What's on in north Northumberland - December 8 - December 15

Stage/Theatre

Tonight

Royal Opera House LIVE: The Nutcracker. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.15pm. The Royal Ballet’s glorious production of The Nutcracker, created by Peter Wright in 1984, is a much-loved production of an all-time ballet favourite. Tickets: premier £16, standard £15, child/student £10.

Saturday

Northumberland Theatre Company: Little Red Riding Hood and Other Tales. Shilbottle Community Hall, 2pm. Touring company NTC brings its seasonal show to Shilbottle Community Hall, offering a treat for children aged six-plus and their families. Tickets: adult £7.50, child £4, concs £6.50, family £19. Bookings: 01665 575 196 or online at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

Thursday

National Theatre LIVE: No Man’s Land. Alnwick Playhouse, 7pm. Following their hit run on Broadway, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart return to the West End stage in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land, broadcast live to cinemas from Wyndham’s Theatre, London. Tickets: premier £16.50, standard £15.50, concs £14.50, child/student £10.

FILMS

Saturday

A Street Cat Named Bob. Seahouses Hub, 6pm. Based on the best-selling book, the true, feel good story of how James Bowen, a busker and recovering drug addict, had his life transformed when he met a stray ginger cat. Tickets: adult £7, concs £6.50, child £4, family (four) £19. Certificate (12A).

Saturday

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Alnwick Playhouse, J.K. Rowling invites you to a new era of wizarding in the adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards 70 years before Harry Potter reads his book in school. Tickets: premier £7.80, standard £7.50, concs £7, child/student £5.50, friends £6.75. Certificate (12A).

Tuesday

I, Daniel Blake. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. A 59-year-old carpenter recovering from a heart attack befriends a single mum and her two kids as they navigate their way through the benefits system, with humour, warmth and despair. Tickets: premier £7.80, standard £7.50, concs £7, child/student £5.50, friends £6.75. Certificate (15).

Wednesday

The Girl On The Train. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. The story of Rachel Watson’s life post-divorce. Every day, she takes the train to work in New York, then one day, as the train passes, she sees something shocking, filling her with rage. Tickets: premier £7.80, standard £7.50, concs £7, child/student £5.50, friends £6.75. Certificate (15).

Live Music/Dance

Tomorrow

Holly At Christmas. Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm. Buddy Holly and the Cricketers herald in the Yuletide festivities with a show that is as traditional as mulled wine and mince pies. Tickets: premier £20.50, standard £19.50, concs £18.50, child/student £10.50.

Saturday

An afternoon with The Berwick Concert Band. BURC (formerly St Paul’s), Main Street, Spittal, 3pm. Tickets: adults £5, under 17s £4 (including light refreshments). On sale at Spittal Food Store on 07752 403409.

Saturday

Metropolitan Opera: L’Amour De Loin. Alnwick Playhouse, 5.55pm. Commissioned by the Salzburg Festival, where it was first seen in 2000, it will now have its Metropolitan Opera premiere in a new production by Robert Lepage. Tickets: premier £21, standard £20, concs £19, child/student £10, friends £18.

Monday

Northumberland Traditional Music Session. Fisher Arms, Horncliffe. Contact Jack or Pam Daws on 01665 722835 for more details.

Tuesday

Buskers’ Night. The Craster Arms, Beadnell, 8pm. An acoustic session of modern and traditional folk, original singer-songwriters and group sing-a-long. All abilities and styles welcome and entry is free.

Tuesday

Northumbrian Ceilidh. Memorial Hall, Warkworth, 7.30pm. Live band with caller. Tickets £5 on the door. Bring your own refreshments (no bar). Further information on 01665 711388.

Wednesday

Civic Carol Service. St Michael’s Church, Alnwick, 7pm. Organised by Alnwick Town Council, the service is held in support of a local charity chosen by the Mayor of Alnwick. This year’s charity is the Alnwick Stroke Club. Refreshments available after the service.

EVENTS

Tonight

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

Every Thursday

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

Every Thursday

Berwick Arts Choir. United Reformed Church, Spittal, 7.30pm. A programme of choral music has been planned. Singers in all sections welcome, no audition 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 join the craft group.

Every Thursday

Learn to dance ballroom and Latin. Every Thursday at Marshall Meadows Country House Hotel, at 7.30pm. £2.50 per person. Call 01289 307953.

Tomorrow

Prize Bingo Night. St Aidan’s Hall, Church Street, Berwick, 7.30pm. Tea, coffee, mince pies and shortbread will be served and a raffle will be held. No admission charge. Proceeds will go towards the refurbishments currently being carried out to the building.

Saturday

Glendale Agricultural Society coffee morning. Glendale Hall, Wooler, 10am.

Saturday

Creative Cocoon’s Winter Wonderland. Alnwick Playhouse, 10am and noon. Led by storyteller Helen Ellis and movement and dance specialist Emma Hardman, the studio will be transformed into a Christmas box of colour and creativity. Tickets: child £4.50, babies and adults free, includes a goody bag for each child.

Every Saturday

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

Saturday and Sunday

Santa is coming to Spittal. Old Fishing Shiel, Sandstell Road, 10am to 5pm. Santa’s grotto and festive cafe. £3.50 to visit Santa, every child gets a gift.

Saturday and Sunday

Christmas Market. Alnwick Garden, 10.30am to 5pm. Enjoy seasonal singing and live music played by talented performers from the region.

Tuesday

SHAK: Skin Deep. Greenwell Road, Alnwick, 7.30pm. A presentation by vet Sharon Wright, of Moorview Vets, on skin parasites and allergies. Doors open at 7.15pm. Minimum donation of £3 on the door.

Every Wednesday

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

Every Wednesday

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

Wednesday

Alnwick Wildlife Group Christmas Meeting. St Michael’s Church Hall, Cannongate, Alnwick, 7.30pm. Dr Richard Bevan will give a talk entitled A Voyage Around The Islands. It will be followed by free Christmas goodies and a light-hearted quiz. Non members £2.

Thursday

Aln Valley Railway Meeting: The Members Entertain. Old Waiting Room, Alnwick Station, at 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Our annual buffet, raffle and evening of short presentations from members and guests returns. Members and guests are welcome. Can you make a contribution to the meeting this year?

Thursday

Berwick URC (St Paul’s) Christmas Coffee Morning. Church Hall, 10am to 11.30am, with the usual stalls, tombola etc.

Until January 2

Skating Rink. Alnwick Garden, 10am to 4pm. One of the most picturesque spots for skating, The Alnwick Garden will come alive with fun and laughter with its own skating rink. Tickets: £8.50.

Attractions

All attraction opening times may vary from season to season.

Aln Valley Railway, Alnwick: 0300 030 3311. 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. 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 admission.

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. It is possible to visit the wild cattle by prior arrangement. See www.chillinghamwildcattle.com

Cragside House, Gardens and Estate: 01669 620333. For details of opening times 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 any reasonable time during daylight. Admission free.

Etal Castle. Closed for winter.

Eyemouth Museum: Closed for the winter. Re-opening on Monday, April 3. See www.eyemouthmuseum.org

Heatherslaw Cornmill. Closed for winter.

Heatherslaw Light Railway. Closed for winter.

Heatherslaw Visitor Centre. Closed for winter.

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

Howick Hall Gardens: Closed until February.

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: Autumn/winter opening by request. Welcome all days and times, phone or email to pre-book. 01665 570382 or 07858 757339. 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 for winter. See www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage

Woodhorn Museum and Archives, Ashington: 01670 624455, Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Ashington: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Northumberland Archives: Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. See www.experiencewoodhorn.com for more information.