COMEDY performances in pubs, telling magical tales in forests - Jack Drum Arts has been taking drama to unlikely places for 15 years.

But rather than struggling on as penniless performers, the artists have produced a thriving business.

Now they are celebrating the milestone with a retrospective look at what they have achieved.

Jack Drum is a way of life for its four members, who do not just sculpt, paint, act and write together, but also bring up each other's children.

Whether the group is producing an outdoor riverside play, a children's Halloween drama workshop in a forest, or a guided murder-mystery walk around Stanley, the group has a special place in Wear Valley life.

Founder members Julie Ward and Paddy Burton run the group from their home in the hilltop village of Sunniside, on the fells above Crook, amid the creative clutter of drums, stage props and instruments.

Executive meetings and project ideas are thrashed out across the kitchen table with administrator Gill Cole and artist Simon Pell.

Everyone in the group shares their money, whether it is earned individually or collectively through Jack Drum.

Julie and Paddy, both writers and performers, dreamt up Jack Drum years ago, when they decided they were going to work as artists on their own terms.

Julie said: "We wanted some control over our professional lives rather than always being at the mercy of fads and fashions, or funding or working for an organisation.

"The other principle is we wanted to have a family and we wanted to find a way of sharing the parenting.

"People said 'You are absolutely bonkers, how can you possibly have children and set up a company?' People were very sceptical.

"It was a huge experiment. We did not know if it would work. But we have not been without work in 15 years and have worked all around the world."

They are particularly passionate about rural issues, with some often off-the-wall results, such as Radio Sheep Dip, a cabaret-style comedy which Jack Drum took to village halls and pubs in the region.

Completing the extended family of artists is Julie's sister, Helen, who will be in charge of bringing Jack Drum into the technology age with her multi-media expertise.

As well as her experience working in broadcast and photography, another good reason for having Helen in the group is that she will no longer have to struggle with childcare as a single mother.

Julie said: "There has been a lot of shared caring of the children. Each of us baby-sit in order for the other one to work.

"Helen may direct one show and I will look after her child. That is an important aspect of the group. The children have this big world of adults."