Lineup Announced for Spot On Lancashire’s New Season

A lineup of events to suit all ages and tastes has been announced for Spot On Rural & Library Touring’s Autumn 2024 season. 

Taking place in communities, libraries and venues across the county and promoted by dedicated volunteers and libraries, the activity once again brings culture to local doorsteps here in Lancashire. 

Canadian artists feature in the music programme, with Christine Tassan et les Imposteures, a high energy Gypsy Jazz quartet who will perform at DownTown, Burnley on Thursday 7^th November and Borwick and Priest Hutton Memorial Hall on Friday 8^th November. 

Wanderlust, a classical flute and guitar duo known for their onstage charisma and camaraderie also tour the UK from their home in Canada this season. From the coasts of Japan to Newfoundland’s Celtic roots, they stoke the fires of far-flung adventure and will be telling stories through and alongside their music at Oswaldtwistle Library on Tuesday 8^th October; St. Anne’s Library on Wednesday 9^th October and Clitheroe Library on Thursday 10^th October. 

Wanderlust will also perform in Burnley Mechanics Front Room, on Sunday 13^th October, as part of the venue’s Mechanics Theatre Presents project, where a group of community promoters host jazz, folk music and new theatre. Spot On are working in community-run spaces across Burnley, asking local people what they’d like to see in their venue and then making it happen. The project so far has included a successful heritage open day at the Mechanics and will include The Hidden Garden, a piece of children’s theatre about an abundant garden in the middle of an urban centre at DownTown on 25^th October. The Hidden Garden can also be enjoyed at Mellor Village Hall on Wednesday 23^rd October and Haslingden Library on Thursday 24^th October. 

Celebrating a diverse range of cultures, the Spot On Autumn 24 season includes the dazzling spins and bell-jangling footwork of Kathak dance from Pagrav Dance Theatre in Poulton-le-Fylde Community Hall on Friday 8^th November; Swedish folklore from storyteller Dominic Kelly’s new show Mara in Great Harwood Library on Friday 11^th October and Cherry Tree Library on Saturday 12^th October, and Devilled Eggs, a quirky take on the history of the traditional British seaside holiday from Black Liver at Thornton Library on Thursday 17^th October; Freckleton Memorial Hall on Friday 18^th October and Tockholes Village Hall on Saturday 19^th October. 

Audiences have the opportunity to learn more about Blackburn’s songbird Kathleen Ferrier through words and song at The Rainhall Centre on Friday 8^th November; Bolton-Le-Sands Library on Saturday 9^th November and Mellor Brook Community Centre on Sunday 10^th November with Lucy Stevens’ show Kathleen Ferrier: Whattalife!

Families can celebrate October Half Term with activities and performances in Blackburn and Darwen markets as well as enjoying Stories in The Dust, an eco-fable about caring for our planet, at Fairhaven Lake on Thursday 24^th October, Poulton Library on Thursday 24^th October, Rishton Library on Friday 25^th October, Mill Hill Community Centre & Library on Friday 25^th October, Halton Mill on Saturday 26^th October and Heysham Library on Saturday 26^th October.

During this year’s spooky season The Plot Thickens is a dark and funny Murder Mystery where secrets are revealed, alliances are tested and backs are stabbed. Audiences can find out if The Ghost fulfills his deadly brief at Morecambe Library on Friday 15^th November, Longridge Library on 16^th November and Blackburn Central Library on Sunday 17^th November.

Bringing the season to a close, Spot On offer a round of toasted crumpets, music and a sing-song with ‘Barbara’ - a heartwarming show which gently touches on the role of caring for loved ones as they get older at Whitworth Library on Friday 22^nd November and Darwen Library on Saturday 23^rd November.

Spot On Rural Touring is part of the National Touring Theatre Network which is supported by Arts Council England. Full programme details can be found on the Spot On Lancashire website www.spotonlancashire.co.uk.