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Using the theme of home to examine the culture and heritage of Northern Europe and Scandinavia, Hidden In Plain View showcases high profile and emerging designers hailing from these areas, including a selection from the North East and the UK.
Spanning a range of backgrounds, experience and cultures, the 22 designers involved form an eclectic mix of European talent; each using a postcard to communicate their interpretation of home and three clues to help decipher the concept. Scott King, Pixel Garten, Sue Doeksen and Rick Myers.
Danielle Pender and Beth Rowson make up, the team behind the exhibition. They are extending a special invitation to Culture Club members for the opening night of Hidden In Plain View.
The Hidden In Plain View exhibition takes place from October 9 to 26 at Kings House behind Central Station. Visit www.hiddeninplainview.org for daily updates, more detailed information on designers and those all-important clues.
Culture Club has 10 pairs of guest passes to the exclusive preview evening on Thursday, October 9 from 6pm to 9pm. Winners will also receive a limited edition postcard pack, a selection of signed memorabilia as well as the chance to rub shoulders with some of the designers on the night itself.
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art invites Culture Club members to a private Building and History Tour on Thursday, September 25 at 6.30pm.
This evocative tour, by Steve Halcyon BALTIC crew member and Building and History Tour creator, will bring the building to life as you’re guided through the twists and turns of the flour mill’s history. The journey will finish in Quay BALTIC’s learning space where Gary Malkin, BALTIC’s Archivist and Librarian will take you through the hidden delights of BALTIC’s historical archive while you enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or a soft drink.
Steve Halcyon has been digging in local archives and researching at the regions libraries to gain a vast knowledge on the history of BALTIC and its surrounding area. The tour is fun and factual as it takes you on a journey back into bygone years as well as a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes workings of BALTIC today.
The impressive BALTIC building was originally the Rank Hovis Flour Mill and has been a landmark building on the River Tyne for decades however the history of its location goes back centuries before. The BALTIC Building and History Tour will not only look at the history of the mill but also account stories of the Saltmeadows Area. The tour will take visitors back to the short-lived Act of Annexation of 1553 in which Newcastle took control of Gateshead, The Great Fire of Gateshead and Newcastle in 1854 and stories of a scheming Tudor politician!
Moving into the twentieth century visitors will learn about the building of the Baltic Flour Mill by Joseph Rank Ltd, daily life at the mill and its eventual closure and of course the conversion from a derelict industrial site to a cutting edge centre for contemporary art. It will also be a great opportunity to hear all about the technical aspects of the building today including the art lift, the ‘Plensa’ light beam – ‘Blake in Gateshead’ by Jaume Plensa, the controlled atmospheric environment in the Level 3 Gallery Space, the ‘sail door' at the rear of the building, as well as interesting information on BALTIC’s flying lodgers - its protected Kittiwake bird colony!
Gary Malkin has looked after BALTIC’s extensive Library and Archive since it opened five years ago on 26 September 2002. It is a unique free resource which can be accessed both in the building and via the internet. The Library contains an expanding collection of books, DVDs, videos and periodicals while the Archive contains a wealth of information about past, present and future BALTIC projects including press cuttings, publicity and images. The Library & Archive has a relaxed study area with internet access and is an ideal place to explore the wider world of contemporary art. It also produces documentary films and podcasts about most exhibitions. These can be viewed within BALTIC on Quay TV, online or downloaded from http://archive.balticmill.com.
BALTIC Building and History Tour take place every Thursday at 11am and are priced at £4.00 and BALTIC Library is open to visitors daily during gallery hours.
2008 is the 4th year of the annual series of commissions based on the world’s largest half-marathon, the BUPA Great North Run and is the most ambitious to date! Celebrating the unique partnership between sport and art, each of the contemporary commissioned works give new insights into the people that take part in the event, the journeys people undergo, the geography and landscape of the famous route, and the spirit of the event.
Best selling children’s author David Almond has been commissioned to write a short story which will be linked with a major national writing competition and writing workshops for children at Seven Stories Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle as part of this year’s Great North Run Cultural Programme.
David will be giving a special reading of his newly commissioned work Harry Miller’s Run at Seven Stories Centre on Saturday, October 4 at 4.30pm suitable for families and young people. This event will mark the launch of a special Seven Stories exhibition Winged Tales of the North, exploring the work and inspiration of David Almond.
We are delighted to announce that The Journal Culture Club has teamed up with the Great North Run’s Cultural Programme to offer 3 family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) to attend this special event. Each family will also receive a printed and signed version of the story.
You can read David Almond and Bill Bryson’s commissioned stories online at www.greatnorthrunculture.org from Sunday 5th October.
Voted the 3rd most popular musical of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS is toe tapping its way back to the Sunderland Empire for one week only and Culture Club members can purchase opening night tickets for just £20.00!*
A glorious romp, brimful of hand clapping effervescent energy, dazzling dance routines and sixteen smash hit showstoppers, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS perfectly integrates song, dance, and story and comes to the Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 September. Steven Houghton (Bugs, London’s Burning, Miss Saigon) stars as Adam Pontipee, alongside Susan McFadden, winner of ITV1’s Grease is the Word and fresh from her West End starring role as Sandy in Grease, as Milly Pontipee.
Set in Oregon in 1850 SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS is the story of Adam, the eldest of seven brothers, who goes to town to get a wife. He convinces Milly to marry him that same day. They return to his backwoods home. Only then does she discover he has six brothers -- all living in his cabin. Milly sets out to reform the uncouth siblings, who are anxious to get wives of their own. Then, after reading about the Roman capture of the Sabine women, Adam develops an inspired solution to his brothers' loneliness . . . kidnap the women they want!
Featuring classic songs including: 'Bless your Beautiful Hide', 'Goin' Courtin', 'Wonderful Wonderful Day', 'Sobbin' Women', 'Lonesome Polecat', 'Spring, Spring, Spring', 'Love Never Goes Away', with colourful costumes, fabulous sets, sassy performances, this breathtaking production is guaranteed to put a spring in your step and a tune on your lips. It’s toe-tapping good!
The Journal Culture Club have joined forces with the Great North Run’s Cultural Programme to offer members places at a special event at the Laing Art Gallery on October 1, from 6pm to 8pm when artist Claire Morgan will talk about her new commission.
Claire Morgan’s stunning sculptural installation Gone With The Wind is on show at the Laing Art Gallery until October 19 and was commissioned by the Bupa Great North Run’s Cultural Programme.
Claire used organic matter, such as seeds, from the route of the Bupa Great North Run route alongside a bird – the kittiwake gull - which is also native to South Shields. The bird is suspended flying though a dense mass of seeds, tracing the passage of the individual through the crowd, as in the BUPA Great North Run.
Claire Morgan is a visual artist who creates contemporary sculpture and installation art who has developed a strong interest in the organic, in natural processes, and in the bodily connotations of natural materials. This formed the basis for her practice as an artist creating sculptural installations and continues to influence her work at present.
Culture Club has 15 places to offer members and their guests and each member will also receive a signed and mounted postcard of the installation as well as complimentary wine on the evening.
This September The Alnwick Garden is holding a special series of events celebrating the social dances of the past decades. There will be delightful performances, full of energy and excitement, as well as stories and memories of local people.
On Friday 12 and Saturday 13 September Ragroof Theatre present Shall We Dance. Come along to see glamorous dancing couples perform dances from the roaring 20’s to the thrifty 50’s. There will also be the chance to visit The Documentation Booth, with displays of photographs and memorabilia, sound recordings and video footage collected from local people.
The Alnwick Garden are offering Culture Club members two tickets for the price of one to Saturday evenings event. The Garden will be transformed into an outdoor ballroom complete with bandstand and glitter ball while Ragroof Theatre Company transport the audience back through time to the sounds of Colin Haikney and his band. Put on your dancing shoes and join us for an outdoor tea dance, with demonstrations of the charleston, waltz, cha cha and tango.
Tickets are available at £10 for Adults, children go free, advance booking only, call 01665 511350, no dance partner or experience necessary.
A grant of £50,000 from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has enabled The Alnwick Garden to expand it’s arts programme this year, and include a number of activities and events which celebrate our past, with a focus on Northumbrian heritage. The grant has allowed us to work with Ragroof Theatre and bring their fantastic performance to The Alnwick Garden. The performances are great opportunities to bring together lots of different community groups of all ages as part of The Garden’s aim to encourage intergenerational experiences.
The National Trust is offering Journal Culture Club members a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Seaton Delaval Hall and its surrounding gardens and grounds.
In a bid to save this John Vanbrugh masterpiece from private sale, Trustee’s of the National Trust have thrown down the gauntlet to their regional staff– we will give £6.9million of the charity’s money to help save the hall on two conditions – if you can raise a further £6.3 million before Christmas, and, if you can show that there is strong public support for the acquisition.
In an attempt to gauge public feeling and to find out what the public would like to do with the hall should the Trust acquire, a series of consultation events will take place. These include exclusive tours of the Hall and a chance to ask any questions, followed by the opportunity to have your say and discuss the Hall’s future potential.
The beauty, location and unique setting for the Hall has already attracted many suggestions from the local community including using the property for events such as weddings, scout camps, vintage car shows, medieval banquets and outdoor concerts.
Now the National Trust would like to hear what Culture Club members have to say.
Culture Club has teamed up with Theatre Royal Newcastle to offer a fantastic £10 saving on top price tickets to see Noises Off on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 September.
Culture Club members can enjoy Michael Frayn’s multi-award winning comedy in the best seats in the house for just £15.
This glorious comic romp stars stars Colin Baker (Doctor Who), Jonathan Coy (Donkeys' Years), Ben Hull (Hollyoaks) and Maggie Steed (The History Boys).
Noises Off gives you two plays for the price of one! Whilst the traditional British farce Nothing On is being performed, a real life farce unfolds backstage during the show’s final rehearsal and the ensuing disastrous tour. Watch as the actors make their exits from one play, only to find themselves making entrances into the other – and back again!
Over a million people have wept with laughter at Michael Frayn’s sharp and witty comedy, winner of both the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Comedy.
Noises Off appears at the Theatre Royal from Monday 15 – Saturday 20 September 2008. Tickets are priced at £8.50 - £27.00 and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk
'A Light in Westgate Street'
threeovereden at The Lit & Phil and Mining Institute
A theatre company arrives in Newcastle to present stories of the building of the Lit and Phil Library, calling up ghosts from the past which emerge from the shadows and Culture Club has two tickets to give away, for this Saturday’s performance, (September 6).
All is not well, however, behind the scenes. Even while the company is entertaining us with their play, mutiny is in the air, and we are taken on a parallel journey between events of two hundred years ago and a story of the present day.
threeovereden returns to the Lit and Phil with a new play specifically written for the building, bringing its usual lively and energetic trademark style.
Tickets are available at £10 and £8 from Northern Stage, telephone (0191) 230 5151, (Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm) or go to northernstage.co.uk
Unsold tickets available at the door 30 minutes before performance.
Super smooth, nutty or soft on the tongue; does the thought of a tasty chocolate treat get your juices flowing? If you’re someone who melts at the thought of a truffle or goes woozy with delight over a soft centre then Blackfriars chocolate tasting lunch may be the taste of heaven you’re looking for.
Blackfriars restaurant has teamed up with North East chocolate maker, Davenports Chocolates to host a chocolate tasting lunch exclusively for Culture Club members.
Tasters will begin with a two course Blackfriars lunch, sampling their gutsy traditional British menu along with a refreshing glass of wine, before moving on to a tasting session of sampling Davenport’s chocolate delights.
Jane Williams, founder of Davenports Chocolates will begin the experience with a talk on the art of chocolate making before taking Culture Club members through the finer points of chocolate tasting.
For example did you know that each chocolate has been designed to be a simple but extravagant mouthful, with an attractive visual appearance to mirror the character of the chocolate centre? Well don’t worry if you didn’t because Jane will be on hand to alert you to the finer delicacies of each chocolate you taste.
The event will take place on Tuesday September 16 at Blackfriars restaurant and is offered to Culture Club members at the discounted rate of £15 per person. The event begins at 11.30am.
One of the most popular and enchantingly romantic stories ever told comes to life in Disney’s multi-award winning musical BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at the Sunderland Empire next week and Culture Club members can purchase top priced tickets to the 7.30pm performances on Wednesday and Thursday for just £20.00!*
Seen by over 25 million people and nominated for nine Tony awards, including Best Musical, this eye-popping show has wowed audiences worldwide with record breaking runs in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo and London’s West End and now one of the biggest musicals of all time brings to life the beloved “tale as old as time” with a burst of theatrical magic.
Featuring Mrs Potts and Chip, the hilarious double act Lumiere and Cogsworth, Gaston the town hero and, of course, the beautiful Belle and fearsome yet kind-hearted Beast, this enchanting story takes audiences from a small provincial town in France, through the shadow-filled woods to the Beast’s mysterious castle, all accompanied by the well loved songs from the show including Be Our Guest, Human Again and Beauty and the Beast.
Be our guest and experience an unforgettable performance of Disney’s classic musical!
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is at the Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th October, with tickets costing £10.00 - £32.50.
Here’s your chance to win a VIP pass giving you and a guest free entry to a host of top attractions in Durham.
In today’s busy world, it’s hard to escape the daily grind and simply ‘get away from it all’. Hectic lifestyles can upset the human body-clock, leaving us feeling tired and stressed.
Tranquillity is known to reduce stress levels and improve health, and in numerous studies Durham has proved to be one of the most tranquil places in the UK.
Durham is perfectly placed for peace and tranquillity - from the outstanding natural beauty of the unspoilt countryside, to the dramatic scenery of the Durham Heritage Coast. Even in Durham City itself you can escape the hustle and bustle and find one of many hidden gems, such as the peaceful riverside walk.
To mark Durham’s status as being one of the most peaceful and tranquil places in the UK, the second annual Peace and Tranquillity Week is taking place from September 8th -14th, where events will be held across the County. For further information, visit www.durhampeace.co.uk
The Olivier nominated Frank, Sammy & Dean – The Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas swings its way to the Sunderland Empire for one week only and Culture Club members can purchase opening night tickets for just £15.00!*
This spectacular production celebrates the incredible singing talent of three world famous entertainers and performers, with some of the finest music and song that has ever been recorded.
With a talented cast and 15-piece orchestra, take a trip back to the glamorous, hot, glitzy nights of Las Vegas and experience Frank, Sammy & Dean’s world in this sensational production that brings the music and lives of these legendary characters together again.
Featuring hits including The Lady is a Tramp, Mr Bojangles, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, That’s Amore, For Once In A Lifetime, New York, New York, My Kinda Town, Fly Me to the Moon, Sway, Volare, Me And My Shadow, My Way, Candyman, Memories Are Made Of This and What Kind of Fool, this is your chance to swing with the hardest partying pack in town!
Dancing with Angels is a wonderfully eclectic mix of deliciously intriguing short stories where you will be transported to a myriad of settings, both ordinary and exotic, in which nothing is ever quite what it seems and anticipated conclusions to every thought-provoking journey are likely to lead readers down a dead-end path, with a fascinating and unseen twist waiting in ambush.
The Journal Culture Club are giving members the chance to WIN one of five copies.
The fascinating events described in 'Dancing with Angels' are able to turn certainty into uncertainty, reduce meticulously made plans to dust, vaporise hopes and dreams and transform life into death with the inaudible and inexorable click of fate's fingers, each gem etching an unforgettable signature in one's memory.
Every human life appears as though a play scripted by fate, but whether it is a tragedy, mystery, comedy, love or horror story, how many scenes and acts are contained therein, the number of pages before 'The End' and the character parts involved remain a guarded secret whose revelation is the privilege of time alone.
Culture Club members can get tickets for Stars on Sunday for only £10.
North East comedians and entrepreneurs, Bobby Pattinson and Leah Bell, have gathered together their show business pals to present a night of comedy and music at The Journal Tyne Theatre on Sunday September 21, 2008 in aid of The Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund.
Among guests who have confirmed their availability to appear are entertainers Johnny De Little, Peter Donegan and Jason King. Glitz and glamour will be provided by The Dream Girls and the Sonny Dogan Dance Machine. The bill will also include the Reavley Theatre School and there will be a Take That Tribute by Envy. The show will start at 7.30pm.
Tickets for the show are normally £12 but Culture Club members pay only £10.
A fairytale world of woods, princes and cottages comes to County Durham in September and Culture Club members can meet the artist behind these magical images.
London-based artist Eleanor Moreton, the 2008 Durham Cathedral artist-in-residence, will exhibit her work at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery from Saturday, September 13.
Her princes come in a range of disguises with inspiration ranging from Disney to Slovakian puppets, but they are always ridiculous.
Eleanor often paints buildings and homes and her cottages can have claustrophobic, dark interiors or be more airy, illogical spaces with walls that seem to float apart.
Sometimes they are seen from the outside, surrounded by woods or derelict.
The imaginary world she creates alludes to German Romanticism and psychoanalytic theory but her position is always one of ambivalence.
Eleanor, who studied painting and art history at Exeter College of Art, UCE and Chelsea College of Art, will give a free tour of her exhibition on Friday, September 19 at 6pm.
We’ve organised an Aroma Lab session at Starbucks – especially for Culture Club members.
Rather like a wine tasting, a Starbucks aroma lab is a tasting and education session designed to help customers better understand coffee characteristics, highlighting aromas and flavours, and exploring coffee growing regions.
Store manager at Starbucks coffee house in Eldon Square, Stephen Langley, will take members through the whole coffee experience, from how Starbucks coffee beans are responsibly grown and ethically traded to understanding the flavours from different geographical regions, and finally food pairings with each coffee.
Stephen said: “An aroma lab is a great voyage through coffee that allows you to experience the truly diverse flavours from each coffee growing region. It’s about developing a greater appreciation for coffee and discovering and comparing the aroma, body and flavour of Starbucks coffees from different regions.
Starbucks customers can choose from two Freshly Brewed coffees in stores every day, one of which is Starbucks Café Estima Blend™ Fair Trade Coffee. The second Freshly Brewed coffee changes on a weekly basis. There are also 20 Starbucks wholebean coffees to enjoy at home and Starbucks Baristas are always more than happy to grind the beans in-store for customers, free of charge, according to their home brewing requirements.
The Culture Club Starbucks Aroma Lab will take place on Wednesday September 10, 2008 at 7.30pm.
The Art Works Galleries would like to invite Culture Club members to September’s F1rst Thursday taking place on Thursday September 4, 2008 from 6pm.
Your invite includes a personal tour of the Gallery from Matt Forster, 20% off all SHOP purchases and a drink of you choice!
Also take the chance to view the Surreal September exhibition including pieces by Emma Wolfindale and Jemma Watts, see their and others interpreations of what September says to them.
It's also your last chance to vote for your favourite piece in the Heaven and Hell Exhibition - giving you the chance to comment on art from your perspective.
All The Fun Of The Fair arrives at Darlington Civic Theatre on September 22, 2008 and Culture Club members can get two tickets for the price of one.
David Essex, together with Boogie Nights creator Jon Conway invite you onto a roller-coaster ride of romance and rock and roll, underscored by a helter-skelter of David Essex hits and album favourites.
A travelling funfair provides the backdrop to a moving contemporary love story. David plays the part of the funfair owner Levi Lee, who is coming to terms with the loss of his wife and the attentions of a newly divorced woman. He is also struggling to deal with his rebellious teenage son’s tangled love life and ambitions. Danger and mysticism lurk in the future, as predicted by a gypsy fortune teller, if Levi changes his path. This moving story with a heartbreaking twist reaches out to every parent and anyone ever torn in love.
Tickets normally cost £17 to £29.50 but Culture Club Members can get 2 tickets for the price of one for either Monday September 22 or Tuesday September 23, 2008 at 7.30pm.
Once a month, Durham’s Gala Theatre hosts the cream of the stand-up comedy circuit crop with its Comedy Store residency. To kick off the autumn season on September 7, 2008 comedian Dave Johns, a Geordie stand-up of the highest calibre, uses his contrived manner and sense of fun to compere the evening’s entertainment.
The young and agile Jason Rouse uses a clever combination of devilishly crafted jokes and ‘freak-show-like’ theatrics to devastating effect.
Alex Boardman epitomizes the laddish, male perspective on the world with his quick thinking and improvisational style, leading him to be hailed as one of Manchester’s finest. Joining this comical trio will be a special guest set to win applause from the any audience.
Tickets for The Comedy Store are usually £10, but Culture Club members can obtain tickets for just £7 each.
On Thursday September 11, Culture Club members are invited to Locomotion to spend 10 minutes learning to drive a diesel locomotive for themselves, for just £10.
If you book a place on this exclusive event, you’ll be given a ten minute time slot to board the footplate of a diesel locomotive. One of Locomotion’s experienced staff will show you how to operate the engine - then you’ll have the chance to take control and drive the locomotive part way along the museum’s track.
To book your 10 minute session, please send a cheque for £10 – made payable to NMSI – to The Journal Culture Club offer, Locomotion, Shildon DL4 1PQ.
Please enclose your name, address, daytime telephone number, along with your Culture Club membership number.
In addition, please state whether you would prefer a morning or afternoon time slot for your experience on Thursday September 11. Due to insurance regulations, you must be aged between 21 and 70 to drive the locomotive. Places are limited, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Locomotion provides a great day out. There are more than 70 vehicles from the National Collection on display, including the original Sans Pareil, Timothy Hackworth’s pioneering locomotive from the historic 1829 Rainhill Trials.
Locomotion is fully accessible to disabled visitors, and an eco-friendly bus is available to transport visitors around the 1km site. There’s a children’s play area, a picnic area, and the Platform Seven Café is open throughout the day.
The museum offers FREE admission and FREE parking. For more information, contact Locomotion on 01388 777999, email info@locomotion.uk.com or visit www.locomotion.uk.com
Why not join us at Kirkharle Courtyard on Friday September 12, 2008 for a charming and relaxing culture club event.
Kirkharle Courtyard is a unique destination. Just a short drive from Newcastle, it is home to a collection of boutique shops, arts and craft workshops, and local specialist food outlets set in a converted 15th century farm courtyard. Here, as well as visiting one of our many individual shops, or dining in our cosy coffee shops, you can wander around our courtyard or take a countryside walk to the nearby 14th century church.
These beautiful buildings were the birthplace of Lancelot “Capability” Brown, arguably Britain’s most famous landscape architect, responsible for designing and creating over 170 gardens surrounding some of the finest estates in Britain. Plans for his own gardens and lake were never completed but a recently exhibition at Kirkharle Courtyard is dedicated to Brown and it is hoped that the lake he envisaged at Kirkharle will be built according to his original plan in the near future.
Members will be able to enjoy a short talk from owner John Anderson on the history of the venue as well as watch a new documentary on Capability Brown.
They’ll then be able to meet some of the artists in their workshops, stroll around the sculpture garden and sample some of the fantastic local produce available in the Coffee House. Kirkharle is also home to Ingrid Wagner of the ‘Big Knit’ and Jon Monks of Shepherd Walks.
THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN FULLY ALLOCATED. PLEASE CONTACT rachel.suddart@ncjmedia.co.uk or 0191 201 6369 if you wish to be placed on a waiting list.
If you want to see what a star looks like close-up then here’s your chance.
The Journal’s Culture Club has linked up with Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society (KOAS) to stage a solar viewing session on Saturday 6 September at the exciting new £480,000 facility, launched by the Kielder Partnership in April.
Although the inky black skies over 155,000 acre Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland, make stars glow brightly at night, there’s no rest for modern stargazers.
Special telescopes will be used to peek at our sun during the day. It is one of billions of stars in our galaxy and without its heat and light life would be impossible on the earth.
Visitors will also get chance to tour the new facility, which houses two large telescopes, and go on their own star trek along a scale model of our Solar System.
Richard Darn, member of KOAS, said: “This is a chance to find out more about the most important star in the Universe as far as we are concerned – our own sun. The view is simply stunning and we may be able to see mottling in the sun’s atmosphere and perhaps even gigantic flares shooting into space.”
The event meets at the Kielder Observatory* and runs between 2pm and 4pm and will include a short talk. To find out more about Kielder Observatory visit www.kielderobservatory.org
THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY ALLOCATED. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST rachel.suddart@ncjmedia.co.uk
If you’d like to go to next month’s group, head down to your local library or bookseller and get your mitts on a copy of The Oxford book of Short Stories: V.S. Pritchett (editor)
V. S. Pritchett, one of our greatest short-story writers, has chosen forty-one stories written in the English language for this volume, producing a collection that successfully displays the wealth and variety of an art that spans some 200 years.
Great Britain, America, and especially Eire have fine traditions of short-story writing that have developed from the time of Sir Walter Scott and Nathaniel Hawthorne, while in the last century the art was perfected by Ernest Hemingway, D. H. Lawrence, W. Somerset Maugham, John Updike, and V. S. Pritchett himself. The Irish contribution includes such masters as James Joyce, Frank O'Connor, and Liam O'Flaherty, and stories by Canadian, Indian, New Zealand, and Australian writers show the full range of invention and ability in a genre that continues to flourish.
The book group will meet on Wednesday September 3, 2008 at The Biscuit Factory, Stoddart Street (6pm to 7.30pm). You don’t need to book a place – you can just turn up. You must be a member of Culture Club to attend. Readers are expected to source their own copy of the book.
We suggest that everyone should read two particular stories to discuss for those who don't have the time to read every one. The two stories selected by members of last month's group are "Paste" by Henry James and "Mrs Fortescue" by Doris Lessing. People are very welcome to read more if they want to.
Newcastle’s elegant Mansion House is the perfect backdrop for an evening of musical entertainment, which is why it has launched its own classic concert series.
Performed by the Aurora Strings, the Mansion House will play host to four events right through until Christmas with music to suit every taste.
On May 3 Baroque Gems will include the work of Bach and Handel while on July 4 guests can enjoy an evening of jazz by Gershwin at the aptly named Summertime.
September 6 sees a programme of music by the great composers such as Hadyn and Mozart with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons By Candlelight on December 5.
Tickets for each event are £25.50 each and include a welcome drink and supper but Culture Club members can enjoy these fabulous concerts at a very special price.
Book for two concerts and quote your Culture Club membership and you will receive a discount of £10 per person – a great way to enjoy these wonderful musical evenings at a great price.
 
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