STAGE/FILM

Alnwick Playhouse,
Bondgate Without,
Alnwick
01665 510785

Tonight: Fast Woman – Sandra Hunt performs Stewart Howson's racy play based on the Bugatti Queen's life in the fast lane. 7.30pm, tickets £11, £10 conc, £8 students.

Tomorrow: Last Night of the Proms – The Playhouse's very own Concert Band and Community Choir presents an evening of music and song from the best of Britain and beyond. Choir directed by Peter Brown and band directed by Ray Thompson. 7.30pm, tickets £8, £7 conc, £6 under 16s and students.

Saturday, November 21: Playhouse annual general meeting. 10.30am.

Saturday, November 21: The Soloist (12a;117min) – A Los Angeles journalist befriends a homeless Julliard-trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper. 7.30pm, tickets £6, £5.50 conc.

Wednesday, November 25 and Thursday, November 26: Stranded – The Middle group of the Youth Theatre present this gripping musical based on Lord of the Flies. 7.30pm, tickets £8, £7 conc, £6 under 16s and students.

The Maltings,
Berwick
01289 330999

Tonight: Laurie Campbell My Life in Photography – Winner of 23 awards in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of The Year Competition, Laurie's acclaimed images are known and used at home and abroad. The wildlife of Berwick, his hometown, will feature. 7.30pm, tickets £8, £6 conc.

Tomorrow: John Bishop – Star of For One Night Only, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Michael McIntyre's Roadshow, Skins and The Late Late, this multi-award winning comedian and performs his exciting and hilarious show that will have audiences begging for more. 7.30pm, tickets £12, £10 conc stalls, £13 circle, £15 boxes.

Saturday, November 21: The Invention of Lying (12a; 99min) – Ricky Gervais stars in a world where complete truth is standard. No one has even thought of lying until writer Mark Bellsion (Ricky Gervais) discovers the power of this new phenomena and seizes the opportunity for personal gain. 7.30pm, tickets £5.

Sunday, November 22: The Age of Stupid (12a;92min) – Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as an archivist living in the devastated world of 2055. 7.30pm, tickets £5.

Wednesday, November 25: The Visitor (15; 104min) – A man's uneventful life is altered dramatically when he returns from a trip to find a young couple living in his apartment. 7.30pm, tickets £5.

Thursday, November 26: Creation (PG;108min) – Stunning period drama with a twist: What happens when a world-renowned scientist, crushed by the loss of his eldest daughter, conceives a book that will prove the non-existence of God? 7.30pm, tickets £5.

LIVE MUSIC

Tonight: Glendale Accordion and Fiddle Club. Guest artist is the Steven Carcary Duo. Musicians and listeners welcome. At The Glendale Hall, Cheviot Street, Wooler. 7.30pm. Members £4, non-members £5.50, including supper. Membership fee £8. Contact Sheila on 01668 281535.

Saturday, November 21: Charity Musical Evening. Organ recital at St Paul's Church, North Sunderland. 7pm. Tickets £5 at the door including light refreshments. Proceeds in support of the Charlie Bear for Cancer Care Fund at the Freeman Hospital.

Monday, November 23: Northumberland Traditional Music Session. Live music at The Ship Inn, Low Newton. 8pm. Free. Contact Jack or Pam Daws on 01665 722835 or 07799 886367

Thursday, November 26: Rothbury Roots. The blues comes to Rothbury Roots when Edinburgh-born artist Tam White makes a rare visit to the North East. At The Queens Head Hotel, Rothbury. Tickets, £8, can be booked in advance by ringing The Queens on 01669 620470. More information visit www.rothburyroots.net

EVENTS

Tonight: Aln Valley Railway Society. Graham Jellett makes a return to Alnwick to talk about the French tramway and light railway in his latest talk, Light Rail in France – The Current Scene. At the Waiting Room, Alnwick Station. 7.15am for 7.30pm. Meetings are open to members, their guests and visitors for a small donation towards costs. Refreshments available at 7pm. Contact Roger Jermy on 01665 606168.

Tonight: Seahouses Christmas Lights Switch-on. Christmas cheer comes to the seaside village tonight at 6.30pm. There will also be a carol service in the Methodist Church with refreshments provided.

Tomorrow: Warkworth Christmas Lights Switch-on. The switch-on is at 6.30pm and coincides with the village's late-night shopping event. Refreshments will be available in St Lawrence's Church.

Tomorrow: Alnwick Christmas Lights Switch-on. The Duchess of Northumberland will be flicking the switch in the Market Place at 7pm. The fun starts at 6pm with decorating the tree, a fun fair, stalls and carol singing with the Salvation Army. There will also be a visit from Santa, courtesy of Alnwick Lions Club.

Saturday, November 21: Coffee Morning. Alnwick Lions-sponsored charity coffee morning. Several charitable groups have tables and Lionheart Radio outside broadcast unit will be there. At the Northumberland Hall, Alnwick. 9.30pm-12.30pm. £1 entry.

Saturday, November 21: An Evening with Mervyn Stutter. The actor, comedian scriptwriter and satirical songwriter is at Rennington Village Hall from 7.30pm. The show will be in cabaret style, with light refreshments at the tables and a cash bar. Tickets £8, including refreshments. Contact Phil or Anne Green on 01665 577185 or email mpgreen@btopenworld.com

Sunday, November 22: Christmas Craft Fair. Browse stalls from designers, artists, craftspeople and makers, to choose unique and special handmade gifts and join in with creative workshops throughout the day. At The Alnwick Garden. 10am-4pm. Entry to the fair is free, no Garden ticket required.

Sunday, November 22: Amble Christmas Lights Switch-on. Santa arrives in Amble for the grand switch-on of the town's lights. There will be a parade along Queen Street as the lights are switched on from 5pm, featuring a forest of decorated trees made by children from the town's schools and seasonal lanterns, with this year's theme centred on Alice in Wonderland. There will be a carol service and street entertainment.

Monday, November 23: Talk. Frances Spalding, professor of art history at Newcastle University, talks about Travels with the Artist, John Piper: Seaton Delaval, Blagdon, Windsor and Elsewhere. At Barter Books, Alnwick. 7.30pm. Entrance, £3 to include a glass of wine.

Wednesday, November 25: Christmas Fair. With tombola, soaps and cards, tea and coffee, jewellery, raffle, potting shed plants and Pottergate cake stall. At Pottergate Centre, Howling Lane, Alnwick. 10am-2.30pm. Contact 01665 602181.

Wednesday, November 25: Talk. Rebecca Barrett talks to Alnwick Wildlife Group about North Pennines Hay Meadows – Past, Present & Future. At St Michael's Church Hall, Canongate, Alnwick. 7pm. Contact Roger Manning on 01668 219624.

Thursday, November 26: Talk. Archivist Chris Humwick talks to Alnwick Civic Society about Hotspur. At Barter Books, Alnwick. 7.30pm. Free.

EXHIBITIONS

Alnwick Playhouse, Bondgate Without, Alnwick, 01665 510785. Members of Alnwick District Camera Club showcase their talents with a great variety of subject matter, photographic technique and printing styles. Free. Open during box office hours.

Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, 01665 605847. Alnwick 40 years on. An exhibition of Alnwick's past put on by the Local History Society to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Free for under-16s.

The Bakehouse Gallery, Prudhoe Street, Alnwick, 01665 602277. Large selection of work by local artists. Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am–5pm.

Belford Craft Gallery, 2 Market Place, Belford, 01668 213888. Main Gallery, Tuesday to Friday, 10am–12.30pm and 2pm–5pm. Saturday all day. Sundays from 1pm.

Breeze Gallery, 29 High Street, Wooler, 01668 283333. Works from Newcastle artists, painter Natalie Campbell and graphic designer and artist Laura Cartwright. For more information visit www.breezewooler.com. Open 9.30am–5pm, Monday to Saturday. www.breezewooler.com

Coquetdale Arts Centre, Court Buildings, Front Street, Rothbury, 01669 621557. Paintings, crafts and prints by members in the main gallery, a stairwell show by Syl Scott, Heather Tingey, Peter Collins and Malcolm Coils, and a show of work by Barbara Segal. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am–4pm and Sunday 1pm–4pm. Season ends December 21, www.coquetdale.org.uk

Crown Studio Gallery, Rothbury. 01669 622890. New ceramic sculptures of Woolly Jumper sheep and other humorous farm animals by Jane Adams. Fabricated silver and bronze jewellery by up-and-coming designer/jeweller Natasha Cox. Anodised aluminium jewellery by Michael Peckitt. New original paintings and limited edition prints by Lynda Taylor. Plus an exclusive selection of stocking filler jewellery, calendars, accessories, etchings, prints and cards. Open 9am–5pm daily (closed all day Wednesday) and 10am on Sundays.

Fenwick Gallery, 21 Castle Street, Warkworth. A range of contemporary fine art including original paintings, limited edition prints, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery and textiles. Open every day from 10am–5pm. www.fenwickgallery.co.uk

The Schoolroom Gallery, Alnmouth, 01665 830600. Currently showing a mixed exhibition of original work in various media by many of the area's leading artists and some from further afield. A selection of quality hand-made intaglio and surface prints in varying techniques, litho prints, giclee prints and photographs are also available from the print room.

The Gate Gallery, 12 Bondgate Within, Alnwick, 01665 602165. A wide range of originals and prints by, among others, Kate Philp, Dianne Gainey, Ken Spencer and Mary Anne Rogers. Also photography of local scenes. Open Monday–Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 11am–3pm. www.thegategalleryuk.com

WALKS

Today: Guided Walk at Cragside. How Cragside's landscape was built. Discover how this fantasy landscape was built, from rocky crag to Victorian splendour and why it is designed the way it is. 11.15am to 1.15pm, free, normal admission. No booking required.

Sunday, November 22: Guided Walk – Humbleton Hill. A six-mile, four-hour walk with some fantastic views of the Cheviot. Starts 10.30am near Wooler. £9pp. Contact 01830 540453 or visit www.shepherdswalks.co.uk

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 Rob Woods at 07918 731708 or email rob.woods@activeberwick.co.uk

Berwick Health Walks (Beginner and Intermediate). Both Wednesday. Meet at the Old Bridge, at the Berwick end. 1pm. Contact Rob Woods at 07918 731708 or email rob.woods@activeberwick.co.uk

Hadston Health Walks (Starter). Every Wednesday at 1pm from Hadston House. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

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 605030.

Seahouses Health Walks. Every Monday at 2pm. Meet at the Resource Centre. Ring Kelvin Rushworth on 01665 721868 or email Jennifer Brown on seahouseswalking@hotmail.com

Wooler Health Walks (Intermediate). Every Thursday at 1.30pm. Meet at the Cheviot Centre. Contact Rob Woods at 07918 731708 or email rob.woods@activeberwick.co.uk

ATTRACTIONS

The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick, 01665 511350. Open daily 10am–4pm. Last admission 45 minutes before closing. Adults £10, concs £7.50, children 16 and under 1p (for up to four children with each adult), group (14 people or more) £6.25 per person, educational group £2.50 per child. Prices include optional £1 per person charitable donation.

The Armstrong Household and Farming Museum, North Charlton Farm, 01665 579443. Open Fridays, 10am–5pm. Adults £2.50. All proceeds to charity. Private parties by appointment.

Bailiffgate Museum. 01665 605847. Open every day 11am–4pm, but closed Mondays. Adults £2.50, conc £2, U16s free.

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens. 01661 881636. Open Thursday to Sunday, 10am–4pm. Adult £6.50, conc £5.20, child £3.30, family ticket £16.30, English Heritage members free.

Cragside House, Gardens and Estate. 01669 620333. Gardens and Estate open Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–4pm, last admission 3pm. Adult £4.20, child (5-17), £1.90, family £9.50. House closed.

Dunstanburgh Castle. 01665 576231. Open 10am–4pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Adult £3.60, conc £3.10, child £1.80. National Trust and English Heritage members free.

Edlingham Castle. Open during daylight hours. Free.

The Fenton Centre. 01668 216216. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–5pm. Free.

House of Hardy Museum, Alnwick. 01665 510027. Monday–Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am–5pm. Free.

Hulne Park. Ratten Row, Alnwick. Open 11am–dusk.

Kirkharle Courtyard, Kirkwhelpington, 01830 540362. A range of boutique shops, arts and crafts workshops and local specialist food outlets set in a converted 15th century farm courtyard.

Lindisfarne Castle. 01289 389244. Open Saturday and Sunday, 10am–3pm. Adult £5.70 (gift-aided entry £6.30), child £2.80 (gift-aided entry £3.10), family £14.20 (gift-aided entry £15.70). National Trust members free.

Lindisfarne Heritage Centre. 01289 389004. Open daily, today 9.30am–1.45pm, tomorrow–Sunday 9.30am–2.45pm, Monday–Thursday 10am–2.45pm. Adult £3, child 5-15 £1, group of 10-20,10 per cent discount, over 20, 15 per cent discount.

Lindisfarne Priory. 01289 389200. Open Saturday–Monday, 10am–2pm. Adult £4.20, child £2.10, conc £3.60. English Heritage members free.
Preston Tower. 01665 589227. Border Pele Tower. Open daily 10am-dusk. Adult £2, child 50p, conc and groups £1.50.

RNLI Grace Darling Museum, Radcliffe Road, Bamburgh, 01668 214910. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm, last entry 3.30pm. Adult £2.50, child/conc £1.50.

Wallington. 01670 773600. House open everyday except Tuesday from 1pm, last admission 4pm. Walled garden open daily 10am–4pm. Garden and grounds: Adult £6.40, child £3.20, family (2+3) £16.

Warkworth Castle. 01665 711423. Open Saturday–Monday, 10am–4pm. Adult £4.20, child £2.10, conc £3.60, family £10.50, English Heritage members free.