Live music, comedy and theatre are in plentiful supply. We've listed everything that's on for June 3-9 2019 below.
From quality stand-up comedy and drama to live screenings of Take That and a performance of The Sound of Music, there's a wide variety of Durham music events and theatre, both in the city and across County Durham.
Here's the theatre, comedy and gigs this week, June 3-9 2019.
Read next: Tears For Fears tickets are on sale for their Durham concert
The starred links below are affiliate - at no extra cost to you, ExplorAR receives commission, without which we couldn't keep this site running.
#1: Hilarity Bites New Act Competition 2019 - Heat One, Darlington
The first round of the Hilarity Bites New Act Competition 2019 is taking place on the evening of Monday June 3. This is the twelfth year the Hilarity Bites New Act Competition has run, and will be hosted by Andy Fury, who the BBC describes as "an absolute genius of a comedian".
The Hilarity Bites New Act Competition 2019 is at the Hole in the Wall, Darlington, doors 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £3 plus 30p booking fee. You can purchase tickets* from the official booking page.
#2: Hilarity Bites Comedy Club, Newton Aycliffe
This latest Hilarity Bites Comedy Club is a chance to see well-known comedians Gavin Webster, Mike Newall, and host Rick Molland. Gavin Webster was the 2014 Comedian's Comedian of the Year winner and is described by the Scotsman as "funny, clever and as brilliantly observed as you'll find". The same paper describes Mike Newall as "perfectly crafted...Pin sharp, his control is deft and his hair is immaculate", while Three Weeks says that Rick Molland is "perfect for the role of compere".
It's on Wednesday June 5, doors 7.30pm.
Tickets* cost £6 plus 60p booking fee from the official booking page.
Read next: Durham family events taking place this weekend
#3: Hilarity Bites Comedy Club, Durham
The final Hilarity Bites Comedy Club event of the week, this time at Outstanding Arts, Durham.
Again hosted by Rick Molland, the comedians featured this time are Martin Mor and Daniel Muggleton. Of Martin Mor, Frankie Boyle said: "Martin is the act that has influenced me the most, the UK comedy circuit would not be the same without him", while the Sydney Arts Guide said Daniel Muggleton was "very, very funny".
Tickets* cost £15 plus £1.50 booking fee from the official booking page.
#4: Chance McCoy, Durham Old Laundrette
Chance McCoy is a Grammy winning Indie Folk musician from West Virginia. After receiving a grant to study with old master musicians from the Appalachian Mountains, he went on to win the Fiddle, Banjo and Dulcimer championships in his home state, before joining Old Crow Medicine Show. Chance McCoy has toured with Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, Willie Nelson, Sturgil Simpson and Margo Price, and his first LP 'Wander Wide' is to be released in 2019.
Tickets* cost £18 plus £1.80 booking fee from the official booking page.
#5: RSC Live: The Taming Of The Shrew, Witham Arts Centre and Gala Theatre
In a reimagined 1590, England is a matriarchy. Baptista Minola is seeking to sell off her son Katherine to the highest bidder. Cue an explosive battle of the sexes in this electrically charged love story.
This screening is a 12A and is at The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Wednesday June 5 at 7pm. Tickets cost £10-12 from the booking page.
The Taming Of The Shrew is also being shown at the Gala Theatre at the same time. Tickets cost £15, £13 concessions, £10 Gala members from the booking website.
Read next: Durham Cathedral events happening this month
#6: Rhythm of the Dance, Gala Theatre
This dance and music extravaganza is on its 20th anniversary tour, with a two-hour trip through hundreds of years of Irish dance and music, 22 award-winning World and Irish dance champions with 25 dazzling costume changes.
Rhythm of the Dance is at the Gala Theatre Durham on Thursday June 6 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £24, £23 concessions, from the ticket page.
#7: Cara Dillon, Witham Arts Centre
The Witham in Barnard Castle is hosting singer Cara Dillon on Saturday June 8 at 8pm. Cara Dillon will be performing material from her new album 'Wanderer' which is a collection of songs recorded in an intimate setting with her husband and musical partner Sam Lakeman.
Tickets cost £21-23 from the booking page.
#8: Free two day music festival, Newton Aycliffe
On Saturday and Sunday June 8-9, Aycliffe Radio presents a two day open air live music festival in Newton Aycliffe Town Centre mall. The event is free to attend and will include a selection of local performers, and runs from 12-6pm.
#9: Funny Bones Comedy Club, Durham Gala Theatre
The guitar-posturing, electric tennis racket playing chameleon of comedy, Pierre Hollins, tops the bill in June. Hollins will be joined by deadpan joker Patrick Draper, dark comedy from MC Francis Jenking and Linsey Santoro, who will recount tales of her misadventures in life in her trademark, Brummy, down-to-earth style.
Funny Bones Comedy Club Durham is on Friday June 7 at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £8.50 from the booking site.
#10: The Sound Of Music, Park View Theatre Chester Le Street
The Classic by Rogers and Hammerstein is a much-loved favourite for audiences of all ages. It's on Wednesday to Friday June 5-7 a 7.15pm and Saturday June 8 at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £10, £35 families from 0191 3857500 or by emailing rmtc2018@outlook.com
#11: Take That: Greatest Hits Live, Gala Theatre
Celebrating 30 incredible years, Take That are bringing their spectacular 2019 Greatest Hits tour to cinemas for one night only. Broadcast live on Saturday June 8 from their last UK concert of the tour, this highly anticipated anniversary show promises to be their best yet.
Take That: Greatest Hits Live starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £15, £13 concessions, from the booking page.
#12: Carrying David, Stanley
The Alun Armstrong Theatre on Front Street Stanley is hosting the funny and heartbreaking Carrying David. Inspired by the love of his terminally ill brother David, on June 3, 1989 Glenn McCrory made boxing history, becoming the Cruiserweight Champion of the World.
Carrying David is on Monday June 3 at 7.30-9.30pm and Tuesday June 4 at 2.30-4.30pm and 7.30-9.30pm. Tickets cost £16 from the booking page.
#13: Gala Lunchtime Concert Series, Gala Theatre Durham
The Gala Lunchtime Concert Series returns, this time featuring saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos and pianist Paul Edis. They love to perform music from the Great American Songbook (Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers etc) alongside original compositions rooted in the straight ahead jazz and swing tradition.
The Gala Lunchtime Concert Series is on Friday June 7 at 1pm. Tickets are £5 from the ticket page.
#14: Rowan Rheingans: Dispatches on the Red Dress, Witham Arts Centre
Dispatches on The Red Dress is a deeply connecting musical essay, uniquely presented in song, poetry, fiddle music and storytelling by twice-BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner, Rowan Rheingans.
It's at The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Friday June 7 at 7pm. Tickets cost £8-10 from the booking page.
Tickets cost £8-10, from the official booking page.
Feature image credit: vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England (CC BY 2.0)