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

STAGE/FILM

Alnwick Playhouse,
Bondgate Without,
Alnwick
01665 510785

Friday, June 13: Rockin on Heaven's Door – the sensational rock 'n' roll concert, acclaimed as the greatest portrayal of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran, fulfils the ultimate rock 'n' roll fantasy. 7.30pm, tickets £16, £15.50 conc.

Saturday, June 14: Happy-Go-Lucky (15; 118min) – Mike Leigh's hilarious improvisational comedy drama starring Sally Hawkins as a quirky, chirpy primary school teacher who delights in teasing her new driving instructor and living life to the full. 7.30pm, tickets £5, £4.50 conc.

Tuesday, June 17: Transitions Dance Company – cancelled due to poor advanced ticket sales. No alternative on in its place.

Wednesday, June 18: Playhouse Concert Band – a concert featuring the Playhouse's well-established resident Concert Band, with music for all tastes. 7.30pm, tickets £6, £5 conc.

Thursday, June 19: Dave Kelly and Christine Collister – these two dynamic singers make a welcome return to Alnwick with The Dave Kelly Band, covering their own favourite tracks, including a bit of country, soul, blues and folk. 7.30pm, tickets £16.50, £15.50 conc.


The Maltings,
Berwick
01289 330999

Thursday, June 12 until Sunday 15: Peter Pan – The Maltings youth theatre presents J M Barrie's classic magical trip to Never Never Land. 7.30pm, 2pm Sunday, tickets £6.50, £4.50 conc, family ticket £20.

Thursday, June 19: Leatherheads (PG, 114min) – Romantic comedy of the year with George Clooney and Renee Zellweger. £4.50.


LIVE MUSIC

Thursday, June 12: Jazz Thursdays in The Treehouse. Roly Veitch Trio – Roly Veitch (guitar), Noel Dennis (trumpet), and Neil Harland (double bass). Music at intervals 7pm–10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.

Friday, June 13: Live Fridays in The Treehouse. Beautiful arrangements of self-penned and traditional Northumbrian music with Andrew Watchorn (Northumbrian Pipes) and Margaret Watchorn (fiddle). Music at intervals 7pm–10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.

Saturday, June 14: LUSH Acoustic Music Night. A night of Northumbrian acoustic music and new original songwriters starring Mark Bezerk, Jamie Robb, Bill Read, Carl Cape, and Chris Lloyd Jones. At The Anglers Arms, Kielder, Northumberland. 9pm–11.30pm. Free, but donations to the Air Ambulance welcome.

Saturday, June 14: Short concert from The Rock Festival Choir. Music includes madrigals, folk, barbershop and jazz. At Rock Hall School's new hall – the first hall in Northumberland to be powered by ground-source energy. Starts 7pm. Tickets £10 adults, £5 children including supper and wine. Tickets can be bought from the school 01665 579224 or from Bill Devonshire on 01665 579418.

Wednesday, June 18: Northumbria Music Session. At the Fleece Inn, Alnwick. 7.30pm. Contact Adrian Ions on 01665 606033.

Thursday, June 19: Jazz Thursdays in The Treehouse. Lindsey Hannon (vocals) and Mark Williams (guitar). Music at intervals 7pm–10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.

Thursday, June 19: Rothbury Roots – starring unique guitarist Claude Bourbon, with support from folk-bluesman Carl Cape. At The Queen's Head Hotel, Rothbury. Book tickets, £7, from The Queens Head on 01669 620470.


EVENTS

Thursday, June 12: Talk by Martin Swinbank of Northumbria Renewables about how we can use solar water heating to reduce our carbon emissions and save money. The talk, at St Michael's Church Hall, Canongate, Alnwick, is the third in a series organised by Alnwick Area Friends of the Earth, on the theme Concerning the Climate. 7.30pm, £2, including refreshments.

Thursday, June 12 and Saturday, June 14, to Sunday, June 15 and Wednesday, June 18: Archery 'Have a go sessions' at Alnwick Castle. 11am–4.30pm. £2 for 6 arrows (pay the instructor on site). For ages 11+.

Friday, June 13: Emergency Preparation Workshop. Learn more about having your own food storage for unexpected events such as disaster, unemployment, food shortage etc. At the Mechanics Institute, Percy Street, 7pm. Free entry. For more information contact 07771 930801.

Friday, June 13: Photography. Wildlife photography from the North Northumberland Bird Club and talk by Phil McLean. Bamburgh Cricket Pavilion. Contact Richard Narraway on 01668 214759.

Saturday, June 14, & Sunday, June 15: Food and Gift Fair. A great variety of regional produce, crafts, and gifts on sale on Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens. From 10am–5pm. Adults £6.50, conc £5.20, child £3.30, family £16.30, members free. For more information contact 01661 881636.

Saturday, June 14: Church Fete. Stalls, tombola, games and more. Longhirst Village Hall. 7.30pm. Adults 20p, children 10p. For more information contact Jill Elphick on 01670 790764.

Saturday, June 14: The Picnic – part of Northumberland's Miners' Picnic 2008. Something for everything including brass bands and dancing, fairground rides, crafts and food stalls and children's entertainment. At Woodhorn. Free. All day parking £2.50. A6 bus operating free from Ashington Bus Station. More details on www.experiencewoodhorn.com

Saturday, June 14: Scottish Country Dancing. Join in the dancing on the lawn, weather permitting. From 2pm. Wallington. Normal admission charges apply. For more information contact 01670 773600.

Sunday, June 15: In Focus. An opportunity to try out a range of binoculars, telescopes and other optical equipment. From 10am–4pm. Hauxley Nature Reserve. Contact Jim Martin on 01665 711578.

Monday, June 16, to Sunday, August 31: Archaeology Dig. A live archaeology dig inside Bamburgh Castle grounds at Bamburgh Research Project. One of the most important Anglo-Saxon digs in Europe. With children's dig pit and archeology experts on hand. From 10am each day, normal admission charges apply. Contact 01668 214515.

Monday, June 16: Guided Tour. An out of hours tour of Lindisfarne Castle. From 10.30am. Non-members £8, members £4.50. For more information contact 01289 389244.

Monday, June 16: 1st Class Cards. Club designed for all skill levels of card-making. In the Northumberland Room at The Centre in Fenkle Street on alternate Mondays between 7pm and 9pm. £1.50 a session, covering all materials for each project. Just bring scissors, ruler, pencil, pair of tweezers and work mat or similar. Limited spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. Booking essential, contact Dianne on 01665 510603.

Thursday, June 19: Garden Talk. Summer in Gertrude Jekyll's garden at Lindisfarne Castle. From 1pm, free entry, donations welcome, normal admission charges apply. For more information contact 01289 389244.

Thursday, June 19: Unique gospel service by international evangelist Rev Peter Scothern. At Alnwick Methodist Church. 7.30pm. For more information contact Pastor Andrew Reid at Alnwick House Church on 01665 603455.


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. Next exhibition – Bondgate Gallery annual open exhibition, starts tomorrow. 10am-4pm. Free.

The Art House, Bondgate Within, Alnwick. The Art of Rock – rock album covers from Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, etc.

Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, 01665 605847. Northern Lights and Textures – Two Perspectives. Anne Kinniment and Lesley Forster, two artists inspired by the wild Northumberland landscapes. Until July 19. Open daily, 10am-5pm.

Belford Craft Gallery. Next exhibition in the Courtyard Gallery – Photography and sculpture by Harry Hall & Stewart Langworth, starts June 22. Main gallery features 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. Exhibition by Bob Turnbull. 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 Bakehouse Gallery, Prudhoe Street, Alnwick. 01665 602277. Original art, glasswork, ceramics, jewellery and textiles. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm.

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. A mixed exhibition featuring original works, hand-made prints and prints from many of the area's leading artists including Ken Spencer, Peter Collins and Jonathan Lloyd. Open Wednesday to Sunday (closed Mondays & Tuesdays, open bank holidays).


THE ART TOUR

Every Sunday until July 6 and Saturday & Sunday, July 12 & 13. 11am–5pm, free event.

Sunday, June 15 and every Sunday until July 6. At Cresswell Village Hall, Cresswell, NE61 5UL. New work by stained glass artist Helen Grierson and organic furniture and household objects by Mark Talbot.

Sunday, June 15 and every Sunday until July 13. Also Saturday, July 12. At The Memorial Hall, Castle Street, Warkworth, NE65 0UN, 07976 327985. Paintings of the Northumberland shoreline by Sue Fenlon and paintings by Nicholas Holmes.

Sunday, June 15 and every Sunday until July 6. The Old Vicarage, Middle Road, Shilbottle, NE66 2XS. Paintings by Pam Vardy who is currently fascinated by the power and moods of the sea.

Sunday June 15 and every Sunday until July 13. Also Saturday, July 12. 31 Dunstanburgh Road, Craster, NE66 3TT. Mixed media paintings and collages and textile works including cushions and accessories using vintage linens from Emma George.


WALKS

Thursday, June 12: Evening Health Walk. Walk around Shilbottle. 6pm start from Shilbottle Welfare. For more information contact Jon Monks 01665 714385.

Friday, June 13: Evening Health Walk. Walk from Rothbury around Armstrong Trail. 6.30pm start from Rothbury Tourist Information Centre. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 714385.

Wednesday, June 11: Guided walk. A moderate walk around Holy Island harbour. 6pm–7pm. Meet at the main car park at Holy Island at village exit. Everyone welcome, wear suitable footwear. Safe crossing time: 1.45pm–8.30pm. £4, children under 12 free. For more information 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.