Late last year we promoted the New In Town call out, which attracted fourteen fantastic proposals from different parties, artists, producers, creative enterprises and organisations. Thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal, the standard was very high, and sadly we couldn’t support them all.

I met with colleagues from Darlington Borough Council and we agreed to offer support to four proposals, subject to their securing additional budget from other sources. New In Town aims to support the development of original activity and the development of creative organisations and programmes which will be shared in Darlington Town Centre.

We have offered to support four proposals in total, and look forward to working with:

• Bordello Theatre
• Cabinet of Curiosity Studio
• Making it Happen
• ODDMANOUT

We’ve allocated support to those above who requested it so they can develop their proposals and we expect to share news of their success in securing additional funds from other parties to help them take their proposals forward shortly. Some New In Town programme will be shared in 2020/21 and some in 2021/22.

The New In Town call out has started conversations with people with whom we haven’t engaged previously, and we expect further creative projects will be developed in the Town Centre, with support from Creative Darlington, in the coming years…… and lots of creative things are happening across Darlington which haven’t required or requested any Creative Darlington budget.

Some time ago Creative Darlington selected five artist’s work to display to brighten the day of those visiting or passing alongside Darlington Library through a Crown Street Call Out.

On my way into work earlier this year I noticed one of banners we created as a result, using Stuart Langley’s brilliant image, Neon and Glass, 2018, had gone AWOL. There was no evidence of malicious damage and no cable ties lying around, a mystery.

We hope these images have added colour and creativity to peoples pavement promenades and have consequently replaced the banner.

We plan to promote another Crown Street Call out shortly, and aim to share the work of fantastic artists with people out and about in Darlington.

Last year Mad Alice Theatre Company performed ‘Rose and Robin’, a fantastic 50 minute theatre performance for all ages, in the gallery at Darlington Library to great applause. The show was so well received we’re welcoming it back, with a spring performance at Darlington Library on Saturday 15th February 2020 beginning 2pm at Darlington Library, with tickets priced £1.50. 

Further information and tickets are available at  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mad-alice-theatre-company-presents-rose-and-robin-at-darlington-library-tickets-85971688635 .   

‘Rose and Robin’ is accessible across a wide age range but targeted for ages 7 years to 70 years and runs for approximately 50 minutes.  Tickets for the November 2019 performance at Darlington Library sold fast so early booking is recommended!  Creative Darlington has supported a number of dance, music and theatre performances in the gallery at Darlington Library, and we’re delighted that Mad Alice Theatre Company are returning to Darlington with ‘Rose and Robin’ this February.

Creative Darlington has supported many fantastic groups and artists in breaking down barriers between different art forms and exploring connections and commonalities between literature, poetry and live music, literature, the library function and visual arts.  

Creative Darlington backed Tracks in bringing their first Hark! event to Darlington Library in November 2019, and  I was delighted to see so many people enraptured in a fantastically original, refreshing, enjoyable, dynamic and captivating evening’ and finish with something like – ‘We understand Tracks are working on delivering many more fantastic programmes in 2020, and we look forward to hearing more in the coming year

Find out more about the programme here www.trackdarlington.co.uk

Theatre Hullabaloo is looking for a small pool of volunteers to support our programme at The Hullabaloo across the year.

As a volunteer you will be working alongside families that visit The Hullabaloo, enhancing their experience while they are with us by supporting them in activities and giving a friendly welcome as they arrive. This has a great impact on audiences and is a great support for our organisation as without volunteer support, we often wouldn’t be able to run activities in the building.

If you have an interest in culture and working with families and small children then this could be for you.

Deadline: 12pm noon on Thursday 9 January 2020

To Apply: Please read the information pack below and then click here to complete the application form 

For more information click on the link: https://www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk/who-are-we/join-the-team/ 

MAD ALICE THEATRE COMPANY presents ROSE AND ROBIN commissioned by Queen’s Hall Arts

Mad Alice Theatre Company brought Rose and Robin to Darlington Library in October 2019 and wowed audiences here.  Their fantastic performance  thrilled people of all ages and has attracted fantastic comments, ”amazing, loved every minute…such talent and content, thank you”.  Rose and Robin is returns to Darlington Library on Saturday 15 February 2020, with tickets priced £1.50.  Doors open 1.30pm, the performance starts at 2pm with a running time of c 50 minutes.

From childhood to old age, Rose and Robin have had a wonderful life together – and they want to share it with YOU!

From sports to stargazing, they’ve enjoyed so much! And most of all, they loved to dance.

They’ve had their bumps in the road, of course, and now Robin can’t remember where they keep the clothes pegs. But that’s all fine, at the end of the day!

Playful and serious, sad and happy, this is a show that celebrates life in all its richness; a story of love and loss, for old and young… especially if you are over seven and have ever lost a sock… Or someone you love.

So, join Rose and Robin through their days of dances and dreams, music and memories. What could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a bit… but don’t worry. You’ll be helping them with some of the moves!

A perfect play for children to enjoy with their grandparents and parents – they were kids once as well!

A SHOW FOR YOUNG AND OLD!!

Accessible across a wide age range but targeted for ages 7yrs to 70yrs and over!

Running time: 50 mins approx.

The British Musical was triumphant in the 1920s and 30s when Noel Coward and Ivor Novello dominated the West End.  However, the arrival of Oklahoma in 1948 changed everything.  For the next 30 years, audiences flocked to see the big American shows. Nonetheless, there were British successes. Composers like Julian Slade, Sandy Wilson, David Heneker and of course, Lionel Bart had enormously popular shows. Then, in the 1970s and 80s Andrew Lloyd Webber established the British musical as an international force.

Lecturer Malcolm Jones has lectured at the V and A and was workshop and Events Manager at the V and A Theatre Museum in Covent Garden.  He was responsible for many theatre talks and workshops and has interviewed leading British actors and directors including Kenneth Cranham, Barry Cryer, June Whitfield, Jude Law, Zoe Wanamaker and Don Black.

Malcolm has lectured and led workshops at numerous venues in London, the UK and America and has contributed as a speaker on theatre on many television and radio programmes. 

This promises to be an entertaining and interesting day. 

Monday 2nd December 2019 at 11am and 2pm

Venue : Blackwell Grange Hotel Darlington.  DL3 8QH

Non-members welcome. Morning lecture £10, afternoon lecture £8, payable on the door. 

Website: www.artssociety-nysd.org.uk

Contact: 07816326196

email : davethameside@hotmail.com 

Elysium Theatre Company in association with Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, present the Northern Premiere of PLAYLAND by Athol Fugard at the Hullabaloo Space, Darlington Hippodrome, Sunday 3 November 2019 at 7.30pm. Q&A after show. South Africa, New Year’s Eve 1989: a new country is about to born. On a run down funfair somewhere in the wilderness two men confront each other, one white, one black, both with blood on their hands. As night draws in, each must face what they have done, and work out their lives through their own journey of truth and reconciliation. Athol Fugard is South Africa’s greatest living dramatist (“The voice of the conscience of his nation” – the Spectator). whose plays have been performed and filmed all over the world. ‘Playland’ is a beautiful testimony to the power of the human spirit. “A rich examination of faith, morality and evil that men do… a fabulous example of why theatre is a powerful tool for change… a real theatrical treat.” – North East Theatre Guide

CoJoin Lady Kitt on Thursday, 19th, September to hear all about their time as an artist in residence at the Crown Street Gallery in Darlington. Lady Kitt has been busy working away at the Crown Street Gallery for the last few weeks and is now heading to Middlesbrough to share the love!!

So what have they been up to in Darlington?

In short, A LOT!!!

– A manifesto of manners – how to treat public spaces and the people in them.

– A series of 3D wearable paper sculptures celebrating the town and its people.

– A “book” made specifically for the Darlo archives containing a fold out, interactive, 3D, ever changing/ endlessly changeable map.

– Drag based, interactive street theatre in a large origami boat.

This event is a chance for people to chat to Lady Kitt see some of the work they have created alongside the people of Darlington, make some work yourself (no pressure!) and also ask the very important question…..

Where is Fred*???

*The stuffed polar bear lent by Darlington council to an unnamed museum in Middlesbrough during the 1990s and never seen since …

_______________________________

Tea, Coffee & Snacks provided.

Location:
The Auxiliary
31 Station Street
Middlesbrough
TS1 1SR

Time:
1pm – 3pm , drop in

Free Admission
All ages

https://www.facebook.com/events/419980692056649/