What's On in Darlington

Celebrating 10 successful years, One Night of Queen continues to rock sell out audiences worldwide, from the prestigious BBC Proms in the Park in London to extensive tours of the USA.

A stunning live concert featuring all the Queen classics: Bohemian Rhapsody, Under Pressure and Radio Ga Ga.

''For one night only, Queen and Freddie Mercury came back to life''
Salt Lake Tribune (USA)

''Fantastic!''
Sir Terry Wogan
BBC Proms In The Park 09

An evening of well-balanced music with the mixture of Tommy Allen the guitar slinger supreme and harmonica ace Johny Hewitt.

Jazz meets Jive - Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen with The Jive Aces - two band spectacular!

Kenny Ball is a legend. Probably the greatest test of an artist's success is his durability. Kenny is now a national institution and the most successful jazz trumpeter this side of the Atlantic. His landmark recordings of the 1960s, such as Midnight in Moscow, catapulted him to worldwide fame and he is now a living legend. The great Louis Armstrong said of Kenny ''This man is a genius''. www.kennyball.co.uk

The Jive Aces are the UK's No.1 Jive & Swing band. Renowned for their red-hot, swinging music and high-energy stage show, they play songs made famous by such greats as Bobby Darin, Louis Prima and Sammy Davis Jr, as well as some superb originals. They have sold-out at venues around the world. The Stage says ''Simply sensational. The Jive Aces manage great freshness yet maintain an authentic accurate sound.'' www.jiveaces.com

The show also features very special guest, top crooner and son of Kenny, Keith Ball. www.myspace.com/keithballuk

Both bands will play their own sets comprising of some of the most popular and enduring songs in the jazz and swing songbook and then join together for a red-hot, jam session finale with some surprises!

''...a brilliantly satisfying whodunit...''
Sight and Sound

Whilst facing jail on libel charges, investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist is hired by an aged tycoon to look into the disappearance of his niece forty years earlier. The journalist teams up with computer hacker and social outcast Lisbeth Salander, and the two soon uncover a series of horrific killings and corporate crime in this twisty and atmospheric thriller.

Why see it?
An adaptation of the best-selling Swedish novel by the late Steig Larsson, the first in a dramatic and intelligent trilogy.

Dir: Niels Arden Oplev
152 mins, Sweden et al., 2009, subtitles

Over 100 million people from around the world tuned into America's Got Talent, last season, to see The Texas Tenors, who were voted 2009's Vocal Group of the Year. Now, for the very first time ever...they are touring the UK!

The incredible voices of these classically trained Tenors - J.C, Marcus and John - perform the most romantic songs of the last century and bring their unique blend of Gospel, Country, Classical and Broadway to the stage with breathtaking vocals, humour and a hint of cowboy charm.

J.C is the ever romantic Tenor with his interpretations of classic Neapolitan love songs; Marcus brings a contemporary feel to the group and John is simply The Tenor!

Together they create harmonies as smooth as silk and a sound to satisfy the soul. From well loved arias, to show songs, from Nessun Dorma to My Way, The Texas Tenors cover every genre of music. Effortlessly!

These three childhood friends have carved fantastic careers in their own right, as actors and classical soloists, and since America's Got Talent they have combined to create the ultimate vocal sound.

The Tenors themselves couldn't be more different and yet their chemistry onstage and long time friendship shines through in every performance. John brings a wealth of experience from the world of classical music. Having performed in numerous operas to rave reviews, his deep speaking voice, bright blue eyes, and singing voice dubbed the cannon, will simply take your breath away. When JC sings John Denver's Thank God I'm A Country Boy, no truer words have been spoken. Married with three children and raised on a cattle ranch, JC's deep love of country music and gospel enriches The Texas Tenors with faith and the charm of a true southern gentleman. And finally with one quote from Sharon Osbourne ''You in the middle, you're hot!'' Marcus' life would never be the same. With a big smile and his heart on his sleeve, Marcus infuses the group with an authentic raw emotion and contemporary pop sound that will touch your heart.

The biggest Australian show since Priscilla, Busting Out! is a raucously entertaining, fun, funny, thoroughly theatrical, empowering and affirmative celebration of the female body. It's created by Emma Powell and performed by Emma and Bev Killick - two of Australia's most sensational performers.

The show has been a feted hit in Australia and New Zealand, famed for its dynamic inclusivity it has now played to over 250,000 people. The audience play a vital role in the proceedings (by appearing on a large on-stage screen and often actually on stage) which threatens, on occasion, to turn the entire theatre into an utterly disorderly house! Emma and Bev's up-front and out-there breast-based contortions are intercut with rousing song and dance sequences, hilarious sketches, a shadow play and brilliant stand-up comedy.

Yes, it's a wild night out but as Australian commentators have pointed out Busting Out! is ''an affirming lesson in body love and esteem without the soapbox'' (The West Australian) and it ''makes women feel good about themselves and their bodies'' (Sunday Mail Adelaide)

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to give all your support to an outstanding pair of fully-rounded performers with ample talents. They're stars and they're big ones. (And Emma and Bev aren't so bad either).

''Tasteful, clever, liberating and laugh out loud funny''
Daily Telegraph, Sydney

''Simply put, Busting Out, is one of the funniest things I have seen''
The West Australian, Perth

www.busting-out.com

Danny continues to delight audiences around the world with his unique and personal brand of storytelling. He is one of the most perceptive and travelled comedians working in the world today.

The Bhoy remains in a class of his own
Herald

'Splinter' is a new series of fortnightly concerts featuring jazz and improvised music from the best of the dynamic young groups who've emerged in the North East over the past five years. Organised by regional jazz development agency JazzAction, the programme will cover a wide range of styles from the driving hard bop of Extreme Measures (the band that really kick started the local jazz explosion), via the tightly drilled jazz-funk of Nick Pride and the Pimptones, to the exciting contemporary approach of bassist Andy Champion's acclaimed quintet ACV, with plenty of other great bands in between. Nearly all of them also write their own material, so this is a chance to catch up with the cream of the region's jazz musicians, and to hear some superb original tunes.

With the help of ceramics specialist and course tutor Shelia Plews, you will work with different types of clay and learn technical skills such as coil and slab building and working with brush-on glazes. In a friendly and relaxed environment you will be able to choose what you would like to create and the pace at which you work. The course caters for all abilities and Sheila is keen to see everyone on the course produce something they can take real pride in. A beginner to the course may want to start on something relatively simple such as a pinch-pot before progressing to something more elaborate but whatever you choose to make the most important aspect to Shelia is that you enjoy making it.

Suitable for beginners and more experienced amateur digital photographers, hone your digital photographic skills and get to grips with your camera in a friendly workshop atmosphere. Using computers, develop and enhance skills to turn your snaps into art.