Related features:
- A guide to attractions in Northumberland
- A guide to social clubs and groups in north Northumberland

STAGE/FILM

Alnwick Playhouse,
Bondgate Without,
Alnwick
01665 510785

Thursday, April 24: High School April Shower – Duchess's High School. A celebration of youthful musical talent from the Duchess's High School students in this variety show packed with musical entertainment from many places and several centuries. 7.30pm. Tickets: £6, £3 (under 19s).

Friday, April 25: Focus with Thijs Van Leer. Focus is the ultimate Dutch progressive rock band and remains one of the most well-known and influential rock bands from the Netherlands. 7.30pm. Tickets: £14, £13 conc.

Saturday, April 26: Jumper (12a, 88min). A light sci-fi romp based on a book by Steven Gould, starring Hayden Christensen and Jamie Bell. 7.30pm. Tickets: £5, £4.50 conc.

Tuesday, April 29: Honk! – Alnwick Playhouse Youth Theatre. The youngest members of the Playhouse Youth Theatre perform a contemporary version of Hans Christian Anderson's classic story, The Ugly Duckling. Fun-filled adventure featuring a Lloyd-Webber-like score. 7.30pm. Tickets: £6, £5 conc.

Wednesday, April 30: Abigail's Party – London Classic Theatre. In her suburban living room, Beverly prepares for the arrival of her guests. As the alcohol flows and the nibbles are handed round, Mike Leigh's ruthless, achingly funny examination of suburban life begins to bite. 7.30pm. Tickets: £9, £8 conc.

Thursday, May 1: How Pleasant To Know Mr Lear – Nicholas Parsons. Nicholas Parsons, household name in Britain and known both as a serious actor and a comedy performer, presents an endearing one-man portrait of the nonsensical genius Edward Lear, recreating Lear's fantasy world and illustrating his remarkably eccentric life through a skilful and enchanting delivery of his delightful nonsense verse. 7.30pm. Tickets: £9, £8 conc.


The Maltings,
Berwick
01289 330999

Thursday, April 24: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (12a). Deeply-moving film about the true story of Elle Magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who is paralysed following a stroke. Nominated for four Oscars and winner of Best Director Golden Globe and at Cannes Film Festival. £4.50. 7.30pm.

Friday, April 25: Maggie Bell & Dave Kelly. An evening with two stalwarts of the British R&B scene, two great voices, two great reputations, and a wonderful couple of hours of acoustic blues, soul and good times. 7.30pm. £15.

Saturday, April 26: The Other Boleyn Girl (12a, 115min). Historical drama starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Eric Bana and Kristen Scott Thomas. 7.30pm. £4.50.

Thursday, May 1: There Will Be Blood (12a, 158min). Drama starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Ciaran Hinds and Paul Dano. 7.30pm. £4.50.


LIVE MUSIC

Thursday, April 24 until Saturday, April 26: Warkworth Drama Group presents Shadowlands, William Nicholson's tragic story of the love of author CS Lewis's life. At Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7.30pm. Tickets £5 from Warkworth Post Office and N&F Young, Amble, or on the door.

Thursday, April 24: Glendale Accordion and Fiddle Club. Guest artist Gary Sutherland from Fife. Musicians and listeners welcome. 7.30pm. AGM at 7pm. At Glendale Hall, Wooler. Members £3, non-members £4.50. Contact 01668 281535.

Saturday, April 26: Acoustic night with North East band The Honest Johns at The Cottage Inn, Dunstan Village, near Craster.

Monday, April 28: Folk Music Session. At The Ship. Low Newton-by-the-Sea. Contact 01665 722835.

Thursday, May 1: The Tanners Arms Unplugged. Acoustic night. Free. Contact 01665 602553.

Thursday, May 1: Rothbury Accordion and Fiddle Club. Guest artist the John Douglas Band. At the Queen's Head Hotel, Rothbury. 7.30pm. Membership £7, admission members £2, visitors £3. Contact 01668 281307.

Thursday, May 1: Jazz Thursdays in The Treehouse. Noel Dennis (trumpet) and Roly Veitch (guitar). Music at intervals 7pm-10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.


EVENTS

Thursday, April 24: Newcastle Greyhound Stadium charity night in aid of HospiceCare North Northumberland. Tickets £18, includes three-course meal in the ringside restaurant. For tickets call the hospice and ask for Katie on 01665 606515.

Friday, April 25: Bags2School. Rothbury Middle School PTA raising money by collecting any unwanted items. Clothing, bedding, curtains, soft toys, shoes and handbags all gratefully recieved. 10am. Any bags that need to be collected contact 01670 788413.

Saturday, April 26: Coffee morning and plant sale. Bedding & potting plants for sale. 10am-2pm. At The Pottergate Centre, Howling Lane, Alnwick.

Saturday, April 26: Coffee morning with raffle and other stalls. By the Rotary Club of Alnwick and Alnwick Inner Wheel in support of local charities. In the Northumberland Hall, Alnwick. 9.30am-noon. Admission £1.

Saturday, April 26 & Sunday, April 27: St George's Dragon Trail for Children. Calling all dragon hunters at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens. St George needs your help to find all the mini dastardly dragons before they distress the damsels. Your dragon-hunting skills will be rewarded with a fun sticker. From 10am. Adults £6.50, conc £5.20, children £3.30, family £16.30. EH members free. Contact 01661 881636.

Saturday, April 26 & Sunday, April 27: Medieval St George's Day. Join the medieval townsfolk at Lindisfarne Priory as they celebrate St George's Day with deadly archery skills, games, feasting and unique plays of the St George legend. From 11am. Adults £5, conc £4, children £2.50. EH members free. Contact 01289 389200.

Sunday, April 27: Farmers Market, The Maltings, Berwick. Opportunity to
buy fresh locally-grown produce and meat as well as cakes, bread and pastries. 10am-2pm.

Wednesday, April 30: Wildlife Talk. Alnwick Wildlife Group hosts a talk by Sarah Oakley from Forest Enterprise, Scotland, about butterflies and moths of Northumberland and the Borders. At St Michael's Church Hall, Canongate, Alnwick. 7pm. Members free, visitors £2.


SIGHTSEEING

Alnwick Sightseeing Tour. Open top vintage bus tour of Alnwick town and its beautiful surrounding countryside. 35–40 minute tour with detailed live commentary. Tour starts at Greenwell Road (behind the Playhouse) every hour on the hour from 11am–4pm. Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Adults £5, Children (5–14) £2, Conc & U5's free. Tickets valid all day. Contact 01665 603022.


EXHIBITIONS

Alnwick Playhouse. Quintet. Tomorrow until Saturday, June 7: Five popular artists join forces to present a diverse exhibition. Includes the work of Suzanne Stanley, Bob Turnbull, Erica Yeoman and Ian Wood. 10am–4pm. Free.

Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate Alnwick, 01665 605847. Until Sunday. More Questions than Answers. Bailiffgate is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm.

Belford Craft Gallery. Next exhibition starts Saturday. In the Courtyard Gallery. Also show of local work including crafts, pottery, wood turning, textiles and painting. Tuesday to Friday 10am–5pm (closed for lunch). Open all day on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1pm. Closed on Mondays.

Coquetdale Arts Centre, Front Street, Rothbury, 01669 621557. Permanent display of work by members including Joe Hush, Michael Ewart, Ken Spencer and others. Also Saturday classes and a solo show by Brenda Swan. Opening times: Tuesday–Saturday: 10.30am–4pm and Sunday: 1pm–4pm.

Crown Studio Gallery, Bridge Street, Rothbury. 01669 622890. Until Sunday, May 4 – Seeing the Wood and the Trees: Exhibition of new work by Lynda Taylor, Caroline Temple and Ruth Chalmers. Also exhibition of work by gallery owners Lynda and Graham Taylor. Open daily 9am to 5pm except Wednesdays.

The Bakehouse Gallery, Prudhoe Street, Alnwick. 01665 602277. Until May 17. People and Places exhibition by Kevin Day, winner of Alexander Millar's search for a new apprentice as seen on BBC Look North has his first solo exhibition.Also, original art, glasswork, ceramics, jewellery and textiles. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am–5pm.

The Design Room, High Street, Wooler. From Saturday until May 31, A Spring Collection. An exhibition of paintings by former Berwick High School pupil Joanne Wishart, a professional artisit based in Newcastle. The exhibition is a mix of coastal and rural work inspired by the British environment.

The Framehouse and Schoolroom Gallery, Alnmouth. Gallery, picture framing, Fair Trade tea & coffee, 01665 830600. Now showing, Coast, an exhibition of new works by Whitley Bay artist Clifford Blakey, depicting the beautiful Northumbrian coastline. Contact Mick or Amanda for further details and opening hours (closed Mondays & Tuesdays).


WALKS

Saturday, April 26: Shaftoe Crags. A 6.5 mile Shepherd's Walk exploring Shaftoe Crags. Starts 10.30am at Bolam Lake. £8pp. For more information contact Jon Monks on 01830 540453 or visit www.shepherdswalks.co.uk

Sunday, April 27: College Valley Landscapes. A 6-hour strenuous walk exploring the hills of the College valley. 10am. £8. For more information contact Peter McEwan on 0191 2572601 or visit www.walknorthumbria.co.uk

Wednesday, April 30: Holy Island Harbour. Walk covering the harbour area near the village at Holy Island. Birds, seals, navigation aids, fishing boats, ruined fort and priory are all packed into this area giving an insight into Holy Island past and present. Moderate walk and at safe crossing times. Everyone welcome, just turn up in suitable footwear. At the main car park at Holy Island at village exit. 6pm-7pm. Safe crossing time 2pm-10pm. Adults £4, children under 12 free. Contact 01289 389225.

Alnwick Health Walks (Long). Every Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick Tourist Information Centre, Market Place. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Alnwick Health Walks (Intermediate). First and third Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick TIC. One-hour walk. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Alnwick Health Walks (Starter). Every Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick TIC. Maximum 30 minutes. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Amble Health Walks. EveryTuesday at 1pm from Amble Tourist Information Centre. Starter and intermediate. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

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 605030.

Rothbury Health Walks (Starter). First, third and fifth Friday of every month at 10.30am from Rothbury TIC. Long walks on second and fourth Friday at 10.30am. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

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.