SpArC Theatre

BUILD A BAND JAM
2025-12-02 18:30 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Unnamed Venue
Youth Jam session, come and play some music with other people-
We will have Drums, PA, a couple of guitar Amps and guitars- you are welcome to bring your own instrument.
You can watch , join in if you want
Led by local musician and engineer Dunk Burns .
For young people who are interested in playing music with other people

We want to see who is out there and what they are interested in doing and if there is anything we can do to help- cause its not easy!

Church Barn Bishop’s Castle 6.30pm

1.5-2hrs but depends how many we end up with I guess.
FREE
Just Turn up
Age 11 +

The Roses (15)
2025-12-04 19:00 - 21:00 | SpArC Theatre
Dark comedy – Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Theo and Ivy: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. However, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentments soon emerge when Theo’s career nosedives and Ivy’s own ambitions take off.
” Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch unite for a marriage most foul. Two British national treasures play an increasingly unhappy couple who descend into slapstick loathing.” The FT
6.8 IMDB
Based on the 1989 film The war of the Roses

The Royal Ballet : The Nutcracker
2025-12-14 14:00 - 16:30 | SpArC Theatre
Screening Via Satellite
Journey into the magical kingdom and Light up your Christmas with Peter Wright’s enchanting production for all the family
The magician Herr Drosselmeyer is on a quest to save his nephew. Hans-Peter has been transformed into a Nutcracker doll by the wicked Queen of the Mice; the only way to break the spell is for the Nutcracker to defeat the Mouse King and find a girl to love and care for him. A flicker of hope comes to Drosselmeyer in the form of the young Clara, whom Drosselmeyer meets at the Stahlbaum’s Christmas party. With a swish of Drosselmeyer’s cape and a little bit of magic, a cosy festive gathering turns into a marvellous adventure.
Adults £15 Under 18 £5 Family £40

Afternoon Film: Four Letters of Love ( 12A)
2025-12-16 14:00 - 15:50 | SpArC Theatre
6.1 IMDB
Based on Niall Williams’ best-selling novel. Nicholas and Isabel were made for each other but how will they ever know it? As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull them together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
Starring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter, Gabriel Byrne.
Tickets £4 Carers FREE
Supported by Arts alive & the Friends of Bishop’s Castle Community, Care Home and Hospital.
Tea & Biscuits £1 Accessible Cabaret seating/no steps/ hearing loop/ /local Free Bus available

Mog's Christmas Film & Crafty Making Workshop
2025-12-22 10:30 - 12:30 | SpArC Theatre
Join us at SpArC to feel festive together
Watch Mog’s Christmas
Wonderful 2023 animated short film based on the Judith Kerr book.
Then stay and make some Christmas crafts with Liz and team at SpArC theatre and Catherine Murphy
All materials and ideas provided with plenty of freedom to be creative !
£3.50 per child or £6 for 2 children.
Accompanying Adults FREE but please book a place so we know for seating and we would be grateful of a donation on the day if you want to make things too.
All ages welcome. Under 7’s must be accompanied.
10.30-10.40- Arrive
10.40-11.05- Watch Animation on the big SpArC Cinema Screen
11.05-12.30 – Making Workshop- – All materials provided
This work shop is a collaboration with FLICKS IN THE STICKS

D&D Christmas One Shot Game
2025-12-22 14:00 - 17:00 | SpArC Theatre
Enter the World of Dungeons and Dragons
Join Us for a special festive game session!
Suitable for all levels
“Always wanted to play D&D but didn’t know how to begin?This “Learn while you Play” will focus on the three traditional “pillars” of RPGs: combat, exploration, and social interaction/roleplaying.
Official D&D Dungeon Master’s (DM) will be your teachers and guides
There will be pre-generated characters and the DM will work with the players to understand the character sheets for the adventure. For example, explain what a fearless fighter, a sneaky Rouge or even a highborn wizard can bring to the table . The DM will walk through combat and skill checks to provide the best experience for the game.”
Participants must be Age 11 +

FILM: Downton Abbey- The Grand Finale (PG)
2026-01-15 19:00 - 21:00 | SpArC Theatre
7.4 IMDB
We know you love Downton so we are screening it twice – This is the page for the evening screening Thursday 15th January 7pm
The cinematic return of the global phenomenon, follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.
In the summer of 1930, the Crawleys grapple with the threat of social disgrace when Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble

The Royal Opera: La Traviata (Verdi)
2026-01-18 14:00 - 18:00 | SpArC Theatre
Screening via Satellite
At one of her lavish parties, celebrated Parisan courtesan Violetta is introduced to Alfredo Germont. The two fall madly in love, and though hesitant to leave behind her life of luxury and freedom, Violetta follows her heart. But the young couple’s happiness is short-lived, as the harsh realities of life soon come knocking.
As intimate as it is sumptuous, La traviata features some of opera’s most famous melodies, and is a star vehicle for its leading soprano role sung by Ermonela Jaho. In director Richard Eyre’s world of seductive grandeur, the tender and devastating beauty at the centre of Verdi’s opera shines bright.

Afternoon Film: Downton Abbey- The Grande Finale (PG)
2026-01-20 14:00 - 16:00 | SpArC Theatre
7.4 IMDB
We know you love Downton so we are screening it twice – This is the page for the afternoon screening Tuesday 20th January .
The cinematic return of the global phenomenon, follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.
In the summer of 1930, the Crawleys grapple with the threat of social disgrace when Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble.
Tickets £4 Carers FREE
Supported by Arts alive & the Friends of Bishop’s Castle Community, Care Home and Hospital.
Tea & Biscuits £1 Accessible Cabaret seating/no steps/ hearing loop/ /Local Dial- a -Ride Free Bus available 01588 638 350

NT Live: Hamlet
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:30 | SpArC Theatre
Hamlet
by William Shakespeare directed by Robert Hastie
Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.
Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince Hamlet dares to ask the ultimate question – you know the one.
National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director, Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Operation Mincemeat) directs this sharp, stylish and darkly funny reimagining.

Live Theatre: The Ballad of Mulan
2026-02-28 19:00 - 20:30 | SpArC Theatre
Grist to the Mill and Red Dragonfly Productions Presents The Ballad of Mulan
The real Chinese heroine than inspired Disney’s films

‘If you love history and strong women, this performance is for you.’Broadway Baby (on The Ballad Mulan)
‘A brilliant performance… there is always new wisdom to be found even in the oldest of stories.’ British Theatre Guide (on The Ballad of Mulan)
‘A powerful exploration of gender, war, and identity, as relevant and timely today as ever’ Tupla Magazine (on The Ballad of Mulan)
‘Forget the Disney version – If you want to see a powerful performance by a great actress, and writer, go and see ‘Mulan’. Better still – take your daughter!’ HIDDEN GEM – FringeReview (on The Ballad of Mulan)
Woman, warrior, Legend. For ten years Mulan disguised as a man, has fought for the Chinese Empire. Now the fighting is coming to an end, one last battle and she will be going home – but can she return to her old life, become a woman again.
A search for identity in a violent world. From the team behind Edfringe Sell-Out ‘The Unknown Soldier’ Grist to the Mill and working in collaboration with British-East-Asian theatre company Red Dragonfly, we bring you the real Chinese heroine that inspired Disney’s animation and live-feature Mulan.
Don’t expect a fluffy Disney tale here, this Mulan is visceral. She is a warrior, a fighter, a woman who survived in a very male world for ten years without discovery. There is no perfect make-up, no singing animals, just a gritty story of a soldier. Michelle Yim (The Empress and Me and An Evening with Miss Wong) brings to life our heroine who, to save her family’s honour, disguised herself as a man and joined the Emperor’s army.

Commissioned by British-born Chinese Michelle Yim and written by Ross Ericson, whose play Casualties was nominated for an Off West End Award and whose solo WW1 show The Unknown Soldier officially sold out at Edinburgh Fringe 2016, has returned to the original text, the C6th Chinese poem on Mulan, and tried to fill in the gaps to explore the true identity of one of the most revered women in China.
The Ballad Of Mulan is produced by British East Asian theatre company Red Dragonfly Productions and Grist to the Mill Productions, who have championed new writing since 2012. The performance was developed with funding from Arts Council England.

Live Theatre: Eyes Down
2026-03-12 19:30 - 21:30 | SpArC Theatre
Eyes Down

It’s Bingo Night at The Stairway To Heaven Social Club and that can only mean one thing: ‘Mr Razzle Dazzle’ himself, Bertie Bingo is ready to host an evening of dabbers, Droopy Drawers… and death!
As games are played, houses are called, tension mounts, and before long a body is discovered… but whose number is up? How culpable are the audience? What really happened to the previous caller? And more importantly… who will win the prize of the night
Eyes Down is a truly interactive comedy thriller where the audience play actual games of bingo, with actual prizes! Who will emerge as Top Of The Shop and who will end up the victim of The Unlucky For Some Killer?
Fresh from their hit tour of The Plot Thickens, Manchester based Just Some Theatre are thrilled to be bringing this new, exciting experience to audiences.
