The rocks beneath our feet shape the landscape around us, and in the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark they tell a story spanning 500 million years.

See the work of the latest photographers to be inspired by this landscape. This is an exhibition of the top entries into the North Pennines AONB Partnership’s 2019 Framing the Land photography competition. The programme is supported by National Lottery players through the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Gallery usually closed Sunday and Monday.

2 pm - 3.30 pm, third Wednesday of the month (18 Sept, 16 Oct, 20 Nov, 18 Dec)

Everyone can sing – however much we might protest – meaning it is the most accessible form of music making. It can also play a vital role in improving our health, well-being and social life.

If you are 55+ come along to our monthly singing session led by local musician and singing teacher Jane Ford.
A relaxed, fun atmosphere is guaranteed. Absolutely no experience required.

The cost of these sessions is only £2 and we will supply a hot drink for participants. It is not necessary to pre-book this event. However, if you are planning on joining us, click through to confirm as this will help give us an idea of numbers.
3rd Wednesday of the month, 2 – 3.30pm, the Witham Room

An epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years.
Directed by Dexter Fletcher and written by Lee Hall, it stars Taron Egerton as John, with Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Sheila Eileen.

Running time: 121 mins

by William Shakespeare
‘The course of true love never did run smooth.’

A feuding fairy King and Queen of the forest cross paths with four runaway lovers and a troupe of actors trying to rehearse a play. As their dispute grows, the magical royal couple meddle with mortal lives leading to love triangles, mistaken identities and transformations… with hilarious, but dark consequences.
Shakespeare’s most famous romantic comedy will be captured live from the Bridge Theatre in London. Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Oliver Chris (Green Wing, NT Live: Young Marx), David Moorst (NT Live: Allelujah!) and Hammed Animashaun (The Barber Shop Chronicles) lead the cast as Titania, Oberon, Puck and Bottom.
Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will build on the success of his immersive staging of Julius Caesar (NT Live 2018). The Bridge Theatre will become a forest – a dream world of flying fairies, contagious fogs and moonlight revels, surrounded by a roving audience following the action on foot.

12A TBC
Running time: 180 minutes (TBC)

T

The Manchester-based quartet will take us on a fascinating journey through classical favourites including Haydn Opus 64 no 5, known as “The Lark” (naturally following on from “The Bird” they played in April) and Dvorak Opus 96 “The American”. Their third piece, or group of short pieces, has yet to be decided.

The players will guide you along the way with spoken introductions to all the music.

Lie down and look at the sky through your toes!  Can you see the world from upside down?

Can you hear the stars?

Jump onto a soft cloud and feel the wind whirling and whispering as two dancers make the space around you twist and turn. Everything is changing.

Look up or move a little closer, you may catch a glimpse if a shape, a figure or someone in the sky. Everything is in motion in this lyrical piece of dance theatre for the very young.

Coming to The Witham as part of the TakeOff Festival, England’s leading festival of theatre for children and young people, returns 21-26 October 2019 across County Durham. Ages 2-4 years

To book, please visit Theatre Hullabaloo’s website https://www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk/

Royal Opera favourite Bryn Terfel heads the cast for this new production of Donizetti’s comedy of domestic drama across two generations. The witty story of a middle-aged man whose supposed young wife runs rings around him – with her own ulterior romantic purpose in mind – has long delighted and surprised audiences, not least as presented with the sparkle of its music and the virtuoso skill of its performers. Damiano Michieletto’s exhilarating production shows how contemporary the characters still are and how immediate and touching the story remains.

Growing up in County Durham and its thriving folk scene, Harri Endersby’s music has been heavily influenced by the region’s crowd of prestigious folk singers and musicians, her lyrics being firmly rooted in the pastoral and the world of story-telling. Her new album ‘Homes/Lives’ presents a transition in style, beginning with acoustic, stripped-back tracks whilst gradually introducing electronic instrumentation and beats as the album progresses.

This interweaving of genres has been inspired by Harri’s love of Icelandic electro-folk and the likes of Ásgeir and Samaris.

Her 5-track EP ‘Ivy Crown’ released in 2014, rose to #17 in the iTunes singer-songwriter charts and had tracks played on BBC Newcastle Introducing, The Folk Show on Bishop FM, and Roger William’s ‘World of Difference’.

The rocks beneath our feet shape the landscape around us, and in the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark they tell a story spanning 500 million years.

See the work of the latest photographers to be inspired by this landscape. This is an exhibition of the top entries into the North Pennines AONB Partnership’s 2019 Framing the Land photography competition. The programme is supported by National Lottery players through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

• 10:00 am
• 10:45 am
• 11:30 am
• 12:15 pm
• 1:30 pm
• 2:15 pm
• 

Based on NASA’s most nail-biting mission, Ron Howard’s suspenseful drama follows astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) as they leave Earth’s orbit. When an oxygen tank explodes, however, their intended moon landing is called off, and their mission becomes a battle to survive.

The Witham has programmed this classic film screening as part of The 2019 North Pennines Stargazing Festival (#NorthPennStarFest19) which runs between 23 October and 3 November – during Autumn Half Term.

With darkly Gothic sets and costumes, Northern Ballet is resurrecting Bram Stoker’s classic horror story for special LIVE screenings in cinemas this Halloween.   The haunting tale of passion and immortality is played out through a unique blend of sensuous dancing and gripping theatre - this is ballet with a dramatic bite. Created by Northern Ballet's Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, with atmospheric music by Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt, Michael Daugherty and Sergei Rachmaninov, Dracula is a thrilling adaptation that will leave you thirsty for more.

20 stalls of handmade gifts and goods from Jewellery, prints, jams, toys and cards to scarves, hats, chocolate, soaps, knitted-gifts, puzzles, wooden-gifts and bags.

From Billy Elliot to Close the Coalhouse door, When the Board comes in to The Pitmen Painters, hear the sounds and stories of the Pitmen Poets.After their sell out UK tour of 2017 the four Pitmen Poets return for their final tour in 2019.  Ex-Lindisfarne singer and songwriter Billy Mitchell, Warhorse Songman Bob Fox, leading exponent of Tyneside song Benny Graham, and much-covered Durham songwriter Jez Lowe individually and collectively celebrating the triumphs, tragedy, humour and hard times of North-East England’s coal mining tradition in an evening of music, song and spoken word.

From The Royal Ballet’s classical origins in the works of Marius Petipa, to the home-grown choreographers who put British ballet on the world stage, this mixed programme highlights the versatility of the Company. Petipa’s Raymonda Act III is Russian classical ballet summarised in one act, full of sparkle and precise technique, while Ashton’s Enigma Variations is quintessentially British in every way – from its score by Elgar and period designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman, to Ashton’s signature style, the essence of British ballet. Concerto, MacMillan’s fusion of classical technique with a contemporary mind, completes a programme that shows the breadth of The Royal Ballet’s heritage.
The Royal Ballet

Music: Dmitry Shostakovich | Edward Elgar | Alexander Glazunov

Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan | Frederick Ashton | Rudolf Nureyev after Marius Petipa

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Approx. 3 hours

Mountaineering talk by Doug Scott CBE

Legendary mountaineer Doug Scott give a fascinating insight into how a lad born in Nottingham during the darkest days of WWII got into climbing on the Black Rocks in Derbyshire – aided with nothing but his mother’s clothes line, and how this led him to Everest in 1975.

At dusk on 24 September, Doug and Dougal Haston became the first Britons to reach the summit of Everest as lead climbers on Chris Bonington’s epic expedition to the mountain’s south-west face. As darkness fell they scraped a small cave in the snow 100 metres below the summit and survived the highest bivouac ever – without bottled oxygen, sleeping bags and, as it turned out, frostbite. For Doug Scott, it was the fulfilment of a fortune-teller’s prophesy given to his mother: that her eldest son would be in danger in a high place with the whole world watching.

Scott and Haston returned home national heroes with their image splashed across the front pages. Scott went on to become one of Britain’s greatest ever mountaineers, pioneering new climbs in the remotest corners of the globe. His career spans the golden age of British climbing from the 1960s boom in outdoor adventure, to the new wave of lightweight alpinism throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Proceeds from the evening will support the work of Community Action Nepal www.canepal.org.uk and include a sale of Nepalese goods and an auction of signed framed mountaineering prints. Doug will update the audience about the post-earthquake reconstruction of CAN’s projects. He will also be signing copies of his posters and books

In their five years, Scottish firebrands Talisk have stacked up several major awards for their explosively energetic yet artfully woven sound, including 2018’s Belhaven Bursary for Innovation & 2017’s Folk Band of the Year both at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, and a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award.

Mohsen Amini – the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Musician of the Year 2018, Hayley Keenan and Graeme Armstrong seamlessly meld concertina, fiddle and guitar to produce a multi-layered, enthralling signature that has effortlessly captivated audiences from the USA to Australia, and throughout the UK.

Appearances at world-leading festivals – including the Cambridge Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder, WOMAD UK and Las Palmas, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Celtic Colours, Milwaukee Irish Festival and five successive outings at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections – have amassed a die-hard following, whilst the world’s folk and world music media have also lauded high credits upon the trio. The release of their hotly anticipated second album, Beyond, in October 2018 was met with a five-star ‘Top of the World’ review in Songlines, praising the band as “incredibly infectious and endearing… fresh, invigorating, accomplished and playfully frisky.”

“a rockin’ powerhouse” The Herald
“Doubling the power of three” The Scotsman
“The musicianship is phenomenal, the enthusiasm infectious” Folk Radio UK

Old Kent Road are a group of tap dancers who are together raising the game in the UK tap dance scene.

Their groundbreaking new show – the first work by a British tap dance company to be performed at Sadler’s Wells – is an energetic fusion of classical tap and street dance attitude. Oscillate explores human interactions and the effects of communication on relationships through a pounding piece of tap dance theatre performed to an orignal score of electronic dance music.

“Something very special and unique … this earthquake of a show transcends the boundaries of conventional tap … Transforms tap to a seemingly incomprehensible level of excellence … a delicious show that the tap world, and the world of dance generally, desperately needs!” Heart London ★★★★

“Impossible to keep your eyes off the stage for even one second” London Theatre Review

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.

Original work and a strong ‘up-cycled’ theme. Demonstrations and ‘have-a-go sessions’ for all ages.

Admission is free but a donation to St Teresa’s Hospice would be gratefully received.

2 pm - 3.30 pm, third Wednesday of the month (18 Sept, 16 Oct, 20 Nov, 18 Dec)

Everyone can sing – however much we might protest – meaning it is the most accessible form of music making. It can also play a vital role in improving our health, well-being and social life.

If you are 55+ come along to our monthly singing session led by local musician and singing teacher Jane Ford.
A relaxed, fun atmosphere is guaranteed. Absolutely no experience required.

The cost of these sessions is only £2 and we will supply a hot drink for participants. It is not necessary to pre-book this event. However, if you are planning on joining us, click through to confirm as this will help give us an idea of numbers.
3rd Wednesday of the month, 2 – 3.30pm, the Witham Room

Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Directed by Vicky Jones

★★★★★   ‘Witty, filthy and supreme.‘    Guardian

See the hilarious, award-winning, one-woman show that inspired the BBC’s hit TV series Fleabag, broadcast live to cinemas from London’s West End. Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) and directed by Vicky Jones, Fleabag is a rip-roaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life.

Fleabag may seem oversexed, emotionally unfiltered and self-obsessed, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With family and friendships under strain and a guinea pig café struggling to keep afloat, Fleabag suddenly finds herself with nothing to lose.

Playing to sold-out audiences in New York and London, don’t miss your chance to see this ‘legitimately hilarious show’ (New Yorker), broadcast live to a cinema near you.

15 TBC   |   Running time: 100 minutes (TBC)

Presented by DryWrite, Soho Theatre and Annapurna Theatre
Show image by Jason Hetherington

Just married. Buried alive. Hedda longs to be free. The Castle Players present Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, Hedda Gabler in an adaptation by Patrick Marber.

When Hedda returns from her honeymoon, she finds herself trapped in a dull and tedious marriage. As her world begins to close in around her, Hedda makes an attempt to regain control of her life. She begins a campaign of manipulation and lies, only to see her actions result in disastrous consequences.

20 stalls of handmade gifts and goods from Jewellery, prints, jams, toys and cards to scarves, hats, chocolate, soaps, knitted-gifts, puzzles, wooden-gifts and bags.

Amanda Owen is a shepherdess, farmer’s wife, mother to nine children, a passionate photographer and a Sunday Times bestselling author. Amanda’s first book The Yorkshire Shepherdess from 2014 offers an inspiring account of her transformation from Huddersfield townie to rural sheep farmer. Her second book A Year in the Life of the Yorkshire Shepherdess made it to number 2 in the bestsellers charts. Amanda has also appeared on Countrywise (ITV), The Dales (ITV) and Ben Fogle’s New Lives In The Wild (C5).

This is a joyful exhibition for the Christmas season by 3 Teesdale artists, Ann Whitfield, Jane Young and Jen Wyse.

Ann draws her inspiration from the wildness of the Northern landscape: hills and dales or the rocky foreshores of the North East coast: the wild places, ravaged by time and weather.

Jane’s art practice has evolved around colour and how it affects her emotions. She experiments with a variety of mediums and colour, as a vehicle in itself, is fundamental. Her walks by the river Tees are a never ending source of inspiration.

Working from her studio in beautiful Teesdale, Jen likes to draw on life’s experiences as she conveys her love of nature on canvas.

The gallery is usually closed Sunday and Monday.

by Simon Wood

Hansard; noun    |  The official report of all parliamentary debates.

See two-time Olivier Award winners, Lindsay Duncan (Birdman, About Time) and Alex Jennings (The Lady in the Van, The Queen), in this brand-new play by Simon Wood, broadcast live from the National Theatre in London.
It’s a summer’s morning in 1988 and Tory politician Robin Hesketh has returned home to the idyllic Cotswold house he shares with his wife of 30 years, Diana. But all is not as blissful as it seems. Diana has a stinking hangover, a fox is destroying the garden, and secrets are being dug up all over the place. As the day draws on, what starts as gentle ribbing and the familiar rhythms of marital scrapping quickly turns to blood-sport.
Don’t miss this witty and devastating portrait of the governing class, directed by Simon Godwin (NT Live: Antony & Cleopatra, Twelfth Night) and part of National Theatre Live’s 10th birthday season.

15 TBC
Running time: 180 minutes (TBC)

Blazin’ Fiddles are one of the world’s most prolific fiddle groups.
Celebrating their 21st year in 2019 – now with nine albums and many thousands of miles and behind them, yet a passion that burns brighter than ever – no other band has quite managed to capture the excitement, sensitivity and raw fire of Scottish music all at once.
With a ‘Blazers performance comes the unique opportunity to hear the regional expressions and diverse fiddle dialects from Scotland’s Highlands and islands, and the individual style from each music.
The four fiddle frontline of Inverness’ Bruce MacGregor, Shetlander Jenna Reid, Nairn’s Rua Macmillan and Orcadian Kristan Harvey are joined by guitar and piano from Anna Massie and Angus Lyon, where fiddles and bows ignite in a blend of ensemble and solo sets.
Whatever the hall – be it in a remote Highland village or London’s Royal Albert – this legendary, multi award-winning act never fails to set the hearts of their audiences alight.

We at The Witham are delighted to be welcoming the Blazin’ Fiddles back to Barnard Castle.

The Witham Hall Disco Is Back.. for the first 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.

Everyone welcome – even if you didn’t attend one of the original discos back in the day!

This is a fundraising event to support The Witham (long may it last and bring the disco back to new generations!)

With nights drawing in, bring a little light to a dark December evening and come to a talk, A Victorian history of the candle, at The Witham.
The talk is illuminated with practical demonstrations to show the structure of candle flames and is based on a series of six Christmas lectures given by Michael Faraday at the Royal Institution in London in 1860/1. Some of the famous Victorian scientist’s demonstrations are recreated and reveal the fascination of that everyday object, the candle. There will also be opportunities for the audience to examine lit candles close up and to try some of the simpler experiments.
The Victorians are noted for their enthusiasm for ‘natural philosophy’ – chemistry and physics in today’s terminology – and organisations such as the Mechanics’ Institute arranged lectures and talks that were very popular and attracted large audiences on many subjects. The Witham was built more than 170 years ago as a home for events such as these. Continuing that long and fine tradition, this talk will be held on Tuesday, 3rd December at 7pm.

BOOTLEG BLONDIE is the official Debbie Harry & Blondie tribute band.

As the only Blondie tribute to play the legendary CBGB in New York City and have actually toured the UK with one of Blondie’s founding members, legendary and celebrated drummer Clem Burke, to celebrate 40 years since the release of Blondie’s iconic album, Parallel Lines.

Debbie Harris and Bootleg Blondie have played major venues and festivals around the UK and Europe including the Isle of  Wight Festival, the 100 Club, the Hammersmith Palais, the Electric Ballroom London, and have opened for The Undertones, Slade, Hazel O’Connor, Bananarama, David Essex and Chas and Dave!

Debbie Harris, lead vocalist of Bootleg Blondie, has the looks, the voice and the attitude of the original Blondie bombshell and, like her heroine, is typically outrageous on stage. Debbie’s pride & joy is her guitar which she plays at every show and is signed by all the Blondie band members.
She performed on two shows for BBC1 when she was picked out of 15,000 applicants to represent Debbie Harry on ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’ hosted by Paddy McGuinness which attracted an audience of 10 million viewers!

‘Good luck with your show!’ DEBBIE HARRY

Due to demand this is now a standing only event  |  Running time: approximate 2 hours.

Stephen Raine is an artist who is inspired to bring music to an all-encompassing audience. Born in Durham, Stephen began studying music at the age of 6.

He first played the Piano Accordion and performed frequently in concerts and festivals throughout his childhood. He began studying the piano after being inspired by hearing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and includes Bach in many of his performances. Stephen graduated from the London College of Music in 2013 with a First Class Honours degree and a Licentiate of the London College of Music (LLCM) diploma in Piano Performance.

A classic returns to The Royal Ballet repertory with Ninette de Valois’ charming and funny Coppélia – a story of love, mischief and mechanical dolls. The intricate choreography is set to Delibes’ delightful score and shows off the technical precision and comedic timing of the whole Company. Osbert Lancaster’s designs bring a colourful storybook world to life in this Christmas treat for the whole family.

by Noël Coward

Matthew Warchus directs Andrew Scott (BBC’s Sherlock, Fleabag) in Noël Coward’s provocative comedy Present Laughter.
As he prepares to embark on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Essendine’s colourful life is in danger of spiralling out of control. Engulfed by an escalating identity crisis as his many and various relationships compete for his attention, Garry’s few remaining days at home are a chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soul-searching.
Captured live from The Old Vic in London, Present Laughter is a giddy and surprisingly modern reflection on fame, desire and loneliness.

12A TBC
Running time: 180 minutes (TBC)

For 15 years Jim Moray has been at the forefront of a new movement in English traditional music. His debut album Sweet England changed the sound of folk song and won a brace of awards for its innovative melding of orchestration and electronica. Subsequent albums embraced everything from grime to Johnny Marr-esque guitar pop, but at their heart was always Jim’s unmistakeable soulful and yearning voice; singing old songs in a new way. His sixth album Upcetera heralds a new chapter for the producer and has received the best reviews of his career, including five stars from Mojo, fRoots and R2 magazines.

Join us for a feast of Christmas Music featuring the lively community choir, noaddedsugar with vocal ensemble Carilon and the ever-popular all-female group, Concordia.

Enjoy carol old and new and join in with some traditional favourites!

There is an option to book your mulled wine and mince pie in advance. Give yourself to a lovely Christmas treat.

Come and enjoy a wonderful Christmas experience at The Witham this festive season. 30 minute session.

Our Father Christmas sessions give the family the chance to only meet Father Christmas in his reindeer-pulled caravan but also enjoy a craft session where they can make a gift to takeaway.  Each session is 30 minutes and they are from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 14 or 21 December – please book your slot on the website (or at the box office)

2 pm - 3.30 pm, third Wednesday of the month (18 Sept, 16 Oct, 20 Nov, 18 Dec)

Everyone can sing – however much we might protest – meaning it is the most accessible form of music making. It can also play a vital role in improving our health, well-being and social life.

If you are 55+ come along to our monthly singing session led by local musician and singing teacher Jane Ford.
A relaxed, fun atmosphere is guaranteed. Absolutely no experience required.

The cost of these sessions is only £2 and we will supply a hot drink for participants. It is not necessary to pre-book this event. However, if you are planning on joining us, click through to confirm as this will help give us an idea of numbers.
3rd Wednesday of the month, 2 – 3.30pm, the Witham Room

The Real Story of A Christmas Carol
Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.

Oh no he wasn’t! Bah! Dead? Humbug, Mr.Dickens! Dead? As sure as the clothes moths in my wardrobe have be-shredded my best nightcap, Marley was not dead but rather sitting on some sun-soaked, off-shore beach squandering all the hard-earned money that he had so fraudulently embezzled from my firm over the years! Dead? Bah!

You know nothing Mr.Dickens! YOU are a fraud sir – an embezzler of the truth! A fake news-smith! A charlatan… Charlatan Dickens! Bah!”

In this revelatory exclusive, Ebeneezer Scrooge opens his Diary to expose the awful truth about Tiny Tim, the Fezziwigs, Jacob Marley… and that disgustingly jolly, gluttonous, consumer-driven Ghost of Christmas Present… as he reveals the truth behind a Christmas Carol and the vengeful, slanderous, upstart author of that novel.

Why not ruin someone’s Christmas and buy them a ticket as an early Present!
Running time: 90 minutes plus interval

George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all – and it’s Christmas! As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence – who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all his good deeds over the years.
“The kind of experience movies were invented for… James Stewart’s journey to despair and back warms the cockles like nothing else.“

Come and enjoy a wonderful Christmas experience at The Witham this festive season. 30 minute session.

Our Father Christmas sessions give the family the chance to only meet Father Christmas in his reindeer-pulled caravan but also enjoy a craft session where they can make a gift to takeaway.  Each session is 30 minutes and they are from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 14 or 21 December – please book your slot on the website (or at the box office)