Tag: whats on

Rent A Cop Christmas Special Clips Released

By on 18th December 2015in Entertainment, Film & TV

The final episode of the Rent A Cop series may have aired last night, but there’s still more to come…

Fans of the show will be pleased to hear that the Rent A Cop Christmas Special will be aired on Tuesday 22nd December.

The festive episode is set to see the return of faithful Sparta sidekick Luke ‘Pembow’ Pemberton, and the debut appearance of ‘Sparta Claus’.

Ahead of the episode’s first airing, BBC Three have released two exclusive clips as a taster. See the clips below…

Sparta frontman Francis Jones is also reported to be stepping back into the boxing ring, where he’ll be living up to his nickname ‘Fearless’. Secretary Rachel will be taking on the role of drill instructor as Francis works to shed the pounds before his comeback charity match.

Word on the street in Darlo is that the Sparta gang have had their Christmas tree up since early November, so the episode should be full to the brim with festive cheer and – hopefully – some wintery justice… Francis Jones style.

Have you seen Sparta’s Christmas tree? Are you looking forward to the Christmas Special? Leave a comment below!

Durham County Cricket Club Announce 2016 Super Sunday

By on 18th December 2015in Entertainment

Durham cricket fans are getting themselves in a spin over DCCC’s announcement regarding next year’s Super Sunday…

Following the announcement this summer that Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground is set to host the second Spring Investec Test between England and Sri Lanka (27th-31st May 2016), Durham County Cricket Club has today unveiled the third test day will be dubbed ‘Super Sunday’ – offering spectators a family-friendly day of International Cricket with a distinct local accent.

David Harker, chief executive at Durham County Cricket Club, said: “Super Sunday is going to be just that – a brilliant day, excellent food, drink and of course, some top-class cricket! The test match will be a great advert for cricket in the region, but Sunday in particular will be an occasion with real carnival atmosphere, whether you’re a regular at the ground or not.

“We have long-hosted high-profile cricket matches right here in the heart of the North East, and it is always an honour to do so.”

It’s estimated that the second Spring Investec Test between England and Sri Lanka will have an overall economic impact of £1.5m, highlighting the value of hosting international sporting events. Full details about what’s on offer to spectators across Super Sunday will be confirmed in the New Year.

David added: “The five-day Investec Test Match will bring the thrill of international sport back to the region, and will also be an exciting preview to a series of international matches set to take place in the coming years, including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. We hope Super Sunday will allow us to add to the already exciting cricketing experience with fantastic local fare and entertainment.”

Tickets are now on sale for what will be the first Test Match at the ground since England dramatically won the Ashes in Durham in 2013. It is the only opportunity for fans to see England compete internationally in the region in 2016, and special early-bird ticket prices are available until Christmas.

Visit www.durhamccc.co.uk/international-cricket/ for more details and to buy tickets.

Heart Of Teesdale Helping Locals Reconnect With Nature

By on 16th December 2015in In & Around

The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership want to help us reconnect with nature…

 

The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership is holding a free guided walk on how to identify trees in winter without their leaves. This session will take place from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday 16th January in Flatts Woods, Barnard Castle.

The session will look at key features that can help identification, some quick and easy tips, and also talk about the uses and folklore surrounding some of our native trees.

The walk leader, Bruce Ferguson of Wild North Discovery, is currently writing a series of articles for the Northumbrian Magazine on tree lore covering uses past and present, folklore and mythology. The walk forms part of the Heart of Teesdale’s Landscape Discovery project, which aims to reconnect local communities with their landscape and heritage through training and workshops.

This event is free of charge, but places are limited so booking is essential. The event is also suitable for children 13 and over, accompanied by an adult. Please ensure you bring waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear. All equipment is provided.

To book a place, please contact Alex Sijpesteijn on 03000 260842 or email alex.sijpesteijn@durham.gov.uk.

Jez Lowe Brings Annual Christmas Show To County Durham

By on 14th December 2015in Entertainment, Music

Folk music favourite Jez Lowe is returning to County Durham to perform his annual Christmas show…

 

Fresh from a solo tour of North America, the BBC Folk Awards 2015 nominee, his multi-talented band The Bad Pennies, and special guest Benny Graham, will bring Mistletoe on Tyne to Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday 16th December.

Their unique take on the festive season is part folk concert and part music-hall revue, with new and old seasonal songs, and a hearty dose of humour,.

Mistletoe on Tyne takes place at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday 16th December at 8pm.

Tickets are selling fast, but to book your place – priced £10 or £8 for concessions – call the box office on 03000 269 524.

Ramside Spa Offers Relaxing Alternative To Boxing Day Dip

By on 13th December 2015in Lifestyle

North East people who don’t want to brave the cold of the sea on Boxing Day are being offered a warmer alternative by the region’s top spa…

The award-winning Spa at Ramside, at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham, has unveiled a special Boxing Day package which includes doing a very different kind of dipping.

Guests can book in for a special spa day which includes a welcome drink on arrival, full use of the spa facilities, and a choice of either a two course brunch or a spa Asian-inspired afternoon tea.

The package costs £65 per person, with an additional attraction for groups of between four and eight people – exclusive use of the balcony infinity pool for an hour.

A number of extras can also be added to the package at £30 each, including a 30 minute back or foot massage, a 30 min salt and oil scrub, or an express facial.

“Boxing Day is a time when people often just want to chill out after the excesses of Christmas Day,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“And not everyone is brave enough to go into the sea, so our Boxing Day is a much warmer alternative!”

Bookings for the Boxing Day package can be made by contacting the spa on 0191 375 3088, or by emailing enquiries@ramsidespa.co.uk.

Panto Stars Lend A Helping Hand To Newcastle Animal Shelter

By on 10th December 2015in Entertainment

Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Dick Whittington has gone in search of his cat…

Danny Adams, who plays Dick Whittington in this year’s Newcastle panto, has spent time volunteering alongside fellow star Steve Arnott, who plays King Rat, helping out the charity with their Christmas Appeal.

The shelter is running a pet toy appeal this Christmas, requesting that members of the public donate toys for animals who stay over the festive period.

Danny said: “Everyone knows Dick Whittington wouldn’t have got anywhere without his trusty cat by his side, so I was delighted to come down to help out with these needy cats in Newcastle. I’ve brought the big bad King Rat with me too, just in case these cats want someone to pounce on!”

Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter helps thousands of lost, unwanted, neglected, abused and abandoned animals every year. Leyla Rutter, Chief Executive of the Shelter, said: “We try not to re-home our animals over Christmas because it can be a very stressful time for pets, when houses are at their busiest and most chaotic with visitors and presents. That means we have lots of pets at the shelter over the festive period, and so we’re asking the public to help us out with toys to keep the animals entertained, and also help us to continue their development and socialisation as we get them ready to be re-homed in January.”

Danny Adams and Steve Arnott took time out of their busy panto schedule to volunteer feeding, grooming and handling the cats and kittens at the shelter. Steve said: “We do 92 performances of Dick Whittington over 55 days. It’s a very hectic schedule, but we love it, and it is wonderful to be able to come to places like this in our spare time and give a little something back to the community who support us throughout the season. Being from this area, I know what a great job the shelter does re-homing animals, and it’s a pleasure to be able to help with their appeal this year – I just hope the cats haven’t been trained to chase rats!”

Steve is just one of a clutch of Geordie talent gracing the Theatre Royal stage in this year’s panto.

The Whitley Bay baddie is getting his teeth into the grizzly role of King Rat alongside former Emmerdale actress Charlie Hardwick, who brings sparkle and shine as Spirit of the Tyne. Actor and comedian Pete Peverley takes on the lovable role of Bobby the Cat, and fair maiden Alice Fitzwarren is played by Jarrow actress Alice Stokoe.

The team join the fabulous father and son duo of Danny Adams (Dick Whittington) and Clive Webb (Councillor Fitzfenwick), who are firm favourites with Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences as they fill the stage with non-stop laughter, energy, slap-stick humour and of course the odd ‘acciderrrrnt’! Joining them once again is panto’s most dazzling dame, Chris Hayward, who will be entertaining all her ‘bonny bairns’ as Dame Rita Fitzfenwick, while adding a wardrobe full of glitz and glamour to the show.

The Theatre Royal panto is well-known for its spectacular sets, sensational music and dance, and hilarious comedy routines – and this year is no exception. Add to that plenty of local twists and humour, and you’re in for hods of bonny bairns, canny lasses and the odd radgie gadgie gracing the stage!

Audiences can also expect breathtaking special effects, once again provided by The Twins FX (the award-winning company behind previous years’ looping reindeer sleigh, flying helicopter and magic carpet). Plus, returning again due to popular demand, are incredible 3D special effects.

Dick Whittington is proudly supported by local Media Partner Heart North East and plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Sunday 17th January 2016. Tickets are available from £12.50 (pay less online) and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (all calls are charged at 7p a minute plus your phone company’s access charge, calls from mobiles may vary, please contact your operator for details).

Gala Theatre Reveals Extensive Spring Events Lineup

By on 10th December 2015in Entertainment, Events

A pop icon, top comedians, and new work by The Gruffalo’s creators will take to the stage as part of the Gala Theatre’s jam-packed spring season…

Lulu, Chris Ramsey, Rob Delaney, and Mark Steel will all tread the boards alongside the likes of Stig of the Dump, Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch, and the Northern Ballet in a star-studded line up from January to April.

Robin Byers, Durham County Council’s service manager for place and experience, said: “We always aspire to bring the people of Durham the finest in theatre, comedy, music and film. Our spring programme is no exception, with highlights including performances from the internationally-renowned Lulu and Northern Stage’s adaptation of Get Carter.

“As well as live performance, we’re also continuing to showcase the best in British theatre courtesy of the National Theatre, and are delighted to bring world-class art exhibitions to our screens for the first time with the new Exhibition on Screen series.

“There’s plenty to keep our loyal customers entertained, whilst welcoming new audiences to Gala too.”

The season kicks off on Saturday 9th January with The Rat Pack Spectacular, before the Northern Ballet look to follow up its sell-out Three Little Pigs and Elves & The Shoemaker shows with the Tortoise & The Hare on Wednesday 3rd February.

Nashville-based singer song-writer Gretchen Peters brings her 20th anniversary tour to Gala on Thursday 4th February, then playwright John Godber’s new comedy Shafted! will trace what happened to a couple from Yorkshire thirty years after the miner’s strike on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February.

After the phenomenal success of last year’s The Phantom Of The Opera, the Gala Theatre Stage School return with an evening of song and dance in GTSS Goes To The Movies on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th February.

 

And Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch completes a stellar week with his performance of stripped down versions of the Merseyside band’s classic tracks, as well as his own solo songs, on Saturday 20th February.

March brings laughter in the shape of US comedian Rob Delaney, the star and co-creator of hit Channel 4 show Catastrophe, on Thursday 10th March.

And there’ll be plenty to shout about as Lulu stops by the Gala as part of her latest tour on Tuesday 15th March.

 

The comedy returns on Friday March 25th as North East stand up and former Hebburn star Chris Ramsey takes to the stage, closely followed by Have I Got News For You regular Mark Steel on Thursday 31st March.

In between the funny men, Gala has Easter weekend covered with a stage adaptation of the classic children’s novel Stig Of The Dump on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March.

The family fun continues on Thursday 31st March, with the latest show from The Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales.

Meanwhile, a gritty crime drama, bringing to life the hard and uncompromising world of 1960s Newcastle, a city rife with crime, sex, gambling and violence, will see Northern Stage following in the footsteps of Michael Caine for an adaptation of Get Carter.

Rounding out the season, the Gala welcomes another heart-warming play packed with humour and great sixties songs in Tom Kelly’s Baby Love from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th April, and an evening of folk music courtesy of local lads The Young’uns on Saturday 30th April.

As well as the performers on stage, the theatre will also have a number of special events on its cinema screen.

 

NT Live returns with broadcasts of the National Theatre’s productions of Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Thursday 28th January and Shakespeare’s As You Like It on Monday 29th February.

Then, coming to the venue for the first time, Exhibition On Screen will bring films of art from The National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and beyond to the heart of Durham.

Exhibitions on show will include the works of Goya, on Monday 22nd February; Renoir, on Monday 14th March; and Monet and Matisse, on Monday 18th April.

Tickets for all of these events and more can be bought by calling the Gala Box Office on 03000 266 600, visiting the venue in person, or online at www.galadurham.co.uk.

Newcastle’s Toffee Factory To Host Return Of The Illuminarium

By on 8th December 2015in Entertainment, Events, What's On?

Newcastle’s Toffee Factory is set to play host to the wonderful world of nocturnal insects this weekend…

The Illuminarium is an ambitious, digital moving image installation by artists Chloe Rodham and Tim Lozinski, which dazzled audiences when it launched at Queens Hall in Hexham in October.

If you weren’t lucky enough to see it there, you’ll now have a second chance as the installation comes to the Toffee Factory on Newcastle’s Quayside, from 10th until 12th December. Entrance to The Illuminarium is free and runs from 4pm until 8pm.

Described as an Alice In Wonderland-esque experience, the installation will be housed outside in a tent-like structure, and promises to take visitors on a trip through the life cycle of one of the world’s most mysterious creatures: the moth.

With the use of luminous sculptures, multiple projections, sound and stop-motion animation, the beautifully crafted models are sure to enchant and engage audiences.

Emerging Northumberland-based artist Chloe Rodham, who specialises in combining traditional model-making with digital creative processes, explains: “Illuminarium was really well received in Hexham, and we hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to come and see it at the Toffee Factory over this weekend in December.”

“With glowing fibre-optic caterpillars and cocoon shaped lanterns, our exhibition reveals a projected stop-motion animation of moths.  It will be different from the one that was shown in Hexham, and we’re excited to see what audiences will think of it.”

There will be also be the chance to gather insight into how the artwork was created, as the artists will be giving a talk from 4pm until 5pm on Saturday. For more information, or to book a free ticket, visit www.the-illuminarium.co.uk.

The Illuminarium is supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Creative Space Management.

Primal Scream First Act Announced For Down To The Woods Festival

By on 8th December 2015in Entertainment, Music

One of the world’s most notorious rock bands are to take to the stage at a major North East festival next summer…

Scottish legends Primal Scream are one of the first acts to be announced for Down To The Woods – successor to the Hardwick Live festival – which will take place in the grounds of Hardwick Hall Hotel, County Durham on Saturday August 13th.

Following on from the huge success of 2015’s sellout Hardwick Live, which featured top performers including James, Razorlight and Embrace, organisers Ramside Estates are now planning the renamed 2016 festival, with the promise of a packed programme full of amazing acts.

Bringing Primal Scream – a band with more than 30 years in the music industry – to the North East is a huge coup for Ramside Estates, as the supergroup are scheduled to showcase their unique blend of rock, indie pop, dance and acid house at only a handful of gigs across the UK.

They will be joined by songsmiths Echo & the Bunnymen, who have had a string of top 20 hits since the 1980s, including the classic anthem Nothing Lasts Forever.

The original Hardwick Live festival grew rapidly in its three year history, with a capacity crowd of 10,000 enjoying the event in 2015.

Early bird tickets for its successor sold out even before any of the line-up had been revealed, with the organisers offering even more exciting entertainment at the new festival.

Jonathan Woodliffe of Ramside Estates, said: “Hardwick Live 2015 really set the bar in terms of both acts and atmosphere, and we’re hoping to top that in 2016 with the first ever Down To The Woods.

“To land Primal Scream is a major coup for us, especially as it will be their only gig within a 100 mile radius, and to have Echo & the Bunnymen, as well, really is a double whammy.

“This is the first of many exciting announcements we’ll be making about Down To The Woods in the coming months, and we’re confident it’s going to be one of the biggest music events of 2016.

“We’ve changed the name of the festival, but everything people enjoyed before will still be a part of this year’s event, with even more to enjoy in the best day of music for miles.”

Primal Scream began to leave a legacy with the release of their enormously successful third studio album, Screamadelica, which won the first Mercury Music Prize in 1992.

Since then they have maintained a constant assault on the UK and international music scenes, with a new album set for release in 2016.

Songs like Movin’ On Up, Rocks, Loaded, Country Girl, It’s Alright, It’s Ok and many more will ensure a party atmosphere during their hugely anticipated Down To The Woods set.

 

Echo & the Bunnymen have released a string of top 20 hits since the 1980s, including top selling studio albums Crocodiles, Porcupine and Ocean Rain, which all went gold.

Ian McCulloch still leads the band, with rumours of a new album to be released in 2016. Songs The Cutter, The Killing Moon and Bring On The Dancing Girls are guaranteed crowd pleasers at the North East festival.

Tickets for Down To The Woods, priced at £55 for adults, £15 for young people and £8 for children, are available now at www.downtothewoodsfestival.co.uk. A limited number of camping pitches are also on sale, priced at £30 per tent.

For more information, follow Down To The Woods on Facebook or Twitter.

Santa Claus On His Way To Wynyard Hall This Christmas

By on 7th December 2015in Local Biz, What's On?

A North East attraction, which has received thousands of visitors since it opened in autumn, is preparing to welcome the most important of all; Father Christmas…

From Friday 18th to Wednesday 23rd December, The Walled Garden, in the grounds of Wynyard Hall Hotel, Tees Valley, will play host to Santa Claus, who will be giving a Christmas present to each child he meets.

And, while children visit his special grotto in the doorway of the historic gardener’s cottage, their parents will be able to snap up festive fare and Christmas gifts in the shop within the visitor centre.

Shoppers can choose from a wide range of seasonal homeware and gardening items along with a variety of cakes, preserves, cheese and meat, sourced from suppliers in the North East and North Yorkshire.

In addition, the visitor centre houses a café overlooking the garden, which serves main meals and light snacks.

Santa’s grotto will be open between 11am and 3pm each day and tickets, which cost £8 per child or £21 for three children, must be bought in advance online at www.wynyardhall.co.uk.

The £5 admission fee to the garden will be waived for up to two adults per child.

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