A NETWORK of village halls across rural Durham are set to bring a new, wide ranging programme of performances to their communities this spring in partnership with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme.

In all, 14 shows will be appearing in 11 village and community halls across Teesdale and Weardale between January and June 2016. Barningham Village Hall is offering some dark and beautiful fairytales for grown-ups while Frosterley audiences are invited to a unique theatrical experience which involves tucking into a fish and chip supper.

Bluegrass, Latin, jazz, pop, folk, cabaret and Celtic music all feature alongside cowboy swing, smooth crooning and blues yodelling,12-bar blues, musical satire and silliness. The season ends with a return performance from Canada’s rising songwriter, Ian Sherwood in Bishop Auckland in June.

Highlights focuses on providing performances of quality at affordable prices for rural communities. Central to the scheme is the partnership with a network of mostly volunteer promoters, who bring their time and enthusiasm to promote events that contribute to the social life of their village.

The scheme support promoters in 13 village halls across rural County Durham and a further 60+ venues across Cumbria and Northumberland making it one of the country’s largest rural touring schemes.

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Crick Crack Club – Fairy Tales for Grown Ups: The Grateful and the Dead features world class performance storyteller, Ben Haggarty. Friday, February 12, 7.30pm Barningham Village Hall Barningham, Richmond, DL11 7DW. £9.50/ £4 child/ £20 family Bookings: 01833-621203 or highlightsnorth.co.uk

Jugé Productions – Muse: Set in the 1930s, the show is based on the story of the "divinely decadent" Jean Ross – the real star behind the film Cabaret. Saturday, February 13, 8pm The Witham Hall, 3 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, DL12 8LY. £10/ £8 conc Bookings: 01833-631107

Mike Whellans – One Man Blues Band, featuring unashamedly good rockin' 12-bar blues on 6/12-string guitars. Thursday, March 3, 7.30pm Newbiggin in Teesdale Village Hall, County Durham, DL12 0TX. £10/ £5 child/ £22 family Bookings: 01833 640608

Box of Tricks Theatre Company – Chip Shop Chips. A unique theatrical experience, it is performed by a cast of four to a backdrop of Northern Soul and is combined with a fish and chip supper. Friday, February 26, 7.30pm. Frosterley Village Hall, 17 Front St, Bishop Auckland, DL13 2QW. £11/ £8 child/ £36 family Bookings: 01388-526 632 or highlightsnorth.co.uk

Sonrisa – A Taste of Latin: a five-piece band, plays a spiced up evening of Latin music from South America, Spain, Cuba and Argentina. Audiences cano try out some Latin percussion and dance moves. Friday, April 8, 7.30pm. Frosterley Village Hall, 17 Front St, Bishop Auckland, DL13 2QW. £7.50/ £5.50 child/ £22 family Bookings: 01388-526632 or highlightsnorth.co.uk

Dogstar Theatre – The Tailor of Inverness: A true story, this award-winning play tells the extraordinary and gripping account of how a boy who grew up on a farm in Galicia came to be a tailor in Inverness. Wednesday, March 9, 7.30pm. The Witham Hall, 3 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle DL12 8LY. £10/ £8 conc Bookings: 01833-631107

Peter Macqueen – The Professor of Adventure: This one-man play is based on the extraordinary life of Millican Dalton, an eccentric hermit who sought freedom in the Lake District and lived in a cave on Castle Crag in Borrowdale. Thursday, April 14, 7.30pm. Bowes & Gilmonby Parish Hall Bowes, Barnard Castle, DL12 9HU. £10/£9 conc/ £5 child Bookings: 01833 628 357 or online highlightsnorth.co.uk

Woody Holler & His Orchestra: Saddle up for an evening of Winnipeg cowboy swing, smooth crooning and blues yodelling with lots of humorous banter to boot. Friday, April 8, 7.30 pm. Cotherstone Village Hall, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 9PG.

Tickets: £8/ £4 child/ £20 family Bookings: 01833-650827 or highlightsnorth.co.uk

The Matt Holborn Quartet play swing and gypsy jazz for the 21st Century inspired by the legendary guitarist, Django Reinhardt and the classic Hot Club Jazz sound of 1930’s Paris. Their repertoire features swing jazz standards, jazz manouche, bebop violin jazz and even some world music played on violin, guitars and double bass. Thursday, May 5, 7.30pm. Hamsterley Village Hall, Bishop Auckland, DL13 3QF. £7.50/ £5 child/ £22 family Bookings: 01388-488 323 or highlightsnorth.co.uk

Belshazzar’s Feast play an evening of intimate, entertaining and wickedly inventive music played on oboe, violin and accordion. Featuring Paul Sartin (Bellowhead)) and Paul Hutchinson (Hoover the Dog), the duo mix up folk, classical, jazz, pop and music hall with between-songs chat and humour. Thursday, May 12, 7pm. St Thomas Church Hall, Stanhope, County Durham, DL13 2UE. £9/£6 child/ £8 conc/ £23 family Bookings: 01388-528 673 or highlightsnorth.co.uk. Plus: Saturday, May 14, 7.30pm. St Cuthbert's Centre, Church Hill, Crook, Co Durham DL15 9DN. Tickets: £7.50/ £4 child/£18 family Bookings: 01388-765 002

Thursday, May 26, 7pm. St Mary’s Church, Wycliffe, Barnard Castle DL12 9TS, Tickets: £10/ £8 child/ £34 family Bookings: 01833-627540 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

Ian Sherwood: The award-winning Canadian musician and songwriter is back with his unique brand of folk/pop music. Sherwood plays catchy melodies with intricate guitar loops, saxophones and pop, rock and jazz grooves mixed with tales of heart-break, victory and adventure. Thursday, June 2, 8pm. Boldron Village Hall Barnard Castle, DL12 9RF. £9/ £20 family Bookings: 01833- 638210. Plus: Wednesday, June 8, 7pm. St John’s School and 6th Form College, Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6JT

£7.50/ £5 child/ £22 family. Bookings: 01388-603246 or online highlightsnorth.co.uk