A TRADITIONAL fairytale is combined with modern themes in a Christmas show.

Teesdale professional theatre company Jack Drum Arts has started a national tour of its show Red Riding Hood and her Amazing Grandmother.

The show will be performed at the Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, on Thursday, December 16, Whorlton Village Hall, on Friday, January 7, and Cotherstone Village Hall, on Sunday, January 9. All shows start at 7.30pm.

There is a performance at Barningham Village Hall but this has sold-out.

Characters including the Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood and the Friendly Woodcutter but will perform original songs.

Members of Jack Drum Arts worked with Age Concern County Durham, who provided financial support, and the show features issues surrounding elderly people, such as family relationships and isolated housing - why does Granny choose to live alone in the middle of the wood?

The community safety unit of Wear Valley and Teesdale have also lent support to the production as the character of the wolf represents the modern-day problem of stranger danger.

Tickets are £5 for adults, £4 for concessions and £2.50 for children and £12 for a family ticket. They are available from the Jack Drum office at Enterprise House, Barnard Castle, on (01833) 696630.