Iron & Steam - The Dawn of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (Film)

Saturday 22nd February 2025 - Main Hall - From 1:00 pm.

As part of our celebrations for the 2025 Bicentenary of the opening of he world's first public steam hauled passenger railway we have arranged a screening of this beautifully made documentary that shows the origin story of that railway and just how important Shildon was at that time. 

All ages welcome - Tickets £3 available now at the bar

Stephen Black - Mediumship & Spiritual Art.

Wednesday 5th March 2025

Never afraid to explore new and interesting subjects, we've invited Stephen Black to the institute to demonstrate a different take on spiritualism and medium-ship. Stephen has a unique gift that allows him to channel his spiritual insights through art, drawing loved ones in spirit and capturing the essence of those he connects with. An interesting evening for inquiring minds.

Tickets £15 available now from Stephen's own website

Oasism (live Oasis tribute band)

Saturday 15th March 2025 - Main Hall - From 7:00 pm.

Missed out on tickets for the Oasis reunion? Or maybe you got some but just can't wait and want a slice of Mancunian action to get you in the mood. Whatever the case - this show is for you. This band are Oasis super-fans just like you, dedicated to giving you the best Oasis tribute show in town! So embrace the wonderwall and get yourself down to the Stute for this special night out.

Tickets Only - 18+ age restriction - Tickets £7 available now at the bar

"The Quaker Dominance on the S&DR & the Mines and Villages of County Durham" - with Prof. Alan Townsend

(Railway Bicentenary Talks)

Wednesday 19th March 2025 - Main Hall - Doors 7:00pm

As we're into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we're teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth's own Institute.

Historian and 'Friend of the Stockton & Darlington Railway', Prof Townsend kicks off this series of informative talks with a talk on how important Quaker families were in the economic fortunes of our area.

All ages welcome

Railway Institute Spring Fair

Saturday 5th April 2025 - Main Hall - 11:00am to 2:00pm.

Spring will have sprung, chicks hatched and lambs gamboling in the fields - so we'll be about ready to have some cheery fun, not to mention a chocolate egg or two.

Expect fun, games, stalls and competitions including 'best Victoria Sponge', 'best Easter Bonnet', 'best dyed egg' and 'best painted egg' - so get your spring mojo on and pop in to our Spring Fair.

All ages welcome - more details coming soon

The New Jersey Tones (Polly & Jimmy's Night)

Saturday 12th April 2025 - Main Hall - From 7:00pm.

Bringing you the sensational sounds of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons through the magic of the New Jersey Tones, and excellent four piece vocal group with a sixties disco. We're having this special concert night to remember our lovely committee colleague Pauline 'Polly' Ord, with permission of her family, who we lost toward the end of 2024.

Tickets Only - 18+ age restriction - Tickets £7 available now

"The S&DR: Recovering the Hackworth Deficit" - with Mike Norman

(Railway Bicentenary Talks)

Wednesday 16th April 2025 - Main Hall - Doors 7:00pm

As we're into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we're teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth's own Institute.

Historian, Mike Norman has acquired a bold reputation for challenging the received understanding around the respective mechanical engineering achievements of Hackworth and the Stephensons.

All ages welcome

Railway Bicentenary Tea Dance - with the Little Big Band

Saturday 10th May 2025 - Main Hall - times to be announced.

From the 1840s onward, Tea Dances have been a traditional way for Shildon to celebrate major milestones since the opening of the famous Stockton & Darlington Railway. Timothy Hackworth himself presided over the earliest, and later ones were presided over by members of the Pease family. Though 'quadrille bands' were all the rage in the early S&DR years we're teaming up with our Modern Sequence Dance Club to celebrate with tea, coffee, cake, sandwiches and a superb 'little' big band from Leeds. A lovely opportunity to dress up nicely.

Tickets Only - 18+ age restriction - Free Ticket - application details coming soon

The Odels (soul band)

Saturday 17th May 2025 - Main Hall - doors 7:00pm

We know Shildon has soul, and Shildon loves 'Soul', so we're bringing the Odels to town. They are a fantastic female fronted band who will have you dancing down the front from the first note. Playing some of the best Soul tunes around paying tribute to Spanky Wilson, Big Mama, Thornton Gloria Jones, Marvin Gaye and many more of the truly greats of the era.

Over 18s only - Ticket Details TBC

"Timothy Hackworth's Institute" - with Dave Reynolds

(Railway Bicentenary Talks)

Wednesday 21st May 2025 - Main Hall - Doors 7:00pm

As we're into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we're teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth's own Institute.

Dave Reynolds is Chair of Shildon Railway Institute and the author of "An Insatiable First - 190 Years of Shildon Railway Institute" a well researched history of Hackworth's pioneering organisation.

All ages welcome

The Shamrocks (Irish and Celtic stompers)

Saturday 24th May 2025 - Main Hall - doors 7:00pm

You know the Shamrocks - they've been coming here on and off since 2019 and they never fail to deliver a real party atmosphere. Over the years they have featured some of the area's greatest folk talent. Following the retirement of band member Phil Graham they have turbo charged the line up to take in not only Irish but some great Gaelic music too. This will be an awesome show.

Over 18s only - Ticket Details TBC

Railway Bicentenary - Sports & Games Festival (Tentative)

24th & 25th May 2025 - with Shildon BR - times to be announced.

As both the Institute and the BR Sports and Social Club both have their roots in activities started by the Stockton & Darlington Railway we will be reuniting for one special weekend of competitive sports and games. Saturday will bring the family outdoor events and a special social at the BR, and Sunday will being the indoor games at the Institute, culminating in a special prize giving ceremony in our main hall. This will be a special occasion involving Shildonians of all ages celebrating together.

Details coming soon

The High Karate! - live band on stage

Saturday 7th June 2025 - Main Hall - from 7:00pm.

It;s easy to forget how much talent abounds in our area - and this four piece band are a classic example of an overlooked gem. We're bringing The High Karate to the main hall at the Stute for your pleasure so you can enjoy their high energy blend of hits that reach back into the deepest 1960s but come right forward again through the decades to take in songs by the likes of The Who, Elvis Costello right up torecent hits by  Sam Fender. Don't miss out.

Ticket details coming soon

"Three Greeners of Etherley and a Model Steam Engine" with Tom Walker

(Railway Bicentenary Talks)

Wednesday 18th June 2025 - Main Hall - Doors 7:00pm

As we're into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we're teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth's own Institute.

Tom Walker is descended from the Greener family who played an important part in the operation of the S&DR at the Etherley engine house.

All ages welcome

Rail Bicentenary Exhibition - Blood, Bone & Muscle

26th to 28th June 2025 - Main Hall - From 7:00 pm.

Shildon didn't have the money or influence to feature in the name of the Stockton & Darlington Railway - but it was in exactly the right place to become its industrial operating powerhouse. For almost 160 years the people of Shildon provided the blood, muscle, bone operating the railway, building early locomotives and building and repairing its wagons. This exhibition showcases their story as part of S&DR 220 Fringe Festival.  

Free Entry - Click for more details

"Teesdale Tracks and Derailing Dukes" - with Chris Lloyd

(Railway Bicentenary Talks)

Wednesday 16th July 2025 - Main Hall - Doors 7:00pm

As we're into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we're teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth's own Institute.

Chris Lloyd is a well known and loved journalist for the Northern Echo whose Echo Memories section of the newspaper has a dedicated following all in its own right for delving deeper into the region's history.

All ages welcome

"Timothy Hackworth - The Man who Engineered a Future for the Locomotive" - with Mike Norman

(Railway Bicentenary Talks)

Wednesday 20th August 2025 - Main Hall - Doors 7:00pm

As we're into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we're teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth's own Institute.

Historian, Mike Norman has acquired a bold reputation for challenging the received understanding around the respective mechanical engineering achievements of Hackworth and the Stephensons.

All ages welcome

The N. 'E. Street' Band (Bruce Springsteen Tribute)

Saturday 27th September 2025 - Main Hall - From 7:00 pm.

Having enjoyed a Stute audience so much this great band is coming back in 2025 to once again make their way through a very fine set of some of Bruce Springsteen's most highly regarded hit songs - and believe me there are a lot of them that you will know. We're very privileged to be able to bring you this talented six-piece band.

Please note, there'll be no bingo.  

Tickets Only - 18+ age restriction - Ticket details TBA

Railway Institute Masquerade Ball 2025

Saturday 11th September 2025 - Main Hall - From 7:00 pm.

Not quite a throwback to 1825, this will be a very modern Masquerade Ball but still involving putting on your glad rags and masking up in the most glamorous or mysterious way.

We'll be dressing up the hall to look at its finest and lighting it for effect, and playing some of your favourite music to dance to.

Tickets Only - 18+ age restriction - Ticket details TBA

"The Stockton & Darlington Railway - Getting America on Track" - with Jonathan Ratcliffe

(Railway Bicentenary Talks)

Wednesday 17th September 2025 - Main Hall - Doors 7:00pm

As we're into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we're teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth's own Institute.

A self confessed "industrial & railway history nerd" Jonathan Ratcliffe is the Secretary of the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

All ages welcome

Rail Bicentenary Variety Concert

Saturday 22nd November 2025 - Main Hall - From 7:00 pm.

As this is a special year for Shildon and this date is very close to the Railway Institute's own birthday date (the day when Timothy Hackworth and his friends founded the Institute in 1833) we're going to have a special concert to bring our celebrations to a close showcasing the very best of today's talent in and around Shildon

Tickets Only - 18+ age restriction - Ticket details TBA

70s Groovy Disco & Glam Night

Saturday 29th November 2025 - Main Hall - From 7:00 pm.

Shang-a Lang! We're going all out seventies for this special party night - fancy dress is optional, but let's face it it;s what really makes a seventies night isn't it. There was just so much funky fashion. Can you still get into your flares?

Keep the date free.

Tickets Only - 18+ age restriction - Ticket details TBA

The Great Community Christmas Sing-a-long

Saturday 20th December 2025 - Main Hall - From 2:oo pm.

Who doesn't love a good Christmas sing-a-long - and we're not just talking carols here. There are just so many great Christmas songs to choose from so we'll be mixing it right up. Bring the kids, and nanas.

This is an event for all the family, and we'll have some great musicians and people to lead the singing - with the words provided for everyone. Warm spiced fruit punch and mince pies for everyone.

All ages welcome - bring the family - free

Eddy Popescu is ELVIS PRESLEY

Saturday 27th December 2025 - Main Hall - From 7:oo pm.

One more time! ELVIS has ENTERED THE BUILDING. The annual Elvis night between Boxing Day and New Year has been such a hit in the last couple of years that we're going to do it just one more time.

So shake-off your turkey-tummy and have some chill time before the madness of New Year with the hunk-a-hunk-a-burning-love that is Eddy Popescu. Simply the best Elvis in the North. 

Tickets Only - 18+ age restriction - Ticket details TBA