Preview: Queen’s Hall Arts Centre announces Summer programme

 Queen’s Hall Arts Centre announces Summer programme

The Queen!s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham has announced a sizzling Summer programme celebrating the local community. Special events for the Queen’s Jubilee, Hexham Book Festival and Tynedale Community Choir’s 20th Birthday, alongside live music, theatre, dance, stand-up comedy and family shows, including a new adaptation of The Secret Garden set in Northumberland, commissioned by Queen’s Hall Arts and premiering at the Hexham Book Festival.

The Queen's Hall - photo: Jason Thompson, Sound Ideas Media

Artistic Director Katy Taylor said, "Summer is the season we traditionally offer up our spaces to the local community. From Hexham Book Festival to a whole host of exciting events celebrating the Queen's Jubilee and Tynedale Community Choir's 20th Birthday event, this year is certainly no different! We’re delighted to finally share the beautiful music created by Bridie Jackson and performed by North East musicians, celebrating the Unsung Heroes who made a difference in our local community during the pandemic. Rehearsals are already underway for a new adaptation of The Secret Garden, set right here in Northumberland. And we’ve got more live performances throughout the summer with something for audiences of all ages to enjoy.”

Summer highlights include:

The Secret Garden (12 June) - families are invited to discover the magic of The Secret Garden as writers Lisette Auton and Becci Sharrock join forces to bring an enchanting newly adapted version of this classic tale set in Northumberland.

The Secret Garden by Lisette Auton and Becci Sharrock 

Telling the true story of Harry Clasper - the greatest sporting superstar the North East has ever seen, Hadaway Harry (17 June) by Ed Waugh is a moving and humorous play that follows Harry’s journey from working class pitman in Jarrow to Rowing Champion of the World.

Jamie Brown as Harry Glasper in Hadaway Harry

Shakespeare!s Globe present Julius Caesar (24 June) - the Bard!s brutal tale of ambition and revolution comes to Hexham Abbey Grounds this summer with a special outdoor performance; Ancient Rome has never felt so close to home.

Julius Caesar from Shakespeare's Globe

Unsung Heroes (21 July) celebrates local people who made a difference in their community during the pandemic. North East singer songwriter Bridie Jackson created beautiful new songs about people nominated by the public, and will perform live with local musicians to launch this augmented reality project and exhibition by international multimedia artists Davy & Kristin McGuire.

Popular North East company Eliot Smith Dance return with Life & Other Stories (23 June) - four diverse contemporary dance pieces filled with physical movement, passion and excitement.

SING! Hexham Day of Song (25 June) will see Hexham come alive with singing workshops and performances to celebrate the Tynedale Community Choir's 20th Birthday. 

Live music includes The Quo Experience (3 June) - five decades of hits in the UK’s number one Status Quo tribute show; The Katatsitsi Drummers (4 June) - a group of traditional drummers, dancers and singers from the Ga tribe of Southern Ghana; Alistair McGowan (7 June) brings a new show combining his talents as a master impressionist and comedian with his new-found talent as a classical pianist; and The Floyd Effect (29 July) features a complete performance of the iconic Dark Side of the Moon album, as well as other much-loved tracks from Pink Floyd’s catalogue.

For comedy fans, TV household name Ed Byrne is back on 8 June with If I’m Honest - a brand new masterclass in observational comedy that’s selling fast. Plus a double helping of stand-up comedy on 10 June, with a show especially for kids at 4.30pm followed by the Funny Words Gala as part of the Hexham Book Festival, with special guest Rhys James who has appeared on Mock the Week and Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central.

Ed Byrne

Family shows include HEDGE (16 June) - a brand-new show for children aged 4+ that combines dance, beautiful costumes, innovative props and puppetry to create an imaginative space for little ones to explore and enjoy. The Tortoise and The Hare (4-6 August) - an interactive story for under 6s and their grownups with live music and puppetry from Kitchen Zoo, the family theatre company that brought us Wolf! and Bumbling About.

The Queen's Hall continues to have Covid safety measures in place to keep audiences, artists and staff safe including encouraging face coverings, hand sanitiser stations, extra cleaning and e-tickets to avoid congestion at the box office.

Tickets:

For more information or to book tickets visit www.queenshall.co.uk or call the box office on 01434 652 477