No resting on their laurels for the Players. They are now back in rehearsal for the upcoming drama festival. This year, the group are performing Shakers by John Godber and Idyll by Matt Hartley, two completely different plays in style and content.

Starting the festival off are SPYS with ‘A Day in Fimbulwinter’, a play written by our own Lucy Atkinson. With a Viking song to start, this play brings to life Gods and mortals, myths and legends. Next up is the Sedgefield Players with ‘Idyll’, by Matt Hartley. Directed by Tom Guest, this play was originally written to be narrated by one person and tells the story of a day during lockdown when a rural village is overrun by tourists.

Wednesday sees the Players again with an adapted version of ‘Shakers’, by John Godber. Telling the story of four waitresses in Shakers bar, this play, with an 80’s song track has the four actresses playing different parts throughout the play. They are followed by Durham Dramatic Society with ‘A Bit of Afters’ based around the people who play for and run an amateur women's football team.

On Thursday, Cliffe Theatre return after a few years absence. They will be performing two plays, ‘The Proposal’ by Anton Chekhov, a play about superficial relationships. Their other play is ‘Marrers’ by David Williams. A Geordie play about miners, it was first seen at our festival over twenty five years ago.

Friday sees a packed night of three plays. First up is our friends from Scarborough, Bananadrama with ‘Last Chance Saloon’, written and directed by Shari Gledhill. Karen and Tony meet in a bar. Secrets are revealed – will they find a way through the evening? Next up is Richmond Amateur Dramatics Society with ‘Bride Before A Fall’ by Robert Scott. Victor and his mistress plot to kill his dim but rich wife.

The week ends with Bishop Auckland Theatre Society presenting ‘Curses, Foiled Again’ by Ed Newman. The eveof- performance dress rehearsal of a Victorian tragedy goes anything but smoothly.

Saturday night will see the final adjudication and award of trophies by Keith Phillips from the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.

All are being performed in the Parish Hall from Tuesday 10 September until Saturday 14 September at 7:30pm. Tickets are £10 for each night with a Season Ticket at £30 and are available at Tickety Boo or ticketsource.co.uk.

Following the sellout success of Destination Unknown in March, Classix will host another 7 hours of Retro House Anthems and Ibiza Trance Classics at The Aviator, Fishburn Airfield on Saturday 7 September 2024.

Tickets from skiddle.com/whats-on/Darlington/The-Aviator/Classix---Destination-Unknown-Pt2/38089023/.

Heritage Open Days is the country’s largest festival celebrating the history and communities of England.

Each September thousands of our most historic and fascinating sites open their doors and offer guided tours completely free of charge. Dozens of sites nearby are participating in the scheme, from Bowes Museum to Durham Town Hall.

Thousands of volunteers and organizations are involved nationwide, so wherever you are in England from 6 to 15 September check out heritageopendays.org.uk.

Bishop Auckland Music Society, Bishop Auckland Methodist Church
Award-winning versatile ensemble The Paddington Trio perform Beethoven, Schubert and more 6th September, 7:30pm, £16 per adult.
For tickets visit Brotherton’s music shop, call 01388 606075 or pay £18 on the door.