Duo take centre stage to create one-off Teesdale musical

BROADCASTER and comedian Ian McMillan and composer Luke Carver Goss have joined forces to present night of words, music and improvisation at The Witham, Barnard Castle.
With their show, Words, Music, Glee and Delight, poet Ian and musician Luke plan to work with the audience to develop a one-off, improvised musical all about Barnard Castle and Teesdale.
Ian – the Bard of Barnsley – hosts weekly hit radio show The Verb.
He’s also poet-in-residence for Barnsley FC, The Academy of Urbanism and, until recently, English National Opera. He’s a regular on BBC Breakfast, Coast, Countryfile, Pick of the Week, Pointless Celebrities and Last Word. He was featured on The South Bank Show and cast away on Desert Island Discs.
Musician Luke’ latest piece, Last Train to Elvet, was composed for the Durham Brass Festival and Tredegar Town Band. He also composed Pure Gold: a 4X4 relay for the Cultural Olympiad, Homing In for The Sage Gateshead as well as compositions for Black Dyke Brass Band, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
He has recorded and performed with his own group, the acclaimed Carver Trio, as well as The Ian McMillan Orchestra, the Balkan singer Tea Hodzic jazz singer Tina May and story-teller Daniel Morden in the group The Devil's Violin.
He and Ian are currently writing Tiger Tales for Holmfirth Arts Festival and a new carol for Chester Music Society.
The Witham’s Sarah Gent said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ian back with his joyful, energetic and exciting performances. Combine this with Luke’s music and we’re in for a wonderfully entertaining evening.”
The show takes place on Friday, April 7, at 7.30pm. For tickets and more information call the box office on 01833 631107 or go to www.thewith am.org.uk