £10. Booking link: Santamime - The Witham

Heidi has been nominated for Folk singer of the year and Best Traditional Song by BBC Radio 2, Best Live Act by the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and Best Female Vocalist at The Irish Music Awards.

Tickets £15 in advance (£17 on the door). Booking link Heidi Talbot - The Witham