Ahoy there! Meet the pirates of Crimdon Dene

Little Long John Silvers and pint-sized pirates had fun in the sun digging for buried treasure at an arts activity trail.

As part of half-term activities, East Durham Creates hosted a free pirate-themed event yesterday and it’s on again today at Crimdon Dene.

The Pirates of Crimdon Dene - The Treasure of Many Happy Returns event was based around a fictional tale about pirates who would return every year to this coastal hide-away to show off their bounty and share stories of the high seas.

Highlights included Captain Odd Sox and his sidekick Pablo Fantastico, from Sunderland based circus skills act Circurama, who led their band of merry shipmates (and audience members) in the Annual Pirates Talent Show.

Nikki Locke, head of East Durham Creates, said: “We have overwhelmed by the turn out. It’s amazing to breathe new life back into a beautiful, under used outdoor space. It’s nothing less than East Durham deserves.”

Over the two days visitors are led along coastal pathways down into the leafy Dene to discover a pirate world full of hands-on activities and entertainment, including story-telling, arts and crafts, a treasure hunt, workshops, comedy walkabouts from The Bread and Butter Theatre Company and a live theatre experience by Dodgy Clutch Theatre Company.

The Heritage Coast Partnership commissioned East Durham Creates, a cultural programme which aims to get more people involved in arts and creative activity, to produce an outdoor event to feature as part of their Reach for the Beach Outdoor Festival.

Today’s event runs from 10am to 4pm.