Home

Empire Cinemas announces thrilling line-up of Empire Extra screenings for July, including:

·        English National Opera: Carmen (Live)

·        Andre Rieu’s 2015 Maastricht Concert

·        Royal Shakespeare Company Live 2015: The Merchant Of Venice

Empire Cinemas’ Empire Extra screenings continue this July with an electric line-up of live opera, music, feature films and theatre. Ranging from one of the world’s most popular live acts in Andre Rieu, to enticing opera screenings such as ENO: Carmen and ROH: Guillaume Tell (Live); July’s seven screenings offer Empire Cinemas’ customers a fantastic range of the arts on the big screen.

Every month, the innovative programme delivers the UK’s best theatre, feature films, music, arts and opera straight to the cinema screen, offering a wide range of exciting content for customers beyond the blockbuster.

Jon Nutton, Marketing Director of Empire Cinemas, said: “We are delighted to offer our customers seven eclectic Empire Extra screenings for July – one of our broadest months of opera, music, theatre and feature film offerings to date. The reception for our Empire Extra screenings this year has been superb and we look forward to hosting our customers for July’s excellent line-up.”

The following will be screened this July:

English National Opera: Carmen (Live)

Released 1^st July 2015

Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1yWwvUv

Set during the dying days of Franco’s Spain, Calixto Bieito’s acclaimed production of this must-see opera has been enjoyed by audiences across Europe. A passionate tale of lust, seduction and betrayal, no other opera boasts as popular a following as Bizet’s Carmen. Bizet’s dazzling score evokes all the sounds and sizzling atmosphere of Spain through some of the opera’s most famous melodies, from Carmen’s seductive ‘Habanera’ to the Toreadors’ stirring parade.

Amy[SO1] 

Released 3^rd July 2015

Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1KkxyR7

From BAFTA award-winning director Asif Kapadia (Senna), Amy tells the incredible story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse – in her own words. Featuring extensive unseen archive footage and previously unheard tracks, this strikingly modern, moving and vital film shines a light on the world we live in, in a way that very few can. A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy Winehouse was a musician that captured the world’s attention. Amy’s huge success resulted in relentless and invasive media attention which coupled with Amy’s troubled relationships and precarious lifestyle saw her life tragically begin to unravel.

Royal Opera House: Guillaume Tell (Live)

Released 5^th July 2015

Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1dqqFko

Rossini’s Guillaume Tell helped to lay the foundations of the genre of French grand opéra that dominated European stages throughout the mid-19th century. The opera’s theme is liberty, as exemplified in the struggle against Austrian occupation led by the Swiss archer and patriot Guillaume Tell. Rossini’s score is one of his most outstanding, and packed with glorious arias, choruses and ensembles. The exciting young Italian director Damiano Michieletto makes his debut with what promises to be a spectacular and thought-provoking production.

Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead

Released 6^th July 2015

Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1B14Tcv

This epic event broadcast from Soldier Field in Chicago will take place nearly 20 years to the day of the last Grateful Dead concert with Jerry Garcia. The four original members — Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir — will be joined by renowned musicians Trey Anastasio (Phish and the Trey Anastasio Band), Jeff Chimenti (RatDog, The Dead and Furthur), and multiple GRAMMY®-winner Bruce Hornsby. For one night only, this final concert will be broadcast via satellite worldwide and will be the last time the band will ever play together. The concerts received an overwhelming fan response with more than 500,000 ticket requests received.

NT Live: Everyman

Released 16^th July 2015

Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1JyZCkJ

BAFTA winner and Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) takes the title role in this dynamic new production of one of English drama’s oldest plays, directed by the National Theatre’s new Director Rufus Norris (Broken, London Road). Everyman is successful, popular and riding high when Death comes calling. He is forced to abandon the life he has built and embark on a last, frantic search to recruit a friend, anyone, to speak in his defence. But Death is close behind, and time is running out. A cornerstone of English drama since the 15th century, it now explodes onto the stage in a startling production with words by Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate, and movement by Javier De Frutos.

Andre Rieu’s 2015 Maastricht Concert

Released 18^th July 2015

Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1MqnN3u

Affectionately known as ‘The King of Waltz’, André performs every year in front of thousands of fans set amongst the beautiful medieval backdrop of his beautiful home town of Maastricht, in The Netherlands. The Maastricht concerts are André’s most popular concerts of the year with his most dedicated fans flying from all over the world to see this incredible event live and 2015 is shaping up to be his biggest and most spectacular concert ever to be screened in Empire Cinemas. One of the most popular live acts in the world, André will be working his magic to present an unforgettable evening full of humour, music and emotion for every age.

Royal Shakespeare Company Live 2015: The Merchant of Venice

Released 22^nd July 2015

Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1F47hzE

In the melting pot of Venice, trade is God. With its ships plying the globe, the city opens its arms to all, as long as they come prepared to do business and there is profit to be made. With the gold flowing all is well, but when a contract between Bassanio and Shylock is broken, simmering racial tensions boil over. A wronged father, and despised outsider, Shylock looks to exact the ultimate price for a deal sealed in blood. Polly Findlay (Arden of Faversham 2014) directs Shakespeare’s uncompromising tragedy[SO2] .

For further ticketing information visit www.EmpireCinemas.co.uk or call 08714 714 714.

The Railway Children

31st July – 5th September

The actors playing The Railway Children in York’s smash hit summer production have been announced.

Playing Bobby, Peter and Phyllis will be Rozzi Nicholson Lailey, Izaak Cainer and Beth Lily. Andrina Carroll will be playing their mother, having played the role when the show premiered in 2008 and was reprised in 2009 after sell-out success. Other actors returning to the much-loved show include Rob Angell playing the famous father, Jacqueline Naylor as Mrs Viney who looks after the family when they move to Yorkshire, and Elianne Bryne as Mrs Perks. As has already been announced, they will be joined by panto favourites Martin Barrass as Mr Perks and Berwick Kaler in the cameo role of the Old Gentleman.

Izaak Cainer is originally from York. He trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.His theatre credits include Pirates on Parade (Theatre Royal Brighton), Frank Sent Me (Theatre 503 and Edinburgh Fringe) , 24 Hour plays (The Old Vic), The Upstanding Member (The Old Red Lion) and On The Shore of the Wide World, at York Theatre Royal. He said of being cast:

I’m delighted to be returning to York and working with my hometown theatre. I grew up watching plays at York Theatre Royal and used to go to the panto every year with Berwick Kaler and Martin Barrass, so it’ll be great fun and a little surreal to be sharing a stage with them. I’m looking forward to spending the summer with old friends and family and I have lots of little nephews who can’t wait to see it, though I suspect they may be more excited about the steam train than watching me perform.

Rozzi will be playing Bobby, who launches the show by reminiscing about how her and her siblings became The Railway Children. Currently studying an MA in Acting at Guildhall School of Music and Drama having completed a degree at Cambridge University, Rozzi toured the USA as Isabella in a Cambridge university production of Measure for measure in 2013.

Playing Phillis, the youngest of the three children, is Beth Lilly. Most recently Beth has been on TV Screens as Edna in the ITV series Grantchester. She trained at Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts and her theatre credits include The Ladybird and Aunt Spiker in James and the Giant Peach for Simply Theatre, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Cambridge Theatre Festival, and Silvia in Two Gentleman of Verona, also for the Cambridge Theatre Festival.

Reprising her role as Mrs Perks alongside Martin Barrass will be Elianne Bryne. Elianne trained at Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre. Since last playing the role in 2009 Elianne has had two railway children of her own

They are very excited about seeing the show

Said Elianne. Other theatre credits include Through The Leaves of a Green Tree for Glossolalia Theatre Company, Danny Champion of the World at Bolton Octogan and Last Night for Real Life Theatre. TV and film credits include BBC’s Doctors, Hollyoaks, Ideal, North and South and four series’ of Where the Heart Is.

The Railway Children tells the story of how the comfortable lives of three Edwardian children, Bobby, Peter and Phyllis are shattered when their father is arrested on suspicion of betraying state secrets. The children and their mother move from London to a modest cottage near a railway in the Yorkshire countryside. New friendships, adventures and terrifying dangers await. But the mystery remains – where is father, and is he ever coming back?

Rob Angell will be playing the father as well as the doctor and railway man, returning to the production having played the same characters in 2008 and 2009. Audiences will also recognise Rob from his many roles in Yorkshire based Bad Apple Theatre Company’s work, most recently playing Isaac in Lights Out Landgirls.

Jacqueline Naylor recently worked for York Theatre Royal playing Mrs Badger in the 2014 production of the Wind in the Willows.

It will be the second time Barrass has played Mr Perks, originally donning Mr Perks’ cap back in 2009 when the production was brought back by popular demand after selling out and winning a Laurence Olivier Award the previous year.

For the first time, Berwick Kaler, better known as the UK’s Longest Serving Panto Dame and much loved by residents of York and beyond will be joining the production that York Theatre Royal has become famous for. The Old Gentleman is a cameo, but much loved, role. Berwick, whose early career included a role in the BBC smash hit Spender, alongside Jimmy Nail, as Detective Sergeant Dan Boyd, works with The Railway Children Director Damian Cruden each year co-directing the panto and said

The reason I have taken on this classic cameo role is to annoy Damian Cruden who wanted a professional actor to play the part. Even before rehearsals begin I have a shock for Cruden – I’ve already learnt my LINE!

The production’s popularity keeps soaring and Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of the famous novel also opened in Kings Cross, London at the end of last year, where it has recently received critical acclaim being described as “oozing charm” by The Stage and receiving countless four and five star reviews. It will return to its original home in July 2014 in the purpose built 1,000-seat Signal Box Theatre, complete with a railway track and platforms for the live 60-tonne steam locomotive from the original classic film.

Paul Kirkman, Director of the National Railway Museum said:

The Pannier Tank which featured in the Lionel Jeffries film was recently restored at our Shildon museum so it will be looking its best for this welcome home performance for The Railway Children, which originated right here at the National Railway Museum in York. This year will be bigger and better than ever as although it’s the third run of this internationally-acclaimed show, it’s the first time in a purpose-built theatre in our South Yard and the first time the Theatre has been resident with us. This adds a whole new layer to what we can offer our visitors this summer and really raises the bar for museums and the arts working collaboratively together.

Over 24,000 people saw the show in 2008 and demand for tickets was so high that the last three weeks of the show was completely sold out – meaning hundreds of people had to be

turned away. This resulted in the local press receiving several letters calling for the production to be re-staged, and their calls were answered the following year when York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum re-staged the show. It has since toured to Toronto, Canada and travelled to London Waterloo and Kings Cross.

Damian Cruden, Artistic Director of York Theatre Royal said

Now casting is complete I am looking forward to getting started on rehearsals. The success of The Railway Children has been phenomenal and in such a different year for York Theatre Royal it is brilliant to be bringing the production back to its original home.

The Railway Children opens at its original home at the National Railway Museum in York from 31 July 2015 until 5 Septemeber. The production, directed once again by York Theatre Royal’s Artistic Director Damian Cruden, will be part of the theatre’s residency at the museum during its £4.1 million re-development. The theatre’s Chief Executive, Liz Wilson commented:

Part of The Railway Children’s popularity is its ability to appeal to a wide audience, as previous sell–out runs in York, Waterloo and Toronto have proved. York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum are delighted to be bringing the production back.

Tickets are priced between £10 and £32.50 and can be bought by calling the Box Office on 01904 623568, securely online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or in person at York Theatre Royal’s new Box Office in De Grey Rooms on St Leonard’s Place.

A NIGHT OUT WITH THE BOYS

Voted the nation’s favourite play, Alan Bennett’s multi award-winning The History Boys will visit Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June as part of the current UK tour.

Winner of over 30 major awards including the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best New Play, The History Boys is the story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. Their maverick English teacher is at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher, whilst their headmaster is obsessed with results and league tables. Staffroom rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence overflow, provoking insistent questions about history and how you teach it. Their A Levels may be over, but their true education is only just beginning. Widely hailed as one of the greatest theatrical events of the last decade, The History Boys is a hilariously funny and exceptionally moving play about the true purpose of education.

The History Boys premiered at the National Theatre in 2004 directed by Nicholas Hytner, and helped launch the careers of many of its original cast members including James Corden and Dominic Cooper. It went on to open on Broadway in 2006, with a film adaptation featuring the original stage cast released later that year. The History Boys also had two successful West End runs, playing at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 2007 and 2008, and has won countless awards including the Oliver Award for Best New Play, Tony Award for Best Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play and Evening Standard Award for Best Play.

The History Boys is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June. Tickets* are priced £15.80 to £24

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy.

Woburn Abbey – 14 June 2015

The Sculpture Gallery at Woburn provided the excellent backdrop for A Touch of West End.  An evening of fine food and very fine musical entertainment.

Lead by the multi talented Amy Shackcloth, who acted as Musical Director and accompanied the singers on the magnificent piano.  We were presented with the superb sextet of Sabrina Aloueche, Matthew Cammelle, Olivia Brereton, Tim Morgan, Oliver Tompsett and Annette Yeo.

The show began with Wilkommen and Cabaret from Cabaret performed by the company followed by With a Little Help from my Friends performed by acapella with Amy joining in the singing.

We then had our first course of Terrine of Beetroot and Goats Cheese with chive dressing and ciabatta crostini and a summer sorbet.

Our performers then returned for more starting with Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific sung by the honey coated voice of Matthew Cammelle.  A rousing performance of Posh from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang heartily presented by Tim Morgan.  Annette Yeo gave us a superb rendition of Raindrops on Roses from The Sound of Music and Olivia Brereton gave us I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady.  Newcomer to the group Sabrina Aloueche duetted with Yeo on Memory from Cats and a stomping version of Oklahoma from Oklahoma performed by the whole company ended that set.

Our main course of Lock Duart Salmon Supreme with a Prawn and Tomato Dressing with rosti potatoes, corgette fritters and pea puree set us up for our next set piece

Beginning with Seasons of Love from Rent performed by the whole company although Sabrina Aloueche shone like a beacon with her voice reaching musical highs.  Some rock came next with the other new comer, Oliver Tompsett, reprising his Galileo and Aloueche recreating her Scaramouch to duet on Who Wants to Live Forever and I Want to Break Free both from the much missed Queen musical We Will Rock You.  Ending with the stirring company rendition of Anthem from Chess.

Dessert of Summer Pudding with raspberry coulis and clotted cream, coffee and fudge followed before the final show stopping performance

The entire company showed us how awesome they were with a medley of the classic Les Miserables – Do You Hear the People Sing, On My Own, Master of the House, A Heart Full of Love and One Day More.  And a final phenomenal encore of We Are The Champions from We Will Rock You.

The singers are all individually outstanding and harmonise together beautifully.  Its easy to see why these have a such a superior musical pedigree and highly successful West End careers.

In a perfect evening of food and entertainment it was a feast for all our senses.

A Touch of West End presented by Ginger Boy Productions appears twice a year at Woburn, make sure you don’t miss the next one

Stage Acts Entertainment’s smash hit tribute to one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time, An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show is coming to Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 23 June. Embarking upon it’s 5th Anniversary tour, the show is a fully choreographed, highly interactive celebration of the music from the iconic movie.

An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show is directed by Paul Spicer with choreography by Leanne Harwood and pays homage to the greatest movie soundtrack of all time. A high energy emotional roller-coaster of an evening with breathtaking choreography and buckets of nostalgia. The show includes the classic songs: Big Girls Don’t Cry, Hey Baby, Wipeout, Do You Love Me, Hungry Eyes and the Oscar-winning (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.

Paul Spicer said “The atmosphere is always electric. We totally encourage our audiences to sing and dance and immerse themselves in the summer of ’63. I watch people leave the theatre on a real high. I’ve seen people burst into tears of happiness! This is a multi-award winning soundtrack steeped in nostalgia. I challenge anyone to come along and not have a fantastic time.” Please note this production is not affiliated with Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage on tour in the UK or worldwide.

An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show is at Darlington Civic Theatre on Tuesday 23 June. Tickets* are priced £18.50 and £20.50 To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

Leeds Grand Theatre has announced that Pixie Lott will star as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s in April  next year.

Based on Truman Capote’s beloved masterwork, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is set in New York in 1943. Fred, a young writer from Louisiana, meets Holly Golightly, a charming, vivacious and utterly elusive good-time girl.  Everyone falls in love with Holly – including Fred.  But Fred is poor, and Holly’s other suitors include a playboy millionaire and the future president of Brazil.  As war rages on in Europe, Holly begins to fall in love with Fred – just as her past catches up with her.

Pixie Lott said, “I am so excited to play Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s in my first West End play. I absolutely love Holly’s style, and free spirit; she has always been an icon to me and I can’t wait to bring my own personality to the role. Alongside music, I’ve always wanted to be in a play, and getting the opportunity to be in one of my all-time favourites and play this fabulous character is a dream come true.”

Truman Capote’s classic tale was brought to life by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film and now the novella has been adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize-winning Finalist and Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain), and contains memorable songs from the era as well as original music by Grant Olding (One Man, Two Guvnors).

“The goal of this version is to return to the original setting of the novella, which is the New York of the Second World War, as well as to resume its tone – still stylish and romantic, yes, but rougher-edged and more candid than people generally remember,” writer Richard Greenberg explained. “Capote was a great writer and a natural maker of plots and Breakfast at Tiffany’s has a drive that makes it very alluring to dramatise.”

Breakfast at Tiffany’s starring Pixie Lott is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 4^th to Saturday 9^th April 2016

Tickets are on sale now priced from £18.50 to £37

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

Is there life on Mars?

Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 June, 7.30pm
Red is the New Blue
Created and performed by Live Lab Associate Artists Rowan McCabe, Matt Miller and Matilda Neill
Presented as part of Live Theatre’s Live Lab programme

On Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 June at 7.30pm Live Theatre will be presenting Red is the New Blue an out of this world show that has been created as part of Live Theatre’s Live Lab programme, which aims to develop new talent and give theatre makers a forum to try out new material and gain insightful feedback.

Set in 2029 Red is the New Blue follows the antics of three ordinary people who are sent to Mars, by Stargaze Incorporated, for a reality TV show like no other. The crew are left alone, abandoned on Mars forever, and it doesn’t take long before the cracks begin to show. The production has been created and will be performed by three emerging theatre makers who have all been awarded Live Lab Associate Artist status. These are spoken word artists Rowan McCabe, Matt Miller and Matilda Neill (who is also one of the members of Live Theatre’s all female sketch group Your Aunt Fanny).

In January 2015, Live Theatre re-launched its Live Lab programme creating more opportunities for budding writers, theatre makers and audience members to get involved. As part of this re-launch Live Lab announced their new Live Lab Associate Artists scheme. The inaugural Live Lab Associate Artists include the three spoken word artists involved in Red is the New Blue and theatre director Anna Ryder, who recently co-directed Rendezvous with Clive Judd at Live Theatre.

The Live Lab Associate Artists receive mentorship from Live Theatre’s literary team as well as career support and talent development.

As Gez Casey, Live Theatre’s literary manager, explains:

“Following the successful Live Lab re-launch earlier in the year, we’re delighted that the collaborative project with three of our Live Lab Associate Artists is going to premiere in the Studio Theatre this June.”

This is the first time that Rowan, Matt and Matilda have worked together to create a show.

Matt Miller said:

“Red is the New Blue initially took the upcoming Mars One space mission as an impetus and asks questions like ‘Why would anybody want to go to Mars forever?’ and ‘What would happen to those individuals? What about our society? Will our voyeurism be fulfilled?’ as well as ‘What actually is there to do on a spaceship?’ It has poignancy. It has poetry. It has tongue in cheek humour. Cos when you’re going to Mars forever, really, you’ve got to be able to laugh about it, don’t you?”

The show fuses together theatre, spoken word and film elements and offers a funny, moving and thought-provoking night out whilst asking audiences what they would do if they found themselves stuck on Mars forever?

Tickets for Red is the New Blue costs £8 full price or £6 for concessions. To book tickets and to find out more visit www.live.org.uk or contact Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232.

Listings

Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 June, 7.30pm
Red is the New Blue

It’s 2029. Stargaze Incorporated send a crew of ordinary people to Mars for a reality TV show. And leave them there. For the rest of their lives. Forever. If they had known they would argue this much, they might not have bothered.

Red is the New Blue is devised and performed by Live Lab Associate Artists Rowan McCabe, Matilda Neill and Matt Miller. Fusing theatre and spoken word the show questions what happens when people become more isolated than anyone ever has before? What motivates a person to embark on a mission like this? And what happens to the loved ones who are left behind?

DATES: Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 June, 7.30pm
TICKETS: £8 full price, £6 concession
LOCATION: Studio Theatre
DURATION: Approx. 1hr 10mins
SUITABILITY: 16+

About Live Theatre

Live Theatre is recognised as one of the great new writing theatres on the international stage. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne it is also deeply rooted in its local community

Live Theatre produces work as varied and diverse as the audiences it engages with. As well as championing the art of writing for stage by producing and presenting new plays, Live Theatres uses theatre to unlock the potential of young people and finds, nurtures and trains creative talent. Through its creative enterprises it is also developing new models of business sustainability and growth.

Founded in 1973, the theatre was transformed in 2007.  The result is a beautifully restored and refurbished complex of five Grade II listed buildings with state-of-the-art facilities in a unique historical setting, including a cabaret style theatre, a studio theatre, renovated rehearsal rooms, a series of dedicated writer’s rooms as well as a thriving café and bar.

Live Theatre is a national leader in developing new strategies for increasing income and assets for the charity. New developmentLive Works joins The Broad Chare pub, online playwriting course www.beaplaywright.com and The Schoolhouse (an office space for creative and digital businesses), as one of Live Theatre’s capital and digital creative enterprises, increasing its future income through additional new unrestricted funds.

For more information see www.live.org.uk

Live Theatre is grateful for the support of Arts Council England and Newcastle City Council and its many other friends and supporters.

2015

28^TH –30^TH August 2015

Cumbria’s brightest and best music and arts festival, Solfest is back after a year’s sabbatical in 2014 with a new more compact and bijou approach. It’s the same old Solfest experience refreshed and revitalised. Some of the biggest names in folk and traditional music will take to the stage at the new, revamped Solfest this summer.

The Unthanks, Kathryn Tickell & The Side, The Sam Kelly Trio and Peatbog Faeries  and The Lancashire Hotpots are just a tiny sample of the dazzling array of artists appearing at Solfest 2015.

They will be joined by cult electronica ambient dance band Banco De Gaia. Also lined up are festival favourites and Solfest old hands including some of the best of the UK ‘s punk, roots, ska and singer-songwriter scenes including The Baghdaddies,  Pikey Beatz, The Skints, Bombskare, Young Rebel Set,Holy Moly And The Crackers, Emma And The Professor, Stark, The Talks, Bridie Jackson And The Arbour and of course many many more.

Also Solfest’s famed Love Shack and Electric Village will host the very best in dance, dub-step, trance, reggae, electronic and a whole range of experimental sounds with 8:58, DJ Templehead, RoomFull Of Mirrors,Radioactive Man (live), The Hobo (aka DJ TurtleWax), Age Of Glass, Werkha, Shocon, Silverclub, Gella,Projekt Dataline, Gemma Furbank and many many more.

As ever Solfest offers a dazzling array of entertainment across practically every musical genre. If you don’t hear something that you like move along to another venue and try another taste of the Solfest experience.

Multi-award-winning and Mercury Music Prize nominees The Unthanks are among the most highly-regarded of all traditional acts. Their reputation reaches far beyond the folk genre. Kathryn Tickell is the foremost exponent of the Northumbrian pipes, a composer, performer and successful recording artist whose work is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of Northumbria. Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sam Kelly was runner up in Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 but has gone on to make a name for himself in folk and roots music. He forged his links with the music through the Gaelic songs that his Irish grandfather taught him.Peatbog Fearies have built a reputation over two decades with their dazzling and hugely infectious fusion of Celtic traditional music and dance music bringing elements of jazz, hip hop and reggae to their musical table.The Lancashire Hotpots return to Solfest by popular demand with their wonderfully self-deprecating blend of folk rock comedy that lovingly pokes run at their own culture and the modern world.

The festival bounces back on a smaller scale and with a new, fresher attitude after taking last year off. Organisers wanted to “return to our roots” with a more intimate event, but retaining the key features that has made it so popular over the past eleven years.

Solfest marketing officer Tom Kay explains: “We  made a conscious decision to distance our festival from more commercial events, moving away from big headline names in order to put our resources into giving people the best festival experience over a full weekend rather than just a couple of hours each evening. As always we aim to keep prices down, avoiding hidden extras like over the top booking fees, extra charges for vehicles and camping.  We’ll still allow you to bring your own booze and still charge sensible prices at our bars, which means that you get a fantastic weekend without breaking the bank. This year’s Solfest will look and feel different, we’ve made some big decisions like, losing what was the main stage in favour of more venues offering an even wider range of music to tantalise your ears.  One big dance tent will become the all new Electric Village with a wider range of sounds to suit all tastes. We are looking forward to showcasing some exiting and interactive artworks around the site which has been redesigned for a totally new feel. Even Solfest regulars can have fun getting lost again.”

“Solfest is a festival run by festival goers, between us, we’ve seen it all, from huge events with hundreds of thousands of people to tiny first time parties with just a few hundred revellers. We like to think this gives us a unique insight into what makes a great festival tick.”

Solfest takes place at Tarns, near Aspatria, over the bank holiday weekend August 28-30.

Ticket prices range from £10 for children’s tickets to £110 for a full adult weekend.  For full details see our website

Tickets will be available to purchase right on our very own website www.solfest.org.uk

For more information, go to the Solfest Facebook page www.facebook.com/Solfest or www.solfest.org.uk

Award-winning soap star Charlie Hardwick is set to join the cast of the North East’s biggest panto, Dick Whittington at the Theatre Royal. Charlie joins Danny Adams, Clive Webb and Chris Hayward who have delighted Newcastle audiences for over a decade and broken box office records every year.

Following today’s announcement that she will be leaving Emmerdale, Charlie is delighted to confirm that she will be playing at Newcastle Theatre Royal for the panto season from Tuesday 24 November 2015 until Sunday 17 January 2016.

Charlie has been a regular on the ITV1 soap since 2004 and in that time she has proved a hit with soap fans and critics alike and was nominated six times for Best Comedy Performance at the British Soap Awards, an accolade she won in 2006.

Hailing from Newcastle, Charlie has also appeared in the films Purely Belter, Billy Elliot and The Scar (for which she won the Best Actress award at the Monte Carlo Film Awards). She also appeared in the UK tour of Cooking with Elvis alongside Frank Skinner and The Awkward Squad. Charlie will be starring as the Spirit of the Tyne, waving her magic wand and ensuring our hero, Dick Whittington, achieves fame and fortune!

Charlie joins Danny Adams and Clive Webb, who make their eleventh consecutive pantomime appearance at the Theatre Royal. With their much-loved and hilarious slapstick, physical comedy and slosh routines, audiences are guaranteed to be in stitches at the award-winning father and son duo. Danny plays the title role of Dick Whittington, while Clive plays Councillor Fitzfenwick.

Making his ninth appearance in Newcastle alongside Danny and Clive, Chris Hayward also returns, complete with his glittering array of costumes and wigs, all of which he designs himself. Playing the role of Dame Rita Fitzfenwick, Chris will provide all of the glamour and sparkle Newcastle theatregoers have come to expect from the North East’s premiere pantomime.

Dick Whittington also comes complete with spectacular special effects, once again provided by The Twins FX, the award-winning company behind previous years’ looping reindeer sleigh, flying helicopter and magic carpet. Audiences will also be delighted by the welcome return of amazing 3D special effects.

Charlie Hardwick said: “I’m really excited to be making my pantomime debut, especially in front of a home crowd in Newcastle. I know I’ll be in very safe hands alongside Danny, Clive and Chris and I can’t wait to help Dick Whittington become Lord Mayor of Newcastle”.

Director and Executive Producer of the Theatre Royal’s pantomime Michael Harrison said: “Adding Charlie to our wonderful line-up will guarantee Newcastle audiences yet another spectacular pantomime season. Visitors to the Theatre Royal won’t be disappointed by the hilarious comedy routines, spectacular sets and special effects, music and dance. Tickets are already selling fast so early booking is advisable”.

Already 55,000 tickets have been sold for the panto, a full six months before opening – a new record best for the region’s favourite Christmas show.

Dick Whittington is produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s largest pantomime producer, which will stage 24 productions throughout the UK this Christmas. With ticket prices to suit all pockets, audiences won’t have to head to London to seek their fortune in order to enjoy spectacular pantomime at Newcastle Theatre Royal this Christmas!

Dick Whittington appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 24 November 2015 until Sunday 17 January 2016. Tickets are available from £12.50, (save 50p per ticket by booking online). Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk