What's on in north Northumberland - January 28 - February 4

Stage/Theatre

Tonight

The Snow Queen. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. Join Ballet Theatre UK live at Alnwick Playhouse in the company’s beautiful and spectacular re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale ballet, The Snow Queen, which is set in the frozen north. Tickets: premier £17.50, standard £16.50, concs £15.50, child/student £11.50. See www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk for further information or tickets.

Tomorrow

National Theatre Live: Jane Eyre. Encore screening. Alnwick Playhouse, 7pm. This bold and dynamic production uncovers one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms. This acclaimed re-imagining of Brontë’s masterpiece was first staged by Bristol Old Vic last year, when the story was performed over two evenings. Director Sally Cookson now brings her celebrated production to the National Theatre, presented through live streaming as a single, exhilarating performance. Tickets: premier £16.50, standard £15.50, concs £14.50, child/student £10.

Saturday

The Ugly Duckling. Shilbottle Community Hall, 4pm. Touring with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme, Northumberland Theatre Company’s latest show is performed by a five-strong cast and is packed with catchy songs, laugh out loud humour, dancing and visual treats to bring this funny and heartwarming story to life for all the family. Tickets: adults £7.50 concs £6.50, child £4, family ticket £19. For bookings contact Gill Bray on 07946 537703 or for further information see the website at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

Until Saturday

Hairspray. Theatre Royal, Newcastle. A new production of the international smash hit Hairspray. Tickets available from £16. See online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk for further information and full prices.

Sunday

So You Think You’re a Superhero? Alnwick Playhouse Junior Youth Theatre, 2pm. Teen TV goes undercover to the most prestigious Sports Academy in the UK where there are rumours of a new sporting superhero who is unlike any other in history. With the 2016 Olympics around the corner, the public want to know more about this sports superhero with no name. Only Teen TV is allowed access and what they find could damage the academy’s chances of winning the Olympics. Discover the superhero inside yourself in this comic inter-galactic sports adventure. Tickets: premier £7.50, standard £6.50.

February 4-6

ESPG: A Blast From The Past. The Maltings, Berwick, 7.30pm. Time is slowing down in Berwick, and there’s only one man that can save us. Lucky he’s a Timelord. Join The Doctor and his companion on a fast-paced journey through pantos past as they race to save Berwick. We invite you to celebrate 20 years of the Emergency Services Panto Group with us. Revisit your favourite characters from years gone by, sing along with old songs, and enjoy our newest adventure. As always, proceeds go to the North Northumberland Hospice. Tickets: £8, concs £7, box (two people) £24. To book a box for this event, please contact our Box Office on 01289 330999.

February 4-6

The Wizard of Odd. Community Village Hall, Felton. Felton and Thirston Pantomime Society’s next production is a spin on the traditional tale of the Wizard of Oz, including added local interpretation, songs and dance routines. Tickets: adults £6, children (under 11) £3, family tickets (two adults and two children) £15. Available from Hillrise Stores, Gallery45, Hair Naturelle, and also from Grace Aynsley on 01670 787283 or by email to [email protected]

Films

Tonight

National Theatre: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (live broadcast). The Maltings, Berwick, 7pm. Following the successful broadcasts of Coriolanus and King Lear, National Theatre Live brings the Donmar Warehouse’s new production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses to cinemas, broadcast live from the Donmar’s London home. Tickets: £16.50, concs £15.75, child £8.75, school students £5 and teacher free (minimum 10 students). See www.maltingsberwick.co.uk

Tomorrow

Berwick Sound: Waite and Sea Film Screening. The Maltings, Berwick, 7pm. In October StrongBack Productions, in partnership with The Maltings, Berwick Record Office and Berwick Watchtower, presented a celebration of the music of Berwick-upon-Tweed past and present. Join us for a screening of the concert and re-live the fabulous afternoon of music. Tickets: £5.

Tomorrow and Saturday

Bridge of Spies. The Maltings, Berwick, 7.30pm. In the cold war, a lawyer James B. Donovan was recruited by the CIA and involved in an intense negotiation to exchange a CIA U-2 spy-plane pilot, Francis G. Powers, who was arrested alive after his plane was shot down by the Soviet Union, with a KGB intelligence officer, Rudolf Abel, who was arrested for espionage in the US. Being the lawyer trying to release a traitor, comes with its own dangers. Tickets: £7.75, concs £6.75, child £4.75. Certificate (12A).

Saturday

Snoopy & Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie. The Maltings, Berwick, 2.30pm. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved Peanuts gang make their big-screen debut like they’ve never been seen before, in state-of-the-art 3D animation. Tickets: £7.75, concs £6.75, child £4.75. Certificate (U).

Tuesday

Florence and the Uffizi Gallery. Alnwick Playhouse, 7pm. A journey into the city that was once the cradle of the Italian Renaissance through the most beautiful and representative works of art from the period of Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Raphael, Leonardo and Botticelli. The Uffizi Gallery, including the Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo Da Vinci, which will be brought back to life after years of restoration, will be unveiled in worldwide exclusive premiere on the big screen. Tickets: premier £12.50, standard £11.50, child/student £10.

Wednesday

Carol. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. Drama following two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950’s New York. Tickets: premier £7.80, standard £7.50, concs £7, child/student £5.50. Certificate (15).

Live Music/Dance

Tonight

Rothbury Roots: Maz O’Connor. Queen’s Head Hotel, Rothbury, doors open 7.30pm for 8pm start. Maz O’Connor has a beautiful voice and writes beautiful songs to match. If you’ve not heard her before then she comes highly recommended. Tickets: £10 on 01669 620470.

Tomorrow

Charity Night. The Brewers Arms, Berwick, 7.30pm. In aid of The Northstar Centre with live music from Band With No Name, Andy Clark DJ, supper and a raffle. Tickets are £2.50 in advance from The Brewers Arms or Northstar, or pay on the door.

Saturday

Met Opera: Turandot – Puccini. Alnwick Playhouse, 5.55pm. Part of a stunning Met Opera 2015-16 season, broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Nina Stemme, one of opera’s greatest dramatic sopranos, takes on the title role of the proud princess of legendary China. Franco Zeffirelli’s golden production is conducted by Paolo Carignani. Tickets: premier £21, standard £20, concs £19, child/student £10, friends £18.

Sunday

The Djooks. Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 7pm. The Djooks are a duo featuring Bob Davidson and Nigel Stawart. Bob and Nigel also play in eclectic roots band the Hookahs and have played together in various bands for the past 30 years, including the Poorboys and Splitcrow. The Djooks is a musical duo playing Americana, Blues, Folk and most things in between.

Thursday, February 4

ROH LIVE: La Traviata. Alnwick Playhouse, 6.45pm. La Traviata is regarded as one of Verdi’s finest operas, and Richard Eyre’s traditional staging is one of The Royal Opera’s most popular productions. The opera tells the story of the Parisian courtesan Violetta Valéry, one of opera’s greatest heroines, based on the real life courtesan Marie Duplessis, who died in 1847, aged just 23. Tickets: premier £16, standard £15, child/student £10.

Events

Tonight

Joy of Jive. A new batch of classes of modern jive for the new year, at 8pm, in Lowick village hall. Entrance fee of £4 each. The classes will continue every other Thursday evening. Beginners are welcome and partners are not necessary. More events are to be announced in the future so watch the Facebook page joyofjive or email [email protected] for details.

Every Thursday

Gateway Drop-In. Shilbottle Community Hall, from 10am to 4pm. Come along to a free drop-in to meet friends over refreshments, and maybe play cards, read newspapers, watch television, or use the internet, and in the afternoon join the craft group.

Every Thursday

French reading group. Costello Centre, Bailiffgate, 7.30pm. We read a short novel, translate a chapter or two, have a coffee and a chat, followed by some word games, quizzes or a song. There are about 16 of us with various levels of fluency and understanding. There are no charges, apart from one small termly fee for the use of the room. For more information, contact Monique on 01665 830898.

Every Friday

Coffee morning. Enjoy a cup of rich coffee and tasty biscuits and do your bit for the lifeboats every Friday morning at Alnwick Playhouse. Coffee is served from 10am, upstairs in the bar.

Until February 7

Our Streets. Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick (Museums and Galleries), 10am to 4pm. A celebration of the successful three-year programme of community activity in the area involving schools, streets and community groups, all funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The output on show includes films, books and artworks, plus the Memory Box of oral history captured from Alnwick district residents. Free with museum entry.

Until March 3

Winter 2016 Mixed Open Exhibition. Gallery 45, Felton. A range of subjects and media from artists, including Sarah O’Dowd, Nick Potter, Malcolm Coils, Angela White, Jina Gelder and Emily Ward.

Until March 6

The Ashington District Star. Woodhorn Museum and Northumberland Archives, Ashington. Inspired by the Ashington Group Painters, photographic artist Julian Germain has embarked on a two-year collaboration with local people to produce a newspaper, The Ashington District Star. The exhibition incorporates the original paintings and maps the process involved in developing a new collection of photographs about contemporary Ashington. Entry is free but a car parking charge of £3.50 applies.

Attractions

All listed visitor attraction opening times may vary during the winter season.

Aln Valley Railway, Alnwick: 0300 030 3311. For opening times and further details visit the website www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk

Alnwick Castle: 01665 511100. Please note, Alnwick Castle is now closed until March of this year. For further information, visit the website www.alnwickcastle.com

Alnwick Garden: 01665 511350. Please see the website online at www.alnwickgarden.com for winter opening hours. Prices are £7.70 adult, £5.83 concs, £4.40 child, £21.50 family.

Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick: 01665 605847. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 4pm, but is closed on Mondays. Admission is £4, £3 concs, £1 child, under-fives free.

Bamburgh Castle: 01668 214515. Open daily, from 10am to 5pm, last admission 4pm. Please call for winter opening hours. Admission £10.50, £5 child, £10 senior, £25 family.

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

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens: 01661 881636. Open daily, from 10am to 6pm. Admission £9.20, £8.30 concs, £5.50 child, £23.90 family.

Berwick Barracks: 01289 304493. Open Monday to Friday, from 10am to 6pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Admission £4.80, £4.30 concs, £2.90 child, £12.50 family.

Chillingham Wild Cattle Park: 01668 215250. Open Monday to Friday: Tours at 10am, 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm. Sundays: Tours at 10am, 11am, noon. Closed Saturday. Admission £8, £6 concs, £3 child, £16 family.

Cragside House, Gardens and Estate: The house is closed and the gardens and woodlands are only open Friday to Sunday. Closed completely on December 20 for winter, then open again on February 13.

Dunstanburgh Castle: 01665 576231. Open daily, from 10am to 6pm. Gift aid admission: £4.90, £4.40 concs, £2.90 child, £12.70 family.

Edlingham Castle: 0870 333 1181. Open during daylight hours. Free admission.

Etal Castle: 01890 820332. Open daily, from 10am to 6pm. Gift aid admission: £4.80, £4.30 concs, £2.90 child, £12.50 family.

Heatherslaw Cornmill: 01890 820488. Open daily, from 10am to 5pm. Admission £3.80, £3.20 concs, £10 family, under-fives free.

Heatherslaw Light Railway: 01890 820244. Open daily, from 10am to 4pm, first train at 11am. Return journey prices: £6.50, £6 seniors, £4.50 child, £2.50 under-fives, babies free.

Heatherslaw Visitor Centre: 01890 820338. Open daily, from 10am to 5pm.

Howick Hall Gardens: 01665 577285. Open daily, from 10.30am to 6pm, last entry 5pm. Gift aid entry: £7.70, over 60s £6.60, children free. Closed until February.

Lady Waterford Hall, Ford: 01890 820338. Open daily, from 11am to 5pm. Admission £3, £2.70 concs, £8 family, under-fives free.

Lindisfarne Castle: 01289 389244. Call for opening times. Gift aid admission: £7.80, child £3.90, family £19.40.

Lindisfarne Centre: 01289 389004. Call for opening times. Admission £4, £3.50 concs, £2 child, £10 family, under-fives free.

Lindisfarne Priory: 01289 389200. Open daily, from 10am to 6pm. Gift aid admission: £6.20, £5.60 concs, £3.70 child, £16.10 family.

Longframlington Gardens, Swarland Road: 01665 570382. Winter season at the gardens and arboretum. For details, including opening times, visit www.longframlingtongardens.co.uk

Preston Tower, Chathill: 01665 589227. Open daily, from 10am to 6pm, or dusk, whichever is earlier. Admission £2.50 child, £1.50 concs or groups.

RNLI Grace Darling Museum, Bamburgh: 01668 214910. Open daily, from 10am to 5pm, last admission 4.15pm. Free admission.

Wallington: 01670 773600. Stately home near Cambo: Open Thursday to Monday, and Wednesday, from noon to 5pm. Closed Tuesday. Walled garden: Open daily, from 10am to 7pm. Garden and estate: Open daily, from 10am to dusk. Gift aid entry: £12.60, child £6.30, family £31.50.

Warkworth Castle and Hermitage: 01665 711423. Castle: Open daily, from 10am to 6pm (times may vary through the winter). Gift aid entry: £6, £5.40 concs, £3.60 child, £15.60 family. Hermitage: Open on Sunday and Monday only, from 11am to 4pm. Admission £4, £3.60 concs, £2.40 child, £10.40 family.

Woodhorn Museum and Archives: 01670 624455, Museum: Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm. Northumberland Archives: Open Wednesday to Saturday, from 10am to 4pm.