DALE antiques expert David Harper is hitting the road on a new venture – a one-man theatre show.
Billed as David Harper – antiques, art, cars and television – live and unscripted, the popular TV personality from shows such as the BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip has lined up a short four-date tour.
It will kick-off with a fundraising show at The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Sunday, December 9.
Other dates include Darlington Hullaballoo on Tuesday, January 15; Hexham Queen’s Hall on Friday, January 25; and the Forum at Northallerton, on Friday, February 15.
Mr Harper said the idea for a theatre show came after he was asked to compere a charity variety night at The Witham as part of the public appeal to raised cash to save the venue from closure.
He said his stage show would be based on the talks he is invited to give to groups around the country.
“The idea is people can bring along an object if they want to, ask a question or simply turn up,” he said.
“It is very interactive. I have done about 100 of these talks and no two are the same because no two audiences are the same. It’s brilliant, you simply don’t know where it’s going to go.
“There are also stories and anecdotes from the antiques world and the TV shows.”
While continuing to give talks as a guest speaker, Mr Harper said he really wanted to develop his own stage show and eventually take it to the Edinburgh Fringe.
He said he hoped to attract a wide ranging audience to his theatre shows.
“You have got those who watch the antiques programmes, but I hope – and would like to think – it would be a bit of a night out, old fashioned entertainment, with one person on stage and the audience part of it if the want to be.
“There is nothing quite like it.”
Tickets for Mr Harper’s show at The Witham are £10 for adults and £5 for those under 16.
Contact the box office on 01833 631107 or go to www. thewitham.org.uk
