VILLAGE halls and community centres across North Yorkshire and East Cleveland are preparing to become theatres for an evening.

Volunteers working with arts charity Rural Arts have arranged an autumn season of music, dance, theatre and children’s shows for rural audiences.

Venues such as Hart Village Hall, Hutton Rudby Village Hall, Masham Town Hall and many more will host professional performers as part of the Rural Arts ON Tour scheme which brings professional, affordable and exciting performance events to rural areas.

The season runs for four months from September, starting with music duo Cousin Jones at Pickering Friends' Meeting House and ending with Jack and the Beanstalk by Pocket Panto.

Companies such as West Yorkshire Playhouse, Pentabus and Phoenix Dance Theatre have all toured with the scheme. This season brings Kali Theatre to four venues with My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding.

Audiences are invited to join guests at Clare and Arjun’s wedding reception as they celebrate the comedy and confusion of a mixed marriage between a girl from the country and a boy from the city.

To see the full programme or for tickets, visit www.ruralarts.org, phone 01845 526536 or pick up an ON Tour brochure at The Courthouse.