News
“Culture coming to rural locations is vital to health and wellbeing” – Village Halls Week 2026
16 March 2026
It’s Friday night in north Cumbria and the local village hall is packed to the rafters to see a performance by four dancers.
With a population of 1100, Lazonby is located eight miles from Penrith and 24 miles south of the Scottish Borders.
At the heart of the community is a fabulous village hall which puts on an exciting programme of culture through Highlights.
It’s Village Halls Week (16-22 March 2026) so the NRTF hit the road – with all country lanes leading to Lazonby…
“Lazonby Village Hall has hosted cultural events through Highlights since 1989…”
NRTF visited Lazonby Village Hall to speak to the volunteers who bring culture to this community. We spoke to Jill Eastham who has been a volunteer promoter here for the last 12 years and one of her predecessors Sheila Fletcher.
Jill and her fellow volunteers operate separately from the Village Hall Committee and their work is a great example of a community facility being used all-year-round.
When NRTF visited on a Friday night the hall was packed for a performance of Kizlar by Ceyda Tanc Dance (pictures above and below).
Jill, tell us how long has Lazonby been a venue for rural touring?
Jill: There has been a few gaps, but Lazonby Village Hall has hosted cultural events for the last 37 years. Sheila Fletcher & Yvonne Simms did a great job coordinating the Highlights programme from 1989-2007.
After that at some point the Village Hall Committee took over the programme and then Pamela Pottinger looked after things from the next village along – Kirkoswald Village Hall.
I have looked after the events programme here at Lazonby as a volunteer since 2014. Me and my daughter run it through a voluntary organisation called ‘Lazonby’s Got Talent’.
As we are not part of the Village Hall we book and pay for room hire, lighting, provision of the bar (the hall takes these takings).
“Culture is vital for the wellbeing of rural communities”
Tell us about the early days.
Jill: The very first Highlights event in 1989 was ‘Rapunzel’ with Horse & Bamboo Theatre. Since those very early days we have had a really varied programme – everything from comedy to dance, music, storytelling and plays.
Sheila: The very first show. ‘Rapunzel’ – it was Wonderful! Horse and Bamboo used to travel with their own horse drawn wagon. When they performed here they would keep the horse in a nearby farmer’s field and the actors would swim in the River Eden!
Why are village halls so important?
Jill: “Highlights brings live entertainment and quality performances to village halls. And it’s not just local artists who appear here. Highlights bring talented artists from all over the UK and abroad – even Canada and America,
To have this amazing offer in rural areas is really brilliant. Here in Lazonby we aren’t blessed with great public transport. Many people like myself are no longer able to drive which makes events like tonight’s crucial. Culture like this is vital to the mental health and wellbeing of the communities in rural areas.
“I am amazed by what Highlights brings to rural areas…”
Jill: The audiences that attend are always very appreciative of the quality of the performances. Thought its not without its challenges. Sometimes it can be difficult to attract audiences tom something that is ‘different’ or unknown’.
Personally, I love seeing something new and being delighted by the intimacy of seeking something in our local hall. I am constantly amazed by what Highlights brings to rural areas both in terms of quality and variation.
Jill is pictured below as Ceyda Tanc Dance warm-up for their Friday night date in Lazonby.
“We would love to see the next generation of promoters coming through…”
Any stand-out shows?
Jill: Yes – two complete sell-out events – The Farewell tour of The New Rope String Band back in 2015 and last autumn we had Graffiti Classic who were brilliant.
But for ingenuity and a very unique and beautiful performance – Les Bordeliques with ‘Blind Date’ was incredible. This was a show which blended superb choreography and improvisation with the portrayal of six very different characters through mime, dance, theatre and music, and even including stilts and acrobatics!
On Friday night Ceyda Tanc Dance (pictured below) are the latest amazing cultural offering at Lazonby Town Hall.
How vital are volunteers?
Jill: They are essential. Without volunteers rural touring would not happen. And it can be difficult to get the volunteers needed to run events. But I have learned over time to that at performances it helps to make audiences aware of the need to help.
For example I make a plea for everyone to take their glasses back to the bar at the end of the show and ask them to clear away their tables and chairs. And everyone usually obliges.
Sheila added: It’s so wonderful to be able to bring culture like this to Lazonby Village Hall. The big towns like Keswick or Newcastle are quite far away and difficult to get to.
The Highlights programme is wonderful and has such a variety. It continues to draw audiences.
There’s no doubt we would love to see some new people get involved. There’s some new estates nearby and it would be great to see the next generation of village hall promoters coming through…
On Friday night almost 100 people descend on Lazonby to watch a stunning performance of Kizlar by Ceyda Tanc Dance.
At the end of the show the performers invite the audience up to dance with them. It’s the latest magical moment in the cultural life of this village hall.
At the end of the night Jill kindly asks the audience to put away the tables and chairs.
And the audience obliges in organised free-flow – a bit like the beautiful dance performance they have just witnessed.
Village Halls Week takes place between 16-22 March.
It is organised by Action with Communities in Rural England.