STAGE/FILM

Alnwick Playhouse,
Bondgate Without,
Alnwick
01665 510785

Thursday, September 18: Female Agents (Les Femmes de l'Ombre) (15, 120min). Gripping classic style war thriller set in 1944. Starring Sophie Marceau, Laura Smet, Julie Depardieu, Maya Sansa, and Moritz Bleibtreu. French film with English subtitles. 7.30pm. £5, £4.50 conc.

Friday, September 19: Opera Can Be Murder – Hatstand Opera. A tongue-in-cheek look at how opera dispatches its heroes and villains, in extracts by Verdi, Donizetti, Mozart and more. Opera can be Murder is fresh, furious and highly original, presenting the most dramatic of music in Hatstand Opera's unique informal, entertaining, and interactive style. 7.30pm. £14, £13 conc.


Thursday, September 18 and Friday, September 19: The Dark Knight (12a, 152min). Comic book thriller starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. 7.30pm. £4.50.

Saturday, September 20: Real Diamond. John Hylton is Neil Diamond. Featuring songs such as Love on the Rocks and Brother Love. 7.30pm. £15, £13.50 conc.

Thursday, September 25: The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (12a, 112min). Action sequel starring Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello and Jet Li. 7.30pm. £4.50.


LIVE MUSIC

Thursday, September 18: Jazz Thursdays in The Treehouse. Rod Sinclair (guitar). Music at intervals 7-10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.

Friday, September 19: Live Fridays in The Treehouse. A world musical menu played by musicians from Loon featuring Simon Tarrant (accordion), Jo Montgomery (violin) and Keith Hays (mandolin and percussion). Music at intervals 7-10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.

Monday, September 22: Live folk music session. At The Ship, Low Newton. From 8pm. Free.

Thursday, September 25: Glendale Accordion and Fiddle Club. Music from Scott Nichol Trio. In the Glendale Hall, Cheviot Street, Wooler. 7.30pm. Membership £8, members £3.50, non-members £5, including supper. Contact Sheila Smailes on 01668 281535.

Thursday, September 25: Jazz Thursdays in The Treehouse. Gerry Richardson (keys) and Gary Linsley (sax). Music at intervals 7-10pm, call 01665 511852 to book a table.


EVENTS

Thursday, September 18: Talk. East Coquet Local History Society presents Andy Sim, a talk on Amble social history. In St Marks URC Hall, Wellwood Street, Amble. 7.30pm. All welcome. Admission £1.50.

Saturday, September 20: Thropton Village Show. Annual show featuring exhibitors' marquee, beer tent, demonstrations, classes including baking, crafts and vegetables and a fell race. Contact Sue Wade on 01669 621577.

Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21: Alnwick Food Festival. For the fourth year Alnwick Lions Club presents its popular feast of food and drink. New this year is the Children's Food Festival held in the Alnwick Garden. This year also features the Young Chef of the Year competition and cooking demonstrations. And, after the success of last year, its debut year, a beer festival, organised by Alnwick Round Table, will be held in Alnwick Town Hall. For more information visit www.alnwickfoodfestival.co.uk

Monday, September 22: 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.

Wednesday, September 24: Alpha course launch. Christians Together in Alnwick is launching an Alpha course. The session is designed to introduce people to the course which provides the opportunity to explore the meaning of life. The course is free and begins October 1 approx. At Penny Black. 7.30pm. More information contact Bill on 01665 576668.

Wednesday, September 24: Talk. North Sunderland & Seahouses Local History Society welcome Margaret Kenny who will give a talk entitled Rag Rugs at St Paul's Church Hall, North Sunderland. 7.30pm. Refreshments served from 7pm. Visitors welcome, donation of £2.

Thursday, September 25: Talk. Aln Valley Railway Society welcomes well-known railway author and publisher Professor Alan Earnshaw who will give a talk entitled Trains in Trouble – the tales of some railway accidents. In the Waiting Room, Alnwick Station. 7pm for 7.15pm.


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. Bolwell Andrews Retrospective. Until Saturday, September 27. This exhibition hopes to capture some of the highlights of Bolwell's time in Northumberland as a tribute to a friend of many and a past chairman of the Alnwick District Arts Association.

Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, 01665 605847. Lest We Forget. Until October 19. Open daily, 10am-5pm.

Belford Craft Gallery. Paintings and life drawings by J Calver and K Wilson. Until September 20. New exhibition – woodcuts and paintings by Caroline Coode – starts on Saturday, September 27. Main gallery also 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 Malcolm Coils. 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 Framehouse and Schoolroom Gallery, Alnmouth. Gallery, picture framing, 01665 830600. Ken Spencer: New Works. Ken returns for his second solo exhibition of impressive acrylic works on canvas. Until Sunday, September 28. Open Wednesday to Sunday (closed Monday & Tuesday but open on bank holidays).

The Glendale Gallery, Florin of Wooler, 3 High Street, Wooler, 01668 283700. Iain Duncan's photos of Northumberland. Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 9.30am-5pm, Sunday noon–4pm.


WALKS

Saturday, September 20: Guided Walk. A 6-hour, strenuous guided walk in the hills of Upper Coquetdale. 10am. £8. For information and bookings contact Peter McEwen on 0191 2572601 or visit www.walknorthumbria.co.uk

Sunday, September 21: Guided Walk. Join Shepherd's Walks for a 9-mile walk covering Chew Green. Starts at 10.30am from the top end of the Coquet Valley. £8pp. Booking essential, contact 01830 540453 or visit www.shepherdswalks.co.uk

Sunday, September 21: Harbours and Herring Girls. A series of walks led by Harry Beamish, National Trust archaeologist, and Katrina Porteous, local historian and writer, to learn more about the historic environment of three coastal villages within the AONB. Meet at Seahouses TIC at the main car park (parking charge) NU219318. Walks last 2-3 hours. 2pm. Free. No booking required. More information contact 01670 533039.

Wednesday, September 24: Guided Walk. A moderate walk exploring Holy Island's sand dune and shore. Everyone welcome, wear suitable footwear. 4pm–6pm. Meet at the main car park at Holy Island at village exit. Safe crossing times: 2.30pm–9.45pm. £7, 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.