AN eclectic mix of music, drama and crafts has been lined up for rural village halls across Teesdale during the coming weeks.
The Highlights Rural Touring Scheme has organised ten shows across the dale, along with the visit of a contemporary craft exhibition to the Bowlees Visitor Centre and The Witham.
First up is a treat for rural theatre fans, with the visit of Our Frances, a play which celebrates the life and heroism of Frances Cluett, who nursed soldiers from a small clearing station outside Rouen during the First World War.
Her story is told by Canada’s Theatre Newfoundland Labrador and is inspired by her letters to home, detailing the horrors and heartbreak she witnessed.
There will be performances at Whorlton Village Hall on Tuesday, October 2, and Utass, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, on Wednesday, October 3.
Northern Stage’s version of the HG Wells sci-fi classic War of the Worlds will be performed at Hamsterley Village Hall on Friday, October 5.
Music is on the menu at Cotherstone Village Hall on Wednesday, October 17, when Montreal-based multi-instrumentalists Bon Debarras present En panne de silence.
The show features original roots music, played on guitars, banjo, fiddle, harmonica and vocals that showcases their blazing foot and body percussion and jigging – a cross between step and tap dancing.
There’s more music at Boldron Village Hall on Thursday, November 1, when The Jaywalkers bring a mix of covers, traditional music and original songs with three-part harmony and impressive slap bass.
Between them they play violin, guitar, mandolin and double bass and entertain audiences with plenty of good humoured banter.
It’s back to the First World War at Mickleton Village Hall on Thursday, November 8, for Mata Hari: Female Spy.
Not forgetting the theatregoers of the future, Utass will host Garlic Theatre’s Jack and the Beans Talk on Saturday, November 10.
Suitable for ages three to seven, it is an inventive puppet show which tells the tale of what happens when Jack swaps his cow for some magic beans.
Still with children’s entertainment, Kenneth Grahame’s much loved classic The Wind in the Willows comes to Scarth Hall, Staindrop, on Saturday, November 17.
Again featuring puppetry, the show is suitable for ages five and older.
Barningham Village Hall will welcome guitarist James Birkett and Emma Fisk on violin as they pay tribute to the music of Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, the Italian-American duo who pioneered hot violin and guitar jazz in the 1920s and 30s.
The show takes place on Friday, November 23.
Finally, festive fun comes to The Witham on Sunday, December 9, with Squashbox Theatre’s The Chistmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness.
A celebration of all things Christmas, it is suitable for ages five and older.
This season’s contemporary craft tour is entitled Craft+Conflict.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the exhibition features the work of 12 contemporary artists from Syria, Sweden, Sri Lanka and the UK whose work is in a variety of media including ceramic, textiles, enamel, resin and film.
Details of the full Highlights autumn programme, including performances in neighbouring Wear Valley are available at www.highlights north.co.uk.
