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, July 24: Scaramouche Jones – An innovative drama by Justin Butcher chronicling the 20th century by a circus clown approaching his 100th birthday. 7.30pm, tickets £9 £8 conc.

Friday, July 25: Rachel Harrington – A roots musician in the purest sense whose unique artistry captures the deep link between country and soul. 7.30pm, tickets £14 £13 conc.

Monday, July 28: Potted Pirates - Delightful double act Dan and Jeff, known for their storytelling appearances on Blue Peter, return with this new compressed caper. 2.30pm, tickets £6.50.

Tuesday, July 29: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (12a; 122min)- Intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) takes on Soviet agents in a race for a map and a priceless artefact - a crystal skull - which may lead to the lost ancient city of Eldorado. With Cate Blanchett, Jim Broadbent. 2pm and 7.30pm, tickets £5 £4 conc.

Wednesday, July 30: Caramel (PG; 95min) – International romantic comedy revolving around the intersecting lives of five Lebanese women. 7.30pm, tickets £5 £4.50 conc.

Thursday, July 31: Julian Lloyd Webber with Pam Chowhan (piano) – Widely regarded as one of the most creative musicians of his generation, Julian Lloyd Webber will present and play a selection of his favourite pieces, interspersed with anecdotes about his musical life and his family. 7.30pm, tickets £16.50 £15.50 conc.


The Maltings,
Berwick
01289 330999

Thursday, July 24: Mongol (15;126min)– a stunning epic from award-winning Russian filmmaker Sergie Bodrov that paints the early years of the fearsome and brilliant Genghis Khan. 7.30pm, tickets £4.50.

Friday, July 25: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (15;112min) – After his break-up with the impossibly perfect Sarah, Pete uses every trick in the book to get over her. 7.30pm, tickets £4.50.

Saturday, July 26: Scaramouche Jones – An innovative drama by Justin Butcher chronicling the 20th century by a circus clown approaching his 100th birthday. 7.30pm, tickets £8.50 £7.50 conc.


LIVE MUSIC

Thursday, July 24: Jazz Thursdays in The Treehouse. Donnelly (guitar) and Emma Fisk (violin). Music at intervals 7pm-10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.

Friday, July 25: Seahouses Village Voices Summertime Sparkle. An evening of songs, readings and poems followed by 'sparkling' light refreshments. At St Paul's Church, Seahouses. 7pm. Tickets, adults £4, children free, contact 01665 720747 or pay at the door.

Friday, July 25: Live Fridays in The Treehouse. Musicians from Loon with Simon Tarrant (accordion), Victoria Conlan (bassoon) and Keith Hays (mandolin and percussion). Music at intervals 7pm-10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.

Monday, July 28: Live folk music session. At The Ship, Low Newton. 8pm. Free.


EVENTS

Thursday, July 24: Garden Talk. Summer in Gertrude Jekyll's garden. At Lindisfarne Castle. 1pm. Free, donations welcome. Contact 01289 389244

Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27: Glendale Festival, Wooler. Musical drama Wooler at War on Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm in Glendale Middle School. Tickets £3, conc £2, available from Brand's on High Street. Flower festival at St Ninian's Church from Friday to Sunday. Nature walk from the Cheviot Centre on Saturday at 11am. Car boot sale at 9.30am on Sunday with street and musical entertainment from 11am to 5pm in the town centre including food and craft fair and Big Knit display.

Friday, July 25: The Hound of the Baskervilles. Cambo Illyria open air production. Bring picnics and chairs. At Wallington, 7.30pm, £15, children £7.50. Contact 01670 773939 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Saturday, July 26: Lucker Day Nursery's 10th birthday celebration open day, 11am-1pm, at Lucker. Contact 01668 213459.

Saturday, July 26: Rothbury All Saints Church Fete. Cake, garden, produce, bric-a-brac, book, toys, and fancy goods stalls, as well as a tombola and raffle. The bell tower will also be open with guided tours to see the bells (dating from 1893) and demonstrations of how they are rung. From 2pm

Saturday, July 26: Summer Concert – Jools Holland. Jools is back in the Pastures, Alnwick, with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. Also starring Soft Cell legend Marc Almond. Advance tickets, adults £30, children (5-15) £15, under 5s free, from IML concerts on 01603 660444 or online at www.imlconcerts.co.uk or at Alnwick Playhouse. Tickets on the gate: Adult £37.50, children £20, U5s free. Gates open 5pm. Concert 7.30pm.

Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27: Seashore Safari. Investigate seashore rock pools with marine biological officer Aisling Lannin. Wear suitable footwear for wet and slippery rocks. No unaccompanied children. Saturday: Meet at Bamburgh, Harkness Rocks (turn down the Wynding opposite Lord Crewe Arms). NU177357. 10.30am-noon. Sunday: Meet at North Beach, Seahouses, at the junction of Broad Park and B1340 to Bamburgh, NU211325. 11am-12.30pm. Free. No booking required.

Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, July 27: Northern English Springer Spaniel Rescue Fun Weekend and County Fair. Country pursuits, activities and fun dog shows at Druridge Bay Country Park. 10am-4pm. Free entry into showground. Contact Graham or Cynthia Turvey on 01670 760346 or visit www.nessr.net

Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, July 27: Victorian Picnic Weekend. Join costumed performers as they bring a selection of Victorian entertainment to Belsay's beautiful lawns. From 11am. Adults £6.50, conc £5.20, children £3.30 family £16.30, EH members free. Contact EH on 01661 881636 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay

Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, July 27: Medieval Worst Jobs in History. Meet a colourful cast of characters from the medieval period. Hear tales of horrid tasks and awful jobs, from those of a grave digger to that of a medieval surgeon. At Lindisfarne Priory. Noon-4.30pm. Adults £5, conc £4, children £2.50, EH members free.

Saturday, July 26 to Thursday, July 31: Birds of Prey. Demonstrations and hands-on action by the Kielder Birds of Prey at Alnwick Castle. Contact 01665 510777.

Monday, July 28 to Wednesday, July 30: Drama course culminating in a short performance at the Playhouse. The perfect way to start the holidays – 2 days at Rock Hall School rehearsing for a show based on Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, learning songs and acting, and then a day in the theatre with lights and sound and a performance to parents. £60, 10am-3pm. Details from Peter Brown 01665 576669 or turn up at Rock on Monday.

Tuesday, July 29: Hogwarts Characters. Meet some famous faces from the Harry Potter books. At Alnwick Castle. Contact 01665 510777.

Wednesday, July 30: Cragside Family Activity Day. Punch and Judy, face painting, craft sessions. No booking required. Mini-beast hunt, must be booked in advance. Selection of self-guided trials. No booking required. Free event. 11am–5pm. Normal admission charge. Contact 01669 620333.

Thursday, July 31: Henry V. Shakespeare's classic performed by Heartbreak Productions at Warkworth Castle. Bring chairs and picnics. Gates open at 6.45pm, performance starts 7.30pm. Adults £12, children and conc £10. To book contact 01665 711423.


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 and U5s free. Tickets valid all day. Contact 01665 603022.


EXHIBITIONS

Alnwick Playhouse. Until August 9. Annual exhibition – The Bondgate Gallery with Alnwick District Playhouse Trust. 10am-4pm. Free.

The Art House, Bondgate Within, Alnwick. Until August 26. Exhibition, North East's Got Talent. Featuring a wide range of art.

Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, 01665 605847. New exhibition – Walk this Way, a journey through Northumberland, St Oswald's Way and our extraordinary county. Until August 31. Open daily, 10am-5pm.

The Bakehouse Gallery, Prudhoe Street, Alnwick, 01665 602277. Original art, glasswork, ceramics, jewellery and textiles. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm.

Belford Craft Gallery. Chris Mayger, painter and printer from Ayton in the Scottish Borders. Until July 27. Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm (closed for lunch). Open all day on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1pm. Closed on Mondays.

Berwick Art Group Summer Exhibition. A collection of more than 200 paintings by amateur and professional artists from the North East and Borders. At The Maltings Theatre and Arts Centre, Berwick. Until Saturday, July 26. Today and tomorrow: 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm.

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

Crown Studio Gallery, Bridge Street, Rothbury. 01669 622890. New paintings from Lynda Taylor and new prints from Alison Read. Open daily 9am to 5pm except Wednesdays.

The Design Room, High Street, Wooler. A Spring Collection – an exhibition of paintings by former Berwick High School pupil and artist Joanne Wishart. 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. John Fieldhouse: New Works. Annual chance to view John's striking exhibition of atmospheric works depicting the ever-changing Northumberland light. Runs until Sunday, August 17. Contact Mick or Amanda for further details.

The Gate Gallery, 12 Bondgate Within, Alnwick. 01665 602165. Original paintings and prints by local artists such as Kate Philp, Ken Spencer, Helen Stuart, Sarah Riseborough. Photography by Jim Kearney, Roger Coulam and Harry Hall and also hand-cut silhouette work by John Speight. Also stocks wide range of artists materials, jewellery, books and other gifts. Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm, and also limited Sunday hours during the summer.


WALKS

Saturday, July 26: Wildflower Walk. Discover the rich diversity of Northumberland dune flowers with Roger Manning, chairman of Alnwick Wildlife Group. Meet at Cemetery Road car park, Warkworth. 2pm, approx 2 hours. Free. No booking required. Contact 01670 533039.

Tuesday, July 29: Guided Walk. A 5-mile walk around Whitton Hillhead. Meet at 7pm at Rothbury. £7.50. Booking essential. Visit www.shepherdswalks.co.uk or call 01830 540453.

Wednesday, July 30: Guided Walk. Moderate walk giving an insight into Holy Island past and present. All welcome, just turn up in suitable footwear. 6pm-7pm. Meet at main car park at Holy Island at village exit. Safe crossing times: 5pm-12.15am (Thursday). Charges: £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. Every Tuesday at 1.30pm 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.