Viv Hardwick has some dates for your spring and summer diary.

POPULAR outdoor theatre company The Pantaloons return to the beautiful surroundings of Crook Hall, near Durham, next month for two nights of open-air Shakespeare mayhem, with a fast-paced version of Much Ado About Nothing.

With a cast of five actors, this production uses audience interaction, contemporary references, slapstick and original live music in addition to the Bard’s famous verse.

The Essex-based company focuses on making Shakespeare accessible to people of all ages without dumbing down. It formed in 2004 and has previously toured Romeo and Juliet, Cymbeline, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew, plus Twelfth Night, which was last year’s debut at Crook Hall.

Caitlin Storey, who has toured with the company since the beginning, says: “Our style includes little children who enjoy the bright colours and puppets and teenagers who discover a fun new way to approach their Shakespeare studies.

Then there are from people who have never seen a Shakespeare production before to die-hard fans who get all the inter-textual jokes.”

Audience members are encouraged to take a picnic, something to sit on and to dress for the weather.

■ Pantaloons, Much Ado About Nothing, June 16-17, 6.30pm, Crook Hall, Durham, DH1 5SZ. Visit thepantaloons.co.uk STOCKTON’S ARC has joined forces with two other North- East arts venues in a new project to boost up-and-coming theatre companies in the region. ARC, Newcastle Theatre Royal, and The Maltings, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, have selected emerging Northumberland theatre company Rabbit Damage as the first to benefit from the venues’ Bridging the Gap initiative.

This North-East partnership ensures less direct funding is available for emerging artists. This means Rabbit Damage will get professional support to help create a production plus free rehearsal space and two guaranteed performances at each venue; as well as technical, marketing, creative and mentoring support.

Annabel Turpin, ARC’s chief executive, says: “As venues, we need to find innovative and practical ways of supporting artists – it benefits us all in the long term. Working together in a genuine partnership means we can combine our resources to offer exciting, practical opportunities to help talented young theatre companies in the region like Rabbit Damage develop new shows here on our doorstep.”

■ Rabbit Damage will perform its new show for two nights at each venue, including Arc, from September 21 to 22, and the Theatre Royal, from September 24 to 25.

HEADLINERS at this year’s Tees Valley WorldFest, at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Saturday, May 29, will be Misty in Roots and Dennis Bovell Dub Band.

With a career spanning four decades, Misty in Roots are one of England’s finest reggae groups and their album, Live at the Counter Eurovision, is arguably the best live reggae album of all time. Dennis Bovell has earned himself the reputation of being Britain’s reggae maestro.

■ Tickets: £15 (concs £13). Box Office: 01642-729729.

The WorldFest programme includes two free community events at Middlesbrough Town Hall: on May 24, a youth event involving Durham County Youth Big Band, 7pm to 9pm, and on May 26, a community event, 6pm to 8pm, including a fashion show and art display. A dance event on May 27 is at The Basement, Middlesbrough, from 11pm and costs £3.

The festival begins with an African night at ARC Stockton on Friday, May 21, at 8pm, with French Ivorian reggae star Pablo U-wa and the Dennis Bovell International Orchestra.

■ Tickets: £8 (concs £6) ARC Box Office: 01642-525199, arconline.co.uk worldfest.co.uk