We’ve rounded up 11 of the top things to do.
1. Ian McKellen, Theatre Royal, Newcastle, August 18
Ian McKellen on Stage is at Theatre Royal Newcastle on Sunday, August 18, with both a matinee and evening performance.The solo show is in celebration of his 80th birthday. The actor said: “I’m celebrating my 80th birthday by touring a new solo show to theatres I know well and a few that I don’t. The show starts with Gandalf and will probably end with an invitation to act with me on stage. In between there will be anecdotes and acting. I open at my local arts centre in January and end up by August in Orkney. Live theatre has always been thrilling to me, as an actor and in the audience. Growing up in Lancashire, I was grateful to those companies who toured beyond London and I’ve always enjoyed repaying that debt by touring up and down the country myself, with the RSC, the National Theatre, Prospect Theatre, the Actors’ Company, as well as with commercial productions.” | Other 3rd Party Photo: n/a
2. Hardwick Live, August 17-18
Hardwick Live Festival is at Hardwick Hall Hotel, at Sedgefield, County Durham, from August 17-18. Headliners Manic Street Preachers will ramp up the crowds on Saturday, while James will be playing their greatest hits on Sunday. Fans can enjoy a long list of stars joining them on the main stage across the weekend including The Zutons, Lisa Stansfield, Ziggy Marley, Stiff Little Fingers, Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge and Billy Bragg. Over on the Discovery Stage, there will be performances from Catherine McGrath, The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club, The Joy Formidable, Lancashire Hot Pots, Sports Team, Hyde Park Brass Band, Zuzu, Only the Poets, Bloxx and Saint Agnes.The festival will also welcome world-famous club brands Glitterbox and Retro to the Coachhouse Courtyard for the first time, with a line-up of top DJs including The Shapeshifters, Joey Negro, Paul Taylor and Jeremy Healy. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Picture by Dean Atkins
.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
3. Arbuthnot and Pals, Customs House, South Shields
Arbuthnot and Pals’ Adventures in Oz, is at Customs House, South Shields, on August 15 and 16. The show is loosely based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L Frank Baum, who penned a number of stories about the Land of Oz. Davey Hopper returns as Arbuthnot and he will be joined by Dale Jewitt as Puddles, Eleanor Chaganis as the Wicked Witch of the West, Luke Maddison as Jack, Glen Richard Townsend as Dennis and Lori Smedley as Cecilia. | Other 3rd Party Photo: Picture from Customs House
.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
4. Dance festival, Billingham
Billingham International Festival of World Dance is running until August 18. The festival presents over 300 of the best international performers from around the world. The festival programme has been devised by Artistic Director Olga Maloney and Balbir Singh of Balbir Singh Dance Company. “There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere created by the festival. It manages to capture the imagination of people of all ages as everyone who has grown up in the region has at some point got a memory sparked by the Billingham International Folkore Festival of World Dance,” said Artistic Director, Olga Maloney. | Other 3rd Party Photo: Picture by Tom Banks