We’ve rounded up some of the top things to do this weekend.
1. Annie, Sunderland Empire, October 7-12
Annie starring Lesley Joseph is heading to Sunderland Empire from October 7-12. Lesley Joseph returns to the role of Miss Hannigan and is joined on stage by Alex Bourne as Oliver Warbucks, Richard Meek as Rooster, Jenny Gayner as Lily and Carolyn Maitland as Grace Farrell. Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search. Photo: Annie
2. Houghton Feast, October 4-13
The historic Houghton Feast takes place from this weekend with a packed programme of music, arts, sports, entertainment and community events/activities. This year's festival will be launched with a spectacular community show in the Broadway from 7pm on October 4. Colourful flags made by local school children will decorate the arena as Houghton Pipe Band, Zazz dancers, Houghton Area Youth Brass Band, The new Houghton Feast Childrens choir and the winner of the Voice of Houghton-le-Spring 2019 singing contest entertain the crowds. At the conclusion of the outdoor show, the Houghton Feast illuminations will be switched on by The Right Worshipful, The Mayor of Sunderland Councillor David Snowdon. Photo: Kevin Brady
3. Women: a Cartography, Arts Centre Washington, until October 26
Two artists who underwent major surgery have magnified and interpreted images of their cells to create a thought-provoking exhibition which merges art with science. Following in the footsteps of the hugely-successful Da Vinci exhibition in Sunderland and his ground-breaking anatomical drawings, Rachel Cochrane and Maggie Hickman Smith worked closely with pathology labs at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, and University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton for their Women: a Cartography exhibition. The display, which is on show at Arts Centre Washington, is a mixed media exhibition of creative work inspired by the cellular pathology specimens from the hysterectomy and double mastectomy of Rachel and Maggie and is aimed at opening up discussions about women’s health. Photo: Frank Reid
4. Les Miserables, Theatre Royal Newcastle, until October 5
Les Misérables is running at Theatre Royal, Newcastle, until October 5. After nearly a decade since the last sell-out UK tour, Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed Broadway production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical Les Misérables has returned to the road. This brilliant new staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed “Les Mis for the 21stCentury”. With scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, the magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs; I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home, One Day More, Master Of The House and many more. Seen by over 120 million people worldwide in 45 countries and in 22 languages, Les Misérables is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals. There’s limited tickets left for most performances. Photo: Les Miserables