Gala Theatre takes centre stage
Gordon Barr, Evening Chronicle
IN ADVANCE of announcing its autumn season, the Gala Theatre in Durham has released details of a trio of shows set to make a visit to the historic city over the coming months.
There will be a dramatic visit from the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, which presents Murder on Air.
Three gripping radio thrillers from the Queen of Crime will be read in an authentic studio setting with live sound effects in the style of their original radio broadcast.
The show includes two special guest stars alongside a full supporting cast.
Previous special guests have included Jenny Seagrove, Martin Shaw and Christopher Timothy and details of the Gala’s cast will be announced later in the summer.
Murder on Air runs from Thursday, September 24, to Saturday 26, with a matinee on the last day at 2.30pm. Tickets are £15.
A musical offering and a great comic night to boot will be provided by actor and funnyman Ade Edmondson’s band, The Bad Shepherds.
A teenager during the era of The Clash and their punk contemporaries, Edmondson’s musical tastes have mellowed somewhat over the years.
He now presents the songs of his youth in the style of the music of his middle age – folk versions of punk classics!
The Bad Shepherds also feature folk music stalwarts Maartin Allcock, formerly guitarist with Fairport Convention and keyboardist with Jethro Tull, and Andy Dinan, twice winner of the All- Ireland Fiddle Championship and performer with the likes of Capercaillie and Lunasa.
They’ve sold out nearly everywhere they’ve played and have received riotous applause and standing ovations.
Tickets for The Bad Shepherds gig on Wednesday, October 7, are £12 and are available now.
Rounding off the group of shows is the One Man Lord of the Rings, brought to the Gala by Charles Ross, the man behind the successful One Man Star Wars Trilogy.
His show recreates the enchanting world of Middle Earth and The Shire – armed with nothing more than a pair of elbow pads and his imagination.
It’s even been endorsed by Gandalf himself – the great Sir Ian McKellen, who said: "If you liked the Lord of the Rings trilogy, you will love Charles Ross’s version – and if you didn’t, well, at least his is shorter!"
One Man Lord of the Rings is at Gala on Tuesday, March 30.
