Friends of The Forum Musical Menagerie Returns for 2026

The Friends of The Forum Musical Menagerie returns to The Forum Music Centre in Darlington on Tuesday 20 October 2026 for its sixteenth edition. The annual event began as a showcase for students from The Forum Music School, but it has grown into a wider community night that also gives parents, venue users and other local performers the chance to get on stage.

This year’s programme is built around a broad mix of songs rather than one genre. The Forum is promising music ranging from Bruno Mars to Fleetwood Mac and Lenny Kravitz, which should make the evening feel more like a varied showcase than a conventional gig. That mix is part of the appeal: younger performers and developing musicians get the chance to play on a proper stage, while the audience gets a snapshot of the music being worked on across The Forum’s teaching and rehearsal community.

Musical Menagerie at The Forum Darlington

Doors open at 6pm and the show is scheduled to begin at 7pm. Tickets are £10, with the venue’s usual booking fee applying to online sales. Under-18s must attend with an adult. Because the evening features a number of different performers and age groups, the format is more relaxed than a standard headline show, with the focus on giving people a chance to perform and celebrate the work they have put in over the year.

The Menagerie also highlights an important part of what The Forum does away from its touring programme. The venue combines live events with music tuition, rehearsal rooms and studio facilities, so this annual showcase ties those strands together in front of an audience. For families, friends and regular users of the venue, it is one of the clearest community dates on the calendar.

The event takes place at The Forum Music Centre in Darlington. Tickets and the latest information are available from the official Forum event page. Details were correct at the time of writing, so check the venue before travelling in case timings or admission information changes.