THEATRE, dance, live music and cabaret performances are just some of the “highlights” to look forward to in Teesdale village halls and community venues this autumn with the rural touring scheme.
Highlights director Kate Lynch said: “We have some real delights in store, including some of the best of our regional companies, some fantastic artists from across the UK and we are re-introducing our link with Canadian artists for the first time since 2019.
“We’re thrilled to offer our Creative Highlights events for the first time in an autumn season, thanks to an increase in funding from Arts Council England. These arts and crafts workshops offer something different to our village hall venues.”
This season sees ten events in eight community venues across Teesdale. Among the theatre highlights is a powerful one man show from storyteller Phil Okwedyt, “The Gods Are All Here” that is at Barningham Village Hall on Saturday, November 18.
Farnham Maltings will explore the roots of Americana and its impact on today’s popular music when they perform Mountain Music at Utass on Thursday, October 12, at 7.30pm.
Toronto-based duo, FreePlay return to Highlights with their engaging a cappella set, Talk to Me, which they will perform at Bowes and Gilmonby Parish Hall on Monday, October 16, at 7.30pm.
Another Canadian folk duo, Basset, will be at Boldron Village Hall on Thursday, November 23. Toronto-based acoustic songwriters Sam Clark and Yasmine Shelton have been lauded for their inventiveness and intricate harmonies, described as “voices wrapping around each other like twin flames in a fire” .
“Jack” , a new musical for families and children, will discover the truth behind the original fairytale hero at Woodland Village Hall on Saturday, October 28, at 4pm.
A multi-instrumental exultation is promised at Cotherstone Village Hall on Saturday, November 11, when musicians Amadou Diagne and Cory Seznec will take the audience on a journey from east to west Africa and also across to America.
Katie Spencer, one of UK folk’s most progressive singer-songwriters and guitarists, brings the most beautiful guitar playing to the season’s line-up. She will be performing at Scarth Hall in Staindrop on Thursday, December 7 at 7.30pm.
Award-winning magician, Romany, will ask audiences to “Believe” when she brings her comedic magic act to Mickleton Village Hall on Friday, December 8, at 7.30pm.
This autumn Highlights have arranged workshops with some of the region’s most talented artists and designers.
Northumberland artist Ruth Thompson will offer the chance to learn how to create beautiful Christmas decoration out of willow at Woodland Village Hall on Friday, December 8, from 10.30am.
Later in the evening, the popular community venue plays host to West Yorkshire-based jazz and blues trio, Hayley’s Little Big Band, at 7.30pm.
The Badapple Theatre Company round off the Highlights 2023 season when they perform Farmer Scrooge’s Christmas Carol at Hamsterley Village Hall on Saturday, December 16, at 6.30pm.
To book and for details about the full Highlights Rural Touring Scheme Autumn programme, see highlights
north.co.uk.
