County Durham’s Consett Empire has announced its programme for 2019. In addition to music, comedy and cinema showings, there are a number of theatre / dance highlights.
Theatre
Apart from the ever-popular panto, there are three major theatre events.
First up is The Circus of Horrors which features sword swallowers, demon dwarfs, whirlwind acrobats, knife throwers, contortionists and much more. It comes to Consett on 22 March.
Next is a production from Durham’s Gala Theatre, John Godber’s Teechers, which comes to Consett after its run at the Gala. It runs for just one night on 15 May.
Then on 6 and 7 June, there’s a new musical adaptation of Catherine Cookson’s The Cinder Path, produced and directed by the North East’s Leah Bell, set in rural Northumberland and starring Coronation Street actor Nick Cochrane, who played Andy McDonald in the soap for seven years.
Dance
On 2 November for one night only, after a sell-out performance of Swan Lake last year, the Russian National Ballet returns with The Nutcracker.
Children
The musical Milkshake! LIVE comes to Consett on 2 March. Then on Saturday 20 July, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show will bring the well-loved story to life on its 50th anniversary. Finally, on 12 October, families can enjoy a theatrical adaptation of the classic nursery rhyme There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.
Panto
This year’s panto will be Snow White, running from 30 November to 31 December.