THE spring season of shows in villages across Teesdale and Wear Valley courtesy of the Highlights rural touring scheme has a strong international flavour including performers from Canada.

The scheme aims to improve access to the arts for people living outside the main centres by providing professional performances and exhibitions.

Highlights is one of the largest schemes in the UK supporting promoters in 18 venues in County Durham plus 40 in Cumbria and 25 venues in Northumberland.

The season lists 16 performances in 11 village halls and community venues. As well as performers from Canada, there is a drama set in Amsterdam, world music and physical theatre from Compagnie T-d’U.

Other shows range from Norse mythology and Shakespeare to Irish comedy and poetry, a play for children, music covering folk, pop, Afro-fusion, a return by the New Budapest Café Orchestra and first-time performances from comedy string quartet Bowjangles.

The popular New Rope String Band returns to the region on a farewell tour before members go their separate ways.

Dates and shows include:

Amsterdam: part autobiography, part travelogue and part lyrical drama, is a contemporary play by Chanje Kunda about a woman’s search for love; Saturday, February 14, 7.30pm, St Thomas Church Hall, Stanhope, tickets £8.50, £5.50 child, £22.50 family (01388 528673).

Bowjangles – On the Box! comedy, vocals and four-part harmonies by the string quartet presented as a TV parody; Saturday, February 7, 7.30pm, Cotherstone Village Hall, tickets £8, £4 child, £20 family (01833 650827).

Ian Sherwood: award-winning Canadian musician and songwriter mixes melodies and stories with guitar loops, saxophones and pop, rock and jazz; Wednesday, March 11, 7.30pm, Newbiggin in Teesdale Village Hall, tickets £10, £5 child, £22 family (01833 640608).

The New Budapest Café Orchestra: folk-based music from the Balkans and Eastern Europe played on violins, guitar, accordion, double bass, saz and balalaika; Thursday, February 26, 7pm, St John’s School and 6th Form College, Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, tickets £7.50, £5 child (01388 603246).

Compagnie T-d’U – All the Things You Said You Never Said: thoughtful and beautiful piece of physical theatre exploring two versions of reality; Friday, February 20, 8pm, The Witham, Barnard Castle, tickets £10, £8 concessions (01833 631107).

Heritage Survival Band: eight-piece ensemble combines modern influences with Zimbabwean rhythms, upbeat chimurenga songs, fast sungura music, afro-jazz and reggae; Saturday, February 28, 7.30pm, Frosterley Village Hall, tickets £7.50, £6.50 concession, £22 family (01388 526391) and Saturday, March 7, 8pm, The Witham, Barnard Castle, £10, £8 concessions (01833 631107).

Lempen Puppet Theatre – The Fisherman and the Pearl: created in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society, ages five-plus; Thursday, April 9, 1.30pm, The Witham, Barnard Castle, tickets £5, £12 family (01833 631107).

Theatre Newfoundland Labrador – With Cruel Times in Between: nostalgic and tender play about pioneers in an era of hardships forced to relinquish a way of life in the face of progress; Friday, April 17, 7.30pm, St Thomas Church Hall, Stanhope, tickets £8.50, £7.50 concessions, £22.50 family (01388 528673).

New Rope String Band – Give’em Enough Rope, The Farewell Tour: combines best routines with specially-created final flourishes; Thursday, April 23, 7.30pm, St John’s Chapel Town Hall, tickets £12, £6 child (01434 345024).

Temple Theatre – Norsesome: stories from Norse mythology with comedy, music, electric drama and cross-dressing; Thursday, April 30, 7.30pm, Hamsterley Village Hall, tickets £7.50, £5 child, £22 family (01388 488323) and Friday, May 1, 7.30pm, Frosterley Village Hall, £7.50, £6.50 concessions, £22 family (01388 526391).

Melody Johnson – Miss Caledonia: comedy drama set in 1955 based on a true story about a farm girl's dreams of escaping rural Ontario by winning the local pageant as a first step to becoming a movie star; Thursday, May 14, 7.30pm, Barningham Village Hall, tickets £9.50, £4 child, £20 family (01833 621203).

Tickets for all venues except The Witham can also be booked online at highlightsnorth.co.uk where full details are available. The contemporary craft tour has moved to the autumn season.