DARK SIDE: Highlights favourite Box Tale Soup is bring two shows of Grimm tales – one for adults and one for children
DARK SIDE: Highlights favourite Box Tale Soup is bring two shows of Grimm tales – one for adults and one for children

AN eclectic mix of shows has been lined up for village halls across Teesdale as part of the new Highlights Rural Touring Scheme season.

Highlights works with village promoters at halls and small venues to bring a variety of performances to communities where they would not normally be seen.

The theatre programme features new work touring for the first time and shows that have travelled the world.

From gripping dramas and gothic tales to autobiographical shows and comedy plays, audiences have lots to choose from this spring.

Village halls in Teesdale have chosen a varied line-up of shows for their audiences.

Hamsterley and Mickleton invite audiences to be part of the action in The Last Quiz Night on Earth, while Middleton-in Teesdale offers a fusion of traditional storytelling and digital media in Letters from the Front, which brings to life the letters exchanged between two remarkable people during the First World War.

Barningham Village Hall opens the history books to reveal the inspirational life of suffragette and socialist Hannah Mitchell in The Hard Way and Bowes & Gilmonby present a remarkable new adaptation of Grimm’s deliciously dark stories in Great Grimm Tales.

For music, audiences can head to The Witham, in Barnard Castle, for a night of cabaret songs and harmony singing from sparkly trio, ShooShooBaby.

Meanwhile, at Staindrop’s Scarth Hall goes back a generation for When 80s and 90s Pop Gets a Makeover with The Peas.

Cotherstone Village Hall offers up old-time and bluegrass from Parisian trio Fierce Flowers.

And there’s something for young ones too when scheme favourites Box Tale Soup bring their stunning new adaptation of Grimm’s most magical tales to Bowes.

In all, 15 performances can be seen in 12 village halls, reaching the parts that big productions don’t and offering audiences lots to inform, inspire and entertain through to May. For full details of dates and times, go to www.high lightsnorth.co.uk.