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

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.

Presented by Opera North, in partnership with Northern Heartlands.   If you haven’t been to a live opera, this bite-sized version is for you. Opera North’s lively singers and accordionist introduce the fascinating world of opera in this live, interactive experience. 30 mins, followed by a Q&A.

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.

A fundraising concert from the Barnard Castle Brass Band in support of the Investing In The Witham Appeal

The Barnard Castle Band are delighted to support The Witham and will be delivering a program filled with a variety of pieces to entertain a wide audience.

Andrew Nicholson has been conducting the band for about two years, the band are experiencing an upturn in enthusiasm and commitment which is to the credit of all the members of the band, the band room is a happy place to be.

New members have joined and new members are always welcome.

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"

Mairearad (accordion and bagpipes) and Anna (guitar, banjo and fiddle) are an instantly captivating duo with a warm and friendly stage presence who offer a highly energetic performance. 

Having played alongside each other for over ten years, they revel in an intuitive approach to each other’s musical ideas and interpretations, and an “almost telepathic communication” on stage (Hi-Arts), effortlessly showcasing the fruits of duo partnership to the highest level , creating “music more than the sum of just two parts” (The Scotsman).
Now based in Glasgow, Mairearad and Anna both grew up in the Scottish Highlands amidst very similar musical backgrounds (most notably, mandolin playing Dads!), and so share an innate understanding of Scottish culture and music. As a duo they have enjoyed many successes, including five stars in The Scotsman and high praise from KT Tunstall, becoming a much-loved live act.

Handcrafted Boutique Fair with a quality selection of handmade products from around the North East.

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?

Jewellery, prints, jams, toys, cards, scarves, hats, chocolate, soaps, knitted-gifts, puzzles, wooden-gifts, bags, vintage.  Based in Cumbria, Northern Crafts are event organisers, running arts, craft, gift and wedding events in Cumbria and the North East of England

In honour of the centenary of World War I, Conductor Simon Dearsley presents Elgar’s ‘The Spirit of England’ and Bliss’s ‘Morning Heros’

Barnard Castle School Festival Orchestra
Barnard Castle School Choral Society
Soprano: Philippa Dearsley
Narrator: Rory Thompson Barnard Castle School Festival Orchestra

In the year of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, Highlights Contemporary Craft tour addresses the pertinent theme of conflict, which affects our communities locally, nationally and internationally.  In rural environments issues of conservation versus agriculture and industry, of rewilding versus farming are often in the news.  In the global environment the devastating effect of war on individuals and communities and culture and the subsequent refugee crisis; and finally, conflicts in relationships and families, personal and professional.

Our artists are carefully selected to bring you the most exciting work being made on the contemporary art scene in the UK and abroad.  They include:

• Conrad Atkinson - Ceramic Land Mine
• Paul Scott - Cumbrian Blue(s) Ceramics
• Mark Gibbs - Mixed Media Sculptures
• Mujahid Abu Aljoud - Film
• Sumi Perera - Mixed Media Assemblages
• Laura Moreton-Griffiths - Canvas Weapon Replicas and Film
• Elisabeth Turrell - Enamel and Mixed Media
• Morwenna Catt - Textile Installation
• Eva Mileusnic - Ceramic Installation
• Rhiannon Lewando - Earthenware and Porcelain
• Mathew Day - The Sculptural potential of prosthetic limbs
• Johanna Tornqvist - Project Precious Trash

For the first time, we will also be collaborating with Aileen Brindle of  ‘f.o.a.k’ who has worked in the international craft sector for over 30 years. Together we have curated a collection of global handmade design connected to the theme of craft and conflict. This will include work from refugees affected by conflict supported by the UNHCR MADE51 programme.

THE GALLERY IS USUALLY CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS

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.

Morwenna Catt works between Norway and the UK and is an artist working across media with a specialism in textiles.  Using her evocative installation Sweethearts & Sandbags in Craft+Conflict as inspiration, she will help you create your own personal embroidered maps with text and images

Morwenna will provide some images, texts about conflict and resolution and a variety of vintage fabrics to help us think about the journey of conflict in an abstract or personal way or to home in on historical or current narratives.

Participants can email their images and lines of text in advance to be printed onto silk or cotton.  Morwenna will also bring her camera/laptop/printer and do them on site.  Feel free to bring your own sewing boxes, sewing machines and any fabrics or you wish to use.  We will also work by hand on embroidery hoops.

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.

Jewellery, prints, jams, toys, cards, scarves, hats, chocolate, soaps, knitted-gifts, puzzles, wooden-gifts, bags, vintage.  Based in Cumbria, Northern Crafts are event organisers, running arts, craft, gift and wedding events in Cumbria and the North East of England

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.

"Allelujah!" by Alan Bennett ‘Leaves you bobbing on a wave of happiness’ Independent.  Alan Bennett’s sharp and hilarious new play is ‘just what the doctor ordered’ (Daily Telegraph). Filmed live at London’s Bridge Theatre during its limited run, don’t miss this ‘rousing chorus line for the NHS’ (Observer) in your local cinema.
The Beth, an old fashioned cradle-to-grave hospital serving a town on the edge of the Pennines, is threatened with closure as part of an efficiency drive. A documentary crew, eager to capture its fight for survival, follows the daily struggle to find beds on the Dusty Springfield Geriatric Ward, and the triumphs of the old people’s choir.
Alan Bennett’s celebrated plays include The History Boys, The Lady in the Van and The Madness of George III, all of which were also seen on film. Allelujah! is his tenth collaboration with award-winning director Nicholas Hytner.
Letterpress graphic by Alan Kitching, art directed by Michael Mayhew."

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.

Barnard Castle School Presents Messiah

Celebrate the start of festive season with Handel’s Messiah sung by Barnard Castle School Choral Society with Barnard Castle School Festival Orchestra,
Soprano Philippa Dearsley, Alto Tamsin Davidson, Tenor Austin Gunn and Bass Neil Turnbull.

The  past  and  the  present  are  about  to  collide.  Jonathan  has  recently  moved  into  a  care  home.  His  mind  is  deteriorating  and  reality  becoming  confused,  but  one  memory  stays  strong  -  the  one  memory he  wishes  to  forget.

A  present  is  left,  a  book,  a  copy  of  Dickens'  The  Haunted  Man  with  an  inscription  from  Jonathan's  past  sparking  a  ghostly  visitation,  a  Phantom  offering  an  irresistible  gift  -  the  gift  of  forgetting.  The  true  cost  of  the  Phantom’s  gift  soon  shows  itself  as  the  book  and  Jonathan’s  life  merge.  With  the  help  of  the  chaotic  Tetterbys,  the  Wild-Boy,  the  gentle Milly  and  a  host  of  other  Dickensian  characters,  Jonathan  sets  out  to  find  a  genuine,  lasting  peace  and  learn  the  true  value  of  memory  and  love.
Kindred  Theatre’s  atmospheric  production  of  love,  loss  and  friendship  is  a  blend  of  candlelight,  shadows,  music  and  theatrical  storytelling  perfect  for  those  autumn  &  winter  evenings.

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 Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness! is an over-stuffed stocking of seasonal surprises crammed with puppets, songs, quizzes and comedy, and over-flowing with crazy characters, silly slapstick, tall tales and fantastic facts - all presented in that unique Squashbox style!Learn about Yuletide traditions old and new, hear the story of the first Christmas Tree and even explore some festive science. Meet a snowman who lives in the fridge, try and spot some naughty elves, play hunt the brussel sprout, endure the world’s worst Christmas jumper and gaze at the “beautiful” Christmas fairy...   Squashbox Theatre's new show is a celebration of everything Christmassy, from fir trees, fairy lights, sleigh bells and snowflakes to crackers, carols, presents and puddings! 

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

Antiques, art, cars and tv: live and unscripted.  A  live and unscripted talk by David Harper. Bring a question or an antique for evaluation!

Christmas  simply  wouldn’t  be  Christmas  without  a  visit  to  26  Oil  Drum  Lane  to  catch  up  with  the  nation’s  favourite  rag-and-bone-men  and  indulge  in  some  classic,  festive  misadventures! 

Albert  and  Harold  – united  by  blood,  divided  over  everything  else  – seem  doomed  to  spend  Christmas  in  each other’s  company.  But  Harold  has  his  flights  of  fancy...including  a  flight  he  fancies  abroad  or  to  throw  the  biggest  Christmas  party  London’s  ever  had  to  offer!  His  “dzirty  old  man” Albert,  of  course,  has  other  ideas...Who  wouldn’t  want  to  spend  Christmas  as  Mrs.  Boxwood’s  B&B  in  Bognor Regis  anyway??  These  much-loved  episodes  of  classic  comedy  from  Ray  Galton  and  Alan  Simpson  have  been  freshly  adapted  for  the  stage  and  are  presented  by  Hambledon  Productions  – the  company  behind  the  recent  sell-out  successes ’“Just  Like  That!  The  Tommy  Cooper  Show” and  “Steptoe  and  Son”

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 ****

Martyn Joseph is a completely unique and mind blowing artist. Take everything you think you know about singer songwriters….and rip it up. For one man and a guitar he creates a performance with a huge far-reaching sound that is energetic, compelling and passionate. Be it to two hundred people or twenty thousand, he blows the crowd away night after night.

2018 saw him honoured with a ”Spirit of Folk” Award by Folk Alliance International in Kansas USA and he also received Fatea magazine’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” here in the UK.

He is gifted with the rare ability to speak to the soul with his expressive and poignant lyrics and has a career spanning 30 years, 32 albums, over a half a million record sales and thousands of live performances.

Compared to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews, he has created his own style and reputation as a mesmerizing live performer and stands in his own right, built on a reputation for giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives.

A unique talent driven by passion, social awareness and love for his trade, he's a jaw dropping guitar player who has developed a unique percussive style, teamed up with a powerful show stopping voice, and has been called “The Welsh Springsteen”

Concerned with making music that is relevant and vital to his audience, he engages with challenging narratives tackling the complexity of the human condition, underpinned with a promise of hope. In his own words “Really what I do is to try and write songs that might step up and make some sense of a moment in time. A good song makes you feel like you’re not alone in the world.”

He is hailed as a raconteur weaving tales on topical concerns, as well as stories on the fragility of love, with a magical ability to reach out to his listeners through his passion and humour. Stunning reviews single him out as an unmissable solo performer whose music stays with you long after the show has ended.

Tchaikovsky’s most ambitious opera contains some of his greatest music and is a powerful study

Richard Eyre’s beautiful production provides the perfect setting for Verdi’s opera about a courtesan who sacrifices all for love.

From the thrill of unexpected romance to a heartbreaking reconciliation that comes too late – Verdi’s La Traviata is one of the most popular of all operas. Alfredo falls in love in with the courtesan Violetta in glamorous Paris society, but underneath the surface run darker undercurrents, leading to a tragic ending. The opera’s wealth of melodies includes the famous Brindisi and the exuberant ‘Sempre libera’ – both showing the lyricism of Italian opera at its most immediately appealing. Richard Eyre’s production for The Royal Opera brings out all the emotional colour, from the giddy discovery of love, through painful confrontation to the inevitable conclusion. Lavish period sets and costumes enhance the reality of a moving story based on true life.
Music: Giuseppe Verdi
Director: Richard Eyre
Conductor: Antonello Manacorda
Starring: Ermonela Jaho (Violetta Valéry), Charles Castronovo (Alfredo Germont), Plácido Domingo (Giorgio Germont)
Opera in three acts - approx. 215 minutes (including two intervals)

I’m Not Running is an explosive new play by David Hare, premiering at the National Theatre and broadcast live to cinemas.

Pauline Gibson has spent her life as a doctor, the inspiring leader of a local health campaign. When she crosses paths with her old boyfriend, a stalwart loyalist in Labour Party politics, she’s faced with an agonising decision.

What’s involved in sacrificing your private life and your piece of mind for something more than a single issue? Does she dare?

Hare was recently described by The Washington Post as ‘the premiere political dramatist writing in English’. His other work includes Pravda and Skylight, broadcast by National Theatre Live in 2014.

Pablo Picasso is one of the greatest artists of all time - and right up until his death in 1973 he was the most prolific of artists.

Many films have dealt with these later years - the art, the affairs and the wide circle of friends. But where did this all begin? What made Picasso in the first place?  Somewhat overlooked, it is time to look at the early years of Picasso; the upbringing and the learning that led to his extraordinary achievements.

Three cities play a key role: Malaga, Barcelona and Paris. Young Picasso explores the influence of each on the artist, focusing on specific artworks from these early years. The film thus explains how this young artist acquired his craft. Looking carefully at two key early periods - the so-called Blue Period and Rose Period - the film takes us all the way to 1907 and the creation of a key painting in the history of art - Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.  It was a painting that shocked the art world but changed it irrevocably. Picasso was only 25 years old.  Working closely with all three Picasso Museums in Malaga, Barcelona and Paris this film explains how he rose to such great heights.