We are so pleased to announce we will be expanding our theatre reviews this season, to include some of the great theatre, music and dance which is travelling around Cumbria bringing great performances in village halls and community venues.
Highlights Rural Touring Scheme Announces Autumn Season 2019 may be coming to a village near you, bringing a wide range of entertaining, inspiring and thought-provoking shows will be brought right into the heart of rural communities, helping to keep things live and local in the village and providing a date in the diary to look forward to.
The full list of performances is published below, however just to let you know there’s something for younger audiences too.
For children there’s a new telling of an old favourite in Dent with The Boy Who Cried Wolf; A slug takes the lead role in a slimey show in Kirby Stephen and Orton called Slime and a charming tale of courage in a world of ice and adventure comes to Bolton in Under the Frozen Moon. Appearing between Christmas and New Year, this show offers a seasonal treat for ages 3+
And the season draws to a close in December with some festive fare as the awful truth about A Christmas Carol is revealed in The Scrooge Diaries (Skirwith) and virtuoso musicians Marie Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman bring some Christmas sparkle to Alston in Celtic Christmas Strings.
Rural Touring offers a friendly and intimate alternative to theatres, where audiences can enjoy quality performances up close and have personal contact with the performers. We are so looking forward to reviewing performances from this season and beyond.
Highlights new co-director Kate Lynch who joined the scheme in January says:“We’re looking forward to lighting up over 25 villages halls across the county this winter, with over 35 performances of 25 different shows. There’s lots to look forward to and we hope audiences will support live events in their village.”
Also new this season are two village halls promoting their first shows with Highlights in Coniston and Dent. With village halls in Toutbeck and Casterton having joined the scheme in the spring, it has never been better for audiences in the South Lakes.
Highlights is supported and developed in association with the County Councils of Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland; South Lakeland District Council; The National Rural Touring Forum and is an NPO client of Arts Council England. The scheme receives sponsorship from H&H Reeds Printers of Penrith.
EVENT LISTINGS
Autumn 2019
Eduardo Niebla in Concert
Eduardo Niebla presents his amazing repertoire of stunning flamenco jazz, in this internationally acclaimed guitar duo with Matthew Robinson. Eduardo has traversed the worlds of jazz, classical, world and pop music – expect a spellbinding evening of passion, verve and fleet-fingered virtuosity from one of the most potent forces in flamenco jazz fusion.
Thursday 26th Sept 7.30pm Lazonby Village Hall, Lazonby, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1AQ
Tickets: £10/ £6 child/ £28 family Bookings: 01768 870824 online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Saturday 28th Sept 7.30pm Orton Market Hall, Market Street Orton, Penrith CA10 3RL
Tickets: £9/ £5 child/ £20 family Bookings: 015396 24732 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Monster Ceilidh Band
With a trio line-up of fiddle, accordion, guitar and clog-dancing, Tyneside’s Ceilidh pioneers combine elements of their club influenced sound in a traditionally-called ceilidh, with a range of dances for beginners to the more advanced. Join the village gathering in a well-crafted, dance-inducing set to get audiences up on their feet.
Thursday 3rd October 7.30pm Armathwaite Old School Hall, nr Church, Cumbria CA4 9PB
Ticket: £10/ £5 child Bookings: 016974 72318 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Friday 4th October 7.30pm Crosby Ravensworth Village Hall, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3HY
Tickets: £10/ £7 child/ £30 family Bookings: 07584 251352 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
The Production Shed
Tetra-Decathlon
Having never even been for a jog around the park, Lauren signed up to compete in the Tetra-Decathlon World Championships; committing to learn 14 different athletic events and then compete on the World stage, all in just 600 days. This is the story of her journey and a joyous exploration of coming last, and then coming back for more.
Friday 4th October 7.30pm Kirkby Stephen Sports & Social Club
Market Street, Kirby Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4QN
Tickets: £10/ £7 child Bookings: 017683 71885 or online at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Saturday 5th October 8pm Watson Institute, Castle Carrock, Brampton, Carlisle CA8 9LT
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 01228 670 054
FreePlay
A Cappella Around the World
Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, international vocal sensation FreePlay take you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan, to the temples of India, and back to their native Toronto, Canada… all without leaving your seat. FreePlay does it all, a cappella. From Bach to Bird to the Beatles, FreePlay share their beautiful and unique a cappella style around the world.
Wednesday 9th October 7.30pm Murton Village Institute, Appleby, Cumbria, CA16 6LZ
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 01768 353642 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Thursday 10th October 7.30pm Casterton Village Hall, Casterton, Cumbria LA6 2RX
Tickets: £10/ £8 child Bookings: 07531 143762
Two Destination Language
Fallen Fruit
In 1989, as the Berlin Wall splits open, a young girl looks forward to life beyond communism, a couple unravels, and 80s TV permeates everything. In 2019, Britain plans to leaves the EU while across Europe people celebrate the 30th anniversary of the end of the Cold War. Fallen Fruit foregrounds a unique migrant voice born in communist Bulgaria. A story of love, breaking free and Europe, from Total Theatre Award winners Two Destination Language
Friday 11th October 7.30pm The Community Hall at Grizebeck, Kirby in Furness LA17 7XH
Tickets: £10/ £6.50 child/ £25 family Bookings: 07905 779584 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Sunday 13th October 7.30pm Dent Memorial Hall Main Street, Dent, Cumbria LA10 5QJ
Tickets: £8/ £4 child/ £20 family Bookings: 07815 912231 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Nikki & JD
Knot
Knot is a breathtaking and intimate show performed using a beautiful and thrilling fusion of theatre, dance and hand-to-hand circus skills by internationally acclaimed circus artists, Nikki Rummer and JD Broussé. The duo creates real heart-in-your-mouth moments as they tell the tale of their own complex relationship to a soundtrack of music ranging from Chopin to Dean Martin.
Saturday 12th October 7.30pm Appleby Hub, Chapel Street, Appleby, Cumbria CA16 6QR
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 017683 52902 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Klezmer-ish
Music of the Travellers
Klezmer-ish is what happens when four classically trained musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra let down their hair, explore a wide range of music from across the world and fuse it all together into their own unique sound. Swapping the concert hall for the village hall, the group will play Jewish klezmer music, Celtic folk, Argentinean tango and gypsy jazz…music of the travellers!
Saturday 12th October 7.30m Helsington & Brigsteer Village Hall, Brigsteer, Kendal, LA8 8AL
Tickets: £10 Bookings: 07738 756301 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Nick Cassenbaum
Bubble Schmeisis
Bubbemeises is Yiddish, it translates as a grandmother’s story, a tall story, an old wives’ tale. In this ‘big-hearted and appealing show’, Nick Cassenbaum invites you to East London’s last authentic bath house where, amongst the steam and ritual he tells intimate and personal true stories about identity and home.
Nick performs his internationally acclaimed show with live Klezmer music from two musicians.
Friday 18th October 7.30pm Appleby Hub, Chapel Street, Appleby, Cumbria CA16 6QR
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 017683 52902 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Sunday 20th October 8pm Levens Village Institute Lowgate, Levens, Cumbria LA8 8NL
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 015395 60534 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
The Herd Theatre
Slime
SLIME is a tender and heart-warming comedy about friendship that tells the story of a slug, a caterpillar and their quest for a leaf. Slime uses only a handful of words and is accessible to all children aged 2 – 5yrs and their families who are invited to enter the undergrowth and squish, squelch and play their way through this funny and surreal show that is told using clown, physical storytelling and a tactile set.
Friday 18th October 2pm Kirkby Stephen Sports & Social Club
Market Street, Kirby Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4QN
Tickets: £5/ £5 child Bookings: 017683 71885 or online at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Saturday 19th October 3.30pm Orton Market Hall, Market Street Orton, Penrith CA10 3RL
Tickets: £9/ £5 child/ £20 family Bookings: 015396 24732 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Little Earthquake
I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost
A comic investigation into an 80s childhood haunting where nothing is quite what it seems… In 1986, Gareth became a self-appointed Ghostbuster, launching an investigation into a playful poltergeist in his home. Now, three decades later, with the help of home videos, retro toys and interviews with his nearest and dearest, grown-up Gareth is determined to uncover what was really going on inside his very own haunted house.
Sunday 27th October 7.30pm Arnside Educational Inst, Church Hill, Arnside, Carforth LA5 0DF
Tickets: £8/ £4 child Bookings: 01524 762254 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Northern Stage
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Charles Baskerville is dead, and a terrifying beast is rumoured to stalk the moors around the remote Baskerville mansion… Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the grim legend of the Baskerville family curse in Northern Stage’s new adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s gothic novel – one of the most famous stories ever written – The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Friday 1st November 7.30pm Troutbeck Institute Troutbeck, Nr Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1PF
Tickets: £10 Bookings: 015394 34713 online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Minima
Silent Films with Live Musical Accompaniment
Nosferatu
Minima recreate the magic of the silent film, cult horror classics by combining moving image with atmospheric contemporary live music. Tonight’s screening is Nosferatu – the 1922 German horror film, considered one masterpieces of the silent era. With its eerie, gothic feel, Minima’s musicians tease out the film’s grim humour with their 21st century soundtrack played on guitar, cello, bass and drums.
Friday 1st November 7.30pm Appleby Hub, Chapel Street, Appleby, Cumbria CA16 6QR
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 017683 52902 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Saturday 2nd November 7pm Burgh by Sands Parish Hall, Burgh by Sands, Carlisle CA5 6AN
Tickets: £10/ £6 child/ £25 family Bookings: 07593 038551
Minima
Silent Films with Live Musical Accompaniment
The Phantom of the Opera
Minima recreate the magic of the silent film, horror classics by combining moving image with atmospheric and engaging contemporary live music. In a screening of cult classic, ThePhantom of the Opera at Lazonby Minima interpret the film’s story, images and atmosphere with their 21st Century soundtrack played live by four musicians on guitar, cello, bass and drums.
Sunday 3rd November 7.30pm Lazonby Village Hall, Lazonby, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1AQ
Tickets: £10/ £6 child/ £28 family Bookings: 01768 870824 online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Anna Mudeka
Kure Kure Faraway
Beautiful, moving and powerful, Kure Kure/ Farawaychronicles the Great Migration of Anna’s ancestors, the Bantu tribe, across central Africa 5000 years ago and her own migration to the west to pursue her dream to become an artist in the UK. It’s a story of identity, assimilation and the challenges faced by migrants, as relevant in ancient times as they are today. Featuring live music, song, dance drumming and projections.
Thursday 7th November 7.30pm Alston Town Hall, Front Street, Alston, Cumbria CA9 3RF
Tickets: £9/ £5 child/ £22 family Bookings: 01434 382244 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Friday 8th November 7.30pm Melmerby Village Hall, Church Rd, Melmerby, Penrith CA10 1HE
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 01768 881291
Sonia Sabri Company
Same Same…But Different
This new family show mixes Kathak and contemporary dance, live music and physical storytelling to create a playful and colourful world, exploring our curiosities and our fears, the times we feel different and the times when we belong. Three dancer-musicians conjure up a magical atmosphere to celebrate individuality, and produce a powerhouse of dance theatre for all the family. For children aged 5+ and their families
Saturday 9th November 3pm Kirkby Stephen Sports & Social Club
Market Street, Kirby Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4QN
Tickets: £7/ £5 child/ £20 family Bookings: 017683 71885 or online at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Little Bulb and Farnham Maltings
Mountain Music
Award-winning Little Bulb Theatre weave a tapestry, both historical and fantastical, in an evening of story and song. Told with sumptuous three-part harmonies and a foot-stomping, five-piece string band, (fiddle, bass, guitar, banjo and mandolin) they invite audiences on a journey of musical migration from the British Isles to the Appalachian Mountains to the birth of what we now call ‘Country Music’.
Sunday 10th November 7.30pm Dufton Village Hall, Dufton, Appleby, Cumbria CA1 6DB
Tickets: £10/ £5 conc/ £25 family Bookings: 017683 52902 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Son Yambu
With dance inducing, red-hot rhythms, five-piece Son Yambu play authentic ‘Son Cubano’ or Cuban son – the essential Afro-Cuban music that originated in the streets of eastern Cuba at the turn of the last century, and gave rise to modern salsa. Son is the intoxicating fusion of Spanish and African rhythms that is the root of all Salsa. The groups’ (mainly) Cuban musicians play a night of authentic Latin music to turn the hall into a fiesta
Friday 22nd November 7.30pm Askham & Helton Community Centre, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2PG
Tickets: £10/ £6 conc/ £6 student Bookings: 01931 712187 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Tangram Theatre
Revelations
James’ best friends told him they wanted his sperm to start a family. This is the story of how he gave it to them and the things we do for the people we love. It’s also about love, death, God and chicken nuggets. Revelations is an epic show combining story, comedy and song, from one of the country’s most acclaimed storytellers, James Rowland.
Saturday 23rd November 7.30pm Coniston Institute 15 Yewdale Road, Coniston, Cumbia LA21 8DU
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 015394 41823 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Tutti Frutti Productions
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Inspired by the famous Aesop fable, this beautiful, warming, wintery tale brings the story of a bother of a boy, a mithered mother and a grand old brass band of a grandad. All set in the village of knitters with fingers flicking, needles clicking and where every new Christmas jumper tells a tale! A wonderful play with music, endearing characters, hilarious sheep and perhaps a scary wolf or two…! For ages 3+ and their families
Sunday 24th November 6.30pm Dent Memorial Hall Main Street, Dent, Cumbria LA10 5QJ
Tickets: £8/ £4 child/ £22 family Bookings: 07815 912231 online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
The People’s String Foundation
Res Publica
Fronted by Ben Sutcliffe and Zaid Al-Rikabi, Cornish group The People’s String Foundation are an army of bohemians and vagabonds hailing from the grass roots of British music culture who mix world, classical and urban styles in anarchic embroilment. Res Publica will see the duo play over recorded projections of the full orchestra to create a multi art-form show that takes the audience on an incredible journey of discovery.
Wednesday 27th November 7.30pm Crosby Ravensworth Village Hall, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3HY
Tickets: £10/ £7 child/ £30 family Bookings: 07584 251352 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Sunday 1st December 8pm Levens Village Inst. Lowgate, Levens, Cumbria LA8 8NL
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 015395 60534 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Daniel Morden and Oli Wilson-Dickson
Twice Upon a Time
Winter is the season for storytelling! What better way to spend a dark evening than to enjoy magical and timeless fairy tales? Expect high drama and low humour, mysterious strangers, danger, shocking twists and sudden jumps! Experienced storyteller, Daniel Morden and world-class musician, Oli Wilson-Dickson (ALAW, The Devil’s Violin) combine joyful, live music and dynamic storytelling to convey timeless, traditional stories.
Friday 6th December 7.30pm The Community Hall at Grizebeck, Kirby in Furness LA17 7XH
Tickets: £10/ £6.50 child/ £25 family Bookings: 07905 779584 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
PMac Productions
The Scrooge Diaries
So you think you know the Christmas Carol story? Bah! In this revelatory exclusive, Ebeneezer Scrooge opens his Diary to expose the awful truth about Tiny Tim, the Fezziwigs, Jacob Marley and that disgustingly jolly, gluttonous, consumer-driven Ghost of Christmas Present as he reveals the truth behind A Christmas Carol. Ruin someone’s Christmas and buy them a ticket!
Saturday 7th December 7.30pm Skirwith Village Hall, Church St, Skirwith, Penrith CA10 1RL
Tickets: £10/ £5 child/ £25 family Bookings: 01768 88234 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman
Celtic Christmas Strings
Guitarist, Chris Newman and harpist, Máire Ní Chathasaigh’s Christmas show features a breath-taking blend of traditional Irish music, swing jazz and bluegrass, plus festive favourites given a fresh voice with arrangements that are intricate, moving and beautiful. Their music is performed in their heart-warming style characteristic and peppered with Chris’s delightfully subversive wit – a wonderful treat for mid-winter.
Wednesday 11th December 7.30pm Alston Town Hall, Front Street, Alston, Cumbria CA9 3RF
Tickets: £9/ £5 child/ £22 family Bookings: 01434 382244 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Alison Neil
Mrs Beeton, My Sister
Mrs Beeton, My Sister recalls the extraordinary life of Mrs Beeton. The eldest of 21 children, Isabella Beeton fell for a publisher and joined his rackety life in journalism, culminating in her world-famous ‘Book of Household Management’ in 1861. Award-winning playwright Alison Neil provides a lively retelling of Isabella Beeton’s surprising life, seen through the eyes of her endearing sister, Bessie.
Thursday 12th December 7.30pm Soulby Village Hall, Soulby, Kirby Stephen CumbriaCA17 4PL
Tickets: £9/ £5 child Bookings: 017683 71396 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Half a String
Under the Frozen Moon
It’s so cold in Nunavut that the moon has frozen and Amka’s family huddle together, fishing for eels and knitting plenty of hats. In this heart-warming tale, a courageous young girl sets out to confront the dragon who has hoarded all the fire and lights for himself. With exciting puppetry, transforming sets and live music, the show creates it’s own original folklore to explain the origin of snow and gift-giving in winter. For ages 3+
Saturday 28th December 3.30pm Bolton Memorial Hall Bolton, Appleby, Cumbria CA16 6AL
Tickets: £8/ £4 child/ £18 family Bookings: 017683 62862 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
More at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
