What's on in north Northumberland - February 16 - February 23

STAGE/THEATRE

Tonight

National Theatre LIVE: Saint Joan. Alnwick Playhouse, 7pm. Gemma Arterton plays Joan of Arc, broadcast live from the Donmar Warehouse. Bernard Shaw’s highly acclaimed play follows the life and trial of a young country girl who declares a mission to drive the English from France. Tickets: premier £16.50, standard £15.50, concs £14.50, child/student £10.

Tonight

Omid Djalili: Schmuck For A Night. The Maltings, Berwick, 7.30pm. Award-winning comedian and actor Omid Djalili is back on a nationwide tour. Of trying to make sense of the world around him in Schmuck For A Night, Omid said: “It’ll be so current sometimes audiences won’t laugh until they get home and turn on the TV.” Tickets: £24.

Till Saturday

Tideline Runners: One Big Lie. The Maltings, Berwick, 7pm. Based on true events, One Big Lie is a thrilling comedy from RJ Wilkinson. Tickets: £12.50, concs £10 for disability, student, unemployed, over 60s £11.

Wednesday

The Bear. The Maltings, Berwick, 2pm. The story of a little girl who befriends a mischievous polar bear, this playful, funny and heart-warming tale is one of imagination and growing up. The Bear follows Pins and Needles’ hugely successful adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas. Tickets: £8.

Thursday

Shark in the Park. Alnwick Playhouse, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Timothy Pope is looking through his telescope, but wait, is that a shark in the park? From the creative team behind The Hairy Maclary Show, see all three of Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park books live on stage in this family production. Tickets: standard £10, child/student £8.50.

FILMS

Tomorrow

Assassin’s Creed. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. When Callum Lynch explores the memories of his ancestor Aguilar and gains the skills of a master assassin, he discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins Society. Tickets: premier £8.50, standard £8, concs £7.50, child/student £5.50. Certificate (12A).

Tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday

The Lego Batman Movies. Alnwick Playhouse. Times vary. Bruce Wayne must now not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted. Tickets: premier £8.50, standard £8, concs £7.50, child/student £5.50. Certificate (U).

Saturday

Jackie. Seahouses Hub, 6pm. A searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Jackie places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband’s assassination. Tickets: Adult £7, concs £6.50, child £4, family £19. Certificate (15).

Saturday

A Monster Calls. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. The monster does not come walking often. This time it comes to Connor and asks for the one thing he cannot bring himself to do – tell the truth. A touching story about a boy who feels damaged, guilty and angry. He struggles at school with bullies and at home with his mother’s sickness. Tickets: premier £8.50, standard £8, concs £7.50, child/student £5.50. Certificate (12A).

Thursday

Silence. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. The story of two Catholic missionaries who face the ultimate test of faith when they travel to Japan in search of their missing mentor at a time when Catholicism was outlawed and their presence forbidden. Tickets: premier £8.50, standard £8, concs £7.50, child/student £5.50. Certificate (15).

LIVE MUSIC/DANCE

Tomorrow

The Tom McConville Band. Coquetdale Music Trust, Thropton, 7.30pm. Tickets: Adults £10, under 14s free. Tickets are available from Tully’s Rothbury.

Tomorrow

Northumbrian Concert with Alistair Anderson and Friends. Morpeth Town Hall, 7.30pm. Fund-raiser for the 50th Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering in April, the concert will feature a host of artists from near and far, including Bob Bolam, The Border Directors, Colin Bradford, Fiddler’s Elbow, Anita James and Ernie Gordon, Ann Wilkinson and MC Alex Swailes. Tickets: Adult £10, concs £9, under 18s £8, available from Morpeth Tourist Information Centre in Morpeth Chantry on 01670 623455, or from Kim Bibby-Wilson on 01670 513308. They will also be available on the door on the night if not sold-out.

Saturday

Official Pink tribute act Alecia Karr. The Jubilee Social Club, Highcliffe, 8pm. Alecia Karr is back with her new show. Tickets: £8 in advance, £10 on the night. For more information, please contact the club on 01289 305597.

Saturday

Tia McGraff. Longhirst Hall Golf Club, 8pm. An internationally-renowned and award-winning Americana/country songstress from Port Dover, Canada. With Scottish/Transylvanian roots running through her songwriting and voice, Tia’s talent has been described as “haunting and soul-gripping”, with six international CD releases to her name and a global fan base. Tickets: £8 from the golf club. Includes support from Rachel Smith.

Tuesday

Gina McCormack and Nigel Clayton. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. Gina McCormack spent 13 years as leader of the Sorrel Quartet and is one of Britain’s leading artists, while Nigel Clayton, a piano soloist with a particular interest in accompanying, was recently appointed Professor of Piano at the prestigious Royal College of Music. Tickets: standard £16, concs £15.

Thursday

Glendale Accordion and Fiddle Club: The Bon Accords Trio. Glendale Hall, Wooler, 7.30pm to 11pm. Members £5, non-members £6.50, including buffet.

Thursday

Rod Clements. Rothbury Roots. The Queen’s Head, Rothbury, 8pm. Rod’s solo gigs see him revisiting classic Lindisfarne songs and gems from various projects over the decades, as well as roots blues material that was, and remains, a great musical influence. Tickets: £10, from The Queen’s Head.

Thursday

Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick. The Maltings, Berwick, 7.30pm. These two interpreters of English folk traditions – guitarist/singer Martin Carthy and squeezebox virtuoso/singer John Kirkpatrick – have been long-time collaborators in a variety of seminal musical projects, from Kirkpatrick’s iconic 1976 Morris tunes album Plain Capers through to Steeleye Span, to Brass Monkey. Tickets: £16.50.

EVENTS

Tonight

Warkworth and District Flower Club: Demonstration by Kath Gibson, entitled Myths and Legends. The session takes place at Warkworth Memorial Hall, at 7.30pm.

Tonight

Quiz Night. Ancroft Memorial Hall, 7.30pm. Entry £5 per head for teams of up to four, including a light supper. Bring your own bottle.

Tonight

Aln Valley Railway Meeting. Old Waiting Room, Alnwick Station, 7.15pm for 7.30pm. John Irving will present a talk on The Railway Pubs Of Northumberland, Durham and Cumberland, showing how such pubs were instrumental in the creation of rail passenger services in the region.

Tonight

Joy of Jive. Felton Village Hall, 7.30pm. Classes of modern jive continue every other Thursday. Beginners are welcome to the class, and partners are not necessary.

Every Thursday

Hadston Dance Group. Hadston Community Centre, 1pm. A two-hour session, with tea and a biscuit served half way through, £1.50 per person. Dance tuition is free.

Every Thursday

Berwick Arts Choir. United Reformed Church, Spittal, 7.30pm. Singers in all sections would be welcome, and no audition is necessary.

Every Thursday

Gateway drop-in. Shilbottle Community Hall, 10am to 4pm. A free drop-in to meet friends over refreshments, play cards, read newspapers, watch television or use the internet, and in the afternoon there is a craft group.

Every Thursday

Learn to dance ballroom and Latin. Marshall Meadows Country House Hotel, 7.30pm. The class costs £2.50 per person. Call 01289 307953 for more information.

Every Saturday

Modern and sequence dancing. St Aidan’s Hall, Church Street, Berwick, 8pm to 11pm. Entry £3, includes refreshments.

Sunday

Coffee Morning. Amble RNLI Lifeboat Station, 10am to 1pm, to raise funds in aid of Amble’s lifeboats.

Wednesday

The Flowers of Southern Greece. St Michael’s Church Hall, Cannongate, Alnwick, 7.30pm. Talk by John Richards on The Flowers of Southern Greece, followed by free refreshments and plenty of time to chat. Non-members £2.

Every Wednesday

Berwick Male Voice Choir. Longridge Towers School, 6.45pm to 9pm for rehearsals. New members would be welcome, and no audition is necessary.

Wednesday

Belford and District Local History Society. Bell View Resource Centre, West Street, 7.30pm. Phil Rowett will be speaking on the subject of Your Neighbourhood SAS – The Resistance in Northumberland 1940-45. The society’s meetings are open to all. Annual membership £10, or £2 on the door on the night for this talk.

Wednesday

Slide Show. The Gallery of St Mary’s, Belford, 6.30pm. Well-known local author and travel writer Steve Newman presents a slide show entitled Around The World In 30 Islands. The presentation will highlight the wildlife, culture of the native peoples and spectacular scenery of islands from Antarctica to Greenland, Mexico to Japan, and the middle of the Atlantic. Entry £3, includes the first drink. There will also be a raffle on the night.

Wednesday

Creative Cocoon: Storytelling for all the Family. Alnwick Playhouse, noon. Join the Creative Cocoon storytellers as they jet off on magical journeys of discovery, all from your own comfy cushion. Free entry.

Every Wednesday

Qi Gong for Health. Costello Centre, Bailiffgate, 2pm. Improve your posture, flexibility and strength. Cost £3 per person per session.

Until March 3

Purely Pastels – Land and Sea by Fiona Carvell. Gallery 45, Felton. A pastel specialist and Unison Colour Associate Artist, Fiona depicts various landscapes, from the Highlands of Scotland and beaches of Northumberland, to the riverbanks of County Durham and sunrises over Lindisfarne.

Until June 4

Brick Dinos. Woodhorn Museum, Ashington. This new exhibition at the museum combines the favourite childhood topics of dinosaurs and LEGO. Brick Dinos promises to delight visitors of all ages as they will come face to face with a Jurassic world in miniature. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, plus Monday and Tuesday during school holidays, from 10am to 4pm.

WALKS

Sunday

Alnwick Ramblers. Rothbury to Garleigh Moor. Meet at Beggars Rigg car park, at 10.30am. The walk is about seven miles long. If the weather is inclement, check with leaders Elidh and Derek Gardiner on 01665 574839 to make sure it is going ahead.

ATTRACTIONS

All attraction opening times may vary from season to season.

Aln Valley Railway, Alnwick: Call 0300 030 3311 for information. For opening times and details visit www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk

Alnwick Castle. Closed for winter.

Alnwick Garden: 01665 511350. Open daily, 10am to 4pm. See www.alnwickgarden.com for details of events and further information. Admission £7.70 adults, £5.83 concs, £4.40 children, £21.50 family.

Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick: 01665 605847. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am to 4pm. Admission £4, £3 concs, £1 children, under fives free.

Bamburgh Castle: 01668 214515. Open weekends, 11am to 4.30pm, last admission 3.30pm. Admission £10.75 adults, £10.50 senior, £5 children, £25 family.

Barter Books, Alnwick Station: 01665 604888. Open daily, 9am to 5pm.

Belford Hidden History Museum. Open daily, 10am to 4pm. Free.

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens: 01661 881636. Open weekends, 10am to 4pm. Admission £8.80 adult, £7.90 concs, £5.20 children, £22.80 family.

Berwick Barracks. Closed for winter.

Chillingham Castle. Closed for winter.

Chillingham Wild Cattle Park: 01668 215250. Visit the cattle park in winter by prior arrangement. See www.chillinghamwildcattle.com for further information.

Cragside House, Gardens and Estate: 01669 620333. For details and charges visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside

Dunstanburgh Castle: 01665 576231. Open weekends, 10am to 4pm. Admission: £4.70 adult, £4.20 concs, £2.80 children, £12.20 family.

Edlingham Castle: 0870 333 1181. Open during daylight. Admission free.

Etal Castle. Closed for winter.

Eyemouth Museum: Closed for winter.

Heatherslaw Corn Mill. Open February 20-24 for half-term.

Heatherslaw Light Railway. Closed for winter.

Heatherslaw Visitor Centre. Re-opens February 20.

House of Hardy Fishing Tackle Museum. Willowburn, Alnwick. Telephone 01665 510027. Open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Free entry.

Howick Hall Gardens: Festival of Snowdrops. Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 4pm. Adults £7.70, over 60s £6.60, children free. Tearoom is also open.

Lady Waterford Hall, Ford: 01890 820338. Winter visits by arrangement. See www.ford-and-etal.co.uk/lady-waterford-hall

Lindisfarne Castle: 01289 389244. The castle is closed for restoration. The Gertrude Jekyll Garden, Lime Kilns and shop remain open daily. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lindisfarne-castle

Lindisfarne Centre: 01289 389004. Call for opening times. Admission £4 adult, £3.50 concs, £2 children, £10 family, under fives free. See www.lindisfarne-centre.com

Lindisfarne Priory: 01289 389200. Open weekends, 10am to 4pm. Admission: £6 adult, £5.30 concs, £3.60 children, £15.60 family.

Longframlington Gardens: Winter opening by request. Call 01665 570382 or 07858 757339 or email [email protected] or see www.longframlingtongardens.co.uk

North Charlton Armstrong Household and Farming Museum. Closed for winter.

Preston Tower, Chathill: 01665 589227. Open daily, 10am to 6pm, or dusk, whichever is earlier. Admission: £2 adult, 50p children, £1.50 concs or groups.

RNLI Grace Darling Museum, Bamburgh: 01668 214910. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm. Free admission.

Wallington: 01670 773600. House closed for winter. Walled garden open daily, 10am to 4pm. Garden and estate open daily, 10am to dusk. Admission £9.50 adult, £4.80 child, £23 family. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington

Warkworth Castle and Hermitage: 01665 711423. Castle: Open weekends, 10am to 4pm. Admission £5.80 adult, £5.20 concs, £3.40 children, £15 family. Hermitage: Closed. See www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage

Woodhorn Museum and Archives, Ashington: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Northumberland Archives: Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.