ENTERTAINING: Ian MacMIllan and Luke Carver-Goss will spend time with pupils at Bowes Hutchinson’s Primary School before performing at the village hall later in the day
ENTERTAINING: Ian MacMIllan and Luke Carver-Goss will spend time with pupils at Bowes Hutchinson’s Primary School before performing at the village hall later in the day

POET, broadcaster, comedian and Bard of Barnsley, Ian McMillan has teamed up with Olympics composer Luke Carver-Goss present an evening of all sorts at Bowes and Gilmonby Village Hall.

The duo’s improvisational musical-comedy show starts with rip-roaring poetry, stand-up repartee, music, songs and anecdotes, and climaxes in an impromptu musical, created with material taken from village residents, local legends and neighbourhood gossip.

The show takes place on Friday, March 16, starting at 7.30pm.

The evening’s entertainment rounds off with a book signing and gossip.

Mr MacMillan’s rip-roaring poetry shows are legendary. He hosts weekly hit radio show The Verb and is Poet-in-Residence for Barnsley FC, The Academy of Urbanism and, until recently, English National Opera.

He’s a regular on BBC Breakfast, Coast, Countryfile, Pick of the Week and Last Word and has been featured on The South Bank Show and cast away on Desert Island Discs.

He has written many books for adults and children and with his northern roots, is considered one of the UK’s best known and most loved contemporary poets.

Mr Carver-Goss is an accordionist and composer who performs and broadcasts with his own group, the acclaimed Carver Trio, as well as The Ian McMillan Orchestra, the Balkan singer Tea Hodzic, jazz singer Tina May and with storyteller Daniel Morden in the group The Devil’s Violin.

He has written for Black Dyke Brass Band, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Pure Gold: a 4X4 relay for the Cultural Olympiad.

Graham Henley, promoter at Bowes and Gilmonby Village Hall, said “For those who have seen Ian and Luke before, this is your opportunity to experience another magical evening.

“For those who haven’t, you are in for a treat, and let me just pass on to you that whenever Ian is playing, it’s well worth arriving in plenty of time to enjoy his pre-show banter with the audience.

“It’s always a delight, and such a lovely start to the evening.”

Prior to the show, the duo will be spending some time at a workshop with the pupils at Bowes Hutchinson’s Primary School.

“It’s not often I wish I was back at school again, but I think I’d make an exception in this case,” added Mr Henley.

“And finally, I must take my hat off to the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme. They consistently manage to engage with performers and entertainers of the very highest quality.

“Without their tireless endeavours, Teesdale and other rural areas would suffer an enormous cultural hit, so congratulations and thanks to all who help to make shows like this happen in villages like ours.”

Tickets are £10, £9 concs and £5 students. Call Mr Henley on 01833 628357.