Destination Hartlepool

It's packed with details of exciting autumn and winter events at a host of venues including the Town Hall Theatre, Hartlepool's Maritime Experience, Hartlepool Art Gallery and the Borough Hall.

A new attraction this year is the cinema season at the Town Hall Theatre - book your seat for classic films like Casablanca and The Woman in Black, 80s hits including The Breakfast Club and St Elmo's Fire and heart-warming Christmas movies It's A Wonderful Life and Home Alone.

A favourite is sure to be Cinema Bambino - a programme of Saturday matinees specially for parents and toddlers, featuring family classics including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Theatre highlights include an evening with Hartlepool legend and Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling, stunning tribute band Hats Off To Led Zeppelin, spine-tingling drama in Wilkie Collins' The Ghost's Touch and a special fun-packed, sing-along screening of The Sound Of Music.

There's also the welcome return of popular band Hope and Social, an evening of classical delights with the Fujita Piano Trio, an eclectic mix of music, dance and song from across the world in the Footlight Youth Theatre's Colours of the World and a magical tale for children in The Elves and the Shoemaker.

Comedy is king as the curtain rises on another series of the ever-popular Hot Potato Comedy Club, featuring top-notch comics and a great atmosphere.

Hartlepool Art Gallery will be exploring the work of Adrian Gray, who creates gravity-defying sculptures of stones which are painstakingly balanced one on top of another. Adrian will also be amazing visitors to the Gallery with live demonstrations of his stone-balancing skills.

The people, places and daily life of Hartlepool will be profiled in an exhibition of paintings by Headland artist Stanley Davison, who uses a wide range of styles from scratching with knives to layers of oils. Meanwhile, the Museum of Hartlepool will be charting the history of British pottery from the Bronze Age to the modern day.

Last but not least, make a date in your diary for Spoo-Quay at Hartlepool's Maritime Experience - the hugely popular Halloween fright night takes place this year on two nights so that no-one will miss out on the fun.

Claire Munroe, of Hartlepool Council's Cultural Services section, said: "We've lined up a sparkling selection of quality shows, fascinating exhibitions and fun events and we're particularly delighted to raise the curtain on our new cinema season.

"There's something for all ages and tastes, so pick up your What's Happening Hartlepool guide today and make sure you don't miss out!"

The What's Happening Hartlepool guide is available from Hartlepool Tourist Information Centre in Church Square and other outlets around the borough or by calling 01429 890000. You can also download it at www.whatshappeninghartlepool.com 

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