Whats on

Free Metro travel is set to be just the ticket for visitors heading to Sunderland Empire for this year’s high-flying pantomime, Peter Pan. Theatre ticket holders heading to see Peter Pan this festive season can benefit from free travel on the Metro and the Shields Ferry for up to two hours before and after the performance by simply presenting their show ticket.Chris Carson, Metro Services Director, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer free travel to Sunderland Empire for panto ticket holders before and after the performance. We hope families will thoroughly enjoy the pantomime and that they will make the most of their trip out by enjoying all of the festive events on offer in Sunderland including; Hadrian’s Tipi, ice skating in Keel Square and much more.“Families can also take advantage of the extra Metro services which make travelling during the festive period quick, easy and convenient.”Ben Phillips, Theatre Director, Sunderland Empire said: … [Read more...] about Free Metro and Shields Ferry travel for Sunderland Empire panto customers

Artistic talent runs in the family of former graphic designer Joan Stratford, who will celebrate her 100th birthday on Saturday. She is the niece of British artist Norman Wilkinson, who developed dazzle camouflage to protect ships from German U-boats in the First World War. Joan, who has lived at Berkeley Lodge, Shelley Road, Worthing, since March, had a long career designing dress patterns. She also drew the finished article for adverts in newspapers and magazines. She said: “It was a nice life. After I went freelance, when you have an agent, you know, then of course I didn’t have to do all the walking about, doing interviews. That was better.“Even after I retired and I was down on the coast, I was being asked to do it but I said no.”Joan broke off to serve as a land girl during the Second World War but went back to her career afterwards and is still in touch with her former workmate, Olive.She met her late husband at the advertising agency where she worked … [Read more...] about Niece of British dazzle camouflage artist Norman Wilkinson celebrates her 100th birthday in Worthing

York Theatre Royal has once again stepped up to the plate for its annual evening of ‘organised chaos’. This year is a landmark as world class dame Berwick Kaler is appearing in his 40th - and final - York panto. The Grand Old Dame of York is a combination of Berwick’s previous pantos and is a wonderful show for the whole family.Berwick says it has has “no plot” and is “absolute rubbish”. The first part of that is true, but definitely not the second.The Dame is backed by by an extremely talented cast, including Martin Barrass (32 Kaler pantos), David Leonard (29), Suzy Cooper (24) and AJ Powell (13) and the gifted ensemble also make the show a joy to watch. The story involves David Leonard’s dastardly dentist Les Miserables trying to wipe the smile off Yorkshire faces. That proves to be very difficult when Berwick’s Dame Molly Motley is bringing the joy of laughter to sold out audiences. While Martin Barrass’s Nobby Motley … [Read more...] about York panto Dame bows out in style

Anna Brosnan reviews Peter Pan at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton Pantomime is often wrongly thought of as the poor cousin of the theatre world; a little too flippant, too sparkly and with too much permitted heckling to be taken seriously. But anyone who appreciates a decent panto will understand this genre of theatre is a discipline and an art form as serious as any other.Long gone are the days of rickety sets and dodgy backdrops. Nowadays many large-scale pantos are highly technical, with special effects and a multi-layered script. Peter Pan, which is currently running at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate, is one of this type.Right from the opening scene, audience attentions were gripped by shooting star pyrotechnics, ‘Tinkerbell’ light effects and a flying Peter Pan.Despite the glossy technical effects, the show had plenty of traditionally ‘panto’ aspects, even though it seemed to be missing a dame. There was a great deal of slapstick humour … [Read more...] about Classy panto fun flies into Northampton with Peter Pan

Alnwick’s Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery starts 2019 with a vibrant and exciting exhibition of work by internationally acclaimed, Alnwick-born contemporary artist Stella Vine. From January 8 to February 24, a significant collection of her work will fill the walls of Bailiffgate, including some new works from her latest series ‘Evangeline’.Stella Vine has donated a substantial collection of artworks to Bailiffgate. This collection embodies her bold, signature style, showcased across a variety of medium. Not since her solo exhibition at the prestigious Modern Art Oxford, curated by Andrew Nairne in 2007, has such a large body of her work been displayed.“We are delighted to show this extraordinary collection of art for the first time,” said Bailiffgate volunteer Sheila Starks. “The paintings are so exuberant, they seem to leap off the walls.”Stella’s art work is not easy to categorize; it is at once childlike, edgy, and dark, yet weirdly … [Read more...] about Acclaimed artist Stella Vine’s work to go on display in Alnwick