News: Durham Gala unveils jam-packed line up in 2016

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Durham Gala unveils jam-packed line up in 2016

A pop icon, top comedians, and new work by The Gruffalo's creators will take to the stage as part of the Gala Theatre's spring season.

Lulu, Chris Ramsey, Rob Delaney, and Mark Steel will all tread the boards alongside the likes of Stig of the Dump, Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch, and the Northern Ballet in a star-studded line up from January to April.

Robin Byers, our service manager for place and experience, said: "We always aspire to bring the people of Durham the finest in theatre, comedy, music and film. Our spring programme is no exception, with highlights including performances from the internationally-renowned Lulu and Northern Stage's adaptation of Get Carter.

Get Carter

"As well as live performance, we're also continuing to showcase the best in British theatre courtesy of the National Theatre, and are delighted to bring world-class art exhibitions to our screens for the first time with the new Exhibition on Screen series. 

"There's plenty to keep our loyal customers entertained whilst welcoming new audiences to Gala too."

Tortoise & The Hare

The season kicks off on Saturday 9 January with The Rat Pack Spectacular, before the Northern Ballet look to follow up its sell-out Three Little Pigs and Elves & The Shoemaker shows with the Tortoise & The Hare on Wednesday, 3 February.

Gretchen Peters

Nashville-based singer song-writer Gretchen Peters brings her 20th anniversary tour to Gala on Thursday 4 February, then playwright John Godber's new comedy Shafted! will trace what happened to a couple from Yorkshire thirty years after the miner's strike on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 February.

After the phenomenal success of last year's The Phantom Of The Opera, the Gala Theatre Stage School return with an evening of song and dance in GTSS Goes To The Movies on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February.

Ian McCulloch

And Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch completes a stellar week with his performance of stripped down versions of the Merseyside band's classic tracks, as well as his own solo songs, on Saturday 20 February.

Rob Delaney

March brings laughter in the shape US comedian Rob Delaney, the star and co-creator of hit Channel 4 show Catastrophe, on Thursday 10 March.

And there'll be plenty to Shout about as Lulu stops by the Gala as part of her latest tour on Tuesday 15 March.

Chris Ramsey

The comedy returns on Friday March 25 as North East stand up and former Hebburn star Chris Ramsey takes to the stage, closely followed by Have I Got News For You regular Mark Steel on Thursday 31 March.

In between the funny men Gala has Easter weekend covered with a stage adaptation of the classic children's novel Stig Of The Dump on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March.

The family fun continues on Thursday 31 March, with the latest show from The Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales.

While a gritty crime drama, bringing to life the hard and uncompromising world of 1960s Newcastle, a city rife with crime, sex, gambling and violence, will see Northern Stage following in the footsteps of Michael Caine for an adaptation of Get Carter.

Rounding out the season, the Gala welcomes another heart-warming play packed with humour and great sixties songs in Tom Kelly's Baby Love from Friday 22 to Monday 25 April, and an evening of folk music courtesy of local lads The Young'uns on Saturday 30 April.

As well as the performers on stage, the theatre will also have a number of special events on its cinema screen.

NT Live returns with broadcasts of the National Theatre's productions of Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Thursday 28 January and Shakespeare's As You Like It on Monday 29 February.

Then, coming to the venue for the first time, Exhibition On Screen will bring films of art from The National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and beyond to the heart of Durham.

Exhibitions on show will include the works of Goya, on Monday 22 February; Renoir, on Monday 14 March; and Monet and Matisse, on Monday 18 April.

Tickets:
Tickets for all of these events and more can be bought by calling the Gala Box Office on 03000 266 600, visiting the venue in person or online at www.galadurham.co.uk