Preview: Autumn 2015 at Customs House

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Audiences Decide In New Autumn Theatre Season At South Shield’s Customs House

A new season of plays is being launched to bring the best contemporary drama to South Tyneside.

The Customs House in South Shields is introducing a new season called CUSTOM MADE consisting of seven very different shows by the most innovative companies making theatre in the UK.

Coronation Street’s Krissi Bohn

stars in The Bogus Woman

The productions have been hand-picked by The Customs House programming team to challenge perceptions of what theatre really is, and to bring award winning drama to the Mill Dam theatre.

Launching the season next month will be The Disappearance of Dorothy Lawrence, directed by Paulette Randall MBE - Associate Director for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

Executive Director of The Customs House Ray Spencer MBE said “We’re thrilled to be able to bring the very best drama from the very best companies to The Customs House.”

The season will also see Friends of The Customs House benefiting from a new Pay What You Decide scheme.

The Friends will be able to book their tickets for free and then pay how much they think it was worth at the end of the performance. The aim is for audiences to try out something new without worrying that they’ll be out of pocket or it may not be ‘up their street’. This scheme has been informed by the work of Arc Stockton who have had great success with their own Pay What You Decide scheme.

Ray added: “The Customs House prides itself in having very loyal supporters and we’re thrilled to be able to give back to our Friends of The Customs House by offering them this opportunity to see shows without paying anything upfront and to be able to feed back to us their thoughts on this new and exciting initiative.  I myself am looking forward to seeing these renowned artists on The Customs House stage and hearing just what our audiences think of our new-look drama season.”

Kicking of the season will be The Disappearance of Dorothy Lawrence on September 26 followed by You, Me and Everything Else on September 30 & October 1; Beats North on October 4; One Last Waltz on October 14; Confirmation on November 6; The Bogus Woman on November 9; and Be Brave and Leave for the Unknown on November 20 & 21.

Details of the shows is given below and to buy tickets go to www.customshouse.co.uk , or call box office on 0191 454 1234. To become a Friend of The Customs House contact Angela Hannon on 0191 427 8183.

The shows: 

 

Vital Xposure presents                                                                                   

The Disappearance of Dorothy Lawrence

Thursday 17^th September

8.00pm

Its 1914, England is at war and the Suffragette movement is gaining strength.

Dorothy Lawrence, a young journalist with aspirations to become a war correspondent, takes to her bicycle to join the frontline in France. What happens next rocks the powers that be and shakes her life apart. She was never seen in public again.

100 years on a young woman screams out a Punk Prayer in an orthodox cathedral, and her censure triggers a storm of protest that rocks the world.

This beautiful and cleverly written piece by Julie McNamara investigates their remarkable stories, and how history repeats itself; exposing the ways society deals with women who step out of line.

Take a trip in time to explore themes of inequality and power that still resonate today. With integrated British sign language interpretation.

Camisado Club presents

You, Me and Everything Else                                                     

Wednesday 30^th September – Thursday 1^st October

8pm

If you could send a mixtape to outer space, on behalf of planet Earth, what would be on it?

Right now, there’s a golden record hurtling through space. It’s a mixtape of songs, sounds and pictures from Earth, a valentine from the human race to whoever or whatever finds it.

This is a science-fact love story where two ordinary people look out into the universe and find the most human thing: love.

Created through Bridging the Gap, an ARC initiative with Northern Stage, The Customs House and The Maltings Theatre, Berwick. Supported by Arts Council England, The Sunday for Sammy Trust and Unity Theatre Trust

                                               

Company TSU presents

Beats North

Sunday 4th October

6pm

Al’s family wants him to be a Bollywood convert, but he craves Motown, the spotlight and his guitar. Jack gets lost in the power of Bonnie Tyler and his own imagination, much to his dad’s frustration.

A double bill by Luke Barnes and Ishy Din, with a live soundtrack by DJ Mariam Rezaei.

Beats North is an event that includes a double bill of one-man plays by Luke Barnes and Ishy Din ending in a guilty pleasures disco. Using a mixture of turntablism and live and recorded sampling and drum machines, award winning DJ Mariam Rezaei creates the soundtrack to both pieces live onstage.

The audience will have the opportunity to interact with the set and the DJ, as they are invited into the space before the show starts - to play a record, write on the lyric wall, record a story or song or dance at the silent disco. Before the show the audience are asked to confess their guilty pleasure song, which they post into the confessions box. The guilty pleasure songs collected then form the playlist for the Beats North disco at the end of the show when the audience is invited to join the cast onstage for a boogie!

Originally developed with young men in Teesside in 2013, Beats North is supported by Arts Council England, Northern Stage, Middlesbrough Council, Musinc, Arc Stockton Arts Centre, Northumbria University, The Empty Space through This Way Up, and has been developed through Northern Stage’s Title Pending Award and Fuel’s Jerwood Residencies at Cove Park which are supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

*Winner of the Northern Stage Title Pending Award 2013

*Shortlisted for a Brighton Fringe Award at Edinburgh Fringe 2014

*Lyn Gardner’s Hot Tickets for Edinburgh Fringe 2014 – The Guardian

Black Coffee Theatre presents

One Last Waltz                                                 

Wednesday 14^th October                    

8pm

Alice is becoming more and more forgetful. Her daughter Mandy is always on hand to help out but the strain is becoming too much.

A long forgotten photograph stirs a memory and lures Alice back to the Crown Hotel in Blackpool.  The mother and daughter set out to dance in the tower ballroom one last time... But Blackpool isn’t how Alice remembers and things become too much for her as she finds herself getting lost in the past.

Based on real life events and experiences, this funny and touching new play explores the difficulties in coming to terms with Alzheimer’s.

Black Coffee Theatre was created in 2010 by Luke Adamson, Jonathan Holby and Maria Crocker.

Warwick Arts Centre & China Plate presents

Confirmation

Friday 6th November

8pm

If you pinned me against a wall, I’d probably admit to being a liberal. Of course, pinning me against a wall is exactly what I’d expect from someone like you.

Confirmation is a show about the gulfs we can’t talk across, and about the way we choose to see only the evidence that proves we’re right.

Working with research into the phenomenon of Confirmation Bias, Confirmation attempts to have an honourable dialogue, real and imagined, with political extremism. From multi-award-winning Chris Thorpe (Unlimited, Royal Exchange, Hannah Jane Walker) and Rachel Chavkin (The TEAM).

FRINGE FIRST AWARD-WINNER, Edinburgh Festival Fringe – 2014

Theatre by the Lake and Curtis Productions presents

The Bogus Woman                                                    

Monday 9^thNovember

8pm

An African woman arrives in a strange country fleeing for her life, seeking safety and asylum. Despite having committed no crime she is indefinitely confined, interrogated, humiliated and abused.  She witnesses the cruelty of the authorities and their casual disregard for an individual’s human rights.  This strange country is England. 

Krissi Bohn (Coronation Street) performs this powerful, poetic and heart-wrenching play – bringing to life the 51 sharply etched characters who retell the experiences of this young woman.

Please note that this production contains strong language and scenes that may be unsuitable for younger audiences.  Age guidance: 16 years +.

‘Essential watching … Krissi Bohn acts to vividly realised and blistering perfection’

★★★★  The Independent, Lynne Walker

The Jowheretogo Theatre Year 2014

The Jowheretogo Theatre Year

So what were the productions that made the Jowheretogo team smile, laugh and/or cry the most this year? Stephen Oliver looks back at an exciting 2014.

Funny play of the year: The Play That Goes Wrong which we saw at the Darlington Civic Theatre. This play had us laughing from start to finish – memories of watching Airplane! the movie at the cinema when we were very young. The show is still on in the London West End and a sequel Peter Pan Goes Wrong reaches Darlington Civic and Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2015. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/review-play-that-goes-wrong-at.html

Musical of the year: Urinetown which we saw at the St James Theatre in London and became the play we love to quote thereafter. Great memorable songs, coupled with a cracking storyline – a feature that was missing on a number of musicals this year. We would love to see it tour to the North East. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/review-urinetown-musical-at-st-james.html

Moving Play of the Year: the revival of Wet House at Live Theatre was superb. Joe Caffrey was in great form as one of the trouble souls in Paddy Campbell’s debut play. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-wet-house-at-newcastle-live.html

Small scale show of the year: Thirsty from The Paper Birds which we saw at The Arts Centre Washington was a rollercoaster of emotions as Jemma McDonnell and Kylie Walsh consumed large amounts of liquid whilst exploring friendship and the demon alcohol.

http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/review-thirsty-by-paper-birds-at.html

Whodunnit of the year was Jason Durr’s portrayal of Agatha Christie’s Poirot in Black Coffee which had us guessing to the end at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal. We saw a number of murders of stage this year but this show was a cut above the rest. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/review-black-coffee-at-newcastle.html

Amateurs showing the professionals how it is done play of the year has to be the moving Duet For One at the People’s Theatre in Newcastle. A fabulous look into some really difficult questions.  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/review-duet-for-one-newcastle-peoples.html

Kids show of the year is one we hand over to the wee-man of the team.  Robert loved Get Santa! at Newcastle’s Northern Stage. A funny show that wasn’t afraid to connect with the young audience. It was funny and heart warming without any unnecessary innuendo.  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/review-get-santa-at-newcastle-northern.html

Dance show of the year was the incredible The Five & The Prophecy of Prana from Boy Blue Entertainment. The mix of manga style characters and strong storyline had the Northern Stage audience captivated. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/review-five-prophecy-of-prana-at.html

Wedding of the year? Well we see a lot of coupling on stage and the great farce that was Perfect Wedding at South Shields Customs House was very funny and showed that the North East produces entertaining theatre. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-perfect-wedding-at-south-shields.html

A massive thank you goes to the actors, producers, directors and theatres that have invited us along to the shows this year. Theatre remains a great night out and is not just about the Panto at Christmas. We have never seen a broadcast of a West End Show at a cinema because we now there is plenty of live entertainment out there in our wonderful theatres.

Looking ahead – 2015 is going to be another cracking year too!

Preview: Black Coffee at Darlington Civic Theatre

Poirot Returns to the Stage

After 40 Years

Black Coffee  

DarlingtonCivic Theatre

Mon 22 – Sat 27 September

Agatha Christie’s much celebrated Belgian detective Poirot will be appearing at Darlington’s Civic Theatre in the first major revival of the only play to feature him in 40 years.  Espionage classicBlack Coffee appears Mon 22 – Sat 27 September.

Jason Durr (Heartbeat) stars as world famous Hercule Poirot. Having recently appeared on UK stages in the title role of Sherlock Holmes: The Best Kept Secret, Durr’s previous Poirot-training saw him emerge as a household name following starring roles in hit television series such as Lewis (ITV); Midsomer Murders(ITV) Miss Marple: The Blue Geranium (ITV); Inspector Morse (ITV); The Chief (ITV) and, of course, Heartbeat (ITV) where he consolidated his heartthrob status playing the role of PC Mike Bradley for six years. 

A quintessential English country estate is thrown into chaos following the murder of eccentric inventor Sir Claud Amory, and the theft of his new earth shattering formula. Arriving at the estate just moments too late, one man immediately senses a potent brew of despair, treachery, and deception amid the estate's occupants. That man is Hercule Poirot.

Black Coffee features a heavy-weight cast including Agatha Christie Company regulars: Liza Goddard, star of such TV hits as Bergeracand the long-running Give Us A Clue, Gary Mavers who is best known for playing heart-throb doctor Andrew Attwood in Peak Practice and Ben Nealon, perhaps best loved for his role as Capt. Forsythe in the ITV drama Soldier Soldier.

From the pen of the great Dame Christie – (who, having sold over 2 billion books worldwide is outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare) - Poirot debuted in Christie’s 1920 novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles, making his first - and only - stage outing in the mistress of murder’s debut play, Black Coffee.

The Belgian investigator went on to become one of world’s most cherished and long-lived fictional characters, appearing in 33 novels, one play and more than 50 short stories published between 1920 and 1975. To this day he remains the only fictitious character to receive a front-page obituary in the New York Times.

His legend has proved ripe for adaptation and Poirot has been portrayed in comics, on radio and on screen for films and television, by actors such as Albert Finney, Sir PeterUstinov, Sir Ian Holm, Alfred Molina and David Suchet who, of course, played the eponymous hero in the ITV series since 1989, through the entire catalogue of books and dozens of short stories. He recently bid audiences an emotional farewell as Series 13 of the classic series concluded with his demise in Christie’s dramatic farewell, Curtain.

Such is Poirot’s on-going popularity that the first official novel to continue Christie’s work will be published in September 2014. Written by crime writer and poet Sophie Howard, the title alone will be announced this Summer with the support of the Christie estate.

Intrigue and suspense form the back-bone of this classic spy-thriller which follows The Agatha Christie Theatre Company’s hugely successful; The Hollow, The Unexpected Guest, And Then There Were None, Spider’s Web (which played at Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2009) Witness for the Prosecution, Verdict, Murder on the Nile and Go Back For Murder.

Presented by Bill Kenwright by special arrangement with Agatha Christie Ltd.

JoWhereToGo had the previlidge to see the show earlier in the tour and here is our review: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/review-black-coffee-at-newcastle.html

Free post show talk Wednesday - Stay behind after the show to take part in a Q&A with some of the cast. Booking not necessary. 

Tickets:

Black Coffee appears at Darlington Civic Theatre from Mon 22 – Sat 27 September 2014 (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees: Thursday 2pm and Saturday 2.30pm).

Tickets* Opening Night £17.40, £18.20, £19.40, £21

Tue – Thu Evenings and Sat mat £21.50, £22.50, £24, £26

Fri & Sat Evenings £22.50, £23.50, £25, £27

Thu 2pm all seats £18.50 Discounts available

Contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

UK Tour:

15-20 Sep 2014	Princess Theatre	0844 871 3023
	Torquay
22-27 Sep 2014	Civic Theatre	01325 486555
	Darlington
29 Sep-4 Oct 2014	Pomegranate	01246 345222
	Chesterfield
6-11 Oct 2014	Churchill Theatre	0844 871 7620
	Bromley
13-18 Oct 2014	Rose Theatre	08444 821 556
	Kingston
20-25 Oct 2014	His Majesty's Theatre	01224 641122
	Aberdeen
27 Oct-1 Nov 2014	Floral Pavilion	0151 666 0000
	New Brighton
3-8 Nov 2014	Theatre Royal	0844 871 7647
	Glasgow
10-11 Nov 2014	Lyceum Theatre	01270 368 242
	Crewe
17-22 Nov 2014	Opera House	0844 871 3018
	Manchester
24-29 Nov 2014	Derby Theatre	01332 59 39 39
	Derby

Preview - Autumn Season at Darlington Civic Theatre

Darlington Civic Theatre announces

Autumn 2014 Season

As we head toward the autumn evenings, we have some exciting shows on their way to us this season, which will be the perfect antidote to those chilly winter evenings! So all aboard the Fish and Actors Train as it’s full steam ahead to an Autumn Season packed full of delights to please everyone!

The Season starts off with a variety of music events, starting with This is Music Hall – The Best of British Variety,( Wednesday 23 July) bringing traditional variety performance back to the Civic in a celebration of the best of British variety. Fans of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons should look out for Let’s Hang on which will be Working their way back to us on Thursdayrsday 24 July.

The charming tale of Angelina Ballerina – The Mousical (Friday 25 – Sunday 27 July) will be pirouetting onto the stage in this sparkling musical packed full of singing and dancing! Join Angelina and her Fridayends at the Camembert Academy as they prepare for their performance of ‘Dancing with Mice’.

The ever popular Last Night of The Proms returns to the Civic this year in a Last Night of The Proms Special to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of World War One and the 75th Anniversary of World War 2 (Monday 28 July); join The British Philharmonic Orchestra for an evening of reflection, rousing tunes, flag waving and of course the usual Pomp and Circumstance!

The Bohemians return to the Civic this year with The Bohemians – A Night of Queen as It Began Tour (Thursday 31 July), this internationally renowned Queen tribute band bring their new tour taking you back to the early ‘70s and through to the Magic of ’86.

Featuring a cast comprising of past principal performers from the West End, this special performance of Beyond the Barricade (Friday 5 September) is celebrating 15 years and in this anniversary production looks back through the years and includes many of the musicals that have made it the UK’s leading concert of its kind.

Billy Mitchell and Ray Laidlaw will be bringing The Lindisfarne Story (Saturday 6 September) an evening of celebration of the music and achievements of Tyneside’s best loved band, told through Acoustic versions of Lindisfarne’s classic songs and tells the inside story of the group’s rise to fame from beginnings in Whitley Bay to San Francisco Bay!

Darlington Dance Festival (Monday 8 September) bursts onto stage for an energetic evening presented by dance schools and community groups in a vibrant celebration of dance in Darlington.

The first of our week long performances of the season is the moving production of Private Peaceful (Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 September) commemorating the 100 year anniversary of World War One. Winner of the Blue Peter book of the year, Private Peaceful is by third Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo who is the award winning author of War Horse and similarly this production will also appeal to adults and family audiences alike. This show is suitable for everyone aged  8and above.

Have you been wondering what happened to ‘Bobby & Laura’ and ‘Norman & Sue’? Dreamboats and Miniskirts (Monday 15 – Saturday 20 September) Twists and Shouts its way into Darlington as we catch up with the characters we have come to know in Dreamboats and Petticoats as we follow up on their lives in the swinging 60s. Packed full of music that is guaranteed to get you dancing in the aisles.

The great detective Poirot returns in Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee (Monday 22 – Saturday 27 September), starring Jason Durr (Heartbeat, Lewis, Midsomer Murders, Miss Marple), Gary Mavers (Peak Practice), Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier), Deborah Grant (Not going Out, Peak Practice, Bergerac), Oliver Mellor (Coronation Street) and Georgina Leonidas (Harry Potter).

In an isolated house on the cliffs of north Cornwall the sibling rivalry between identical twins Max and Ashley Henessey is coming to a murderous climax! Double Death (Monday 29 – Wednesday 1 October), starring Brian Capron (Grange Hill, Full House, Where the Heart is, Coronation Street) Andrew Paul (The Bill, Where the Heart is) Kim Tiddy (The Bill, Hollyoaks) and Judy Buxton (General Hospital, On the Up). A ticket will entitle you to a whole seat however you’ll only need the edge of it.

Next up in October is this thought provoking, thrilling, witty performance of The Man Jesus (Thursday 2 October), starring Simon Callow, one of Britain’s best loved actors, performing this fresh and moving account of biblical stories. His powerful portrayal of the tyrants, traitors and madmen and in Jesus’ life asks people of all faiths and none: what sort of a man was able to inspire the history of the world?

An audience with Tim Brooke- Taylor (Friday 3 October) will take place at Central Hall. Best known as one third of the comedy trio The Goodies, Tim has been delighting audiences with his gentle, zany humour ever since joining the famous Cambridge Footlights back in the early 1960s. Tim will be joined in conversation with broadcaster Chris Serle, best known for his work as a reporter on That’s Life.

Over the Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story (Friday 3 & Saturday 4 October) stars Bad Girls and Emmerdale actress Nicole Faraday. The production pays a genuine and heartfelt tribute to a true artist who was not interested in fame and fortune but wanted nothing more than to create beautiful music. A talented world-class cast of actors and musicians recreate her original arrangements and recordings which have received accolades from Mick Fleetwood, Sting ,Nora Jones, Katie Melua and Chris DeBurgh.

‘The James Herriot of Schools’, Gervase Phinn . With his keen ear for the absurd and sharp eye for the ludicrous , Gervase Phinn has delighted audiences all over the UK and his stories have received rave reviews. An Evening with Gervase Phinn (Monday 6 October)

Of all the stars in folk music’s wondrous firmament few shine as brightly as Yorkshire’s Kate Rusby (Tuesday 7 October). A remarkable interpretative singer Kate’s soulful vocals, Kate will be joined on stage by the cream of British folk musicians who form her band. These virtuoso artists are sure to delight you with their exceptional talents.

One man to do it all. One man to rule them all! One Man Lord of the Rings (Wednesday 8 October). The extremely talented Canadian actor Charles Ross will stun you with his one man show where he recreates the enchanting world of Middle Earth with nothing more than elbow pads and his outrageous imagination.

The Ken Dodd Happiness Show (Thursday 9 & Friday 10 October) Come and enjoy the famous Happiness Show and enjoy a tattifelarius (that’s Knotty Ash for fun- filled) evening of laughter and songs presented by a true comedy genius!

Theatre Hullabaloo present Angel (Friday 10 October) at Central Hall, a story of Bill (who is a girl by the way) who returns an old woman’s shopping bag on an afternoon when she had nothing better to do, and finds her life is never the same again. A brilliantly funny and heartwarming new play about childhood and ageing. Recommended age for this show is 10+.

October continues with the hilarious and moving tale of Stones in his Pockets (Saturday 11 October). This multi award winning comedy has been seen by over 2 million people; don’t miss out on this tale of how a quiet Irish community is turned upside down by the arrival of a Hollywoodmovie shoot.

Starring Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies)and Joe McGann (Calendar Girls, Upper Hand, The Hanging Gate) John Godber’s April in Paris (Tuesdayday 14 – Saturday 18 October) will make your heart melt. Join Al and Bet in this hilarious romantic adventure, Olivier –nominated for comedy of the year when it premiered and featuring John Godber’s unique brand of observational comedy.

It will be ‘Fabulous Baby!’, taking us through to the end of October we have the ‘Gloriously Funny’ Sister Act The Musical (Wednesday 22 October – Saturday 1 November)– presented by DarlingtonOS our resident amateur operatic group, Sister Act is a hilarious musical comedy with larger than life characters, a set of nuns who find their voices and a diva who finally finds true Friendship.

Playing at Central Hall, the delightful and enchanting family show Handmade Tales (Thursday 23 October) takes place as part of the Take Off festival. Handmade Tales is brimming with five original children’s stories and live music, exploring a land of lost things, magical kingdoms, supernatural dictionaries and a whole lot more! This is a family show which will suit the youngsters aged 6 – 11 .

Playing at the Quaker Meeting House, Educating Ronnie (Friday 24 October) part of the Take Off Festival, tells the astonishing true story of Joe and Ronnie. In 2002 Joe went on a gap year trip to Uganda, whilst there he made Friends with Ronnie….back in Manchester Joe got a text that would change both their lives forever. Recommended age 12+

Calling all Junior Detectives aged over 6….Me and My Cat? (Monday 27 October) taking place at Central Hall is a hilarious adventure full of manga clues and mysterious events. Will Detective K solve the mystery in time? Using projection, puppets and bags of ingenuity, this is a fast- paced, action- packed story and oodles of fun!

November starts off with the affectionate, moving and fantastically funny homage to the greatest comedy double act that Britain has ever seen! Eric and Little Ern (Monday 3 November) vividly brings back warm memories of a bygone era. Reviving some of the finest moments of Eric and Ernie’s television and stage performances , together they make a brilliant comedy that recreates the all-ages appeal of Morcambe and Wise in their heyday!

5,4,3,2,1…..it’s the Manfreds in concert!( Tuesdayday 4 November) Boasting some of the finest quality talent ever assembled on one stage since Manfred Mann formed in 1962 they have firmly secured their place in the history books of British popular and RnB music with timeless anthems such as Do Wah Diddy Diddy, 5,4,3,2,1, Mighty Quinn and Pretty Flamingo.

What would you do if a Viking moved in next door?..... Horrible Histories are Live on Stage with Barmy Britain (Wednesday 5 – Sunday 9 November), with stunning 3D Bogglevision effects and live action! It’s the horrible history of Britain with the nasty bits left in!

Joining us at central Hall Nicholas Crane Maplines (Tuesdayday 11 November) asks, where would we be without maps? Drawing on journeys and film shoots ranging from the Hindu Kush to Tibet and the Pyrnees to the Pennines, join Nicholas Crane as he explores the way maps open the door to geographical enlightenment.

Regeneration (Tuesdayday 11 – Saturday 15 November) is the latest production brought to us by the Touring Consortium Theatre Company who brought To Sir With Love and Brassed Off. Regeneration examines the insanity of war with shocking clarity; a powerful anthem for the youth of WW1 and the lives of young soldiers today.

Bursting onto stage in a Coat of Many Colours Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Tuesdayday 18 to Saturday 22 November) returns to Darlington. This sparkling family musical has announced a new all-star cast; Danielle Hope winner of ITV’s Over the Rainbow competition, Lloyd Daniels X-Factor Finalist and Eastenders and Dancing on Ice Star Matt Lapinskas star in this ‘Amazing’, ‘Superb’, ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Brilliant’ production. 

Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi award winning Blood Brothers (Monday 24 – Saturday 29 November). Written by Willy Russell, this legendary tale tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks only to meet again with fateful consequences. The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marylin Monroe and the emotionally charged Tell Me It’s Not True.

There’s no place like….Darlington Civic Theatre this Christmas! The Chuckle Brothers return to their favourite venue for The Chuckles of Oz (Saturday 6 December – Sunday 11 January), starring some familiar faces. Phil Corbitt returns as The Cowardly Lion, Danny Potts as The Tin Man, and our very own Beth Stobbart appears as Glinda the Good Witch alongside Adam Booth as The Scarecrow. Packed with all of the traditional pantomime ingredients of comedy in abundance, stunning sets , beautiful costumes, plenty of boos and hissing and a yellow brick road into a world of suprises….The Chuckles of Oz offers a world of magic, mystery and mayhem!

Tickets for the new Autumn Season are now on sale.

For further information about the full Autumn Season programme, pick up one of our brochures located in venues across Darlington including Darlington Civic Theatre Box Offices, or contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk