What's on in north Northumberland - March 17 - March 24

Stage/Theatre

Until Sunday

Sister Act -The Musical. Alnwick Playhouse, times vary. Alnwick Stage Musical Society is raising the bar to a heavenly order with a new production of Sister Act: The Musical. The production features a fabulous original score which will have the audience in stitches. Tickets: premier £13.50, standard £12.50, concs £11.50, child/student £8.50.

Friday and Saturday

Longridge Towers School: Grease. The Maltings, Berwick, 7.30pm. Pupils from Longridge Towers School bring the most successful movie musical of all time to the stage in this rock ‘n’ rollin school’s version. Tickets: £10 (£8 concs), box (double occupancy) £30, family ticket £27.

Monday

Royal Opera: Boris Godunov (live broadcast). The Maltings, Berwick, 7.15pm. Richard Jones and Antonio Pappano renew their creative collaboration with this new production of Musorgsky’s historical masterpiece, here seen in its compact 1869 first version in seven scenes. Tickets: £16.75, £15.75 concs, child £8.75. Schools: student £5 and teacher free (min. 10 students).

Wednesday

Animal Farm. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. Tired of the hard life under human rule, the starving animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master and drive him off the land. From now on, the animals decide to work together for the benefit of all. George Orwell’s allegorical novel has enthralled readers since it’s publication in 1945. This abridged version will be performed by this year’s NORTH ensemble, directed by Northern Stage’s associate director Mark Calvert. Tickets: premier £11, standard £10, concs £8.

Wednesday and Thursday

Berwick Middle School presents Shakespeare 4 Kidz: Romeo & Juliet. The Maltings, Berwick, 7pm. Following last year’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, pupils of Berwick Middle School return to The Maltings with the Shakespeare 4 Kidz musical adaptation of The Bard’s most famous play, that of the tragic starcrossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Tickets: £7.50, £6 concs.

Films

Tuesday

Berwick Film Society: Phoenix. The Maltings, Berwick, 7.30pm. Enter the ambience of film noir for this shadowy tale of psychological layering set in post-war Germany. Tickets: £7.75, £6.75 concs, BFS Passholders free. Certificate (12A).

Tuesday

Dad’s Army. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. The Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon has to deal with a German spy and a visit from a female journalist as World War II draws to a close. Tickets: premier £7.80, standard £7.50, concs £7, child/student £5.50. Certificate (PG).

Live Music/Dance

Tonight

Ponteland Rock Choir. Ponteland 1st School, Thornhill Road, Ponteland, 7.30pm to 9pm. Come sing with your local Rock Choir. No auditions or need to read music. Learn to sing feel-good pop songs. Make new friends and have fun. You can even bring your friends along with you, or sign up a friend as a gift. Book a free taster session via our website. Free admission.

Tomorrow

Andante Chamber Choir. The Wooler Branch of Save the Children is hosting a spring concert with the Andante Chamber Choir in the United Reformed Church on March 18, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Brands, High Street, Wooler, or on the door, priced £8, including refreshments. All welcome.

Monday

Northumberland Traditional Music Session. The Railway, Acklington. Contact Jack or Pam Daws on 01665 722835 for more information.

Tuesday

Coquetdale Chamber Choir. United Reformed Church, Rothbury, 7.30pm. “Thus I journey” – readings for Holy Week with music by Tallis, Wilbye, Gesualdo, Schutz and Arvo Part. Free admission. Donations towards the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

Thursday

Glendale Accordion and Fiddle Club. Guest artist Neil MacEachern SDB at the Glendale Hall, Wooler, 7.30pm to 11pm. Member £5, visitors £6.50 including buffet.

Thursday

And now... Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. This is the first opportunity to see plan B’s new ensemble – four of Scotland’s most electrifying dancers - Glen McArtney, Joanne Pirrie, Katie Armstrong and Kirsty Pollock. Accompanied by a powerful ambient score from award winning composer Jim Sutherland, the piece is overlaid with live music pulsating both rhythm and class. Reserve your seat for free at the box office and then pay what you decide at the end of the performance.

EVENTS

Tonight

Warkworth Flower Club. A demonstration by Karl Brunton entitled Surprises, Memorial Hall, 7.30pm.

Tonight

Aln Valley Railway meeting. Old Waiting Room, Alnwick Station, at 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Sir Edward Watkin and the original HS2 is the title of the evening’s presentation. Visitors, members and their guests are welcome for a small donation towards meeting costs. Refreshments will be available from about 7pm.

Tonight

Meet the author: Max Adams. Alnwick Library, 6am to 7pm. Visitors to Alnwick Library are invited to take a step back into the Dark Ages when historian and archaeologist Max Adams, author of In the Land of Giants, comes to talk about this mysterious period of history. Admission is free, but contact the library to book a place in advance on 01670 622154.

Tonight

Yoga and Tribal Dance sessions. Gallery 45, Felton. First Jive taster session at 8pm.

Tonight

Joy of Jive. Gallery 45, Felton, 8pm. Free modern jive class. There is no partner necessary and beginners are welcome.

Every Thursday

Gateway drop-in. Shilbottle Community Hall, from 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 join the craft group.

Every Thursday

Learn to dance ballroom and Latin. A new class for absolute beginners. Every Thursday at Marshall Meadows Country House Hotel, at 7pm. £2.50 per person. For further details call 01289 307953.

Saturday

Berwick Visual Arts: Juneau Projects in conversation with Ceri Hand. The Gymnasium Gallery, Berwick, 12.30pm. Join Juneau Projects in conversation with Ceri Hand to discuss their artistic practice and the launch of Animal Spirits, a new book written and designed by the artists and accompanying the exhibition. Admission is free, but places must be booked in advance.

Saturday until May 8

Animal Spirits by Juneau Projects. The Gymnasium Gallery, Berwick, 11am to 5pm. Animal Spirits is a new book and exhibition written and designed by Juneau Projects. The book tells the story of a group of survivors who, following a global technological disaster, have founded an arts and craft community within the walled town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Free admission.

Monday

Wine and Paint party. Sour Grapes wine bar, Morpeth. Get ready to spend two hours drinking, laughing and flexing your creative muscles. No experience necessary. Everything is provided on the night and you take home a 16ins x 20ins masterpiece, that you have created yourself following step by step guidance from an artist. The cost is £15 per person, all profit to go to Downs Syndrome North East.

Tuesday

Easter Coffee Morning. The Pottergate Centre, 10am till noon. With Easter Egg Tombola, bric-a-brac, pottingshed plant sale. £1.50 admission, which includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

Until April 1

Journey of Wonder into the story of Easter and Beyond. Kirkwhelpington Church, 9am to 6pm. Visitors are invited to come and explore this visual and interactive journey into the Easter story and beyond.

Until April 1

Coast. Gallery 45, Felton. Gallery 45 is celebrating Northumberland’s magnificent coastline with its next exhibition Coast. Artists showing work this month include Fiona Carvell, Peter Davidson, Deirdre Foster, Sarah O’Dowd, George Levitt and Linda Mumba.

Every Friday

Coffee morning. Enjoy a coffee and biscuits and do your bit for the lifeboats every Friday morning at Alnwick Playhouse. From 10am in the upstairs bar.

Until April 10

Snake Encounter. Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, 10am to 4pm. Discover the secret world of snakes. Encounter amazing snakes from around the globe and find out fascinating facts about these mysterious creatures. Be thrilled by a stunning 12ft Burmese python skeleton and displays. Admission includes live snake encounters in sessions hosted by Guy Tansley from bugsnstuff.com

Until April 14

Nordic art exhibition. St Mary’s Inn, St Mary’s Park, Stannington, 8am to 11pm. Nordic art is in the spotlight as Brita Granstrom exhibits. An acute observer of moments of endearing intimacy, her paintings offer visual delights in abundance. Free admission.

Until April 17

Eric Ennion: Ripples from the House on the Shore. The Granary Gallery, Berwick, Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Ripples from the House on the Shore celebrates the work of Eric Ennion (1900–81) and features more than 30 watercolours and preparatory sketches. Free admission.

Until April 30

Spring Exhibition. Alan Reed Art, 17 Cheviot View, Ponteland, 9.30am to 5pm. A selection of original watercolour paintings and limited edition prints of Northumberland, Newcastle, Scotland and Italy. Free admission.

Until May 8

Do I Look Good in This? Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick. A celebration of women’s fashion from Tudor times to the Swinging Sixties. This exclusive display paints a picture of the changing nature of women’s clothing for all occasions. Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to dress up in costumes from different periods.

Until October 31

Stick Man Trail. Kielder Castle, free admission. The Stickman Trail is based on the much-loved book, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, and it follows the success of the Gruffalo trail. It starts from Kielder Castle, where families can pick up an activity pack for £3, follow the trail and complete fun activities along the way. The trail is 0.75 miles long. Parking costs £4.50 all day or £1.50 for one hour.

Attractions

All attraction opening times may vary during the winter season.

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

Alnwick Castle: 01665 511100. Closed for winter, re-opens March 24, 2016.

Alnwick Garden: 01665 511350. Go to www.alnwickgarden.com for opening hours. Prices are adults £7.70, concs £5.83, children £4.40, family £21.50.

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

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

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

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

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

Chillingham Castle: 01668 215359. Now open. Please ring for further details or visit our website www.chillingham-castle.com

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, concs £6, children £3, family £16.

Cragside House, Gardens and Estate: 01669 620333. Closed Monday. Open Tuesday to Sunday, house 11am to 5pm, gardens and woodland 10am to 6pm. Admission £10.20, child £5.10, family £25.50.

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

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

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

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

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

Lady Waterford Hall, Ford: 01890 820338. Open daily, from 11am to 5pm. Admission £3, concs £2.70, family £8, 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, concs £3.50, children £2, family £10, under-fives free.

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

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 children £2.50, concs or groups £1.50.

RNLI Grace Darling Museum, Bamburgh: 01668 214910. Open daily, from 10am to 5pm, last entry 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, concs £5.40, children £3.60, family £15.60. Hermitage: Open on Sunday and Monday only, from 11am to 4pm. Admission £4, concs £3.60, children £2.40, family £10.40.

Woodhorn Museum and Archives, Ashington: 01670 624455, Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Woodhorn: Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm. Northumberland Archives: Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.