Darlington Monthly January 2020

Issue 78 - January 2020

Your favourite PRICELESS community magazine

What’s Inside Feat ured Ar t i cles Win aMarket Lumley Darlington to 29 Castle break be graced with new exhibition space

Places to go: Frankfurt

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47 What’s on this month LOCAL BUSINESSES

New Year, New Decade, welcome to 2020!

LOCAL EVENTS COMPETITIONS Darlington Monthly is proudly sponsored by

COMMUNITY NEWS WHAT’S ON Darlington’s oldest and widest-distributed community magazine

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These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains: ‘Our watchwords are Quality,

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

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Welcome to the January edition of Darlington Monthly!

Following the fun of Christmas and the excitement of seeing in the New Year, we’ve kicked off 2020 with a selection of local highlights for you to enjoy throughout January. Starting with a look at Durham Gala Theatre and Cinema’s focus on the Exhibition on Screen series, which you can read about on page 12, we then break down other cultural highlights on offer throughout the month on page 47.

We’ve also reviewed the latest addition to the Jumanji franchise, on page 46, which you can see at cinemas across the region this month. And why not also have a go at the monthly competition to win free tickets to a screening of your choice?

And if you’re thinking of a city break early this year, take a look at what Alex Nelson made of his recent venture to Frankfurt, including places to go and details of local travel in the city. With plenty of local businesses inside also welcoming in the New Year, you may find just what you’re looking for, at a price worth another celebration!

From everyone here at Darlington Monthly, Happy New Year!

Findley Roofing & Building proudly sponsors this month’s edition of Darlington Monthly. As the UK’s largest and most trusted roofing and building specialists, Findley’s skilled and seasoned professionals offer a Free Roof Health Check to all customers, and a whole host of other expert services for improving, protecting and maintaining your home.

So, don’t hesitate to turn to them for all of your roofing and construction requirements at the start of 2020! Visit www.findleyroofing.co.uk or call 0191 417 3422 for advice and a free quote.

Available to read online Visit darlingtonmonthly.co.uk /DarlingtonMonthly

Competitions

@DarlingtonMonthly

12 22 34 46

Disclaimer...

Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this magazine, we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for any incorrect information. All advertisements are accepted in good faith as to their veracity and we are not responsible for views expressed by contributors or other sources. The copying of any material within this publication is strictly forbidden without the publishers or Studio Managers consent. By providing your email address and entering our competitions you agree to receive email communications from the competition sponsor/prize provider.

Congratulations to last month’s competition winners, all winners have been notified. Winners are selected at random. The provider will only receive the details ofTo winning entries inContact order to fulfil completion of the prize. Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225 Advertise Darlington Monthly

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Design Planning Installation We offer styles to suit every taste from traditional and homely to sleek and contemporary, showcased in our showroom in the Old Church Hall.

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We work with: All of the team at James Cornwell Interiors. We couldn’t be more delighted with our new kitchen, its everything we dreamed of.

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An exceptional range of high quality stoves available in the heart of the town centre.

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We foster with Durham!

Could you?

If you’re looking for a rewarding role where you could make a difference to a child’s life, come and chat to us and our foster carers at one of our information events at:

Spennymoor on Saturday 18 January 2020 Durham City on Wednesday 5 February 2020

Full details at durham.gov.uk/fosteringinfoevents or call 03000 269 400 10

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Looking to make friends in the durham and surrounding areas?

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New documentary film shines light on Renaissance master Leonardo For those who had always principally associated Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) with the multimedia juggernaut The Da Vinci Code or the jostling crowds of smartphone snappers perpetually surrounding the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, Leonardo: The Works gave crucial deeper insight into the Italian polymath’s life and works.

I had the privilege of attending a late November screening of this wellreviewed instalment in the prolific Exhibitions on Screen documentary series at Durham’s Gala Theatre and Cinema, and the statistic of fewer than 20 major works having been attributed to the Renaissance master allowed for a comprehensive overview over the 102-minute running time.

Partly as a consequence of this low level of extant output by the artist, viewers were also not – contrary to what the overarching series’ title might imply – restricted to a bigscreen treatment of Leonardo’s works around just one exhibition space. Instead, the film-makers hop from one world-renowned gallery to another on a brisk, informative and satisfyingly ultra-high-definition tour.

The works themselves are not the only star, of course. That’s because a series of art historians and curators are also on hand to provide authoritative comment on the aspects of Leonardo’s story into which each piece gives us greater insight – by no means an element of 12

the film that one requires a degree in Art History to be able to appreciate.

One especially nice touch is the use of local curators to provide their own thoughts on their particular Leonardo.

It’s an acknowledgement that any tour of Leonardo’s surviving works is necessarily an international one. That means embracing – of course – the Louvre where multiple celebrated pieces by the artist are documented, but also the likes of London’s National Gallery with its Virgin of the Rocks, the National Museum in Kraków where Lady with an Ermine can be found, and the permanent home of The Last Supper in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.

Somewhat politically trickier terrain is presented by the oil-on-woodpanel Salvator Mundi, which was only officially attributed to Leonardo in 2011, a decision that continues to be disputed by some specialists.

The painting – which depicts Jesus in Renaissance dress, making the sign of the cross with his right hand, while holding a transparent crystal orb in his left – is placed in the film with no allusion to the controversy surrounding its present status.

Nonetheless, it’s understandable that this topic might not be touched on in a documentary that can only, in any case, devote an all-too-brisk five minutes or so to each piece.

Screenings of the Exhibition on Screen series continue at the County

Durham theatre this month with Lucian Freud: A Self Portrait at 6pm on Tuesday 14th January, and 2:30pm on Thursday 30th January, shedding light on one of the 20th century’s premier portraitists. This will be followed on Monday 6th July at 6pm, by an instalment focusing on Freud’s contemporary and one of the most prevalent female icons of all time, Frida Kahlo.

Tickets for each film cost £10, £8 for concessions and £7 for Gala members. You can book by calling 03000 266 600 or visiting www.galadurham.co.uk.

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The Smarterbuys Store Limited is a company registered in England and Wales under the number 07526461 and with the Charities Commission under number 1144676, whose registered office is Greengates House, Amos Drive, Greencroft Industrial Park, Co Durham, DH9 7YE. Smarterbuys store is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference number 713746.

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Precious moments everyday The best things in life are the people you love and the memories you cherish. At Elderwood care home we’re here to support you to create more special moments.

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POP TOP LEISURE VEHICLES With the recent demand for leisure products in the UK and the need to have multi-purpose camper window vans that can be used as every day vehicles and for leisure trips, the PopTop Leisure Company presents a choice of new and used campervans for sale which are competitively priced to suit most people’s pockets. All our campervans are available to view at out North East showroom based in Birtley, County Durham.

As well as providing a range of converted campervans for sale, it is also possible to choose a van from stock which we can then convert for you based on our flexible range of conversion options.

We also offer a roof fitting service at our workshop in Washington, Tyne and Wear. You can visit our workshop in Washington, to discuss the supply and fitting of elevating PopTops and to see vehicles in mid conversion. You can also discuss a conversion of your own with our very own motor caravan converters.

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Est 1992

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24/7 support at the press of a button

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Total Security Northern Total Security Northern are a family run business based in Chester-Le-Street established in January 2005. We design, install and maintain electronic security systems for both the domestic and commercial sectors.

We are offering free connection to mobile phones for all CCTV Systems or a free backup battery to all Intruder alarm services in January to mark our 15th year anniversary.

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January Sales Shopping Trip

Metro Centre Sunday 12th January £13 per person

Houghton Hall & Carlisle £18 per person Tuesday 11th February

Harry Potter - Warner Bros Studio Tour Saturday 29th February Sunday 1st March price depends on number of people travelling and ages of the children.

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Saturday 21st March £45 per person includes ticket

Harrogate Edinburgh Break Friday 21st -Monday 24th February

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Thursday 6th April

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Departing from Staindrop, Gainford, Darlington & Scotch Corner.

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(on some occasions these pickups will be provided via a free feeder bus to Scotch Corner) All trips include attraction admission (plus hotels and meals where applicable).

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Jewels of Northern Ireland Sunday 24th to Thursday 28th May

£535 per person (Single Supplement £50) - includes 4 nights dinner, bed & breakfast, guided tours at Mount Stewart House & Hillsborough Castle. Bushmills Whiskey Tour, plus entrance to The Titanic Experience & The Giants Causeway

RHS Tatton Park Thursday 23rd July

£52 per person including RHS ticket

Keswick & The Lakes Distillery Sunday 28th June

£50 per person

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Ironbridge & Shropshire Sunday 16th - Wednesday 19th August

£375 per person (Single Supplement £60) - Price includes 3 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast at The Valley Hotel, entrance to Calke Abbey Stokesay Castle, Blists Hill Victorian Town and Attringham Park.

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BALLROOM DANCING FOR ADULT BEGINNERS

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CHASE THE POST CHRISTMAS BLUES AWAY WITH OUR AMAZING JANUARY COMPETITION!

You can win Afternoon tea with an overnight stay and breakfast for two people courtesy of Lumley Castle* Just answer this simple question:

In what year was Lumley Castle built?

Send your answers to: Competition Department, Unit 4, Station Road, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3DY *Terms and conditions apply - Must be used before March 31st excluding Valentines and Easter.

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We look forward to seeing you soon 31

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NHS

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GP surgery Persistent symptoms or long-term conditions: pains, minor mental health concerns, sudden change in wellness.

Pharmacy Feeling generally unwell: fevers, aches & minor pains, stomach upsets, skin rashes

NHS 111 Need urgent help but it’s not an emergency: confused about where to go, need general advice, unsure how severe it is.

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Places to go...

FRANKFURT IN GERMANY

O

n 26/7 November, I took what was expected to be a post-Brexit trip to Germany on a rare excursion abroad for this column. By the date of travel, we were still in the EU. Our party gathered at the Eurostar terminal at St. Pancras in London (next to King’s Cross) and used the Deutsche Bahn ICE service from Brussels via Cologne to Frankfurt. Leaving London at 0857, we arrived at Frankfurt at 1516.

We had a meal inside one of the restaurants in the Christmas Market area, including the apple wine which seems more popular than beer. We returned to our hotel, the new Hyatt Place, on the S Bahn (suburban railway) and a shuttle bus from the airport station, where we had first arrived. Great excitement there, for on December 15 there is a new S-Bahn station opening adjacent to the hotel called Gateway Gardens which will make that business park one of the best connected in the country, and therefore in Europe. The new station will be the first in Germany to bear an English name. Incidentally, that date is also the day for timetable changes in Frankfurt is the fifth largest Britain, on the second Sunday in December. city in Germany, with only 750,000 inhabitants, but is On the following day I wanted to see the major financial centre a bit more of the city, using the mix of of the country. It has a underground trains, the U-Bahn, with nine twin city arrangement lines, the S-Bahn, nine suburban lines, and with Birmingham. the Strassenbahn or street trams with ten Frankfurt has its own lines. The local buses were on strike. The large Christmas Market picture shows a tram approaching the station in the old town, and the at the Messe, where trade fairs are now held, ‘new old town’ which showing the green carpet that many of the is an extension using tram lines run on. Underground trains run buildings which look in tunnels in the centre, but in the suburbs like they are ancient, but have been they run on reserved trackways or on the built recently using traditional skills. street. The city is justly proud of its public transport system which has been heavily It grew as a result of medieval trade invested in over the years. Owing to the fairs, and the first currency exchange cancellation of a high speed ICE train on for traders was established in 1585 the way back, we sampled the rival Thalys with uniform exchange rates for the service from Cologne to Brussels and passed various types of money traded at over the UK Border in Brussels Midi station the fairs. A city state for years, its St. before boarding the new Eurostar train via Paul’s church was used for the first the Channel Tunnel on the way home. parliament of the new German state in 1848, and it is home to thirty museums Alex Nelson stayed at the Hyatt in a burgeoning cultural quarter. Now, Place hotel in Frankfurt and travelled 90% of trades on the stock exchanges are courtesy of Deutsche Bahn. done in the city. 14 of the 15 skyscrapers www.frankfurt-tourismus.de in the country are in Frankfurt, which is (select English language) the HQ of many banks and the European Central Bank. On an evening guided alexnelson@dunelm.org.uk tour around the city, we saw the large www.nationalrail.com illuminated blue Euro sign, studded with twelve gold stars to represent the founding members of the EU. We were not one of the first 12 countries, so they won’t have to take one off if/when we leave!

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Happy New Year – and welcome to the ‘20s!

Hasn’t this brand new decade just crept up on us? But here we are, at the beginning of the twenties in the twenty-first century, and let’s hope it’s a great one!

Not that our New Year’s resolution will be any different at all, here at Findley’s. We want to continue providing homeowners all over the North East of England with quality roofing services that protect your homes in this decade, the next, and beyond.

Throughout 2020, there will be no change in our offer of a Free Roof Inspection for homes all over the region, from Northumberland, into Tyne & Wear, County Durham and the Tees Valley.

you’ll be under no pressure to immediately resolve the problem (especially as Christmas was only a matter of days ago!).

If you went through last year, or the year before, or even further back, without having your roof thoroughly and professionally inspected, then get in touch and arrange a convenient date with our expert team.

However, we can give you time to consider our services, and provide a free quotation for any repair work required.

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WHATS ON HIGHLIGHTS Sat 4th

Hilarity Bites Comedy Club Featuring top stand up Comedians

Doors From:

RnB Club: Xander and the Peace Pirates Beatlemania Playing the music of the Fab Four Fri 17th The Zeppelin Experience

Sat 18th Black Ice [AC/DC]

Ticket Price:

7.30PM / £10.00

Fri 10h

7.30PM / £12.00

Sat 11th

7.30PM / £10.00 7.30PM / £12.00 7.30PM / £10.00

Sun 19th Film Club: Everything: The Real Thing Story

The other 4 lads from Liverpool who changed the face

of British music. Documentary with special guests 5.00PM / £15.00

Chris Amoo & Dave Smith and Director, Simon Sheridan

Fri 24th The Total Stone Roses

7.30PM / £12.50

Thur 30th

Who’s Next Playing all the hits of The Who Live & Local - Part of Independent Venues Week

Music from The Vellacos, LC Grey & New Age Vinyl

7.00PM / £3.00

Fri 31st

Stereo MC’s - Part of Independent Venues Week

Sat 25th

38

One of the most successful hip-hop acts from the UK

7.30PM / £12.00

7.00PM / £22.00

Please Check any age restrictions on events via our website as no refunds will be given for incorrectly booked

If no problems are identified, we’ll simply be on our way and wish you a happy 2020. If we do find a problem, we’ll let you know and

Tickets available from The Forum Music Centre Reception or by calling us on 01325 363135

We may be into a New Year – even a new decade – but the Findley promise of quality remains the same. Start the New Year by calling 0191 417 3422, or emailing sales@findleyroofing.co.uk to book your Free Roof Inspection.

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REMEMBER WHEN Postcard of Durham in winter c1904

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R E D R MU Y NIGHT

R E T MYS 1

2 Y A D R SATU

erson p r e p 5 £31.9 meal Tickets e s r u o s3c Include

ST

MARCH

7.30pm Arrival 10.30pm t a s e g a Carri

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tairs is u rst , g . Little below s y Sandh d e a iv L r control r d a p n e a s e t d s k r e For Lo rying to t. As gu e!!! tes is t difficul a e B r s o end aliv e k m m e a e J w and f t f st a his las sehold will be is h the hou t t a k n ow t h does he

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Contact us on 01325 720319 | email at info@crofthotel.net | www.crofthotel.net

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H O T E L

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Sudoku easy

2 4 1 7 8 5

6 9 7 3 4 5 2 9 7 1 8 6 1 4 9 5 8 9 7 6 4 3 6

1 4 5 7 6 2

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FILM REVIEW:

jumanji: the next level Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the comedy-adventure film released back in late 2017, was a peculiar thing. Narratively, it loosely followed on from the 1995 Robin Williams film Jumanji – but, with a new cast, tone and even premise, felt more like a reboot or reimagining than a straight sequel. Two years on from that box-office hit, The Next Level largely serves up more of the same, but it’s hard to see many people complaining.

In the 1995 film, Jumanji was a board game where simply playing it unleashed terrifying elephants, rhinos, bats and the like into the real world. By 2017, however, Jumanji had turned into a cartridge-based video game which took four dysfunctional high-school students into its own leafy world. The first film’s creepy vibe was largely jettisoned, replaced by comedic banter between new cast members Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan as the in-game avatars.

They are all back for The Next Level, also featuring Danny DeVito and Danny Glover, who obviously doesn’t think he’s getting too old for this… stuff. The pair play, respectively, former restaurant co-owners Eddie Gilpin and Milo Walker, who add to the body-swap comedy reminiscent of Welcome to the Jungle. Eddie and Milo are inadvertently sucked into the game when the teenage chums of awkward geek Spencer (Alex Woolf) embark on a mission to rescue him from it.

Why did Spencer return to it in the first place? As it turns out, he had longed to slip back into the digital guise of selfassured muscleman Dr Smolder Bravestone (Johnson). However, apparently due to glitches in the system, it’s now Eddie who plays Bravestone, Milo is the diminutive “backpack guy” Franklin “Mouse” Finbar (Hart), while Spencer is… well, that would be telling. Bodies continue to swap mirthfully during the runtime, though shy girl Martha (Morgan Turner) mainly stays the Lara Croft-like “killer of men” Ruby Roundhouse (Gillan).

The Next Level is aptly-named – as, in many ways, it does feel like a more turbocharged version of its predecessor. The action setpieces, with snakes, ostriches and mandrills aplenty, are noticeably tenser and more frenetic. The Rock’s especially responsible for more than a few heart-in-the-mouth moments, while some of Ruby’s moves are so balletic that they look practically computergenerated.

Like an actual video game, the film risks feeling a little too formulaic and on-rails.

Meanwhile, certain gags, like the nod to the self-repeating “NPC” (non-player character) Nigel Billingsley (Rhys Darby), are rehashed from the previous film. However, a range of new settings, including arid desert and snowtopped mountains, provide a break from the more tropical feel of Welcome to the Jungle, which rarely left Hawaiian shores.

If there will be yet another Jumanji follow-up soon, its premise is probably going to need a bigger twist than what we’ve got here.

Fortunately, though, a mid-credits teaser suggests that we can rest easy on this point.

While not quite Game of the Year, then, The Next Level remains a welcome expansion pack.

Craig Lenaghan Copywriter

We are offering a family ticket for any film at Vue Darlington at Feethams

(valid for 2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children) All you have to do to enter is answer the following question...

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What’s on

January

Justin Moorhouse: Northern Joker

10 January – 20:00 – Darlington Hippodrome Is the Cold War revisiting us? Have Dennis the Menace and the Bash Street Kids gone out of fashion? Is there hope for the Northern straight white male comedian?

Comic Justin Moorhouse has been pondering all of these questions - and asking whether it’s really just a case of us coming full circle.

The Paranormalist Returns: Clinton Baptiste 18 January – 19:30 – Majestic Theatre Fans of Peter Kay’s cult sitcom Phoenix Nights will fondly remember Clinton Baptiste, actor Alex Lowe’s parodic take on po-faced clairvoyants. For this special night, Lowe will bring back the character - and attempt a trip to the Other Side and back again...

Pink Floydian – An Evening of Classic Sinderella Pink Floyd 11 January – 19:00 – Majestic Theatre You might be just another brick in the wall, but this is far from just another Pink Floyd tribute show. It’s a breathtakingly faithful recreation of the classic rock band’s performances back in the day, with choice slices from the likes of More, Meddle and the seminal Dark Side of the Moon all covered.

Hilarity Bitesize feat. Dave Johns & Support

13 January – 19:30 – Hole in the Wall Comedian Dave Johns, who found himself an unexpected film star when he took the lead role in Ken Loach’s drama I, Daniel Blake in 2016, is back in more familiar comic territory here. He’ll be joined by the night’s host Andy Fury, “an absolute genius of a comedian” by the BBC’s reckoning.

22 January – 20:00 – Majestic Theatre This elaborately-decorated, laugh-a-minute take on the familiar pantomime story is strictly for adults. Stars from hit shows like Britain’s Got Talent and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK comprise the main cast.

Sleeping Beauty

24 January – 19:30 – Darlington Hippodrome The Russian State Ballet of Siberia performs this classic love story while a live orchestra, the Russian State Ballet Orchestra, brings Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous score to life.

Vadym Kholodenko

26 January – 15:00 – Dolphin Centre On his second UK tour, and first since 2017, the young Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko will treat audiences to several pieces of the Russian repertoire as well as classical-era sonatas.

Exhibition On Screen: Lucian Freud – A The George Michael Story 30 January – 19:30 – Majestic Theatre Self Portrait 14 January – 13:00 and 19:00 – Vue Darlington An exhibition of late artist Lucian Freud’s self-portraits is running at London’s Royal Academy of Arts until 26 January, but you don’t need to schedule a trip to the capital to see it.The exhibition’s dozens of paintings, prints and drawings will be screened right here in Darlington.

It’s easy to have - ahem - faith in this astonishingly accurate tribute to the much-missed heartthrob-turned-iconicartist George Michael. The show will take you from George’s Wham! days to his more mature solo material - and cuts of both ticket and merchandise sale profits will go to his charities.

Got an event coming up? Let us know and we’ll help spread the news. Email details of your event to:

sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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