Witham Hall Barnard Castle

Britain’s Got Talent 2020 top three finalist, comedian, juggler and variety star Steve Royle, takes his Royle Variety Performance on the road for a fun-filled evening for all the family. Tickets £18 (£16 under 16s). Funny Way To Be Comedy – Steve Royle (The Steve Royle Variety Performance) - The Witham

Recognised as the UK's number 1 Adele tribute act, with live four-piece band. Tickets £20 (£18 under 16s). Hometown Glory – A Tribute to Adele - The Witham

THE FUNNIEST SHOW WITH A PIANO

Jon Courtenay: Winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2020. Tickets £18 (£16 Under 16s) Funny Way To Be Comedy – Jon Courtenay: Live - The Witham

Book Sale 10am to 3pm in The Witham Room. Come along for a browse and buy. Plenty of titles to choose from. Free entry. All proceeds towards future performances at The Witham.

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon in The Witham's Victorian Music Hall, cabaret style, listening to North Yorkshire based quintet performing light Jazz and Blues with a touch of Funk and Soul. The Cafe Bar will be open for refreshments. Tickets £10 (£8 under 16s). Jazz in the Afternoon - The Witham

Quentin Crisp was one of the most memorable figures of the twentieth century.

Mark Farrelly's one-man show is a glorious, uplifting celebration of the urgent necessity to be your true self.

★★★★ Time Out “”Brilliant””
★★★★ Broadway Baby “A masterclass”
★★★★ Metro
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ London Theatre 1
★★★★ British Theatre Guide
Tickets £12 | Under 16s £10 https://thewitham.org.uk/event/naked-hope/

International cellist Alexandra Mackenzie and Ingrid Sawers (piano) present the perfect soundtrack to your Sunday afternoon.

They will play favourites from the cello repertoire ranging from Vivaldi, Schumann and Saint Saens classics to Piazzolla tango, interspersed by lively introductions and some solo piano music by Debussy and Gershwin.

Tickets £12 | £10 Under 16s https://thewitham.org.uk/event/sunday-classics-ingrid-sawyers-duo/

2020 Oscar- winning film starring Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Coleman and Mark Gatiss.

A father refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.

Running time: 1 hour 37 minutes

Tickets £5 https://thewitham.org.uk/event/film-the-father-12/

Consistently listed in the top 20 of the World Brass Band Rankings they are also renowned for giving high quality concerts.

Tickets £14 | £12 Under 16s https://thewitham.org.uk/event/reg-vardy-band/

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.

Tickets £15 https://thewitham.org.uk/event/an-evening-with-nick-butter-the-tales-of-an-extraordinary-world-first-expedition/

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) .

Tickets £15 in advance | £17 on the door https://thewitham.org.uk/event/billy-mitchell-and-bob-fox/

It’s a busy night at Frankie’s Chippy, as always.  From lasses heading out on the town, to those just passing through and the regulars who have been coming here for years. But when reports start coming in of a little girl gone missing, the community must pull together to find her before it’s too late.

Will they see what was under their noses all along?

With two performers playing all the different characters who come through the doors, Haddock and Chips will be a whistle stop tour of Whitley Bay’s finest folk.  Funny and heart-warming, this is a timely play about community and how, in the hardest of times, we can find hope in humanity.

Tickets £12 | £10 under 16s https://thewitham.org.uk/event/haddock-and-chips-14/

The award-winning broadcaster and author, Steve Richards, presents a behind-the-scenes guide to the epic dramas in British politics.

Tickets £12 | £10 under 16s https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics/

SHOWING THURS 11 TO SAT 13 NOVEMBER 7.30pm (MATINEE Sat 2.30pm)

Alan Bennett is firmly established as one of England’s most popular and endearing writers. For over fifty years he has enjoyed critical success in theatre, film and television. With a sharp ear for dialogue and a finely tuned sense of humour, his plays abound with believable yet touchingly vulnerable characters.

In this programme of one act plays, Office Suite brings together two plays under one title – Green Forms and A Visit from Miss Prothero – with Say Something Happened completing the trio.

Tickets £12 | £10 under 16s Castle Players: A Trio of One Act Plays by Alan Bennett - The Witham

6 April 1917, the Western Front. Two British soldiers are sent to deliver an urgent message to an isolated regiment. If the message is not received in time the regiment will walk into a trap and be massacred. To get to the regiment they will need to cross through enemy territory. Time is of the essence and the journey will be fraught with danger.

Triple Oscar-winning film, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, Daniel Mays, George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman.

Running time: 1 hour 59 minutes

Tickets £5 https://thewitham.org.uk/event/film-1917-15/

Filmed live at the Barbican in London, this new 5-star production of the classic musical comedy features an all-star cast led by renowned Broadway royalty Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney, alongside Robert Lindsay (My Family), Felicity Kendal (The Good Life) and Gary Wilmot (Chicago). A heart-warming romance with spectacular dance routines and some of theatre’s most memorable songs.

Tickets £12 | £10 under 16s Screening: Anything Goes – The Musical - The Witham

THURS 9 TO SAT 11 DEC 7.30pm (MATINEE SAT 2.00pm)

Teesdale Operatic Society is excited to bring their first musical to The Witham this December – the family favourite Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. It’s the story of Joseph, his brothers, that coat, an Elvis Pharoah and plenty of songs that you will have sung at school. You know you’ll be singing along, but can you remember all the colours?!

Tickets £12 | £10 under 16s | £40 Family of four TOS: Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - The Witham

Join us once again for a sumptuous concert of festive music.

The choirs of Concordia, Rondeau and No Added Sugar will entertain with carols ancient and modern, as well as traditional favourites. Each choir produces a wonderfully distinctive sound, and the concert will be your perfect start to the festive period!

Tickets £8.00 Carols by Candlelight - The Witham

Pantomime is coming to The Witham this Christmas – oh yes it is! SHOWS Fri 17 to Fri 24 DEC VARIOUS TIMES

Tom Rolfe Productions are thrilled to bring a dream of a show to Barnard Castle this festive season as they prepare to present the most spellbinding pantomime of them all – ‘Sleeping Beauty’.

Expect beautiful costumes, stunning scenery, dazzling special effects and much, much more!

BOOK TICKETS HERE: Sleeping Beauty - The Witham
Adult – £12
Under 16 – £10
Family (4 including at least 2 children) – £40 (Extra children in family ticket +£5)
Under 4’s free

Enjoy Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1955 Classic Musical, Oklahoma, on the big screen © 1955 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. With subtitles. All tickets £5.00. Running time 150 minutes. Booking link: FILM: Oklahoma (U) - The Witham

PYGMALION
By Bernard Shaw. Performed by Castle Players.

Shaw’s most popular and successful play has enjoyed numerous revivals and is the basis for Lerner and Loewe’s ever-popular musical, “My Fair Lady”.

Tickets £12 | Under 16s £10 Booking link Castle Players: Pygmalion - The Witham

A true-life spy thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman, Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history.

This film will be subtitled. All tickets £5.00

Running time: 112 minutes. Booking link FILM: The Courier (12A) - The Witham

Woman, Warrior, Legend. For ten years, Mulan, disguised as a man, has fought for the Chinese Empire, but now it is time to go home. Grist to the Mill Productions and Red Dragonfly Productions brings you the real Chinese heroine that inspired Disney’s animation and live-feature Mulan.

Tickets £10 | £8 Under 16s. Booking link The Ballad of Mulan (10+) - The Witham

This is a fundraising concert for both Barnard Castle Band and The Witham. The band will perform a programme filled with a variety of pieces to entertain a wide audience, with Andrew Nicholson conducting.

Tickets £8 | £5 Under 16s. Booking link Barnard Castle Band: Live in Concert - The Witham

James Bond’s mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

Starring Daniel Craig as 007.

This film will be subtitled.

Running time: 163 minutes. All tickets £5.00. Booking link FILM: No Time to Die (12A) - The Witham

An old man, whose wife has just passed away, uses his free local bus pass to travel to the other end of the UK, to where they originally moved from, using only local buses, on a nostalgic trip but also carrying his wife’s ashes in a small suitcase, `taking her back’.

Starring Timothy Spall and Phyllis Logan.

This film will be subtitled.

Running time: 86 minutes. All tickets £5.00. Booking link FILM: The Last Bus (12A) - The Witham

Spend an evening in the company of Harry Venning, an award-winning cartoonist, comedy writer and performer.

Harry’s cartoons have appeared in publications as diverse as The Guardian, Mathematics Today, The Radio Times, Music Teacher and The Stage.

He was awarded UK Strip Cartoonist Of The Year for his Guardian strip Clare In The Community, which he adapted into a Radio 4 sitcom.

Tickets £12 | Under 16s £10. Booking link Harry Venning: The Art of the Cartoonist - The Witham

The Monocle  – a newly created piece by Rendez-Vous Dance is inspired by the secretly notorious 1930s Parisian lesbian club Le Monocle.

The Monocle will be performed by six outstanding dancers. Conceived as a fun night out, The Monocle will re-shape traditional theatre settings into a club where audiences can participate in a highly virtuosic evening mixing dance and live music.

Have fun dressing up for the occasion and don’t forget your monocle!

Tickets from £5. Booking link The Monocle (14+) - The Witham

Nick Cope has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over 10 years.  He performs with his guitar and animations to sell-out crowds all over the country. He has an incredible fan base from all over the UK which has just grown immeasurably over the last year due to the phenomenal success of his CBeebies show Nick Cope’s Popcast.

Suitable for all ages. Running time approx. 60 minutes.

Adult Tickets £10 | Child Tickets £8. Booking link Nick Cope Family Concert - The Witham

Following the sell-out success of The War of the Worlds and The Hound of the Baskervilles, Northern Stage presents an electrifying new production adapted from H.G. Wells’ science fiction classic, featuring a new take on one of the most iconic characters in horror fiction.

Running time 80 minutes (without an interval).

Tickets £14 (under 16s £12). Booking link The Invisible Man (12+) - The Witham

Soprano Penelope Randall-Davis and pianist Ingrid Sawers mark this year’s International Women’s Day with a heart-warming and enjoyable mix of operatic arias, art song, music theatre and folk songs celebrating female experience.  Interwoven with evocative poetry and prose readings from classic writers, the programme includes music by female composers, as well as Handel, Dvořák, Strauss, Schubert and Fauré.

Tickets £12 (under 16s £10). Booking link Sunday Classics: A Woman’s Lot - The Witham

Award-winning adventurer, John Pilkington, is one of Britain’s most experienced adventurers and public speakers. After a career as an author and photographer, he spent many years with the BBC World Service and Radio 4, making travel documentaries and contributing to programmes such as ‘From Our Own Correspondent’.

In this talk hear how, in 2011, John followed a spectacular branch of the Silk Road, starting in the Caucasus and crossing the Caspian Sea to Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand. Reeling from the beauty of those legendary cities, hear how he turned south-east to explore the High Pamirs of Afghanistan – a region well-known to Marco Polo – before a dramatic finale at the source of the Oxus in the heart of Central Asia.

Tickets £12 (under 16s £10). Booking link John Pilkington – The Silk Road to Afghanistan - The Witham

John Otway is an English singer-songwriter who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona.

Support Act will be local singer-songwriter, Sam Nix from the North East.

This is a standing gig.

Tickets £15 in advance (£18 on the door). Booking link John Otway and the Big Band Gig 5000 Tour - The Witham

Based on the award-winning novel by Graham Swift, starring Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, Josh O'Connor and Odessa Young.

On a warm Spring day in 1924, house maid and foundling, Jane Fairchild, finds herself alone on Mother's Day. Her employers, Mr and Mrs Niven, are out and she has the rare chance to spend an afternoon of abandon with her secret lover, Paul.

This film will be shown with subtitles. Tickets £5 or 2 for £8. Booking link Film: Mothering Sunday - The Witham

Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tony Kushner, “West Side Story” tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City.

Starring Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Maddie Ziegler.

With subtitles.

Running time 156 minutes. Tickets £5. Booking link Film: West Side Story (12A) - 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 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 Sophia Nikolaiets who will sing some well known tunes.

All proceeds will go to the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

Tickets £6. Booking link: Ukraine Benefit Concert: Sophia Strings - The Witham

CaroleW Productions presents Melanie Gall’s Stitch in Time: A Knitting Cabaret.

A delightful evening of needlepoint and music with a scintillating selection of the lost knitting songs of WWI and WWII from Canada, Britain, America and France. Audiences are encouraged to bring their own knitting (or crochet) and stitch along to these funny, poignant, toe-tapping, needle-clicking tunes.

Tickets £12 (under 16s £10). Booking link Stitch in Time: A Knitting Cabaret - The Witham

In their first major post-lockdown tour, one of Britain’s most innovative and thrilling bands will showcase their critically acclaimed new album 'Kistvaen'. Expect intricate, captivating melodies and mesmerising harmonies underpinned with foot-stamping, crowd-pleasing rhythms. Calan’s bewildering array of instruments includes guitars, fiddles, bagpipes, harps, accordions, vocals… and, likely as not, world-class step and clog dancing!

Tickets £16.50 Booking link Calan: Kistvaen - The Witham

Barnard Castle Band is delighted to support The Witham and will perform a programme filled with a variety of pieces to entertain a wide audience. This event is a joint fundraiser event for Barnard Castle Band and The Witham. Tickets £8 (under 16s £5). Booking link Barnard Castle Band: Live in Concert - The Witham

19th century Paris is a place of contrasts: glamour and superficiality, love and lust, life and death. Including some of Verdi's most acclaimed Arias, Richard Eyre's production of La Traviata for The Royal Opera House recently celebrated 25 years and this year returns with acclaimed opera star, Pretty Yende as Violetta.

This is a live screening. Tickets £14 (under 16s £12). Booking link Royal Opera House Live: La Traviata - The Witham

A relaxing afternoon of romantic music for voice, cello and piano including pieces by Berlioz, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Donizetti, Offenbach and Debussy along with some Victorian favourites.

Mary Coffield – Soprano
Alison Gill – Piano
Jeremy Harbottle – Cello

Tickets £12 (under 16s £10). Booking link On Wings of Song - The Witham

Universal Pictures presents…Respect.

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom, this is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.

Starring Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker.

With subtitles. Running time 145 minutes. Tickets £5 or 2 for £8. Booking link Film: Respect (12A) - The Witham

Inspired by the story of the mythical wizard, Northern Ballet’s ‘Merlin’ will take audiences on a sweeping epic adventure of heartbreak, hope and more than a little magic. Choreographed by Olivier Award-winning Drew McOnie (Broadway’s King Kong and Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom), expect an enchanting spectacle. Don’t miss the legend reawakened through Northern Ballet’s blend of classical ballet and unrivalled storytelling.

Screening Running time: 130 minutes (including interval). Tickets £10 (under 16s £8) booking link Northern Ballet: Merlin (PG) - The Witham

The heavily-autobiographical black and white film is set in the city on the brink of the Troubles in the late 1960s.
Directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, ‘Belfast’ recently won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Starring: Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan
Running time: 98 minutes. Shown with subtitles. Tickets £5 booking link FILM: Belfast (12A) - The Witham

Deborah Thorne (cello) and Nicholas Butters (piano) perform works by Beethoven, Debussy, Cassado and Franck.
Concert running time 75 minutes (including interval).
Tickets £12 (under 16s £10). Booking link Sunday Classics: Deborah Thorne and Nicholas Butters - The Witham

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2019 – Nominated Musician Of The Year. Sam and his new band are putting something into English music that has never been there before. This album has the swagger and groove of traditional English music with the huge sound, flare, energy and festival spirit of bands coming out of the Celtic and Scandinavian music scenes. Leaving string sections, piano and harmonium behind, the new band features acoustic and electric guitars and double bass.

Tickets £18 in advance | £20 on the door. Booking link The Sam Sweeney Band - The Witham

Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian adventure aboard a glamorous river steamer descends into a terrifying search for a murderer when an idyllic honeymoon is shattered by violent deaths.

Based on the novel by Agatha Christie. Directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh. Distributed by Disney (2022).
Starring Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright.

Shown with subtitles.
Running time 127 minutes.
Tickets £5 or 2 for £8. Booking link FILM: Death on the Nile (12A) - The Witham

With the release of their second album ‘Cairn’, Scottish pianist Fergus McCreadie’s trio has underlined their status as one of the most exciting young groups in European jazz.

The trio’s music is dynamic and beautifully crafted, reflecting the Scottish landscape and musical traditions while honouring the American and European jazz legacies, and its huge emotional pull has brought audiences to their feet across Northern Europe and resulted in an appearance at Ronnie Scott’s International Piano Trio Festival.

Tickets £15 (under 16s £10). Booking link Fergus McCreadie Jazz Trio - The Witham

Featuring the voices of Justin Fletcher and Nicole Davis from CBeebies as Pongo the Pig and Molly-Moo the Cow (PLEASE NOTE: JUSTIN AND NICOLE DO NOT APPEAR IN PERSON). Come dressed in your best party clothes and help make Pongo’s Party a day to remember, by joining in a show full of fun, songs and laughter – play in a huge children’s band and take part in the town’s biggest ever game of pass the parcel!

With a colourful farmyard and host of loveable puppet characters, Pongo’s Party is a family show particularly suitable for 2 – 7 year olds.

Songs include: The Wheels On The Bus, Pat-A-Cake, I Am The Music Man, Old MacDonald Had A Farm, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and many more!

Running Time: 90 minutes (including interval). Adults £10 | Children £8 booking link Pongo’s Party! - The Witham

A Way Home: The fight for a place to belong 
 A play by Christina Castling. A Carole Wears Production.

It’s 1951 and a third of County Durham’s villages have been classified as ‘D’. No longer deemed worthy of investment, they’re expected to die quietly. But they refuse to go without a fight.

A Way Home is a new play rooted in the stories and memories of the people who called those D villages home. A County-wide fight lasting over 25 years becomes a 12-month journey at Bet’s kitchen table as she and her family grapple with what identity, loss and belonging really look like.

Tickets £12 (under 16s £10) booking link A Way Home - The Witham

Promoted by Funny Way to be Comedy

“The classical concert you’ve always wanted to see”

A unique mix of classic comedy and classical music. Following the surprise success of his Sony album, which reached No 1 in the UK Classical Album charts, comes Alistair McGowan’s new show, combining his talents as master impressionist and comedian with his new-found talent as a classical pianist!

Tickets £22 booking link Funny Way To Be Comedy – Alistair McGowan: The Piano Show (12+ Family Friendly) - The Witham

A playful, fresh and engaging new show aimed at children aged 4+ and their families. Meet a hedgehog waking up from hibernation to find the world is not as it once was. Come along on the adventure and see the world through tiny eyes! Playful, fresh and engaging, HEDGE combines the magic of dance with beautiful costumes, innovative props and puppetry to create a fun-filled performance space for little ones to enjoy.

“Breathtaking…I really wish all children could be introduced to dance in this way.”  Audience member.

Adult £6 | Child £5 Booking link: HEDGE - The Witham

‘The Duke’ is a moving true story that celebrates a man who was determined to live a meaningful life. Set in 1961, it follows the story of Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, who stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington.

Starring Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren, Fionn Whitehead

Running time 95 minutes. Matinee 2pm showing with subtitles. Additional evening showing 7pm. Tickets £5. Booking link: FILM: The Duke (12A) - The Witham

We are looking forward to our first Witham fundraising concert which also takes part for us during our 2nd Community Music Festival.

The Orchestra is a true community of instruments and players of all ages and abilities who meet regularly on most Saturday mornings in St. Mary’s Parish Church, Barnard Castle to rehearse music from the shows, light classics, pop, standards and novelty numbers. Many of our players are local but not all have that luxury! Often teaming up with our Community Choir for fun, family concerts, tonight our guests are the school choir from Green Lane while Cream Tees will entertain you in the foyer pre-show.

Tickets £8 | Under 16s £5. Booking link: Community Orchestra: Summer Sizzler Concert - The Witham

The Witham’s own youth theatre group ‘Turrets’ (Seniors 12 years plus) present their own original version of the Greek Tragedy, ‘The Bacchae’, by the ancient Greek playwright, Euripides.

‘The Bacchae’ is considered one of the greatest of all Greek tragedies.

Deals with violent themes. May not be suitable for younger children. Parental guidance.

Tickets £4 | £3 Booking link: Senior Turrets: The Bacchae - The Witham

Teesdale Operatic Society is delighted to welcome you to ‘A West End Walk’, a full evening of cabaret entertainment featuring all the musical theatre greats you know and love. After the sell-out successes of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Matilda Jnr, TOS is back with their youth wing TOYS to showcase the amazing talent we have in Teesdale. The evening will be compered by Dan Newell and will be full of glamour, so break out the heels and the bling and get dressed up!

Tickets £17.50. Booking link: TOS: A West End Walk - The Witham

For those who love 80s music and remember the old Discos back in the day.

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 Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen.

1980s clothes encouraged.

Andrew Nicholson is your inimitable DJ for the evening.

Book early as these tickets will sell fast! Tickets £5.00 Booking link: The Witham Re-wind 80s Disco - The Witham

Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) makes her West End debut in the UK premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play.

Tessa is a young, brilliant barrister. She has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game: defending; cross examining and winning. An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.

Justin Martin directs this solo tour de force, captured live from the intimate Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End.

Tickets £12 | £10. Booking link: National Theatre Live: Prima Facie (15) - The Witham

It’s 1943. The Allies are determined to break Hitler’s grip on occupied Europe and plan an all-out assault on Sicily; but they face an impossible challenge – how to protect a massive invasion force from potential massacre.

Directed by John Madden. Starring Colin Firth, Johnny Flynn, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew MacFadyen. Distributed by Warner Bros.

Shown with subtitles.
Running Time 128 minutes.

Tickets £5.00. Booking link: FILM: Operation Mincemeat (12A) - The Witham

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

THE QUEEN draws on scores of interviews with insiders and expert observers for its intimate, revealing and sometimes humorous portrait of a family in crisis and of a new Prime Minister operating at the height of his powers at a time of extraordinary private grief and public sorrow. Award-winning 2006 film, directed by Stephen Frears.

Starring Helen Mirren, James Cromwell, Alex Jennings, Helen McCrory, Michael Sheen, Sylvia Syms.

Running time: 100 minutes. No interval. Shown with subtitles. Tickets £5. Booking link: Film: The Queen (12A) - The Witham

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

The film explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler), seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

Directed by Baz Luhrmann.

Running time: 157 minutes. Shown with subtitles.

Tickets £5.00. Booking link: FILM: Elvis (12A) - 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

EXTRA PERFORMANCE AT 10AM DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND!

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

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

A captivating mystery-drama, based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Delia Owens.

Directed by Olivia Newman from a screenplay by Lucy Alibar.
Produced by Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter.
Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Michael Hyatt, Sterling Macer, Jr., and David Strathairn.

The story follows an abandoned yet defiant girl, Kya, who raises herself to adulthood in a North Carolina marshland, becoming a naturalist in the process. When the town’s hotshot is found dead, she is the prime suspect and tried for murder.

Running time: 125 minutes. Shown with subtitles. Tickets £5. Booking link: FILM: Where the Crawdads Sing (15) - The Witham

By Anton Chekhov, in a version by Anya Reiss directed by Jamie Lloyd.

Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) makes her West End debut in this 21st century retelling of Anton Chekhov’s tale of love and loneliness.

A young woman is desperate for fame and a way out. A young man is pining after the woman of his dreams. A successful writer longs for a sense of achievement. An actress wants to fight the changing of the times. In an isolated home in the countryside, dreams lie in tatters, hopes are dashed, and hearts broken. With nowhere left to turn, the only option is to turn on each other.

Following his critically acclaimed five-star production of Cyrano de Bergerac, Jamie Lloyd brings Anya Reiss’ adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play to stage. Filmed live in London’s West End with a cast including Tom Rhys Harries (White Lines), Daniel Monks (The Normal Heart), Sophie Wu (Fresh Meat) and Indira Varma (Game of Thrones).

Running time approx. 3 hours including interval. Tickets £12 (under 16s/students £10). Booking link: National Theatre Live Encore: The Seagull (15) - The Witham

Enjoy some of the best-known characters from Dickens as featured in Chris Foote-Wood’s one-man Edinburgh Festival show (five years at the Fringe).

Local author, actor and journalist Chris Foote-Wood, is the brother of the late Victoria Wood. He has performed on stage from an early age in panto, plays and revues while earning his living initially as a civil engineer and then mainly as a journalist and broadcaster with many appearances on tv and radio. More recently he has concentrated on writing, editing and publishing books – 21 so far – and made his debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013.

This event is a fundraiser for The Witham.

Show running time approx. 75minutes with no interval. Tickets £8 (under 16s/students £5). Booking link: The Genius of Charles Dickens - The Witham

About the Humans… should be no stranger to anyone living in and around Barnard Castle. Though possibly under different names, the band have been a regular entity in the town’s music scene since the 1990’s. A vehicle for singer/songwriter Andrew Yeadon’s songs of philosophy, world issues, love and the esoteric, the band fuse influences from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s such as Neil Young, Pink Floyd and John Martin with influences from modern electronica, world music and much more.

Providing all goes to plan the evening will include a full live performance of their album, working title: ‘A Document of the Unpredicted’ that they are currently recording which is a reflection on the world events of recent times.

This is a standing gig. Tickets £12 (under 16s/students £10). Booking link: About the Humans…Album Launch Event - The Witham

Experience the magic of Christmas at The Witham, with a re-imagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s festive fairy tale.

In a beautiful wood stands a little Fir Tree. Kept company by woodland creatures, it enjoys a peaceful life. But the Fir Tree is curious. It dreams of a world outside the forest, yearning for adventure. What will happen when it grows up? Where will it go? And will it be everything the Fir Tree wished for?

Let imaginations run wild with Shakespeare’s Globe’s resident writer Hannah Khalil‘s new re-telling of this classic fairy tale. It is suitable for all ages, big or small. So, join us this Christmas for a wonderfully festive dose of storytelling, puppetry, song and hope.

Tickets: Adults £5 | Children £3 Booking link: Turrets Youth Theatre – The Fir Tree - The Witham

The Young’uns’ live shows are renowned roller coaster rides. With heart-on-the-sleeve storytelling, beautiful lyrics, warm harmonies and relentless repartee, Sean Cooney, Michael Hughes and David Eagle (the award-winning stand-up comedian) write and sing folk songs for today.

Born from empathy, crafted with care, fired by hope, and shared with joy, The Young’uns’ songs have been described as ‘a heartfelt secular hymnary for these troubled times and a rallying call for humanity’ (The Scotsman). They have led the band to three BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (including Best Album in 2018 for Strangers) and the creation of the acclaimed international theatre show The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff (based upon their 2019 album of the same name).

Tickets £19.50 (under 16s/students £17.50). Booking link: The Young’Uns’ Christmas - The Witham

The choirs of Concordia, Canticus and No Added Sugar! join us for a sumptuous concert of festive music, with their annual ‘Carols by Candlelight Concert’.

The choirs never fail to entertain with carols ancient and modern, including traditional favourites. Each choir produces a wonderfully distinctive sound, and the concert will be your perfect start to the Festive Season.

Tickets £10 (under 16s/students £8). Booking link: Carols by Candlelight - 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

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