HIGHLIGHTS, the rural touring organisation which brings shows to Teesdale and Wear Valley, has received several awards, including for its collaboration in the Beyond the End of the Road, a new musical currently touring in County Durham.

National Rural Touring Awards recognise achievements in the rural touring sector and celebrate the promoters, volunteers, touring schemes, artists and companies.

Hundreds of nominations were assessed by an independent panel of judges who announced Highlights as winners in three of the six categories.

These included the award for Best Touring Collaboration for its partnership with the company November Club and the show, Beyond the End of the Road, which had a sell-out tour in Northumberland last year.

Northern Heartlands director Jill Cole is well-known in Teesdale for her work with Barnard Castle Players.

She said: “When I first saw Beyond The End of the Road at Hexham Auction Mart last summer I remember thinking how relevant it was to County Durham."

Written by Laura Lindow, the musical interweaves heartwarming stories of residents in a fictional village called Place. Music and lyrics are by folk musician Katie Doherty and the show features a cast of ten professional actors and musicians.

Tour dates continue tonight at St Thomas' Church Hall, Stanhope, (01388 528673); St Catherine's Hall, Crook, on Sunday, July 22 (01388 765182); Mickleton Village Hall, Wednesday, July 25 (01833 640909) and The Witham, Barnard Castle, next Friday, July 27 (01833 631107). Performances start at 7.30pm.

The Witham show will end with a ceilidh and feature the youth band Cream Tees.

The November Club theatre company develops site-specific productions that explore stories in communities and weave together historical and contemporary themes. Audience participation is central.

Other awards for Beyond the End of the Road include Best Performance of the Year in the Journal Culture Awards, and the Achates Award for Philanthropy to Hexham Auction Mart for hosting last year's premiere.

People across Teesdale and Weardale have been supported to take part with opportunities provided for local singers, storytellers and young actors, as well as craft makers to work with a professional artist to decorate performance spaces.