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Darlington’s oldest and widest-distributed community magazine

New mobile skate park to visit Darlington What’s Inside Issue 88 June 2021

Darlington Monthly is proudly sponsored by:

Penrith for Ullswater

YORKSHIRE LOFT LADDERS

Stockton Globe Theatre prepares to reopen

FSC approved

Film review: The Mitchells vs the Machines

We’re doing our part, are you?

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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 June edition of Darlington Monthly! As more pandemic restrictions are rolled back, many Darlington residents will soon be rolling forward – quite literally – as the council presses ahead with plans to introduce a mobile skate park in the town.You can learn more details about this exciting proposal on page 10. The opening of the Stockton Globe theatre also beckons, with the historic venue having undergone a decade-long refurbishment. Who will be among the first acts to take to the Grade II listed building’s stunningly-transformed stage? Find out on page 28.

Even before the revitalised Globe starts putting on its first shows in the autumn, though, you’ve got plenty of chances to enjoy live performances locally. Just flick to page 32 for a glimpse of how Darlington’s post-pandemic events scene is shaping up.

We wish you a great June as we start preparing for our July issue. Yorkshire Loft Ladders is the proud sponsor of this month’s Darlington Monthly. As a renowned local company, Yorkshire Loft Ladders would be delighted to provide you with the services – including loft hatches, ladders, flooring, boarding and lighting – that would enable you to get greater wor th out of this sometimes neglected part of the house. Call the team now for free, on 0800 612 8359, or visit www.yorkshireloftladders.co.uk for fur ther information and a no-obligation quote.

YORKSHIRE LOFT LADDERS

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

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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 winning entries inContact order to fulfil completion of the prize. Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225 Advertise Darlington Monthly 4 details ofTo

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An exceptional range of high quality stoves available in the heart of the town centre. Owner Stephen Airey and his engineers have many years experience in the heating and fireplace industry. The showroom boasts an array of traditional and contemporary woodburning and multi fuel stoves from leading manufacturers. From bespoke inglenook designs to modern freestanding versions, JTA Fires Stoves and Heating will endeavour to make your dream a reality. We have a fully qualified installation team that cover HETAS approval for solid fuel applications, Gas Safe for gas fires and central heating systems, and also OFTEC for oil boiler installations. JTA Fires Stoves and Heating also supply and install inset hole in the wall gas and solid fuel appliances for a minimalist look. Alternatively, we can cater for those wanting a traditional focal point fireplace in either solid wood, marble or stone. Many of these fireplace designs can be tailor-made to your own specifications. We offer a free site survey with absolutely no obligation to purchase. We pride ourselves on our vast knowledge and experience, and welcome you to call in to see what we have on offer - you won’t be disappointed. Our showroom at 9 Duke Street, Darlington is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm. Sunday opening is by appointment only. If you would like to arrange a free site survey either call into the showroom, or get in touch on 01325 389238 or email jtafiresandstoves@ icloud.com. A warm welcome awaits at JTA Fires Stoves and Heating.

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Darlington Borough Council planning mobile skate park for the town centre The Conservative-run Darlington Borough Council has proposed an array of measures for countering the adverse effect of the pandemic and widening the range of local opportunities and activities available to young people – with a regular mobile skate park planned for the town centre. In an inquiry led by Labour councillor Cyndi Hughes, numerous experts and 45 pupils from 22 primary and secondary schools reported issues with food poverty, mental health and education – leading the authority to act on a series of recommendations put forward by the inquiry. The authority’s leader, Councillor Heather Scott, said that all of these recommendations would be taken into account, revealing: “I think this shows that when we do work together as a council we can achieve good things and I would hope that we can continue in that spirit.”

Cllr Clarke further observed that, as children would be severely struggling with their mental health as a result of the pandemic, specialist teams would support Darlington schools in September, helping them to support children with mild to moderate mental health issues.

Recommendations the council has agreed to take forward include striving to reduce waiting times for mental health services and improving communications with young people, helping them to exert a stronger influence on council decisions impacting their lives or future opportunities.

He emphasised: “The main thing is the voice of the child and how they are listened to and how we understand what their feelings are.”

Councillor Jon Clarke, the cabinet member for children and young people, acknowledged that while Darlington Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority had already acted to alleviate concerns raised by the inquiry, it remained “loud and clear” that a lot more work must be done. He noted that regular DJs were set to visit Darlington’s Skinnergate area throughout the summer, and expressed his personal enthusiasm about a plan that would regularly bring a mobile skate park attraction to Darlington town centre. He explained: “It’s a project that I’m very keen to get off the ground because I think it will really engage with the young people in our town.”

One Teesside skate park that opened in 2001, Ryedale skate park in Norton, was recently under threat when local councillors sought to dismantle the site’s unique half-pipe, which had slowly fallen into disrepair but was originally a display ramp at Alton Towers. Local radio presenter Ryan Swain launched a GoFundMe campaign aimed at funding repair work on the skate park. The campaign was endorsed by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, who said in a video message: “I fully back Ryan with his efforts and I believe we need more public skate parks and we need to fix them up, to get people back into skateboarding.” Fortunately, however, the half-pipe’s future now looks more secure than it once did, as town councillors in Norton recently lent their support to the campaign, which continues to welcome donations at gofundme. com/f/save-the-halfpipe-at-ryedale-skatepark.

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Come in and explore the college www.darlington.ac.uk Darlington College, Central Park, Haughton Road, Darlington, DL1 1DR Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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CLIFTON FURNISHINGS Clifton Furnishings is a new furniture warehouse located at 1 Chatsworth Terrace, Darlington. We are a friendly and knowledgeable family-run business, specialising in supplying high-quality but affordable carpets, rugs, linoleum flooring, sofas, beds and more to homes around the North East of England. Although we are a new company, we boast a wealth of industry experience and knowledge that we want to pass on to the lovely people of Tyne-Tees. Got a budget in mind but not entirely sure what you’re looking for? Get in touch and one of our furnishing experts will work with you to create a plan within your price range. Know what you want but not sure if you’ll be able to afford it? You’d be surprised at how low our prices are - but we NEVER compromise on quality. With Clifton Furnishings, you can be assured of getting the best deals on the best products. Our warehouse, which only opened last month, is already packed with a wide array of stock, and we are expanding on a daily basis. We have a range of sofas, carpets and rugs in store and ready to go and if we don’t currently have the product you would like in stock, we will do our very best to order this for you. We offer a delivery service, just ask a member of the team about this when ordering.

We are extremely passionate about what we do, and pride ourselves on providing top-class customer service every time. But don’t take our word for it - we have plenty of five-star reviews to prove it! Clifton Furnishings is open to the public Monday to Saturday from 9am until 5pm, and can be found just off Victoria Road near Darlington’s town centre. Pop in for a browse or get in touch by phone or through our Facebook page, where we would be happy to answer any queries and provide professional advice. Call 07951 582344, or pop in to see our furniture range at: 1 Chatsworth Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5DQ. Search for Clifton Furnishings on Facebook for regular updates.

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Home care and dementia specialists, Helping Hands, has recently launched a brand-new branch in Darlington as part of a larger project that has been launched across the UK. As well as providing specialised care to those in need, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak, the branch also brings with it many vacancies for those who are looking for a care role in Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe Andy Kefford, Area Care Manager for the Darlington branch, said:“It’s so exciting to be part of the branch launch

project with Helping Hands, and opening in Darlington has been no exception.” Annemarie Vendy, Branch Manager at the new Darlington office, said: “I am super excited and privileged to be part of the Darlington Helping Hands branch. We are all thrilled to be able to provide quality care to the residents of Darlington and surrounding areas. Care is more than a job to us, it’s a passion. Knowing that you can change someone’s life, and make a real difference, makes every day worth it.” Since 1989, the family-run company has specialised in home care and is an industry leader within the care sector. The company has a network of over 120 branches across England and Wales, and provides both visiting and live-in care. Now in its 32nd year, the organisation has employed over 6,000 carers and supported over 40,000 families.

If you would like more information on arranging care for yourself or a loved one, or if you’re interested in becoming a carer, visit the Helping Hands website

www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/our-locations/darlington or call Branch Manager Annemarie and her team on 01325 270 903

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER TRAINING

• Providing all LGV, PCV and trailer tests • Full Driver CPC ADR programme offered throughout the year. • DHDT payment scheme to help spread the costs from 3 months anything up to 12 month payment terms We book everything for you from start to finish, medicals, theory, hazard, and Initial CPC. Fantastic facilities at our training academy at Teesside Airport. No credit checks easy application process, terms 3, 6, 9, 10 & 12 months options.

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Home Reach: the key to home ownership At Home Reach, we are dedicated to making home ownership possible to everyone, helping people to be able to afford the house of their dreams. With properties located in Durham, Darlington, across the North East and the rest of the UK, Home Reach is the key to home ownership. Part Buy – Part Rent with Home Reach Home Reach helps people who want to get into the property market to part buy - part rent a home. In other words, Home Reach helps you to buy a share of a new build property and pay monthly rent of 2.75% of the unsold value on the part that you don’t buy. Your budget decides the percentage share and size of your home. For example, you might wish to purchase shares up to 75% of your new home, which will allow you to live in the property as if you have bought it outright and you will be granted a 125-year lease. In time, you have the opportunity to buy the rest of your home and stop paying rent In the future, you can buy more of your home, at which point you will stop paying rent on that part of the house, making homes accessible to all. This is known as staircasing. So, if you had lost all hope in buying the house of your dreams which might

otherwise have been a little too expensive, get in touch with Home Reach today to check your eligibility. Get in touch with Home Reach, with locations across Darlington, Durham, and the rest of the UK For more information and to browse our properties, head to www.homereach.org.uk. To make an enquiry, please call 020 3744 0415. Featured Houses The Orchard at West Park | West Park Garden Village, Darlington, DL2 2TS Built by Barratt Homes, with 3-bedroom houses from £94,995 for 50% shares. Leven Woods | Yarm, Stockton-on-Teas, TS15 9EQ Built by Barratt Homes, with 4-bedroom houses from £174,997 for 50% shares. Peerfields Village | Darlington, DL17 0HA Built by Avant Homes, with 2 to 3-bedroom houses from £77,498 for 50% shares. Summerville Village | Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3LU Built by Avant Homes, with 3-bedroom houses from £84,998 for 50% shares. Merrington Park | Spennymoor, DL16 7RS Built by Barratt Homes, with 3-bedroom houses from £76,750 for 50% shares.

STEPHEN CAPSEY PLUMBING AND HEATING HEATING AND BOILER REPAIRS CARRIED OUT BY SKILLED SPECIALISTS IN NEWTON AYCLIFFE, COUNTY DURHAM SERVICES INCLUDE: • CENTRAL HEATING • BOILER SERVICES • BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT

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Get on the property ladder with Home Reach With Home Reach you buy a share of a newly built home and pay a low monthly rent on the part you don’t buy. Your budget decides the size of your share, rather than the size of your home.

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Barnard Castle

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COACHES DAY TRIPS York & Yorkshire Heart Vineyard Sunday 27th June £47 per person including tour, tasting & afternoon tea. Pickering & The North Yorkshire Moors Railway Sunday 11th July Sunday 25th July Sunday 12th September £60 per person including one way journey from Pickering to Whitby with lunch on board

Rothbury & Cragside Tuesday 24th August £33 per person - including entrance to Cragside House

Chester or Cheshire Oaks Saturday 16th October £25 per person

RHS Tatton Park Thursday 22nd July £52 per person including RHS Ticket Holy Island & Bamburgh Tuesday 3rd August £20 per person

Barton Grange & Kirkby Lonsdale Tuesday 2nd November £22 per person

Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225 ForTo Advertise full itineraries or brochure please call 01833 621302

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COACH HOLIDAYS Legoland

Friday 30th July Sunday 1st August Prices from £130 per child; £219 per Adult - including 2 nights DBB at Holiday Inn T4, plus Legoland Tickets

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

National Arboretum

Sunday 24th - Tuesday 26th October £260 per person (Single Supplement £50) - including 2 nights DBB at Mickleover Hotel, plus entrance to attractions.

Liverpool City Break

Sunday 12th - Monday 13th September £105 per person (Single supplement £15) - including 1 night B&B at Atlantic Tower Hotel.

A Relaxing Time in Bath

Sunday 26th - Wednesday 29th September £395 per person (Single Supplement £120) - including 3 nights DBB at Francis Hotel, plus entrance to attractions on route.

Snowdonia Winter Break

Monday 15th - Friday 19th November £345 per person (Single Supplement £50) including 4 nights DBB at Royal Victoria, Llanberis with drinks package.

London Weekend

Friday 8th - Sunday 10th October £249 per person (Single Supplement £115) - including 2 nights B&B at Greenwich Novotel.

Thursford Christmas Spectacular

Thursday 11th - Saturday 13th November Thursday 2nd - Saturday 4th December Thursday 9th - Saturday 11th December £340 per person (Single Supplement £65) - including 2 nights DBB at Pheasant Hotel, Kelling plus ticket to the Thursford Christmas Spectacular Show

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J44

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Wastwater

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A592 Ambleside ! Windermere utdoor tourist attractions in England The vessel for the Penrith A591 Hardknott Cockermouth ! could reopen from 12th April and my first cruise down Pass J40 A66 Pooley MuncasterA66 Kendal second excursion was on the 21st to Penrith, the length of the j Bridge Oxenholme Broughton using the line from Newcastle to Carlisle, lake was the MV A5086 Keswick where there is the choice of five directions to Western Belle,Whitehaven latest A5902j Glenridding A590 J36 travel. Penrith is £32.10 from to join the five heritage vessels A65 Chester-le-Street which is ok for a day return, on Ullswater, built in Great Wastwater A592 To Carnforth Grange but you can return within a month - much Yarmouth in 1935. The /Lancaster over Barrow better than buying two singles, as you have to Western Belle cruised Ambleside A595on Sands on some routes. (If there is no suitable fare Tamar and Yealm river ! Windermere from your local station, get a separate ticket excursions in Devon for 50 years. A591 Hardknott J44 ! Passin from Newcastle, and feel free to email me for She joined the fleet of the “Steamers” Silloth Muncaster Kendal Carlisle advice.) Unusually we were a bit late into July 2011. A pair of RAF fighters zoomed Oxenholme Broughton Carlisle, but still in plenty of time for my overhead and I observed to my neighbours A5902 Avanti train to London, nextA595 stop Penrith. I that this was the most tranquil of the lakes. A590 J36 enjoyed a cup of coffee from “Caffeine Rush” The deck was covered with canvas, affording A65 Maryport which is a little trike dispensing coffee which some shelter, and the journey to Glenridding To Carnforth Penrith Grange I have used for over twenty years. via Howtown took just lessBarrow than an hour. A Cockermouth /Lancaster over Pooleyquick pintJ40 A66 of Hobgoblin at the Glenridding J44 Sands A66 j The train arrived in Penrith on time, and I Bridge Silloth Hotel, and I was back to the pier to join the Carlisle A5086 Keswick had about thirty minutes before the M MV Lady Wakefield to Aira Force. Built in j Stagecoach bus 508 set off towards Whitehaven Glenridding 1949 in Dartmouth, she worked on the River Cockermou Windermere, just time to explore the ruins of Dart before her arrival A595at Ullswater in 2007 Wastwater Penrith Castle directly opposite, and the where Maryport she was fully restored and renamed by A592 A5 pleasant park, complete with crazy golf, HRH Princess Alexandra. Penrith Ambleside surrounding A595 it. I was just going to Pooley Cockermouth Whiteh J40 A66 Pooley !sailing at 1230, but National Windermere Bridge to join the steamer Trust owned Aira Force A66is a series of j Bridge A5086and the are a series of walks going would be returning Force down waterfalls, A591 Hardknott ! from Aira Keswick Pass the west side of the lake, so the driver further up the river valley. I went only about Muncaster Kendal j Glenridding Whitehaven suggested I bought the Penrith and Ullswater half way up to avail myself of the popular A595 Oxenholme Broughton J44 Dayrider for £8.50 to give me unlimited (open air) tea room close to the bus stop on Silloth A5902Carlisle Wastwater A590 travel, and cheaper than two singles. the way down. A592 J36 I made an extra bus journey ! A65and back to get full value down to Patterdale Ambleside A595 Pooley Bridge has just gained a new bridge to for my Dayrider, and the return bus dropped To Carnforth A595 ! Windermere replace the stone oneBarrow dating from 1764 which Grange /Lancaster just me off at Penrith station for my return over Maryport A591 Hardknott collapsed following Storm Desmond in 2015. Sands J44 ! trains across the Pennines Pass in the golden hour The new bridge opened in 2020,Penrith and the Muncaster KendalSilloth shortly before sunset. Carlisle ckermouth J40 A66 pavement is marked with the names of many Pooley Oxenholme Broughton A66 j Bridge families and businesses. I could not tell A5086 A5902 A590 which wayKeswick the river was flowing, but J36A595 Whitehaven UllswaterGlenridding drains into the Riverj Eamont, then Maryport A65 into the River Eden through Wetheral and To Carnforth Penrith Grange Wastwater Cockermouth /Lancaster alexnelson@dunelm.org.uk over Carlisle and out into the Solway Firth. The Barrow A592 J40 A66 Pooley Sands A66 pier for the Ullswater Steamers is just outside www.nationalrail.com j Bridge Ambleside A5086 A595 the village (indeed the 508 bus stops Keswick ! only right outside). Diesel Windermere southbound Whitehaven Glenridding j A591 by Hardknott the boats are crewed powered nowadays, ! | ullswater-steamers.co.uk Pass friendly and professional crews which made Muncaster Wastwater Kendal Ma A592 the cruise a pleasure. Oxenholme Broughton Cockermouth Ambleside A595 A5902Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk To Advertise Tel: 01325 776225 22 A590 J36 ! Windermere A65 A508

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The Little Quaker Distillery The Little Quaker Distillery is Darlington’s hidden gem; Raspberry & Strawberry edition and the eagerly-awaited OId owners Paul and Leanne Colman have worked tirelessly for Tom edition. the last two years to establish themselves in the competitive The team has also been producing the golden rum Black gin market. Diamond, which is named after the third train to run on the Winners of international spirits competitions, their gin historic Stockton and Darlington railway. Meanwhile, the Black is renowned for its flavour. After starting in a converted Diamond Banana rum uses fermented banana peel to give outhouse, Little Quaker’s plans were always to eventually natural banoffee notes. move to the town centre. When COVID-19 struck, the team Paul reflected: “If the lockdown has taught us anything, then turned this into an opportunity. it is to look after the local economy. We would love to see Leanne commented: “We made some sanitiser for health the folk of Darlington supporting the town’s businesses and workers but chose to avoid publicity, and we focused on helping to get the hospitality industry back off the ground – rebranding and getting the shop ready for when lockdown and, of course, ordering a Quaker Gin behind the bar!” ended.The new premises in Clark’s Yard, Darlington is perfect – the history in the building sits perfectly with the gin and rums produced by Little Quaker.” On each bottle, there is a photo showing the town clock and a steam train.The name of Little Quaker comes from a love of Darlington FC – “The Quakers” – while the “Little” represents how they started up. The rich history of the building at Clark’s Yard sure to be talked about when the upstairs opens for pre-booked tasting events in late May or early June. The Little Quaker now has a range of six gins, from its multiaward-winning original Quaker gin, through to its brand new

The Little Quaker Distillery is based in Darlington in the North East of England it embraces the history of the town and hopes to trade on its values. The distillery hand crafts all of its bottles of gin using local ingredients sourced from local retailers, each batch is made in small volumes to give every batch an individual feel. The latest distilling equipment seamlessly combined with traditional stilling techniques going back centuries to ensure consistently excellent taste every time.

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Name The Ad HOW TO PLAY: Match the five segments of images below with an Advert in this magazine, place either the company name or the page number in the space below each box.

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Finishing touches being added to Stockton Globe theatre as it prepares to reopen It’s an extensive renovation project that has lasted for a decade and overcome various challenges along the way. However, the long-awaited revamp of the historic Stockton Globe theatre is finally nearing completion, with the revitalised venue’s first shows scheduled for this autumn. Developers Jomast originally started restoring the Grade II listed building back in 2011, with £4m – including £1m from Stockton Borough Council – set aside for the project. The early renovation work uncovered numerous issues affecting the Art Deco theatre – including its roof, lifts and toilets as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing and drainage. The building had previously closed in 1997, when it served as a bingo hall. Before then, and until the 1970s, it had been an iconic live entertainment venue hosting performances from well-known acts such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Buddy Holly. The current building was assembled in 1926, after the original Globe theatre at the north-western end of Stockton’s High Street was purpose-built as a cinema in 1913 and demolished 12 years later. The rebuilt venue was a variety theatre that also included cinema facilities. As the budget for the modern renovation continued to swell and the work itself stalled, Stockton Borough Council eventually took over from Jomast in 2016. As a result of the building’s structural problems, spending on the renovation project reportedly reached £27.9m on top of rental costs. However, in February, Stockton councillors heard the scheme was “on track” for a late April finish. Several months on, council director Richard McGuckin declared that, with the refurbishment now almost 28

wrapped up at long last, the theatre is “looking absolutely stunning inside and out”. He explained: “Inside they’re busy with things like assembling bar furniture and fixing internal signage and art to the walls, while outside they’re finishing off the canopy trims and installing external signage and the main front doors. He added that the council was “repainting the road markings out the front of the building” and has “removed the large road barriers so you can now get a good look at that beautiful facade.” The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) has signed a 25-year lease agreement to run the venue in partnership with the council. ATG operates a large network of similarly historic theatres across the UK – including the Sunderland Empire as well as the Grand Opera House in York. Council bosses hope that, after reopening, the theatre will attract a further 200,000 visitors to Stockton town centre every year and, in the process, add £18m to the local economy. Fortunately, their optimism appears to be wellfounded. The first event announced last autumn for the transformed venue, a date on singer Paloma Faith’s 2021 tour, sold out in about a month. Other big-name musicians set to visit the Globe soon include Steve Hackett, Marti Pellow and Ronan Keating, while comics Jason Manford, Jimmy Carr and Chris Ramsey are also on the calendar. To see the full list of Globe events currently on sale, please visit stocktonglobe.co.uk.

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Sesame salmon, purple sprouting broccoli & sweet potato mash Try this Asian-inspired salmon supper with a nutty sesame dressing, crisp veg and comforting sweet potato mash. It's healthy, low-calorie and rich in omega-3

Prep: 10 mins Cook: 15 mins

Ingredients

Easy

Makes 2

Directions

1 ½ tbsp sesame oil

Step 1

Step 3

1 tbsp low-salt soy sauce thumb-sized piece ginger, grated

Heat oven to 200C/180 fan/ gas 6 and line a baking tray with parchment. Mix together 1/2 tbsp sesame oil, the soy, ginger, garlic and honey. Put the sweet potato wedges, skin and all, into a glass bowl with the lime wedges. Cover with cling film and microwave on high for 12-14 mins until completely soft.

Remove the lime wedges and roughly mash the sweet potato using a fork. Mix in the remaining sesame oil, the chilli and some seasoning. Divide between plates, along with the salmon and broccoli.

1 garlic clove, crushed 1 tsp honey 2 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into wedges 1 lime, cut into wedges 2 boneless skinless salmon fillets 250g purple sprouting broccoli 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Step 2 Meanwhile, spread the broccoli and salmon out on the baking tray. Spoon over the marinade and season. Roast in the oven for 10-12 mins, then sprinkle over the sesame seeds.

1 red chilli, thinly sliced (deseeded if you don't like it too hot) 30

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June

Hilarity Bites Comedy Club feat. Martin Mor & Rob Mulholland 5 June – 19:30 and 21:00 – The Forum Former circus performer Martin Mor has been hailed by comedy legends Frankie Boyle and Peter Kay since establishing a name on the comedy circuit himself. At the Forum, he will be joined by the up-and-coming comic Rob Mulholland – why not stop by theforumonline.co.uk to pick up a ticket? James Aston 11 June – 20:15 – Harrowgate Club & Institute Ltd If funky pop is your flavour, James Aston is ready to enthral you by belting out an impressive number of floor-fillers. The setlist will include selections from the back catalogues of James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Ed Sheeran – and tickets are just £3 from harrowgateclubandinstituteltd.co.uk. Soul & Motown with George Williamson 12 June – 20:30 – Middleton St George Cricket & Social Club George Williamson has been singing soul and Motown classics around the world for over 25 years. In that time, he’s teamed up with acts including Martha and the Vandellas, the Three Degrees and the Real Thing – and tickets for his Darlington gig can be bought at ticketsource.co.uk/msg-cricket-club.

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 32

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The Liquid Engineers (Tribute to Gary Numan) 19 June – 19:30 – The Forum Electronic pioneer Gary Numan has been credited with influencing various big-name musicians, including Prince, Blur and Little Boots. Now, five-piece live band the Liquid Engineers will perform material from right through Numan’s discography; visit theforumonline.co.uk to buy your ticket. The Retro Rock Show 19 June – 19:30 – The Majestic Theatre If your musical taste is for ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s rock songs and power ballads, you will be able to enjoy plenty of them sung live in this energetic and pyrotechnic-heavy production. Buy your ticket at majestictheatre-lee.com for your chance to hear favourites from Bon Jovi, Tina Turner and more. IAASF Conference 2021 – Protecting Cultural Heritage in a Global Pandemic 23-24 June – 12:00 – Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel At this two-day event, the IAASF (International Arts and Antiquities Security Forum) will advise members of the arts and culture sectors on ways to manage security and safety risks posed by the COVID crisis. Tickets are available through eventbrite.co.uk. Come Back Home 24-27 June – Various Times – Darlington Hippodrome As normality re-emerges, DarlingtonOS is set to put on a specially-conceived show to welcome you back to enjoying live musical theatre within the Hippodrome’s walls. Visit darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk to reserve your seat for this two-hour, socially-distanced production. Steven Osborne 27 June – 15:00 – Dolphin Centre Pianist Steven Osborne has interpreted a diverse repertoire from Beethoven, Debussy and Stravinsky, to list just some of his inspirations. This piano recital will be only his second for Darlington Piano Society, which offers tickets via its website, dpiano.co.uk. Emma Barnett: Periods, Power and Politics 27 June – 18:30 – Darlington Hippodrome In this talk set to be live-streamed to people’s homes, award-winning broadcaster and journalist Emma Barnett will explore, in enlightening fashion, the subject of menstruation. You can order a ticket – and a paperback copy of Emma’s book titled Period. – through darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk.

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We Are Foxywine.co.uk Foxy Wine is an exclusive online wine retailer based at Newton Aycliffe Business Park, and delivers locally as well as throughout the UK. We have fantastic news for our new customers, as we have just added an extra 30 new wines to our online shop. These wines have been painstakingly selected by our Foxy Wine team to ensure you have a great customer experience. Our wine selection consists of great-tasting organic wines, ranging from vegan friendly to traditional favourites. To our white wines, we have added some great-tasting Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, Chile, France, and South Africa, together with lush, yellow Chardonnays from Australia and crisp Riesling from the USA and Australia. For red wines, we have selected rich and full-bodied organic Malbec from Argentina, Syrah and Cabernet blends from the USA, Carmenere from Chile, Italian Primitivo and Montepulciano. We also have traditional favourites such as French, Cotes du Rhone, Spanish Rioja, Pinot Noir from France, and the USA, plus many more. You won’t find this selection in any supermarkets as we have chosen to only partner with a handful of key suppliers worldwide, in order to bring you the best selection of premium wines, exclusive to Foxy.

Foxy Wine was created by local businessman Steve Johnson. Steve says, “We want to attract new people into great wine, as well as share our fantastic selection with existing wine lovers in the local area. The Foxy brand allows us to reach out to those people who would not normally consider buying wine online and provide them with a fantastic experience and service at a great price”. At Foxy Wine, we believe in rewarding our customers by ensuring our prices remain consistently competitive. Our website has been specially developed to ensure an easy and informative customer experience, allowing our customers to choose from any number of available wines or pick up one of our exclusive wine cases. Alternatively, sit back and let Foxy do all the work, when you join the exclusive Foxy Wine Club. As a member, each month you will receive a specially selected wine case based on your preference, choosing from 6, 8 or 12-bottle price options. Each case comes with detailed information about the wines selected, as well as an average 15-20% cost saving plus free delivery.

Want to join the Foxy Wine Family? Don’t forget to subscribe to our website www.foxywine.co.uk or connect via social media to hear about our fantastic wines and membership offers.

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FILM REVIEW

remembering to adhere, at least loosely, to the established rules of a pre-existing popular franchise. As a result, it can just allow its eccentricity to run free, with such endearing artistic touches as a storm cloud or heart forming in hand-drawn style near Katie’s head as she flicks from one emotion to another. This animated tale of an off-kilter family, the Mitchells, is rich in the same kind of wit and verve as the Lego Movies – perhaps unsurprisingly, given that Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who launched that franchise, are producers of this film. The directorial responsibilities, though, go to Mike Rianda, who has assembled a top-drawer voice-acting cast including Olivia Colman as PAL, an Alexa-like digital assistant gone rogue. When PAL’s original creator, tech entrepreneur Mark Bowman (voiced by Eric André), holds a swanky, Apple-style press event unveiling a new product line of home robots set to replace her, the incensed PAL seizes control of the robots before ordering them to capture all humans and banish them to outer space. Ironically, only the bumbling Mitchells elude the robots’ clutches and have a shot of saving humanity. The 2018 cult classic Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse, with which Lord and Miller were also involved, sprinkled quirky 2D effects across a 3D-animated backdrop. The Mitchells vs the Machines sports a similarly hybrid look – one evoking the fun, creative spirit of the Abbi Jacobson-voiced lead Katie Mitchell, a young, aspiring filmmaker struggling to get along with her tech-phobic father Rick (Danny McBride). However, unlike the Lego Movies and Spider-verse, The Mitchells vs the Machines doesn’t have to worry about

Though the pandemic might be the only reason The Mitchells vs the Machines went to streaming rather than cinemas, it’s certainly convenient to be able to pause the exhilarating action from time to time to catch all of the clever visual flourishes and sight gags too easy to miss otherwise. A certain popular ‘90s toy (no, not the Tamagotchi) is even reinvented in brilliantly creepy fashion. This tone of shameless silliness also surfaces in the top-notch dialogue. “It’s almost like stealing people’s data and giving it to a hyper-intelligent AI as part of an unregulated tech monopoly was a bad thing,” Bowman laments in one example of the script’s amusingly knowing references. However, The Mitchells vs the Machines isn’t interested in relentlessly preaching any trite, over-simplistic “stop looking at your phone” message. Instead, it embraces the online world in its beautiful weirdness, as Katie and her father find common ground in their increasingly nuanced views of both that world and the “real” one. The crux of the problem, this turn of events shows us, isn’t really the technology itself but instead how we use it – a heartwarming message that feels especially resonant in our pandemic age.

Craig Lenaghan Copywriter

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Darlington Monthly June 21