Plenty of autumn highlights at Teesdale's village halls

A DIVERSE range of theatre shows and music has been lined up for the dale's village halls in the coming weeks.

A dozen performances have been lined up at venues across Teesdale as part of the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme autumn programme.

First up is a version of Dickens’ Barnaby Rudge at Hamsterley Village Hall, on September 28.

Whorlton Village Hall will host two visiting theatre groups. Fluff Productions presents Agent of Influence: The Secret Life of Pamela More On October 7, which tells the story of an MI5 agent recruited to keep an eye on Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. Then on November 16, Bash Street Theatre's The Lion Tamer, a show inspired by the likes of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, will be staged.

There are also two shows at Utass, in Middleton-in-Teesdale – Harvest and Standing in Line, both of which are set in the First World War.

Rob Gee brings his critically-acclaimed one-man show Forget me Not – The Alzheimer's Whodunnit to Barningham Village Hall on November 3, while The Witham hosts two Highlights shows, Head Wrap Diaries, set in a hair salon, on October 6, and We are the Lions, Mr Manager, the story of the 1967-78 Grunwick film processing factory strike, on November 29.

One of the most eagerly anticipated music events of the season will be the collaboration between Jez Lowe and Steve Tilson.

They bring their show The Janus Game to the Scarth Hall, Staindrop, on October 28, and Newbiggin Village Hall on November 4.

Vancouver-based folk collective The Fugitives will play Cotherstone Village Hall, while Boldron Village hall will host The Joint is Jumpin' – bringing the forgotten era of the speakeasy and prohibition back to life.

Full details of all performances and ticket prices are available online at highlightsnorth.co.uk