What’s it all about?
A Night Less Ordinary [external link] is an Arts Council England scheme in association with Metro, which will provide 618,000 free theatre tickets to anyone under 26 in more than 200 venues across England. For more information about the scheme visit the A Night Less Ordinary [external link] website.
The ArtsSpark Membership Scheme allows young people access to a range of special events and ticket offers at the Arts Centre and Civic Theatre.
From 16 February 2009, the ArtsSpark Membership Scheme joined forces with A Night Less Ordinary, to provide a number of FREE theatre tickets to anyone under the age of 26.
What’s in it for young people?
If you are under 26, you can now join the ArtsSpark Membership Scheme for FREE, and get access to a number of FREE Theatre tickets as well as special events, and other fantastic ticket offers!
Which shows can I see for FREE?
You can get FREE theatre tickets for most ‘Theatre’ shows at The Arts Centre (in the main Theatre and Studio Theatre) and Civic Theatre. By ‘Theatre’, we mean plays, musicals, opera, and dance. But it doesn’t include any music concerts; stand up comedy, talks, or cinema. Check out the list below for all the shows currently available or look out for the pink spark symbol on our brochure pages highlighting shows that have FREE Theatre tickets available. Keep watching this space for additional offers.
Which shows are currently available?
Civic Theatre
| Day |
Event |
Recommended Age |
|
Wed 14th July 7:30pm |
Keeping Up Appearances |
11+ |
|
Wed 15th September 7.30pm |
Gotta Sing Gotta Dance |
Family |
|
Wed 22nd September 7.30pm |
Blood Brothers |
|
|
Wed 29th September 7.30pm |
The Naked Truth |
16+ |
|
Wed 13th October 7:30pm |
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat |
Family |
|
Sat 23rd October 1.30pm |
Postman Pat |
|
| Wed 27th October 7.15pm |
Beauty and the Beast |
Family |
| Sat 13th November 2.30pm |
George's Marvellous Medicine |
4+ |
| Wed 17th November 7.30pm |
Witness for the Prosecution |
12+ |
| Wed 24th November 7.30pm |
Sunshine on Leith |
12+ |
| Wed 8th and 15th December, Wed 5th and 12th January |
Panto |
Family Audience |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arts Centre
| Day |
Event |
Recommended Age |
|
Thurs 29th July 2:30pm |
Patrick Monahan - Stories and Fables for Kids Who Like Sitting at Tables |
5-105! |
|
Wed 4th August 11am and 2:30pm |
The Ugly Duckling |
3+ |
| Wed 18th August 12noon, 1pm, 3pm and 4pm |
Hansel and Gretel |
Family - under 12's to be accompanied by an adult as the show will take place in Stanhope Park |
| Sat 25th September- 11am |
Who's Been Sitting In My Chair? |
3-7 |
| Sat 25th September 8pm |
OPERA! It's all about Love, Sex And Death |
16+ |
| Wed 29th September 8pm |
Caruso and the Quake |
11+ |
| Wed 6th October 8pm |
Moonfleet |
8-108! |
| Thurs 7th October 8pm |
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical |
|
| Sat 9th October 11am |
The Night Pirates |
3+ |
| Tues 12th October 8pm |
Is That A Bolt In Your Neck? |
14+ |
| Thurs 21st October 8pm |
People's Romeo |
|
| Sat 23rd October 11am |
A Little Bird Told Me |
3-11 |
| Wed 27th October 6pm |
Farm Boy |
7+ |
| Thurs 28th October 11am |
The Paper Washi Wish |
3-5 |
| Friday 29th October 8pm |
Stripped |
16+ |
| Wed 3rd November 8pm |
The Dead Hand |
11+ |
| Wed 10th November 6.30pm |
The Tin Soldier |
7+ |
| Wed 17th November 8pm |
The Caretaker |
11+ |
| Sat 20th November 11am |
When The Lights Went Out |
7-11 |
| Wed 1st Dec 8pm |
Much Ado About Nothing |
11+ |
| Tues 7th December 8pm |
A Christmas Carol |
8+ |
| Wed 26th Jan 6pm |
Why The Lion Danced |
5+ |
|
|
|
What are you waiting for?
Call the Box Office now on (01325) 348843 or (01325) 486555 to sign up to the ArtsSpark Membership Scheme, and experience A Night Less Ordinary at some fantastic shows at Darlington Civic Theatre and Arts Centre. Once you’ve signed up, you can book straight away for any show or events you want. Remember to book early as we only have a limited number of FREE tickets available each week!
If you book tickets and then decide not to come, it’s really important that you let us know as soon as possible. If you book tickets and don’t turn up to the theatre, and you haven’t let us know, you may lose the right to receive FREE Theatre tickets in the future.
What else do I need to know?
- Book early! We only have a small number of FREE tickets available each week so be quick!
- If you are under 16, you will need to come to the theatre with an old folk, (someone 18 or over.) They will need to book a ticket as well.
- Our FREE tickets will mainly be for shows on Wednesday evenings, but sometimes we will be offering FREE tickets on a different day of the week (just to confuse you!)
- Once you’re a member of the ArtsSpark Membership Scheme, we’d like to send you information in the post about the latest events and special offers available. You will need to tell us if this is ok when you sign up. If you are under 16, we will need permission from your parents or whoever looks after you at home.
- We will also need to know your date of birth, post code, and how you found out about the scheme.
- Once you have booked your tickets, you will only be able to pick them up from our Box Offices at the venue you are attending, on the day of the performance.
- If you are 16 or over, you will need to bring some ID with you, that shows proof of age, when you collect your tickets. This is so we can make sure you are old enough to attend by yourself, and are definitely under 26.
- If you book a ticket, and then decide not to come – make sure you tell us in good time! This is so we can try and get the ticket to another young person; so more people get a chance to see stuff.
- You can book FREE tickets for yourself and up to three friends. You can’t book any more than four FREE tickets in one booking. We will need to know dates of birth and postcodes of all the young people who want tickets.
- Each young person will only be allowed up to 4 free tickets each season. This is to make sure that we can spread the tickets out a bit, and get to more young people.
Was it A Night Less Ordinary?
What did you think of the show? Did you enjoy your visit? Would you come again? If you would like to tell us about it, send an email to Lyndsey.middleton@darlington.gov.uk
If you thought it was really good you may want to write a review of the show. Check out the rE-View website [external link] to find out how you can write a review and share it with other young people in Darlington.
To book tickets please contact the Box Office on (01325) 348843 or (01325) 486555 or visit one of our box offices at the Civic Theatre, Arts Centre, Cornmill Shopping Centre or Tourist Information Centre. Tickets cannot be booked online for the 'Free Theatre Ticket Initiative'.