STAGE/FILM

Alnwick Playhouse,
Bondgate Without,
Alnwick
01665 510785

Thursday, December 4 and Tuesday, December 9: The Duchess (12a; 100min). A period drama chronicling the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, a vibrant beauty and celebrity of
her time, trapped in an unhappy triangle with her husband and his live-in mistress. 7.30pm tickets £5, £4.50.

Friday, December 5: Under One Sky – an absolute treat. The concept of Under One Sky is one of joint celebration, a large-scale composition that sets out to explore and interweave the many different styles, genres and traditions at work on today's dynamic UK folk scene. 7.30pm tickets £16.50, £15.50 conc.

Sunday, December 6: Swing into Christmas – Tony Jacobs with his Fabulous Festive Five and his special guest Sue Greenway from the RAF Squadronnaires and the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Celebrate the best of Christmas music and song. 7.30pm tickets £14, £13 conc.

Monday, December 8: Igor (PG; 87mins). Animation/comedy family film bringing a new twist to the classic monster genre. In a world filled with mad scientists and evil inventions, one talented evil scientist's
hunch-backed lab assistant has big dreams of becoming a mad scientist himself and winning the annual Evil Science Fair. 4.30pm tickets £5, £4.50 conc.

Wednesday, December 10: My Grandfather's Great War – Cameron Stewart. Adapted from the diaries of Captain Alexander Stewart, this new solo drama interweaves the First World War diaries of Captain Alexander Stewart with the contemporary perspective of his grandson. 8pm tickets £9, £8 conc.

Thursday, December 11: The Tremeloes – the group formed in 1958 as Brian Poole and the Tremoloes. Decca notoriously chose them over The Beatles whom they had auditioned on the same day. They first charted with a version of Twist and Shout (1963), followed by the chart topping Do You Love Me. Candy Man and Someone Someone were also UK Top 10 hits in 1964. 7.30pm tickets £16.50, £15.50 conc. Sold out, try box office for returns.


The Maltings,
Berwick
01289 330999

Saturday, December 6: Elvis on Tour – Paul Priestley & The EP Band return for a third year after two sell out shows to re-create the legends most famous stage performances. 7.30pm tickets £13, £11 conc.

Thursday, December 11: Little Shop of Horrors – the Maltings Community Theatre presents the world famous spoof set in Mr Mushniks' failing flower shop, Seymour and Audrey spend their time wishing for a better life 'far from skid row, somewhere that's green...' Well, be careful what you wish for because it might come true. 7.30pm tickets £8, £7 conc.


LIVE SHOWS

Sunday, December 7: Live Theatre. The Lempen Puppet Theatre Company present Journey Of Turtle. A beautiful story based on a trilogy of just so – style Turtle tales about following your dream, told with shadows, table-top puppets and traditional storytelling. At the Jubilee Institute, Rothbury. 3pm. Adults £6, concessions and children £4. Tickets available from Tully's of Rothbury. More information and tickets call Sandra on 01669 620564 or Margaret 01669 620082.

Monday, December 8: Live Theatre. Northumberland Theatre Company perform Straw Headed Peter. See what Santa sends to Straw Headed Peter and his friends who all deserve more grizzly ends. At Kielder First School. 7pm. Tickets £4 adults, £2 children.

Tuesday, December 9: Live Theatre. Northumberland Theatre Company perform Straw Headed Peter. See what Santa sends to Straw Headed Peter and his friends who all deserve more grizzly ends. At St James Parish Hall, Morpeth. 1pm. Tickets £5 adults, £3 children.

Thursday, December 11 to Saturday, December 13: Warkworth Panto. Warkworth Drama Group presents a 2008 version of Charles Dickins's A Christmas Carol. In the Memorial Hall, Warkworth. 7.30pm. Matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets are £3 and £5 and are available from Warkworth Village shop and N&F Young of Amble or by post from Colin Heathcote, telephone 01665 711358.


LIVE MUSIC

Thursday, December 4: Craigowl band. Rothbury Accordion and Fiddle Club. At the Queen's Head Hotel, Rothbury. 7.30pm. Membership £8, members £3, visitors £4. More information 01668 281307.

Friday, December 5: Acoustic Magic. Acoustic session featuring Steve Daggett. At The Hairy Lemon, Alnwick. From 8.15pm. Free.

Monday, December 8: Folk Music. Live folk music session. At The Fishers Arms, Horncliffe. From 8pm. Free.


EVENTS

Thursday, December 4: Holly and Ivy. Sugarcraft/cake decorating demonstrations at Cragside, Rothbury. £30 includes admission. Relax afterwards with delicious Christmas lunch. From 10.45am–2pm (10.45am, arrival and coffee, 11.15am demonstration, 12.30pm, lunch). Booking essential on 01669 620333 ext 7.

Thursday, December 4: Northumberland Lights. Alnmouth's Painted Houses will be illuminated in stunning fashion courtesy of the Northumberland Lights Guerrilla Lighting programme. From 4pm.

Thursday, December 4: Alnwick and District Natural History Society welcome ornithologist Ian Armstrong as their guest speaker. The meeting will be held in the Costello Centre, Bailiffgate, Alnwick, at 7.30pm and Ian's subject will be the status of birds in the UK. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Friday, December 5: Choir. Seahouses Village Voices choir presents its Christmas Concert. In Seahouses Methodist Chapel. 7pm. Admission £3, children free, including refreshments.

Friday, December 5: Guerilla Lighting at Wallington Hall. This historic hall will be given the Northumberland Lights guerrilla treatment giving all an opportunity to see the hall as you have never seen it before. From 4pm.

Saturday, December 6: Alnwick Christmas Market. At Alnwick Market Place. With regular traders, local produce, arts, crafts, festive stalls, mince pies, mulled wine and hot food. Entertainment includes Santa's grotto, a chance to win a Christmas cake and carols with Christians Together in Alnwick, and St. Michael's First School. Music from the Salvation Army Band and Lionheart Radio. 9am–4pm.

Saturday, December 6: Christmas Music. Mid Northumberland Chorus perform a concert of carols. Plus music from solo instrumentalists. At St Mary's Church, Morpeth. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £6, plus refreshments, from the door. Contact Mid Northumberland Chorus on 01670 790268.

Saturday, December 6: Longhoughton Christmas Fair. Shopping event and children's activities including Santa's grotto. At the RAF Community Centre and Bumbles Bees Creche, Portal Place, Longhoughton. 1.30pm–4pm. Entrance free.

Saturday, December 6: Ghost Hunt. Ghostseekers are back in the Schooner Hotel, Alnmouth for an overnight paranormal investigation using ouija boards, spirit writers and lots more. Tickets are £30 each and available by phoning 01324 882883 or visiting www.ghostseekers.moonfruit.com

Saturday, December 6: Christmas coffee morning at St John the Baptist's Church, Alnmouth. Cakes and Christmas goodies, bottle stall, raffle, tombola, coffee and mince pies. In the Hindmarsh Hall. 10.30am. Admission by donation.

Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7: Tree Decoration. Craft sessions for people to make Christmas decorations such as crackers and lanterns to hang on the museum's tree. At The Grace Darling Museum. 10.30am–3pm. Free. More information call the museum on 01668 214910

Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7: Christmas at Wallington. Visit the house, meet Santa (booking essential, £5 to see Santa) hear Mrs Santa's storytelling and join in with carols. 11.30am–3pm. Contact National Trust on 01670 773600.

Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7: Winter Celebrations. Belford's Winter Celebration return featuring indoor Christmas Market, Santa's Grotto, live music, Candle Festival, fancy dress procession and a play Return of the Ruby in a Circus Troupe. On Saturday night, there is a Mama Mia Disco at the Blue Bell. For more information contact 01668 213377.

Saturday, December 6 to Sunday, December 7: A Georgian Christmas. A warming Christmas celebration featuring costumed duo Hautbois with their performance of Advent hymns from the 18th century. Also chance to shop for seasonal gifts. At Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens. Adults £6.50, conc £5.20, children £3.30, family £16.30.

Sunday, December 7: Cragside Tree of Lights. Dedication of the HospiceCare North Northumberland memorial tree. From 4pm.

Sunday, December 7: Christmas concert. Alnwick & District Choral Society perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio. At St. Paul's Church, Alnwick. 7.30pm. Admission £8, £7 conc.

Monday, December 8: Carol Concert. Belford Singers present The Christmas Story in Carols, a selection of music from across the centuries, telling the Christmas story. At St Maurice's Church, Eglingham. 7.30pm. £5 at the door, children free, to include mulled wine and mince pies. Proceeds in aid of church funds. For more information email belford.singers@googlemail.com

Monday, December 8: Christmas Concert. Carols and Christmas music from the Berwick Concert Band, in aid of Beadnell playground. At Seahouses Sports and Community Centre. 7.30pm. Tickets £5, including refreshments. Available from the door. More information contact Gordon on 01665 721168.

Wednesday, December 10: Talk. Jim Jermyn speaks to the Rock Garden Group about Alpines from Austria and Northern Italy. At the Community Club, Belford. Tea and biscuits served after the talk. 2.15pm.

Wednesday, December 10: Architecture Talk. Talk tied in to the exhibition on the Northumberland Women's Institute at Woodhorn. Writer Harry Dobson from Morpeth at is giving a presentation on the Architecture of Northumberland. At Woodhorn. 7.30pm. Admission free, but places are limited, so reserve your seat by calling 01670 528080.

Thursday, December 11: Presentation. Christmas Social and Members' Evening at Aln Valley Railway Society. AVRS members, friends and guests have an opportunity to give a short railway-linked presentation. A slide projector, DVD and video player will be available. Seasonal refreshments as well. Meetings in the Waiting Room, Alnwick Station. 7pm for 7.15pm. Small donation towards costs. Contact Roger Jermy on 01665 606168.


EXHIBITIONS

Alnwick Playhouse. New exhibition – Alnwick District Arts Association Members' Christmas Exhibition – the ever-popular Christmas event which highlights the diversity of artistic work by members of the Alnwick District Arts Association. Starts tomorrow until January 17. 10am–4pm.

Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, 01665 605847. Christmas Past. Festive celebrations of bygone days. Until December 22. Open daily, 10am–5pm.

Belford Craft Gallery. Main gallery open. Open Tuesday to Friday 10am–12.30pm & 2pm–5pm. Saturday 10am–5pm. Sunday 1pm–5pm.

Coquetdale Arts Centre, Front Street, Rothbury, 01669 621557. Exhibition by the Friday group. 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 Frame-House & Schoolroom Gallery, Alnmouth, Gallery & Picture Framing, 01665 830600. Currently showing a mixed exhibition featuring original works, hand-made prints and prints from many of the area's leading artists including Ken Spencer, Peter Collins, Jonathan Lloyd, Derek Jones, Daphne Harrison, Sue Fenlon, Alan Smith Page, John Fieldhouse, Jim Thompson and more. New print room featuring work by Lincolnshire artist Alison Read. Open Wed to Sun (closed Mon & Tues but open on bank holidays).

The Glendale Gallery, Florin of Wooler, 3 High Street, Wooler, 01668 283700. 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 Stephanie Glas-Thompson on 07515 288070.

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

Rothbury Health Walks (Starter). Every Friday 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 Stephanie Glas-Thompson on 07515 288070.

Wooler Health Walks (Intermediate). Every Thursday at 1.30pm. Meet at the Cheviot Centre. Contact Stephanie Glas-Thompson on 07515 288070.