JABBERWOCKY Market returns to venues in and around Darlington from next Thursday until Sunday, October 5 for four days of live events performed by local and national artists, as well as workshops, talks and fun activities for audiences of all ages.

The festival hub opened at Darlington’s Covered Market last week and the event launches with dancerchoreographer Debbie Waistell, staging the family show, Solas Fae, a story of love, loss and Christmas inspired by traditional legends on Thursday, October 2, at the Cattle Market.

Jabberwocky Market’s Scratch night returns to Darlington on Friday, October 3 (Voodoo Cafe). An informal, sociable evening of theatre invites audiences to enjoy excerpts of five new shows and give feedback to the creators and actors after the performance.

Darlington will have the opportunity to witness the politically charged Ballad of the Burning Star (Saturday, October 4, Liddiard Theatre at Polam School). This semi-autobiographical and timely production tells the story of an Israeli man brought up in a Jewish settlement built on occupied Palestinian territories.

Darlington-born actor and playwright Gary Kitching brings his Dead To Me show to The Voodoo Cafe following a successful season at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Saturday, October 4, Voodoo Café).

This is a dark, yet funny, tale of a man named Steven and his visit to a local psychic. He quickly discovers that, sometimes, the dead can be easier to deal with than the living.

Children aged 4+ can enjoy a live adaptation of Oliver Jeffers award- winning book The Incredible Book Eating Boy. Performed for two people at a time at Darlington’s Central Library, this intimate performance of the muchloved book transports audiences inside the bedroom of Henry.

Folk in a Box (Saturday, October 4, Market Place) is a one-on-one folk music venue in a wooden box. Created by Emily Barker and Dom Coyote, audience members enter, one at a time, through a small door to experience one song, from one musician.

Another exciting element is the appearance of a popup Fun Palace (Saturday, October 4, Market Place). A global celebration of arts, science and learning, more than 100 Fun Palaces will appear across the world on Sunday, October 5, in celebration of theatre director Joan Littlewood’s centenary – she, together with architect Cedric Price, devised Fun Palaces.

Jabberwocky Market will also be hosting a panel discussion looking at “How social conflict affects the development of theatre”. Stella Hall, artistic director of Darlington’s Festival of Thrift, will chair the discussion with panel members including Nir Paldi, artistic director of Theatre Ad Infinitum (Ballad of a Burning Star).

Additional panelists from across the world will join the discussion via Skpe.

  • For details of all the events and performances at this year’s festival, and to book tickets, visit: jabberwockymarket.org.uk