Eclectic line up at Barnard Castle arts centre to start the new year

A NEW year will bring fresh and familiar faces to a Teesdale arts centre.
The Witham, in Barnard Castle, embarks on its 2017 programme with a nod to North Eastern heritage.
Craftspeople from the North East will feature portraits of skilled men and women from the region through a four week exhibition of photography starting on January 5.
Dubbed a “new chapter for visual arts” at the centre, the turn of the year will see many of the works and exhibitions in the Dispensary Gallery near the cafe up for sale.
Doyens of dale theatre, the Castle Players, take to 2017 with Victorian Values.
With Laurence Sach at the helm, the Players’ winter performance promises a music hall journey through the 19th century with catchy tunes and thought-provoking themes.
Familiar faces will kick off the group's winter tour on Saturday, January 7 before they perform at nine other venues across Teesdale and Weardale.
Tickets cost £10 for adults and £8 for under 16s.
A peek at the full time pros is on offer when Shakespeare hits the Witham’s screens on Wednesday, January 11.
The Bard is best suited to this time of year and a live screening of The Tempest, by the Royal Shakespeare Company, has been billed as the “perfect introduction” for young theatre goers.
A trio of films will keep eyes peeled through the month with Oscar winner Spotlight (January 12), Captain Fantastic (January 19) and Embrace of the Serpent (January 26) on view.
Tickets priced at £5 for adults and £4 for concessions.
The dead of winter brings uplifting folk to the dale as singer-songwriter Jim Moray plays from his latest album, Upcetera.
In his only performance in the North of England, the Macclesfield-born multi-instrumentalist brings a nine-piece ensemble to the Witham on Friday, January 20.
The dale’s youth folk group, Cream Tees, cap off the month’s music programme with some folk favourites from the cafe balcony on January 21.
BBC Radio 4 regular Lucy Porter closes out the month with her own comic take on theological ethics, home brewing and Britpop in her new show Consequences on January 28.
A trio of big names on the circuit are due in February with Chris Ramsey, Gary Delaney and Richard Herring coming to town.
For more information, call The Witham on 01833 631107 or go to www.thewitham.org