RELATED FEATURES
- Guide to attractions in Northumberland
- A guide to groups and social clubs in north Northumberland

STAGE/FILM

Alnwick Playhouse,
Bondgate Without,
Alnwick
01665 510785

Thursday, October 9: Maddy Prior – one of the world's pure magical vocalists being heard in her most natural form, singing songs that have inspired her and generations of singers before her. 7.30pm, tickets £16.50, £15.50 conc.

Friday, October 10: The Pope's Toilet (El Baño del Papa) (15; 98min). A small South American village gets into a flurry over the Pope's visit in 1988. Tired of eking out a living as a smuggler, Tronesco erects a toilet in his garden and plans to charge people to use it during Pope John Paul II's visit to the town of Melo. 7.30pm, tickets £5, £4.50 conc.

Saturday, October 11: Basil Brush's High Skool Mania – Attention Class! Legendary TV superstar Basil Brush hits town with his fabulous family laughter show High Skool Mania for an unforgettable lesson in madness, mayhem and mess. 3pm and 6pm, tickets £12.

Monday, October 13: Wall-E (U; 90min). Awesome Pixar animation –
their most ambitious under-taking since 'Toy Story' – this is a touching love story/comedy with a poignant message about the folly of human greed and its potential effects on earth and the entire human race. 4.30pm, tickets £5, £4.50 conc.

Tuesday, October 14: Canterbury Tales – Mappa Mundi / Theatr Mwldan Co-production adaptation of medieval literature's best-known work. Ideal for all those who enjoy earthy humour and a good story. Canterbury Tales is an enchanting, fast-paced, light-hearted, joyous and slightly naughty evening suitable for audiences aged anything upwards from 12 years. 7.30pm, tickets £9, £8 conc.

Wednesday, October 15: Corinne West – from the open meadows of California's sierra mountains Corinne West's radiant and extraordinarily beautiful music spins tales with a part velvet and part grit voice that is both achingly penetrating and highly addictive. 7.30pm tickets £14, £13 conc.

Thursday, October 16: Desperado. A Tribute to the Eagles – a six-piece ensemble of accomplished musicians from around the UK, who create a truly superb homage to the definitive US rock group The Eagles with unsurpassable, sweet vocal harmonies layered over note-perfect guitar breaks, licks, slides and solos. 7.30pm tickets £16.50, £15.50 conc.


The Maltings,
Berwick
01289 330999

Friday, October 10: Isla Grant – hailing from Berwickshire, wherever she performs Isla wins audiences' hearts with the purity and warmth of her style of music and her albums have achieved platinum sales. 7.30pm tickets £15.

Saturday, October 11: The Golden Age of Vienna – a musical history of Vienna's golden age of music. With narration including anecdotes, letters by the composers and contemporary reviews. 7.30pm, tickets £8.50, £7.50 conc.

Sunday, October 12: Let Me Entertain You, with David Vernon – an afternoon with the complete entertainer. David performs songs and music from Scotland and Ireland, as well as various singalongs and music from around the world. 2pm tickets £4.50.


LIVE MUSIC

Thursday, October 9: Night of Blues. Kent DuChaine performs award-winning Blues at Rothbury Roots. Supported by talented singer-songwriter from Alnwick – Hague. At The Queen's Head Hotel, Rothbury. From 8pm. Tickets £8. Book in advance by calling The Queen's Head on 01669 620470.

Saturday, October 11: Jazz @ the Jube. Music from the Chill Factor jazz quintet, a well-known group from Corbridge. At The Jubilee Institute, Rothbury. 8pm. Doors open 7.30pm. With bar. Tickets £7 from Tully's of Rothbury or at the door. Or contact Sandra on 01669 620564 or Margaret on 01669 620082.

Monday, October 13: Northumbria Music Session. Live folk music session. At The Fishers Arms, Horncliffe. Starts 8pm. Free.

Monday, October 13: Acoustic Magic. Acoustic Magic gives a broad range of national and international singer/songwriters the opportunity to reach audiences across the North of England. With Adam Bomb. At The Dock, Amble. From 8.15pm.

Wednesday, October 15: Northumbria Music Session. Live folk music session. At the Fleece Inn, Alnwick. 7.30pm. Contact Adrian Ions on 01665 606033.


EVENTS

Friday, October 10: Belly Dancing. The first of a 10-week belly-dancing class. For all ages and all levels of fitness. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, bring water and a sense of humour. At The Duchess High School. 5.30pm–6.30pm. Contact Sarah on 01668 213618.

Saturday, October 11: Alnwinton Border Shepherd's Show. The final show in the Northumberland agricultural calender, with a host of traditional activities and events set in magnificent Coquetdale.

Saturday, October 11: Holy Island In Autumn Day Tours. Autumn is the best season for seeing birds on the island. On a typical day tour you should see large numbers of waders and ducks, the only flock of pale-bellied brent geese on the British mainland and either one of the UK's fastest hunters – the merlin and the peregrine falcon. The price is £50pp for a full day's guided birdwatching and afternoon tea. Contact Mark Winter of Birdwatch Northumbria on 01670 783451 or visit www.birdwatchnorthumbria.co.uk

Monday, October 13 and Tuesday, October 14: Ballroom and Latin dancing classes. Classes at the Costello Centre, Bailiffgate, Alnwick, on Monday, October 6, and Belford Community Club, Belford, on Tuesday. Beginners' class 7pm–8pm plus intermediate classes and private lessons. Contact Eddie or Diane Billington on 01665 721029 or email eddie.bill@tiscali.co.uk

Thursday, October 16: Talk. Aln Valley Railway welcome Andrew Everett. His talk – Alexander McDonnell, 1829-1904, a surprising talent – concerns the life of another famous NER (and GSWRI) engineer. Meetings in the Waiting Room, Alnwick Station. 7pm for 7.15pm. Meetings are open to members, their guests and visitors for a small donation towards costs. Refreshments available. Contact Roger Jermy on 01665 606168.


EXHIBITIONS

Alnwick Playhouse. Local Art. A showcase including The Old Chapel Art Group, Alnmouth, Acklington Art Group, Bolton Arts Group, Life Drawing Class, Jimmie Moffat and other art related projects. Starts tomorrow until October 25. Open Playhouse hours.

Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, 01665 605847. Lest We Forget. Until November 9. Open daily, 10am–5pm.

Belford Craft Gallery. Woodcuts and paintings by Caroline Coode until October 12. Next exhibition – Audrey Atkin, rag rugs and textiles – starts October 18. Main gallery also open. Open Tuesday to Friday 10am–12.30pm & 2pm–5pm. Saturday 10am–5pm. Sunday 1pm–5pm.

Coquetdale Arts Centre, Front Street, Rothbury, 01669 621557. New exhibition by Ken Spencer. Display of work by members including Joe Hush, Michael Ewart, Ken Spencer and others. Also Saturday classes. Opening times Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am-4pm and Sunday 1pm–4pm.

The Glendale Gallery, Florin of Wooler, 3 High Street, Wooler, 01668 283700. Iain Duncan's photos of Northumberland. Open Monday to Friday 10am–5pm, Saturday 9.30am–5pm, Sunday noon–4pm.


WALKS

Alnwick Health Walks (Long). Every Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick Tourist Information Centre, Market Place. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 714385.

Alnwick Health Walks (Intermediate). First and third Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick TIC. One-hour walk. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 714385.

Alnwick Health Walks (Starter). Every Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick TIC. Maximum 30 minutes. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 714385.

Amble Health Walks. Every Tuesday at 1.30pm from Amble Tourist Information Centre. Starter and intermediate. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 714385.

Belford Health Walks. Long walk Monday, 3pm. Meet at Market Cross. Shorter walk Monday, 1.30pm. Meet at Bell View Resource Centre. Contact Marjory Tharne on 01289 31774.

Hadston Health Walks (Starter). Every Wednesday at 1pm from Hadston House. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 714385.

Rothbury Health Walks (Starter). Every Friday of every month at 10.30am from Rothbury TIC. Intermediate/long walks every Friday at 10.30am. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 714385.

Seahouses Health Walks. Every Monday at 2pm. Meet at the Resource Centre. Contact Marjory Tharne on 01289 301774.

Wooler Health Walks. Every Thursday, long and shorts walks both 1.30pm. Meet Cheviot Centre.