Last updated 05:40, Friday, 03 October 2008

More than 50 shows will be staged in 30 venues in the Autumn programme for the new Highlights Rural Touring Scheme.

The shows in Eden, South Lakes, rural Carlisle, and the North Pennines see the return of some familiar performers and a host of new faces for the coming months.

A genuine highlight of the Highlights season will be a performance of the Northumbrian pipes by Kathryn and Peter Tickell in the People’s Hall at Sedbergh on December 5.

There will also be traditional Celtic music and song from the acclaimed Tom McConville in Hallbankgate, Threlkeld and Nicholforest Village Hall in Penton and the return of The Polyjesters, completely contagious and crazy Canadians, to Orton Market Hall and Ullswater Community College in November.

Drama and puppet performances include the award-winning NTC productions, Country Voices and These Things Do Happen at Appleby, Mungrisdale and Melmerby, Quondam Theatre’s The Last Waltz at Shap and Ivegill and Straw Headed Peter, a cautionary tale for the New Year at Cliburn, Alston and Appleby in January.

Alston is also hosting one of Highlight’s first ever foreign-language productions when Theatre sans Frontières present La Pelota Magica in Spanish at the Town Hall on Thursday, October 9.

Described as a mixture of live action, puppetry and music, the story of Luis and Natalia is a vivid introduction to the Spanish language for younger children.

“ Barbara Slack, one of the Scheme’s two directors’, explained: “We have a network of local promoters, each one choosing, organising and publicising the events at their venue on a voluntary basis and we are delighted to offer such a wide range of events for the autumn and winter months.”

A brochure with full details of the current programme and contacts for tickets is available from libraries, Tourist Information Centres and local promoters across the area or from the Highlights offices in King’s Head Court in Appleby.

Visit www.highlightsnorth.co.uk for more information.