Northumberland Theatre Company has turned to Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy for its latest stage tour to some of the UK’s smallest venues. Viv Hardwick reports

EVERYONE loves a fairy tale and Northumberland Theatre Company (NTC) aims to deliver this festive season with Carol Ann Duffy’s critically- acclaimed adaptation of Grimm Tales.

Based on the infamous Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, Duffy’s selection of dark, spooky stories provide the perfect seasonal entertainment for family audiences with music, scary stories and plenty of fun working together to ensure that this is magical storytelling at its very best.

After a successful period of fundraising, the company have started a 27-date tour around some of the UK’s small and rural venues.

NTC are focusing on both the familiar and unfamiliar stories from the Poet Laureate’s collection including The Golden Goose and The Musicians of Bremen to ensure there is something for everyone.

The tour will run into the New Year before preparation starts for the spring show, 4Scene. NTC will be recruiting four young local writers to each provide a play, which will then be pulled together to create one piece of theatre.

Hambleton says: “We have managed to raise over £88,000 in six months and would like to give a huge thanks to everyone who has supported us. It is this kind support that has kept us fighting to find the funds that will provide high-quality professional theatre in non-traditional venues.

“Grimm Tales is a celebration of that achievement and of our determination to keep going. We’ve had great fun telling these stories and we hope that you will have just as much fun experiencing them.”

Performances are suitable for families with children aged six and over 6+.

Visit northumberlandtheatre.co.uk for further information and contact venues for ticket details.

For Grimm Tales, NTC has recruited 18-year-old Luke MacGregor from Middlesbrough as an acting apprentice, thanks to support from the Golsoncott Foundation. NTC has been able to give Luke the opportunity to learn and develop his craft while embarking on his first ever theatre tour.

Gillian Hambleton, artistic director at NTC, says: “Originally, we were only auditioning female performers as there was a specific role we were hoping to fill, but when we saw Luke’s performance we were so blown away we all agreed it was worthwhile shuffling the whole play around rather than passing him by.”

After spending a year on NTC’s InterACT Scheme in 2010 and being part of NTC’s amazing production of The Old Curiosity Shop, Umar Ahmed has rejoined the NTC cast for Grimm Tales after appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Also returning for this production are two of NTC’s most regular actors, Eleanor Dennison and Louis Roberts.

Wednesday: 7.30pm, Alnwick Playhouse, NE66 1PQ. Box Office: 01665-510785

Dec 21: 7.30pm, Dinnington Village Hall, Newcastle, NE13 7JS. 01661- 821041

Dec 22: 6.30pm, Wall Village Hall, Northumberland, NE46 4ED. 01434 681041

Dec 23: 6.30pm, Capheaton Village Hall, Northumberland, NE19 2AL.

01830-530273 Dec 24: 1pm, Capheaton Village Hall, Northumberland, NE19 2AL. 01830- 530273

Dec 28: 6.30pm, Chatton Village Hall, Northumberland, NE66 5PX. 07801- 981377

Dec 29: 6.30pm, West Woodburn Parish Hall, Northumberland, NE48 2RA.01434-270127

Jan 3: 6pm, Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Co. Durham, DL14 7NP. 01388- 602610

Jan 4: 7pm, Westruther Village Hall, Borders, TD3 6NE. 01578-740265

Jan5, 6.30pm, Seaton Delaval Arts Centre, Tyne & Wear, NE25 2DP. 0191-237-5460.

Jan 7: 6.30pm, Blyth Methodist Church, Northumberland, NE24 2DP. 01670-352420.

Jan 8: 6.30pm, Stakeford Methodist Church, Northumberland, NE62 5TU. 01670-813523

Jan 10: 7.00pm, Kielder First School, Northumberland, NE48 1HQ. 01434- 250257.

Jan 11: 7.00pm, Longformacus Village Hall, Borders, TD11 3PE. 01361-890648.

Jan 12: 6.30pm, Glanton Village Hall, Northumberland, NE66 4AN. 01665-578229