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REVIEW: Darlington Operatic Society Presents West Side Story

One word to describe last night’s production: Mesmerising!  

I was very lucky to be invited along to the opening night of Darlington Operatic Society’s version of West Side Story at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium in Yarm. Set in 1950s New York, the musical is based on Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ where two members from rival gangs; The Sharks and The Jets fall in love with each other. However the course to true love never did run smooth (That’s my second Shakespeare ref I managed to get in! - Woo!) and the lovers find themselves torn between true love and loyalty to their respective gangs.

The production explored many themes which are still relevant today; including issues regarding race and class and of course, violence. And although the production mainly deals with conflict, it is jam packed full of singalong numbers such as ‘America’ and ‘I Feel Pretty’ and amazing dance routines. At times, the choreography was nothing more than stunning, as the cast performed delicate ballet routines alongside high-energy numbers. If any of the cast members fancy giving me a dance lesson or two, I will gladly take then up on that offer!

A cast member who particularly stood out for me was Rhiannon Walker who played ‘Maria’ - my god, that lady can sing, if you go and see it you will know what I mean and will be taken back by her stunning voice! I also loved ‘the sassy’ portrayal of Anita by Karen Stone, who could have quite easily have stepped from 1950s downtown New York. Neil Harland, who played the male lead character, Tony also particularly stood-out as he showcased his high level of acting and vocal ability.

Credit where credit is due has to go to live orchestra which is headed by Nigel Ball, who also give the audience an outstanding performance. It was the that good, that I often had to keep reminding myself that people where playing this music live and it wasn’t pre-recorded.

The bar for both the scenery and costumes was set pretty high too, with the transition between each scene going very smoothly. And whoever selected those beautiful vintage dresses, you clearly have amazing style; I wanted to immediately run home, try one on and swish around my front room!

After seeing this performance of West Side Story, it has inspired me to actively follow Darlington Operative Society’s future productions and I think I will 100% per cent become one of the Society’s friends. (I just want to part of their cool gang!)

West Side Story runs until this Saturday 8th April at The Princess Alexandra Auditorium. For tickets and further info, please visit the TicketSource website or by calling 01325 244 659.

[visualdarlington]

Darlospotting

I’ve been without a l̷a̷p̷t̷o̷p̷ for a while as mine has been away to a faraway land (Poland in fact) to get fixed by HP. Its left me neglecting my blog but now it’s back, I want to change that! 

Feeling inspired by Trainspotting II recently, I thought I was would try and create the famous monologue for Darlington! So here goes nothing...

‘Choose Darlo, Choose waiting for a friend under the town clock, Choose shopping in the Cornmill, Choose spotting the brick train after a long journey Choose dancing the night away in Avalon, Seen or Harveys Choose the post-night out parmo from Best Kebab 1 or Best Kebab 2  Choose browsing in Binns Choose supporting your team at Blackwell Meadows  Choose reading The Northern Echo  Choose listening to Star Radio  Choose swimming, running, breaking a sweat in the Dolphin Centre Choose entertainment at the New Hippodrome Choose Quaker & railway rich history  Choose food at Feethams  Choose getting away from it all at Bank Top CHOOSE DARLO’ 

[visualdarlington]

Darlo Merrily On High: 5 Ways You Can Get Your Christmas On!

So this post won’t include any references to t̶o̶y̶s̶,̶ ̶t̶i̶n̶s̶e̶l̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶u̶r̶k̶e̶y̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶r̶i̶m̶m̶i̶n̶g̶s̶.̶ ̶Okay it may mention food once or twice. 

Instead, it aims to educate, excite & (hopefully!) entertain you about how you can get your Christmas on in D-town!  

So lets dive in...

1) Late Night Shopping Apart from being Friday eve, Thursdays have never been that exciting until now! The good people at Distinct Darlington have launched ‘Late Night Shopping’ each Thursday until 7pm, making it a lot easier to pick up your Chrimbo pressies, especially for us 9-5ers! If you’re looking for something a little different & want to support a local trader, pop into Maison Royale, their homewares & gifts are to die for! While you’re in town; why not treat yourself to a bite to eat. A lot of the restaurants will be putting on special Christmas menus, I have noticed The Keys have just launched their Winter Menu - All I am saying is pigs in blankets, anyone?  

2) Lights Switch On  Get your festive period off with a bang (quite literally, there is a fireworks display!) at this year’’s Christmas Lights Switch On event. Taking place on Thursday 24th November, with live entertainment from 5pm, the event is guaranteed to get you into the festive spirit! Plus it’s free too, which is always good for the purse-strings on the lead up to Christmas! 3) Only Fools & Three Courses Christmas Gala If you’re looking for a Christmas event with a difference, the Only Fools & Three Courses Christmas Gala could be for you! Combining fine dining with live actors, this event takes place at Joe’s Bar on the 15th December. Here’s hoping that no one falls through the bar like Del Boy! 

4) Spiegeltent I’m glad I don’t have to say this event out-loud, as I still struggle to pronounce it. However enough about my pronunciation skills (or lack of them), the Spiegeltent is set to transport shoppers to a world of spectacle and mystery; where the glamour of the Moulin Rouge meets the bustle of the fairground, to a backdrop of mirrors and velvet, music and laughter. The Spiegeltent will also be host to the ‘Festive Folktown’ on December 2nd which will be a mixture of tender vocals, roosty rhythms and stringed soundscapes. 

5) Ordinary Affair’s Christmas Special! Okay, there is no denying that I absolutely love Ordinary Affair, they are definitely up there as one of my favourite local acts after they played a blinder at Oxjam! If you’re a fan of them too, you’ll be pleased to know that the lads will be bringing their energetic mod show to The Forum on the 21st December. The lads will also be backed by Evidence Based & The Norgaards with tickets costing just £3; just how good is that?! Merry Chrimbo!

Got a suggestion for the list? Get in touch via the usual channels! 

[visualdarlington]

Jammin’ Thoughts.... It’s now been a whole week since the Oxjam Darlo takeover. And I’ve pretty much spent the last week in some withdrawn state wondering what the hell to do with myself since it’s been such a large part of my life!  Anyway, we finally announced our fundraising total for last Sunday, a staggering £4224.58 was raised! Just W O W - how amazing in this town? - I love it! 

Again, thank you so much from the whole of the Oxjam team for attending, being one of our acts, allowing us to use your venue, volunteering your time & being a local business who helped us out! We literally couldn’t do it without you. 

Anyway here is my observations of the day...

Rain Doesn’t Dampen Our Spirits  The weather last Sunday was bloody awful. There is no getting away from the fact that it was a dark, cold, wet Sunday night in October. I’m not doing to lie, I did have some initial doubts when setting up the venues earlier in the day (especially when rain was literally dropping off my fringe!) that the whole event was going to be washout. However the whole of Darlo proved me wrong; what an amazing turnout, I was completely overwhelmed with the sheer volume of people who came out to support the event. I definitely think a highlight (and when I eventually relaxed!) was seeing the whole of Avalon jam-packed full of people singing along to Ocean Colour Scene’s ‘The Day We Caught The Train’ performed by the wonderful, Ordinary Affair made me realise just how successful the day was! 

Our Oxfam Shop Rocks  You may find this hard to believe, but some of the Oxjam takeovers across the country don’t work alongside their local Oxfam shop. That’s why at Oxjam Darlo, we are extremely lucky to work alongside such a supportive shop! On the day of the takeover, the shop acts as our base for people to collect tickets, info and for the event volunteers to gather. The festival literally couldn’t take place without this amazing team of people and to top it off they even dressed up as KISS on the day to inject some humour into the event! The Oxfam Darlington team also helped us with our advertising efforts beforehand; by doing a cracking job of promoting the festival, not to mention creating a pretty impressive window display before the main takeover event - you all rock!

We’re A Pretty Talented Bunch I am certainly not talking about myself in this point but the amazing local acts who performed at the takeover. ‘cause my god, there is so much talent in this town, I am only gutted I didn’t manage to get around more stages as I heard some really good feedback! I did manage to pop my head into The Keys which was hosting our ‘hip hop’ stage and was totally taken back by the performances! Hip hop is not my usual bag but I was totally amazed by the sheer creativity on display and found it hard to tear myself away. Again, a massive thank you to all the acts who took time out to perform for us, we loved having you. 

Kindness Is At The Heart Of Our Community Of course, Oxjam Darlo takes place so we can raise vital funds for Oxfam to enable them to help those most in need in the UK and overseas. The profit from your ticket sales go straight the cause, however I couldn’t believe the amount of people who also very kindly popped some change into our fundraising buckets and purchase our Jammin’ Ale (I heard the Quakerhouse literally sold out within a hour or two!) I was also completely overwhelmed by the amount of people who were coming up to members of the Oxjam team thanking us for putting on the event, the kindness was off the scale! Thank you so much Darlo, you’ve helped us raise an amazing amount for Oxfam!  The main Oxjam Darlo Takeover will be back in October 2018, keep an eye out on the festival’s social media for details of smaller fundraising events during 2017!  

[visualdarlington]

4 Reasons To Get Your V-O-L-U-N-T-E-E-R-I-N-G On At Oxjam Darlo! The 23rd October sees Oxjam Darlo hold their third Takeover. The music festival plans to be bigger and better than ever and showcases homegrown talent across Darlington. All profits raised for the festival are donated directly to Oxfam which helps thousands of people across the World.  The festival couldn’t take place if it wasn’t for kind local people giving up their time. If your thinking about sparing some time for the cause, take a look at the 4 good reasons why you should... 

1) A Freebie Wristband Will Be All Yours That’s right, by giving Oxjam Darlo a helping hand, in return you will receive a free wristband to the enjoy the rest of the festival as a way to say thanks! With 11 venues and over 50 acts taking back, it’s basically a free night - just how good is that? 

2) You Can Feel Pretty Dam Smug Want to feel that warm, fuzzy feeling inside? You can! - All profits raised for the festival are donate directly to Oxfam to help those most need in the UK and overseas. All venues, bands and the organisation team give up their time for the cause. For instance, the charity has most recently helped victims of Hurricane Matthew to have access to clean water. To learn more about Oxfam’s vital work, please visit their website.

3) Your CV With Look Crackin’  Employers will literally snap your hand off when they spot you have done some voluntary work for Oxjam Darlo. Of course, any voluntary work is valuable but when you volunteer at Oxjam Darlo, you can boost your communication, team work and problem solving skills; not to mention helping to raise some vital funds for charity! 

4) You’ll Strike Up A Friendship To Last A Lifetime None of Oxjam Darlo’s volunteers work alone during the festival, you will be paired up with an equally enthusiastic partner while you do your stint. And who knows, you may just strike up a friendship for life which is fuelled by your love of good music & a good cause! Now that’s what I call #friendshipgoals  Want to be part of Oxjam Darlo’s success story? If you can spare a hour or two on October 23 to help a good cause and be part of an amazing day of live music, get in touch with the team here. 

[visualdarlington]

3 Places You Can Get A Tasty Mojito In Darlington  🍸

Okay, I’m kinda addicted to mojitos at the moment, not in a ‘I need one to get out of bed’ way but they are certainly my go to cocktail. 

But what makes a good mojito? - Plenty of rum? A dash of mint? A squeeze of lime juice? A spoonful of sugar? A good helping of soda water? And not to mention it should be ice cold! 

Of course there is no particular way a mojito should be madem but in Darlington we are pretty lucky to have some fine establishments who have managed to ace this drink! I’ve selected three of my favourite places to head for a tipple or two...

Houndgate Townhouse This lovely boutique hotel has a fine cocktail menu (the Elderburg is beyond lush!) however their mojito is one of finest up there! Not sure how they do it, but always manage to pop the right amount of sugar in there! They even offer a ‘Victorian Mojito’ which features Hendricks for all you gin lovers out there. Or if you don’t fancy the alcoholic version, they do a cracking non-alcoholic version called the ‘Nojito’ which tastes just as good as the real thing!  Al Forno Italian  Head on down to Al Forno’s very own cellar bar to sample some of the finest cocktails, prosecco and boutique beers! I particularly love the mojito because it comes served in a very cool tin can! Also if you pay them a visit between Sunday - Thursday, you can get 2 cocktails for a tenner - how’s that for a bargain?  Hole In The Wall  Each Friday and Saturday night, the HITW open up their spare room & invites you to sample some of their best alcoholic mixtures. Of course they offer the standard mojito alongside some alternatively versions,  I’m personally am a huge fan of the blueberry mojito! Plus you get a pretty large glass full of the stuff to quench your thirst.  By the way if you are wondering where you can sample the tasty number above, this is something which I knocked up earlier at Chateau Wakes! 

Got a favourite place to head for a cocktail in Darlington? Let me know via the usual channels!  

[visualdarlington]

Get Your Vintage Fix In Darlington!

Yesterday I headed out, got up close and personal with some vintage vehicles and I browsed vinyl records where I also landed myself an original 1960s dress. No, I wasn’t in a big city, I was in fact in Darlington. 

If you want to get your vintage fix in Darlington, take a look at my handy guide below...

Records. The photo above was taken at Retro Replay on Northgate and it just showcases the many records which they have on offer; and at a responsible price too! I’ve got a confession, up until yesterday, I didn’t realise this downstairs basement (or treasure cave) existed! I’ve been in the shop previously and purchased some vintage clobber but never seen so many records in one place. I admit it, I was in heaven and even managed to purchase an original 45 from 1963! If like me you’re a vinyl junkie, make sure you head underground at Retro Replay. 

Clobber.  If you’re into vintage fashion, you might frequently find yourself wandering around charity shops. However in my humble opinion, Darlington’s Oxfam shop on Skinnergate is best the place to go if you’re a retro fashionista. They have a dedicated vintage section where I have already picked up a number of original 60s dresses and shirts. Also keep your eye out on their accessories section; they sometimes stock some very vintage looking scarfs and bags! Plus did you know that Darlington’s Oxfam shop is the biggest in the UK? That means there is lots of opportunity to pick up a vintage bargain!  Goodies. Guru Boutique has long been the place to go if you’re after some alternative goodies. Whether you are after some homeware, a gift for someone special or simply a treat for yourself, take a trip to Guru and purchase something a bit different. Also make sure you take a visit to their ‘Flea Pit’ there are some one off gems in there that you may just fall in love with! 

Dancing. Once you have kitted yourself out with the latest hip happening clobber, head along to The Forum Music Centre for their regular Northern Soul nights. If you’re not quite into your Northern Soul, they often have some fantastic tribute acts playing. For instance, they have recently had a Bowie and Who tribute (it’s not the same person!) who performed to sellout crowds! To keep up-to-date with the latest events at The Forum, visit their website here.  Eat. With all that dancing, you must be a little hungry and thirsty, I can recommend that you stop off at vintage tearoom, Mrs Palmer’s Pantry. It’s a little gem I discovered when I got off the beaten track and took at little walk up Clarks Yard. They offer snacks, cakes and afternoon tea in the most beautiful setting. Plus they do the BEST macaroons around; don’t just take my word for it though, head there yourself! 

Cars. I love any opportunity to get up close and personal with vintage vehicles (a Ford Anglia is my favourite!) The Head of Steam’s Vintage Rally which takes place every year is the perfect opportunity to go vintage car spotting. For just £1 you can view vehicles for as far as your eyes can see, plus you’ll gain entry into the museum; in my opinion it doesn’t get any better than that! Also keep an eye out for events at Croft, as they often hold ‘throwback weekends’ for every era! 

Got a vintage gem you’d like to add? Simply drop me a message!

[visualdarlington]

4 Events You MUST Attend This Autumn 🍁

Like the rest of the UK, I can’t quite believe this week is the start of September. That’s right, we officially wave goodbye to Summer and say hello to Autumn. But hopefully, we can still remain friends with the good weather. 

However, just because the nights are drawing in and we’re on the downhill stretch to Christmas, doesn’t mean we have to stay at home and hibernate. There are still lots of great events happening in Darlington during Autumn, I’ve compiled a list below of some of the best of them!

Classic Car Show The lovely people over at Distinct Darlington have organised this free event on Saturday 3rd September, which will showcase some of the best vintage vehicles around! Based at various points in Darlington town centre, visitors can expect to be transported back in time and get up close and personal with some of the vehicles. You can also expect to be entertained by local music and fed and watered by the Hole in the Wall.  To find out more about the event, visit the following link.

Hippodrome Hard Hat Tour The Darlington Civic Theatre is currently under construction before it reopens as the Hippodrome in Autumn 2017. These tours are a chance for you to see the process of the transformation so far including the heritage restoration works. Please note all these tours are currently fully booked, further tour dates will be released soon. To find out more about the event, visit the following link.

Gary Delaney  The popular Hilarity Bites Comedy Club presents Gary Delaney this October at Seen in Darlington. As a regular on TV panel show, Mock the Week; Gary returns to Darlo with his latest show ‘There’s Something About Gary’ where he will be delivering a hell of a lot of  short & punchy jokes. Tickets are priced at just £11 and will include a support act.  To find out more about the event, visit the following link.

Oxjam Darlo Takeover  I couldn’t write a post about ‘autumn events’ without including my beloved Oxjam Darlo. If you haven’t heard about it, Oxjam Darlo is one day music festival which showcases the best in local music while donating all funds to the vital work of Oxfam. This year is going to be bigger and better than ever as the festival takes place across 10 town centre venues on October 23rd. If you fancy a day full to the brim of live music while doing your bit for charity, make sure you attend Oxjam Darlo this October.  To find out more about the event, visit the following link.

Keep up-to-date with further events and info by visiting whatsondarlo.co.uk 

[visualdarlington]

Missing The Civic? Head This Way...

I’ve been feeling a little guilty as I haven’t had the opportunity to write a blog post lately. I know it’s pretty silly to feel guilty about this as I’m not answering to anybody but I guess there is a strange pressure to keep the posts a-coming. 

Anyway, I’ve been missing attending some of fabulous productions that grace (no pun intended!) the Darlington Civic Theatre. It got me thinking about the other options which we have the region. 

If like me, you’ve been missing your fix of the Civic, I’ve compiled some options of other productions your can see before the new Hippodrome reopens next year...

Sunny Afternoon // Sunderland Empire // 4th - 8th October  One of the largest venues in the North East, the Sunderland Empire was first built in 1907 and cant cater for West End shows. This Olivier Award winning musical heads to the Empire this October and features the story of how The Kinds rose to fame. Featuring smash hits, Your Really Got Me, Lola and Waterloo Sunset it’s guaranteed to have you swinging in the stalls.  For more info and to purchase tickets, please click here. 

All Or Nothing // Billingham Forum // 10th - 12th November Jump on your Vespa and head to All or Nothing at The Billingham Forum this November. The musical focuses on the mod culture of the 1960s and features some of the best hits of The Small Faces. It has already received raved reviews and is guaranteed to give you an insight of one of the biggest youth cultures Britain has even seen.  For more info and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Nine To Five // Grand Opera House, York // 9th - 17th September Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living...this hilarious comedy transports the audience back to the 1970s and centres on three office workers who look to turn the tables on their sexist boss. From the produce of Hairspray, Ghost and Sister Act; it’s guaranteed to be a musical hit!  For more info and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Jabberwocky Market // Darlington // 29th Sept - 3rd Oct On a finally note, don’t forget that Darlington’s very own theatre festival is back this autumn. If you haven’t attended the Jabberwocky Market before you are certainly in for a surprise! You can expect to see the most unusual shows in the most unusual venues! Full line-up of the festival will be shared soon! For more info about the festival, please click here.

[visualdarlington]

5 Things You Know If You Live In Darlington

1) The Town Clock Is The Centre Of The Universe Our very own Big Ben and a beauty at that! First built in 1864, Darlington’s most loved building was once objected to as people feared it would be an ‘eyesore.’ Of course, times have now changed and the clock really has become an icon for the town. Also how many times have you told a friend that you’ll meet them under the town clock? I bet it’s seen (and heard!) a lot of things in its time! 

2) You Probably Quite Like Trains In 1825, a little engine called Locomotion One took to the tracks and made history as being the world’s first passenger railway. The town has also been significant for railway manufacturing as well, ‘Hopetown Carriage Works’ and ‘North Road Shops’ are well known manufacturers in the town. And because of our rich heritage, you’ll probably be a little bit of a lover of the railways and feel a huge sense of pride whenever you take a visit to the Head of Steam. 

3) Parmos Are The Foods Of The Gods Chicken breast + breadcrumbs + bechamel sauce + cheese = Parmo goodness. Whether you like one after a few lemonades or enjoy a cheeky takeaway after a hard day at work, you can’t define the sheer comfort you’ll have from eating one. Also if you fancy going a bit more upmarket, there are many restaurants which can offer a ‘posh parmo’ I highly recommend Al-Forno’s version of the Teesside Classic. 

4) There Is 100% Chance You’ve Seen The Chuckle Brothers in Panto In Darlington, we are so lucky to have such a wonderful theatre, The Civic (The Hippodrome to-be) which puts on some spectacular productions. Each year kids and big kids alike are treated to the Christmas panto. And if you have ever been to one of these shows, I can guarantee you have probably seen a Chuckle Brother or two. 

5) You Know You’re Near Home Upon A Brick Train Sighting Okay, this is my second point relating trains in this post, but we are in the home of the railways after all! After a long journey ‘down sarf’ there is no greater sight than spotting the famous brick train on the side of the road as it means you’re just around the corner from home. The sculpture was built in 1997 from a staggering 185,000 bricks and commemorates the town’s contribution to the railways. 

If you have any further additions which you would like to add to this list, please let me know! 

[visualdarlington]

I Love It (Yeah Yeah) Let It Be @ The Darlington Civic Theatre

The Fab Four brought hysteria to the Darlington Civic Theatre as 'Let It Be' burst onto stage last night. And for me, it was quite possibly most fun I've ever had on a Monday evening as I enjoyed jumping knee deep into Beatlemania.

The musical rattles through more than 40 songs from The Beatles' back catalogue and the show really lets the music speak for itself. And you will constantly catch yourself singing your heart out to all their top hit throughout the show.

The Beatles themselves were made up of four established musicians including Paul Canning who really shone as Lennon; not only did he get John's mannerisms and voice bang on, he was completely spitting dabs of him. Stuart Wilkinson really captured the lovable nature of Ringo and injected some well received humour into the show.

Some particular stunning performances came from Ian B Garcia who portrayed Paul McCartney as he took to the stage to perform 'Yesterday' and 'Blackbird' acoustically. Paul Mannion's George Harrison also stepped into Eric Clapton's shoes perfectly as he performed a full on rock 'n' roll version of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps.'

The musical remained fresh throughout by the constant costume changes  to reflect the ever changing style of The Beatles. The different attire also highlighted what The Beatles managed to achieve in little under 10 years together.

The production was also out of this world, full of dreamy graphics accompanied by swinging 60s black and white archive footage. The musical also features two very cool Bakelite TV screens which further transported the audience back to the 1960s.

Personally, I found it a breath of fresh air to hear we were allowed to take photos during the show and share them as much as possible on social media. As a marketer, I only wish other productions would allow audiences to do this as I'm certain it would generate further publicity. Good on you, 'Let It Be!'

I found the audience was made up of many different generations who came together to really 'twist and shout.' The singing continued as audience members spilled out of the auditorium generating a real buzz in the theatre.

On a finally note, if you're heading to the show, make sure you pick up a copy of the programme as it really is something special and is packed full of iconic British images. I'm looking to frame mine as it really is that good!

'Let It Be' runs until Saturday 14th May at the Darlington Civic Theatre, for tickets and further info, please visit their website or call the Box Office on 01325 486 555.

[visualdarlington]

3 Spring Events You MUST Attend In Darlington!

Ah, spring has finally sprung; light nights are here, daffodils have bloomed and newborn lambs are playing in the fields. I know, who am I kidding? Spring so far has mainly consisted of white stuff, that's right, ice and snow!

Although the weather maybe terrible, there is still plenty going on in Darlo, you may just need to take your coat with you...

Distinctly Delicious Darlington’s very own food festival is ran by the guys over at Distinct Darlington and takes place during the 14th - 15th May. The weekend celebrates the best  of local produce which includes live demonstrations from talented chefs, the chance to sample some yummy street food and tasting awards! Also look out for the Locomotion Cake Parade, there was some cracking designs in it last year!

Music Box Festival This one-day music festival takes place over three different venues on June 5th. Avalon, Hole in the Wall & Hash will play host to over 20 local artists who will be playing live throughout the day. Plus, it's an absolutely bargain to get in; £3 in advanced or a fiver on the door, tickets are available from all three venues.

Vintage Vehicle Rally The Head of Steam Railway Museum gears up for another Vintage Vehicle Rally at the end of May. Some of the most finest and unusual vintage vehicles from across the North East take part in the showcase. The £1 entry fee will also gain you entry into the museum, the chance to take part in arts & crafts activities and a ride on a mini railway!

[visualdarlington]

It’s Much Better Than English Lessons... Of Mice & Men @ The Darlington Civic Theatre 

If you’re like me, 'Of Mice and Men' will bring back firm memories of sitting an old classroom, studying hard for your GCSEs and at times feeling a tad on bored side; which is something this play certainly won't leave you feeling!

Brought to the Civic by the excellent Touring Consortium, who have previous produced 'Regeneration', 'A View From The Bridge' and my personal favourite, 'Brassed Off' also manage to bring this English Literature favourite alive!

Set in America during the Great Depression, the play focuses on the friendship between two farmworkers, George and Lennie and their journey to reach a better life where they will become ranch owners, not to mention having lots of rabbits to look after!

While polar opposites, the two main characters clearly have a very strong bond. George is mentally balanced and protective of his pal, while Lennie is hard working and has the lovable innocence of a child. William Rodell who plays George is nothing short of exceptional and maintains one hell of an American accent throughout, while Kristian Phillips equally manages to play the gentle giant, Lennie brilliantly.

As the play progresses, we are introduced to other ranch members including their manager, Curley and his 'promiscuous' wife, who later turns out to be troublesome for both George and Lennie.

However the real star of the play is Dudley Sutton as Candy, who is naturally very likeable. It was also lovely to see him joined on stage by his faithful old dog who is played by local 'pup star', Flint.

Another exceptional feature of this play is the set design by Liz Ascroft who cleverly portrayals rural America perfectly. Partnered with the live music performed by cast members, the audience are easily transported back to 1930s California.

As the play reaches it's climax, the audience are left shocked with a thrilling ending. And oh, if you’re a fan of popular TV series, Happy Valley, there is certainly a lot of parallels between the play and the show’s penultimate episode

Of Mice & Men runs until Saturday 19th March at the Darlington Civic Theatre, for tickets and further info, please visit their website or the Box Office. 

[visualdarlington]

Is it just me or does Darlington have some really cracking food establishments? 

It just dawned on me today as I enjoyed probably one of the best (and poshest!) steak sandwiches in Houndgate Town just how good the food is in Darlington! 

It’s no big secret that I try my best to shop local and avoid the chains especially when it comes to food. Recently, I’ve enjoyed some gorgeous grub in the Hole in the Wall, Hash and not to mention Houndgate Townhouse. 

Unlike the chains, these establishments have real character, they’re individual, quirky and seem to have a real passion for Darlington. Plus their food is really up there with some of the best around. I think ‘English food’ can sometimes get a bad rep, however everything I’ve tasted so far has been brimming with flavor! 

Their service is also top notch, each of these three restaurants offer a personal touch which makes you just want to come back for more. 

And most importantly for me as a marketeer, their branding, social media and general appearance is high quality making them even more attractive!  And it’s great to see local companies who recognise the importance of marketing when so many other companies don’t make the effort. 

And not to mention, the drinks of course are oh-so-good in all three of these fine establishments! 

Of course, these aren’t only the fab local restaurants in town, there are many more (far too many infact to mention!) which I look forward to revisiting! So next time you’re in town, get off the beaten track and ‘nom’ somewhere local...

[visualdarlington]

’Three Blind Mice, See How They Run...’ Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap @ Darlington Civic Theatre

Was it 'Mrs Ralston in the kitchen?’ or was it ‘Christopher Wren in the dinning room?' or could it even be ‘Major Metcalfe in the cellar?’ - The Mousetrap is definitely the stage version of the classic board game, Cludeo.

We are transported back to a freezing cold evening in the English countryside during the 1940s. A pair of inexperienced B&B owners await the arrival of their very first guests who each turn out to be pretty unique. The cat is put among the pigeons when the guesthouse receives a phonecall from a police office warning about a possible murder threat to those in the house. However is it linked to another murder which occurred the day before 30 miles away in London?

Enter Sargent Trotter who arrives at the B&B on a set of skis. He is there to provide ‘protection’ to the rest of guests but does he hide a dark secret himself? The Sargent is portrayed by local lad, Lewis Collier who earlier tweeted his delight of being back in the North East! Oliver Gully however pays my favourite character by far; the very eccentric and hilarious, Christopher Wren who turns out to have his own personal troubles. The rest of the cast is also superb and is headed by former Eastenders actress, Louise Jameson who is the very stubborn but hilarious, Mrs Boyle.

My only criticism of the production is it can be a  little slow going at times, especially in the first half as the audience is introduced to each character. However the play ramps up speed after the interval ensuring that there is plenty of twists and turns along the way!

Set Designers, ‘Rocket Scenery’ need to be commended for their excellent set design. The mixture of a roaring fire and snow falling down made me want to snuggle up in this cosy guesthouse. 

The Mousetrap is currently in it’s 60th year and this classic production has clocked up more than 25,000 performances since it begun, making it Christie’s most popular stage adaptation.

And oh, if you want to know who actually 'dunnit' you'll have to make a trip to the Darlington Civic...

The Mousetrap runs until Saturday 13th February at Darlington Civic Theatre. For tickets and further info, please visit their website.

[visualdarlington]

2015 Cultural Review Of The Year

At the end of last year I complied a list of my favourite cultural events in Darlington. To keep up with that tradition, this year I am doing exactly the same! In no particular order, I have selected 5 of my favourite arts events which took place in Darlington during the course of the year. Take a peak at my list below and let me know which event you loved in 2015...

Oxjam Darlo For me, 2015 was all about Oxjam Darlo as I popped on my Marketing Coordinator's hat to help make the festival even bigger and better! What really made Oxjam stand out for me (and totally worth all those hours of work!) was how much it united the whole community. Everyone came together to not only support local talent and venues but to also raise vital funds for those most in need across the world. It was also a pretty big thrill to see all those people rock up to event and have a bloody good time. If you're around in October 2016, make sure you pop along to Oxjam Darlo!

The Arts Showcase Back in May, the Arts Showcase took place in the Borough Road area of the town as part of Darlington Arts Festival. This one day event invited local artists, actors, dancers and musicians to showcase their talents. I was part of the team who helped organise the one day event and it was brilliant to see the Showcase develop from just an idea. The live performances throughout the day made the Arts Showcase feel like a mini festival and it was brilliant to hear visitors say they felt inspired to be more creative!

Vintage Vehicle Rally It's no big secret that I just LOVE anything vintage and I often feel like I was born far too late. Anyway, also in May, the Head of Steam Railway Museum hosted their Vintage Vehicle Rally. Which meant it was brilliant excuse to pop on my favourite 60s attire and get up close and personal with some retro cars. The museum itself was also chock-a-block with visitors taking in some of the town's rich railway history. To add to the event, there were several stalls inside displaying their vintage wares and I enjoyed chatting to the stall holders and hearing their stories of days gone by.

Return To The Forbidden Planet I am extremely lucky to experience some amazing productions at the Darlington Civic Theatre and granted, it was difficult to pinpoint a particular show to focus on. But back in March, 'Return to the Forbidden Planet' burst onto the stage. A mixture of rock & roll classics, verses from Shakespeare  and sci-fi action are the main ingredients that make up this production. A strange mix, but it brought pure joy to each and every audience member and  the cast gained a well deserved standing ovation. And oh, 'The Full Monty' at the Civic came a close second, very naughty but so so good!

Darlington Comedy Fest Each year, Darlington holds it's very own comedy festival thanks to the Hilarity Bites team. This year was no different and back in July I ventured to Inside Out to see a preview of Chris Ramsey's new show. The beauty of this festival means you can see high profile and up-and-coming acts alike for a fraction of the price of a normal comedy show, plus the opportunity to see new material before anyone else! The shows also take place in unusual venues, for instance at Crown Street Library or at the Head of Steam. So if you manage to catch a Hilarity Bites show this coming year, you certainly won't regret it!

[visualdarlington]

Photo Set: Newcastle Upon Tyne