Weekend for Will in Darlington
Darlington will be hosting a special ‘Weekend for Will’ to help mark the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death.
Crown Street Library is joining forces with Darlington Green Theatre and Darlington Civic Theatre to host a weekend of Shakespearean events to celebrate his life and works on Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 April.
The library will mark the anniversary with a display of books, including an eyewitness guide to the fascinating life and times of the man considered history’s greatest playwright. There will also books offering an accessible retelling of Macbeth – a story or ambition, murder and madness.
Darlington Green Theatre, well known for its popular Shakespeare in the Park productions, will be staging William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (abridged) in the atmospheric setting of the Crown Street Art Gallery on Saturday, 23 April.
There will be two performances, at 3pm and 7pm. Tickets are £5 and are available from the Darlington Civic Theatre Box Office and Crown Street Library.
On Sunday, 24 April, there will be fun for youngsters as Infinite Jest Theatre Company present Fooli’ Around: Fun Shakespeare for Kids 7+ in the Crown Street Art Gallery, from 2pm. The youngsters will be invited to become an Infinite Jest actor as they explore the world of Shakespeare’s Kings, Queens, villains and fools during an interactive workshop.
The fun workshop will explore Shakespearean storytelling, language and rhythms using props and puppets and the youngsters’ imagination. Tickets are £2.50 and are available from the Civic Theatre Box Office and Crown Street Library.
Creative Darlington, the Head of Steam – Darlington Railway Museum and Darlington Film Club are also helping celebrate this special anniversary with a host of other Shakespearean events in the town, which include:
Monday, 18 April, 8pm – Darlington Film Club at The Forum Music Centre, will be showing Baz Lubrmann’s Romeo and Juliet (1996, cert12). Tickets are £3. For more information and to book tickets call 01325 363135 or email [email protected].
Thursday, 30 June – Sunday, 3 July – Darlington Green Theatre in partnership with Head of Steam will be hosting ‘Shakespeare at the Station’ with outdoor theatre in the atmospheric setting of the Head of Steam – Darlington Railway Museum.
Performances are as follows: Thursday, 30 June at 7pm - Macbeth; Friday, 1 July at 7pm – Hamlet; Saturday, 2 July at 4.30pm – Macbeth and at 7pm – Hamlet; Sunday, 3 July at 4.30pm – Macbeth. All tickets are £7, or discounts £5, and are available from the Civic Theatre Box Office.
Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure, said:
“This week (14-20 March) is Shakespeare Week, a national annual celebration giving primary school children a great first encounter with the man himself.
“Our Weekend for Will aims to encourage them to find out more and have some fun at the same time. Working with our partners, there’s also lots of other events to mark the 4000th anniversary and we hope to see people of all ages taking part.”
For more information about library events log onto the website at Darlington Libraries, pop into one of the libraries or call 01325 349160. Darlington Civic Theatre Box Office can be contacted on 01325 486555.
Parking in Darlington town centre is just 50p per hour in Archer Street, Chesnut Street, East Street car park (above Wilkinsons) and Garden Street car parks. In addition, car users can pay for two hours or more in any council-run off street car park and get an extra hour for free. The Feethams multi storey car park on Beaumont Street is now open 24 hours. All our car parks are free after 6pm. Visit www.darlington.gov.uk/parking for more info.
Travelling to Darlington town centre by bus is easy and convenient with the new Arriva Frequenta service. Visit: www.dothelocalmotion.co.uk.