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For full details of their programme and how to book tickets please go to the Castle Players' website, castleplayers.co.uk .
Their touring production ran until Sunday February 25th. The play was an award-winning comedy called "These Things do Happen", written by Stewart Howson. It proved an immense success.
They have just ended a successful run with "The River Line", about taking allied airmen etc through Belgium, France and Spain and back to the UK, by Charles Morgan and directed by Mary Stastny, at Whorlton Village Hall on April 4th, 5th and 6th. A further date was opened up for a Sunday matinee on the 7th to meet the demand for tickets and quickly sold out.
Full details on the Castle Players website.
Kynren is a sensational first for this part of the world! 2016 saw the first performance of what proved to be a spectacular evening event. It took place over a seven acre arena at Eleven Arches, Bishop Auckland and 100,000 visitors saw the show in its first year, performed by over 1000 volunteers who had been professionally trained. 7,000 trees have been planted around the Kynren site.
The show takes place annually. Due to the Corona Virus pandemic, shows were cancelled for 2020. The programme for 2021 was limited.
We attended Kynren in 2016 and it was every bit as good as we could have hoped. We cannot give away any of the numerous spectacles that went to make up the event, but they were quite remarkable. We visited again in 2018 and it proved to be even better. Any issues that some had with travel arrangements in previous years have now been resolved - the dedicated park and ride worked very smoothly.
The performance is not historical fact - it is pure spectacle with an historic twist!
Visit the website for full details and booking - www.kynren.com
Kynren 2024 will run on every Saturday evening from July 27th until September 14th. Each performance begins at Sunset.
Check the website at thebowesmuseum.org.uk or calling 01833 690606 for dertails of current and forthcoming events.
2016 saw the opening of the new "Open Treasure" exhibition at Durham Cathedral. It shows 2000 years of history in Durham, based on the wonderful collections at the cathedral. The "Treasures of St Cuthbert" - surviving Anglo-Saxon artefacts - are now on show in the Great Kitchen. The exhibition was officially opened by Prince Charles in February 2018.
The Castle is open, Tuesday to Sunday, between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm. Check the website for up to date information.
The Park and Walled Gardens, the Yurt Cafe and Coachyard Seating are open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. The Walled Garden is currently being recreated and only a part, the East Garden, is open to visitors who are members. Two new restaurants will open late spring/early summer in 2024.
The Stables Shop is open between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
The new Garden project opens in late Spring/early Summer 2024.
The new adventure playground, "The Plotters' Forest" opened before Easter 2022, set in the trees of the Christmas tree plantation.
Work is currently underway to redesign the walled garden and landscape around the adjacent restored and "re-purposed" buildings. The whole project, the Walled Garden and "The Rising" is due to open late spring/early summer 2024. Very exciting.
The town of Bishop Auckland is currently undergoing many changes. Please visit their website, aucklandproject.org
The Auckland Project started with the purchase of Auckland Castle, the old Bishop's Palace with its famous Zurburan paintings.
The Mining Art Gallery is in the Market Square, along from the church. The gallery is displaying its great collection of Mining Art, mostly from the Northeast of England. It is well worth a visit, shining a light on an important part of the region's history.
The new Spanish Gallery opened on March 23rd, 2022 and along with the Mining Art Gallery, the Auckland Tower and the Castle and Grounds; it is open Wednesday to Sunday, between 11 am and 4 pm.
The Deer Park is open daily from dawn until dusk.
The Auckland Project has since taken over the Weardale Railway.
The excavated remains of a Roman fort, with the best preserved bath-house in England and parts of the civilian settlement, or vicus, also on display.
The fort and vicus were excavated over some ten years, with many exciting discoveries. Excavations in 2018 and 2019 provided more evidence about the Roman Fort to add to what we already knew; it dates from 75 A.D. More areas are now on show.
Binchester is open from April 1st until October 31st, between 10.00 am and 4.30 pm, with last entry at 4.00pm..