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What’s on this weekend: 4th-6th November

This week’s top pick

BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival 2011 - The Sage, Gateshead. Fri Oct 4 - Sun Oct 6.

A rich festival that celebrates ideas and thinking, with a wide range of speakers across the weekend; and best of all, it’s free. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Germaine Greer and William Hague will all deliver lectures in the surroundings of the Sage. Enjoy talks from ‘New Generation Thinkers,’ the winners of the inaugural talent scheme run by Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, to find the brightest academic minds within the disciplines. Top heart surgeons, historians and writers also feature. The programme is complimented with live drama performances. All talks will be broadcast live, which may be downloaded for free following the event.

Museums and Exhibitions

Sean Smith: Frontlines - University Gallery, Northumbria University. All weekend. Free admission.

A unique insight into modern warfare through the eyes of acclaimed photographer, Sean Smith. This exhibition begins with violence on the streets of Bethlehem in 2000, and moves through to the Sunni uprisings in Iraq, 2007. Sean started his career as a relative amateur, covering events such as the miners strike and Brixton riots, before joining the Guardian in 1988. Frontlines is an extraordinary account of the grim realities of war, and how society struggles throughout.

Theatre

Doctor Doolittle - Whitley Bay Playhouse. Fri Nov 4 and Sat Nov 5, 7.15pm and Sat 2.15pm. Tickets: £15 adults; £11 under 16s; £48 family ticket.

A broadway sized musical brought to Whitley Bay. The story of Doctor Dolittle is the classic tale of kindness to animals, and this production brings to life the series of classic children’s books by Hugh Lofting. With impressive settings, spectacular effects and the famous Oscar award winning score, make this the perfect outing for all the family. For your chance to win tickets, check out the Bdaily competition here.

Family

The Farm Yard - Brasside, Durham. Sat Oct 5 and Sun Oct 6 - 10am-5pm. Tickets: £6.95; £6.45 over 60s; £2 under 2’s.

Indoor and outdoor soft-play as well as a farmyard will provide hours of fun at The Farm Yard: one of Durham’s newest attractions. Children can run off some energy in the ‘runaway ranch’ where zip-wires and giant slides provide adventure. A weekend bird of prey show features vultures, eagles and hawks. Tractor and pony rides, as well as a ‘gold rush’ style treasure hunt, ensure there is more than enough for an action packed day.

Cinema

Gun Crazy - Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. Sun Oct 6 - 7.30pm. Tickets: £5; £3.50 concessions.

Part of the ‘Sunday Silvers Season’ Gun Crazy is loosely based on the story of depression era bandits Bonnie and Clyde, along with their associates Floyd Hamilton and “Terrible Ted” Walters. Starring John Dall as Bart Tare, the gun-toting husband of Annie Laurie Starr (Peggy Cummins), who has a had a lifelong fascination with firepower. The film follows the pair’s rampant crime-spree.

Food and Drink

Barnard Castle Farmers Market - The Cobbles, Barnard Castle. Sat Oct 5 - 10am-3pm.

One of the most popular markets in the North East, featuring organically grown meat and vegetables. Browse handmade cheeses, free range eggs, award-winning jams, ginger wine and puddings. All produce is local, and the market operates under the notion that “you won’t find any plastic wrapped veggies.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .