Here is a run-down of Arts Festival events taking place in and around Darlington this week. More information about the festival can be found at darlingtonforculture.org.

TODAY (Monday, May 20)

SCRIPT WRITING TASTER: Cafe Create, Parkgate Chambers , 7pm to 9pm. Creative writing tutor Tracey Iceton presents a two-hour taster on writing for stage and screen. Tickets cost £6 for the taster, available from traceyiceton@hotmail.co.uk or 07773 797817.

FILM CLUB: Pans Labyrinth (15) will be screened by Darlington Film Club at The Forum, Borough Road at 8pm, £3 admission.

STUDIO OPEN DAY: Have a go making your own jewellery. Open to view 10am - 6.30pm. Workshops at 10.30am, 1.30pm, 4pm and 5.30pm at Northern Beads, Unit 16, Whessoe Road. There will be 30 to 45 minute workshops throughout the day. Workshops must be booked in advanced on a first come first served basis .Tickets £3, contact 01325 480028. Children between the ages of eight and 15 are welcome at the 4pm session.

QUAKERHOUSE GIG: Singer/songwriter Marc Atkinson will play at an acoustic night at The Quakerhouse in Mechanics Yard.

 

TUESDAY

POETRY SESSION: First Steps in Poetry taster Session at Cafe Create, Parkgate Chambers. Local poet and author of Berth - Voices of the Titanic Natalie Scott presents a two-hour taster on poetry writing. From 7pm to 9pm. Tickets £6 available from nascott_101@yahoo.co.uk or 07733180570.

FILM CLUB: Tommy (15) will be screened by Darlington Film Club at The Forum, Borough Road at 8pm, £3 admission.

TEXTILE ART EXHIBITION: Inner Landscapes at St Cuthbert’s Church, Market Place. Exhibition of Textile Art by Helen Winthorpe Kendrick. Open 10am to 4pm, (Sunday noon to 4pm) runs until June 1. Free entry - donations towards the upkeep of St Cuthbert’s

 

WEDNESDAY

READINGS: Seven Writers, Seven Voices; singing for their supper at Cafe Create, 93-97 Parkgate Chambers. Three novelists and four poets, all teaching creative writing at Northumbria University, will be reading from work both in progress and published. From 7pm to 9pm. Tickets £4 available from 07739 116330 or email land.joanne@gmail.com

QUAKERHOUSE GIG: Krank It Up will play for the evening at The Quakerhouse in Mechanics Yard.

 

THURSDAY

WRITERS WORKSHOP: Performance workshop for writers at Cafe Create, 93 – 97 Parkgate Chambers led by actor Judith Parker, creative writing tutor Tracey Iceton and Jo Land. Preparing a piece of creative writing for performance. Bring a short sample of your own work to read out. From 7pm to 9pm. Tickets £6, contact Tracey on traceyiceton@hotmail.co.uk or 07773 797817.

FOLK CLUB: Darlington Folk Club Guest night at the Copper Beach, Neasham Road. Internationally renowned Geordie fiddler Tom McConville with Guitarist Dave Newey.

BLUES LOUNGE: The Blues Lounge Sessions with Alex Fawcett and Danny Wragg at The Quakerhouse, Mechanics Yard.

 

FRIDAY

CAFE HIPPO: @ Café Create Palace of Varieties. Enjoy an evening of music, poetry and performance at Cafe Create, 93-97 Parkgate Chambers, from 6pm to 9pm, tickets £4, contact 07739116330 or email land.joanne@gmail.com

CHAMBER MUSIC: Classical and light music with John Kendrick clarinet, Jeremy Harbottle cello and Lada Khazanovych piano. Central Hall, Dolphin Centre at 7.30pm, contact John Kendrick on 01325 332592 or john@kendrick.me.uk

BON JOVI FOREVER: A tribute to Jon Bon Jovi at The Forum, Borough Road from 8pm.

 

SATURDAY

BOOK GROUP WALK: Wonderland Book Group Walk around South Park, meet outside Coopers Cafe at 10.30am. Family-friendly event, discuss Alice in Wonderland and other related novels along the walk. There's plenty to discover along the way and a few surprises! Bring a picnic. From 10.30am to 12.30pm. Tickets £4 from Cafe Create, call 07739 116330 or email land.joanne@gmail.com

NORTHERN SOUL: Flat Hill Promotions Northern Soul Oldies Night at The Forum, Borough Road. Regular Northern Soul night playing all the classics. From 7pm, admission £3.50.

ART SHOP: Rosi Thornton - Altered Books artist session - a free demonstration of turning old books into new pieces of art - all materials supplied. The Art Shop, Bondgate.

ARTS/CRAFT FAIR: and family weekend. Hurworth Grange from 11am to 4pm. Various craft stalls, visual arts, music and entertainment for all the family. Entry £1 adults, children free.

THE BRIDGE: Lip Lee Chinese Calligraphy, Michelle Douglas Beading Club and Amelia Davies Illustration at the Arts Café in The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts, Yarm Road.

QUAKERHOUSE GIG: D.J. Wal’s Love Sounds Reggae Night at The Quakerhouse, Mechanics Yard.

 

SUNDAY

ARTS/CRAFT FAIR: and family weekend. Hurworth Grange from 11am to 4pm. Various craft stalls, visual arts, music and entertainment for all the family. Entry £1 adults, children free.

PUB OF YEAR: CAMRA Pub of the Year Presentation from 3pm to 5pm at The Quakerhouse, followed by Gilly and Alan Williamson, 8.30pm onwards Willow Creek.