Drama In the Parlour returns to Stocksfield Hall this week with a Victorian Christmas Special. In just over a year the Drama in the Parlour series has established itself as a unique force on the North East theatre scene. Audiences consist of regular fans that have been there from the start, mixed in with ever increasing newcomers who have come to see what all the fuss is about. With its refreshing and original mix of humour, tongue-in-cheek melodrama and old-time atmosphere with a modern twist, Drama in the Parlour is fast becoming a cult phenomenon with its fans, who often dress up to attend performances!
Writer of the series Alex Swan says "Part of me still can't believe how popular Drama in the Parlour has become. We actually had to turn people away from the last show because tickets went so quickly!" Giving his thoughts on why the series has become a runaway success, Alex says "Actually it's very simple. People want escapism, they want nostalgia, but most of all they want to laugh, and that's what we do!"
The concept of Drama in the Parlour is to invite the audience to participate in a 'recording' of an old-style radio show, set somewhere between 1940 and the late 1950s, when the actors dressed in evening wear and nobody mentioned the North! The 'Radio' show is sponsored by the fictitious Fegwell's Multi Restorative All Natural Infallible Compound, which does exactly what it doesn't say on the tin. Taking place in the beautiful surroundings of Stocksfield Hall, which also happens to be the home of cast member Helen Morris, the show offers a unique atmosphere and experience So far there have been three shows in the series, with the fourth already written and scheduled for performance in early 2012. Having written all four full-length plays in a little over a year, Alex explains how the Christmas special came about: "The shows went from strength to strength, and after Drama in the Parlour 3 had such an incredible response from audiences and press alike, I just knew I had to follow it up with something really outstanding. A Christmas special was the obvious thing to do."

So what can fans of Drama in the Parlour expect from the Christmas Special? "I don't want to give too much away," says Alex "but there are some real treats in there. Firstly, we've gone back even further in time, we're now in the Victorian era. To me, the Victorian period was Christmas! Instead of a radio show your ticket buys you exclusive entry to the first ever 'Christmas Entertainment Extravaganza' hosted by the noted industrialist Albert Strongarm."
But will regular audiences be put off by the change of setting? Alex explains: "Absolutely not! I can guarantee that you will stay well within your comfort zone. If you have been to Drama in the Parlour before, you will feel very much at home." Alex is keen to point out that he has gone to extra lengths to impress new audiences. "If this is your first experience of Drama in the Parlour, you will be kicking yourself that you didn't come before! You don't need to know a thing about the previous shows to enjoy this one."
Drama in the Parlour Victorian Christmas Special. 7.30 pm 14th -17th December. The Farmhouse, Stocksfield Hall, NE43 7TN. Tickets £7.00 from The Stencil Library shop. 01661 844844
Top photo Cameron Swan, Marie Swan, Margaret Matthews, Helen Morris, Alex Swan, David Walker and Andrew Palmer

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If you are in or around Hexham, Northumberland you have until December 10th to see Icons and Abstracts a collection of works by Susi Bellamy. The exhibition is showing at Robinson Gay Gallery. Susi used to be a resident of Florence, Italy. Whilst visiting the Accedemia Museum in Venice she was trapped by the twice yearly floods that hit the city and was captive within the museum. She spent the hours wisely by sketching the key components of iconography.
Susi is employing techniques of gilding, print and stencilling into her work. She reckons that she is drawn to collage from her days as a fashion editor for Conde Nast. She says I can not help but crop and edit!

Written by Kevin O'Hara, conservation officer at Northumberland Wildlife Trust

Where do they all go in winter? - Part 1

Recently I felt the first twangs of winter; the 'first frost' gripped my garden, the chickens came skidding out of their ark, and I had to break the ice on their drinking water. I really like those first days, when we still have some daylight left to enjoy the wonderful colours and smells. I take the camera and binoculars with me when I walk the dogs, keeping an eye out for winter thrushes or other visitors. The clocks have altered and we start the long haul of winter - not until February will some real light return to the sky, and warmth to the sun.

It is during these months that we wonder where, exactly, many of our resident wildlife species go to survive the coldest and wettest days of winter, especially those that are more delicate and less mobile.

I have just finished helping to hang bunting in preparation of the bi-annual Stocksfield Festival this Saturday, 10th of September. The venues for the day are the Stocksfield Sportsfields, Cricket Club and Broomley School. There is a ceilidh at Stocksfield Community Hall in the evening. Expect to find more than the usual ingredients for a traditional show. Live music starts at 11.30 am and continues into the evening. There will be competitions, trade stalls, food and drink. There will be storytellers, facepainters, magicians, fortune tellers and musicians to entertain you. The weather report is encouraging so come and join us....there'll be cakes. A family ticket is Three Pounds which includes a festival programme and raffle number. See you there?
More information www.stocksfield.org

Festival Fever has come to Tynedale. Forget about Glastonbury the Corbridge Music Festival offers a band line up to rival those of many of the larger festivals around the Country. The Legend.... John Otway who regularly performs at Glastonbury, plus Glasto newcomers and Wylam boys Vinyl Jacket (pictured right) are just two of the top performers heading for Corbridge this year.

Artist Rena Holford makes fabulous sculptures of horses..in glass. She is one of the artists that can be visited this weekend part the Art Tour 2011.

By kind permission of Viscount and Lady Allendale, there will be a summer garden party at Bywell Castle on Saturday, July 2, from 7pm Tickets are fifteen pounds there will be a cold buffet, live music and a bar. Tickets are available from Stocksfield Central store, and from the community association office on (01661) 842346 or email admin@sica.org.uk
The weather forecast for Saturday is looking good, the gardens at Bywell Castle are lovely, private and rarely open to the public. A train stops nearby...what excuse would you have not to go? Get your ticket now.
This is a fund-raising event to fund the replacement of the Mary Clayton Room roof at The Stocksfield Community Hall.
Photo Dennis Lovett. Found via Wikipedia.

Artist Barbara Kennard has launched a new exhibition of her work inspired by ancient rock carvings in the Cheviot Hills.

Barbara's latest display is based on the concentric circles, cups and spirals carved by Neolithic people 5,000 years ago in the region`s hills. They will be exhibited at Dyke Nook Studio, Woodside, Ryton, NE40 4SY as part of this summer`s Art Tour around Northumberland. Weekends from Sunday June 12th to July 3rd, 11am to 5pm.

She was introduced to the prehistoric symbols after her husband found them during years of hill-walking.

See his Rock Art Tours at www.headforthecheviothills.com

Mrs Kennard said: "The large numbers of these sites with their mysterious symbols signify an important aspect of prehistoric life. I explore these ideas in my prints."

To visit artists on the Art Tour 2011 go to: www.networkartists.org.uk and see who is open, what they are doing and when.

I have just finished stencilling and varnishing signage for the 12th annual Bywell Arts Festival. The tents are being erected, both of Bywell's churches are being cleaned, flowers are being arranged and boards are being put into position to take the two hundred artworks submitted for this years Bywell Arts Festival. The festival takes place this weekend. It starts with a preview at 7pm Friday 24th June. Both churches, St Andrews and St Peters will display art from amateurs and professional artists from all over the area. Local duo Valley Girls will sing gospel and bluegrass harmonies. There will be wine and soft drinks and the event is free and open to all. On Saturday and Sunday the exhibition and sale of work opens at 10am and runs until 4.30. There will be a grand raffle, refreshments, stalls and ample free parking. On Saturday evening Prudhoe Community High school presents a concert at 7.30 in St Peters. Tickets are available from Stocksfield Central or from Michael Allan tel 01661 843183. The festival takes place at Bywell on Tyne a fifteen minute walk from Stocksfield Rail Station and bus stop.The event is running at the same time as Art Tour 2011. Three Art Tour artists are exhibiting at The Stencil Library at Stocksfield Hall on the Saturday and Sunday. The venue is a short and picturesque walk from Bywell. Why not visit both places and enjoy an 'arty' day out.

The Art Tour is the flagship event of Network Artists in Northumberland. It hosts open studios exhibitions and workshops from more than seventy artists in fifty locations across our county.
The Art Tour 2011 brochure and website contains details of the artists and maps to help find them. The destinations are grouped as clusters so that an enjoyable day between locations is easy to plan. There are many along the Tyne Valley.
Local venue The Stencil Library at Stocksfield will host Durham artist Wendy Parkin and Stocksfield artists Michael Chippendale and Helen Morris. During Art Tour 2011 Wendy will continue painting whilst meeting visitors. Helen will demonstrate stencilling technique.

Chippendale & Morris are collaborating on a series of paintings in which familiar images are reduced to grids of coloured painted dots. At close range the dots form abstract pattern, resolving themselves into recognisable images as distance increases. Wendy will be painting pictures of children.
The stencilled house at Stocksfield Hall will host a special evening on June 29th which includes a tour around fourteen stencilled rooms. Tickets are £9. Contact The Stencil Library to book tickets on 01661 844844.
Art Tour spans weekends between 11th June and 3rd July. Entrance to venues is free but there may a charge for workshops. Visit www.networkartists.org.uk