Northumberland and Durham
Alnwick Playhouse begins its theatre season with two children’s shows from Lyngo Theatre: Puss in Boots on 1 April at 11:30 and 2:00, and Jack and the Beanstalk on 8 April at the same times. Then Dad’s Army Radio Show comes to Alnwick on 17 September, otherwise there are only music and comedy one-nighters until Hadaway Harry on 3 June.
Dirty Dusting comes to The Phoenix in Blyth on 24 September and then on 10 October the Russian National Ballet visits with Sleeping Beauty at 2:00 and The Nutcracker at 7:30.
At the time of writing, the Queen’s Hall in Hexham is still in the process of rescheduling postponed events but confirmed so far are Elysium Theatre Company’s production of Look Back in Anger (6 and 7 October) and Jeremiah (13 October).
Durham’s Gala Theatre begins its new season with two children’s shows: Zog (28 to 30 May, various times) and Horrible Histories: Gorgeous Georgians & Vile Victorians (23 and 24 July, various times). On 18 October, Su Pollard stars in Harpy by South Shields born writer Philip Meeks and from 24 November to 9 January (various times), this year’s panto, again written by Neil Armstrong and Paul Hartley, will be Robin Hood.
Consett Empire opens its theatre season with The Russian State Ballet’s production of Swan Lake on 20 November and this year’s panto, Treasure Island, will be the tenth collaboration between the theatre and producer Leah Bell. It runs from 27 November to 31 December (various times).
The first theatre piece at The Whitham in Barnard Castle will be Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope (15 October). Otherwise, the theatre will be mainly presenting comedy.
Darlington Hippodrome’s theatre programme begins on 10 April with Milkshake! Live followed from 13 to 17 April by The Kite Runner. May’s shows include the adult panto Sleeping with Beauty (8), Vortice Dance Company with Dracula (17) and English Youth Ballet with Cinderella in Hollywood (25 and 26).
June and August feature children’s shows The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain and In the Night Garden and then September sees Helen Forrester’s The Waters of Liverpool. Finally, the season culminates with this year’s panto, Cinderella (10 to 31 December).
Darlington’s Majestic Theatre opens its theatre season with an Easter panto, Rapunzel (29 and 30 April, various times), and closes it with another panto, Dick Whittington (17 to 31 December, various times).