Author: Charles Hutchinson

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Halloween horrors and jump scares of the week: Neon Crypt & The Deathly Dark Tours present The Wetwang Hauntings – Live!

Jimmy Johnson, left, and Dr Dorian Deathly (Jamie McKeller) in The Wetwang Hauntings – Live at Theatre@41, Monkgate, York. Pictures: Emma Warley/Emma &Rich

BETWEEN 1986 and 1993, a series of often violent hauntings rocked the East Riding village of Wetwang. The cases went cold and all the records were lost…until now!

Join York ghost walk guide Dr Dorian Deathly as the Neon Crypt and the Deathly Dark Tours team digs into the history and horrors of these reawaken cases at Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, from tonight to Saturday in The Wetwang Hauntings – Live. “This show is not for the faint of heart,” he forewarns.

Here Dorian (alias York actor Jamie McKeller) discusses the Wetwang hauntings, the podcast and live show, Neon Crypt, Deathly Dark ghost walks and future plans with CharlesHutchPress.

How did you learn of the Wetwang Hauntings?

“There are two answers to this. The first is the one that’s in the podcast and live show, that we were brought an old shoebox filled with tapes by a man who only wants to be known as Mr Whispers.

“Dorian listened to the tapes, hours and hours of paranormal investigations carried out by the long-since-vanished Mayor Dick Nightly. We didn’t know what to do with the tapes at first, and then we realised that we are men in our 30s and 40s with microphones and access to fast internet. Making a podcast was the only logical choice; turning it into a staged show was the second.

“The second answer is that Jamie (the other guy) was having afternoon tea with a friend in Wetwang, and he got chatting to someone in the tea room about my time spent telling ghost stories on the streets of York.

“They told me that all the staff felt that the tea room was haunted and that was that. My brain got excited and before long I was pitching the show to my co-writers on the project, Ben Rosenfield and Jimmy Johnson.” 

Laura McKeller (Dede Deathly) and Michael Cornell (Michael Nightly/Mayor Nick Nightly) in The Wetwang Hauntings – Live

Who or what is Neon Crypt?

“Neon Crypt are at the core a group of four actors and writers. Myself, my wife Laura McKeller, [York Mix presenter] Laura Castle and Michael Cornell. Laura Castle can’t be with us for this one; she’s very in demand but is very much missed and will be back for the next one!

“This is our third show. A Night Of Face Melting Horror was the first, then earlier this year we performed Le Navet Bete’s Dracula: The Bloody Truth. The Wetwang Hauntings is our first full-length, original play and we have two more planned for next year. In the future we’re looking to start touring one of these shows.”

Here is what AI says of the Wetwang Hauntings:  “The ‘Wetwang Hauntings’ refers to a series of violent and unsettling paranormal events that reportedly took place in the Yorkshire village of Wetwang between 1986 and 1993.

“These events are the subject of a modern horror-themed podcast and live show that investigates the history and folklore surrounding the cases. While the historical ‘hauntings’ are steeped in local legend, the area is also famous for a significant archaeological find of an Iron Age chariot burial from around the 3rd or 4th century BC.“

What would you like to add to that summary?

“I’m not sure I should argue or disagree with AI; it’s a terrifying thing. Our thoughts on it are presented in the show this week.”

Do you have any theories on why the cases went cold? How come all the records were lost?  Deliberately?

“As far as we can tell, something terrible happened to Mayor Nightly. We know that he was last seen in 1998, so we don’t know why the tapes have only surfaced now and we have no idea where they were kept. It’s all very strange, but I’m sure that it will all be fine. I think.”

Jimmy Johnson, left, Ben Rosenfield and Dr Dorian Deathly in The Wetwang Hauntings – Live

What has been the reaction to your podcasts?

“Just wonderful. We’ve had comparisons to The League Of Gentlemen, early Doctor Who, Uncanny and more, which is great as all of those things were heavy inspiration for us.”

More specifically, what has been Wetwang’s response? Has anyone from Wetwang or indeed the afterlife been in touch?

“One Wetwang resident has reached out to us and mostly said ‘yes, this all makes sense’. I’m not sure what that means, but she seems to be enjoying the show.”

How will The Wetwang Hauntings – Live! take the story further than the podcasts?

“The live show goes a little further into the tapes than where we are in the podcast. We’re looking at three hauntings chosen by the cast, with a fourth one to be chosen on the night by the audience.” 

What will happen in the live show?  Who will take part? 

“The show features three out of four of the Neon Crypt gang, plus we’ve drafted in a couple of the Deathly Dark Tours gang, Dafydd and Dalton, who are the alter egos of Jimmy [Johnson] and Ben [Rosenfield].

Laura McKeller’s Dede Deathly in The Wetwang Hauntings – Live

“Laura McKeller is playing Dede Deathly, who is in turn playing the roles of several characters featured in the retelling of the hauntings. Michael Cornell is playing actor Michael Nightly, who is in turn playing his father Mayor Nick Nightly. Layers on layers! Over the course of the night we will be exploring the events that occurred in Wetwang in the 1990s.”

How will you use the theatre space as opposed to York’s streets to set the atmosphere?

“It will be warmer, which is always nice. We have tech that isn’t usually available to us, even having the ability to play sound and music, to isolate certain areas of the space.

“Over the years, we have become very, very good at scaring people on the sometimes mean streets of York with nothing more than what nature provides, so you can only imagine how much terror we will be conjuring in the theatre.”

What’s next for the Deathly Dark Tours as the dark nights lengthen and the chills set in?

“I’m stepping back from the tours for a little while to focus on Neon Crypt. The ghost walk is in very good hands, and I have other ambitions I need to focus on for a while. I’ll be back now and again, but Dorian will be mostly behind the scenes of it all for a little while.

“We had an intense Halloween with almost 5,000 people joining the tour, of which we ran more than 120 in 30 days. Things do ease off a little over winter, but it’s still steady. Then it will be February half-term and full steam ahead again in no time!”

Dr Dorian Deathly on stage at Theatre@41, Monkgate

On a different note: will Jamie be in the Rowntree Players panto again this winter? If so, which role?

 “I certainly am. It’s Peter Pan this year, and I’ll be ticking off a big thing on my bucket list by playing the role of Captain Hook. He’s a proper big baddie this year. No eggs, no roads, he just wants to kill Peter Pan and he isn’t shy about it.

“Howard Ella and Gemma McDonald have written a fantastic script, and I have some absolutely preposterous songs this year. I’m straight back into rehearsal for it the day after The Wetwang Hauntings closes its first run!”

Neon Crypt & The Deathly Dark Tours present The Wetwang Hauntings – Live!, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, November 4 to 8, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Suitable for age 13 upwards. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Jamie McKeller will play Captain Hook in Rowntree Players’ The Pantomime Adventures Of Peter Pan, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, December 6, 2pm and 7.30pm, December 7, 2pm and 6pm; December 9 to 13, 7.30pm plus 2pm Saturday matinee. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

Wetwang in a nutshell

EAST Riding of Yorkshire village, in the Yorkshire Wolds, six miles west of Driffield. Known for Iron Age chariot burial site and black swans. Television presenter and Countdown host Richard  Whiteley served as honorary mayor from 1998 to 2005.

Michael Cornell bathed in red light in The Wetwang Hauntings –Live

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York Stage find the perfect recipe for showstoppers in The Great British Bake Off Musical at Joseph Rowntree Theatre

Nik Briggs’s cooking copper, Ben, and Harriet Yorke’s carer, Gemma, become entwined in The Great British Bake Off Musical. Picture: Charlie Kirkpatrick

YORK Stage will be rising to the occasion in the York premiere of The Great British Bake Off Musical from Wednesday (5/11/2025) to Saturday at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

Nik Briggs’s cast will be putting the tension into the tent – and the fun bite into the bun fight – in the familiar journey from never-wracking technical challenges to triumphant showstoppers as eight contestants seek to avoid soggy bottoms en route to impressing judges Phil Hollinghurst  (Chris Wilson) and Pam Lee (Tracey Rea).

“Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster ride, where cakes crumble, friendships form and dreams become delicious reality,” says director and producer Nik. “It’s a show that proves baking isn’t just about the final product, it’s about the journey and the joy that comes from sharing that journey with others.”

He was determined to snap up the show for York Stage. “It started off in July 2022 at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, then transferred to the West End [Noel Coward Theatre, February 24 to May 13 2023], and when the rights became available earlier this year, we were straight in there with our application!

“It’s a show by Jake Brunger [book and lyrics] and Pippa Cleary [music and lyrics], who did the 2015 musical The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, and this show has gone the furthest for them since then. It’s gorgeous!  It has the perfect recipe: it’s got comedy, real heart, it’s so British – and it knows how to poke fun at the great national institution that Bake Off has become, but at the same time hold it in respect.”

The show is built around Brunger and Cleary’s original songs. “A lot of the humour comes in the wordplay and the lyrics, which are reminiscent of Victoria Wood’s patter songs, so rehearsals have been so funny,” says Nik. “It’s just been a lovely experience, which is just what you need when you’re rehearsing a show in only five weeks, whereas we normally do ten.

“Traditionally in musicals, you have your principals and the chorus singing the rousing chorus in harmony four times in the same song, but with this show, you have your Bake Off contestants being eliminated, so you have fewer people to do the harmonies as the show goes on – and everyone’s harmonies then swap too!”

Nik continues: “There’s one song with four choruses, where I sing different parts with different harmonies in every chorus! Those harmonies are gorgeous – and as Bake Off fans will recognise, all the big numbers are based on the underscore music from the TV series.

“It’s so clever the way it’s been done. The audience will think, ‘what a gorgeous, heart-filled British comedy’ it is, and they will realise what hard work has gone into it when people thought it might be twee, but it really isn’t.”

The Bake Off musical condenses the path of a full TV series into one  show, replete with the aforementioned technical challenges, show stoppers, eliminations by the musical’s answer to Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith  all introduced and jollied along by hosts Jim (Sam Roberts) and Kim (Mary Clare).

“Like in the TV series, we learn about their home life, why they’re doing Bake-Off. Like Izzy (Amy Barrett), the Cambridge graduate, who’s very competitive, desperate to win and thinking of the big deals that might come from winning.

“There’s a school dinner lady, who’s just there for the experience, and the environmentalist, who will not cook with butter and insists on everything being vegan. There’s a carer and policeman, both at a new stage in their lives, and we see them connecting with each other as the competition progresses.”

The policeman, Ben, will be played by Nik. “His daughter Lily is with him for reasons that will become clear, and I have four of my York Stage School students, Eady Mensah, Abigail Hodgson, Ella Laister and Meg Pickard, sharing the role,” he says.

Now so busy directing York Stage shows and running York Stage School, Nik is seldom to be seen on stage. Indeed Ben will be his first principal role since leading the cast in green in Shrek The Musical in September 2019 at the Grand Opera House.

“When I first came by the show, there is this duet that Ben sings with Lily, and though it’s very rare these days, I thought, ‘ooh, I would love to sing that’, when nowadays I’m much more comfortable on the other side, directing.

“I still felt that way about the song after a few months, so I decided that I would scratch that [performing] itch once in a decade!”

Nik has been turning his hand to another skill. “We have to make 50-odd cake and pastry props,” he says. “We’ve been designing and making them ourselves, using various crafts, like making things out of Polystyrene and foam. After this interview, I’m off to finish off the Eiffel Tower and Blackpool Tower cakes!”

How does he rate his own baking skills? “I’m rubbish with pastry as I have hot hands, when cold hands are good for pastry making, but back in the day, I was quite renowned for my sponges and cakes in food tech at school,” says Nik. “But in lockdown, I just lost the knack. Neither of my banana breads worked, so I gave up.”

York Stage’s show could not be better timed. “This year’s final is on Channel 4 tomorrow night[4/11/2025); we open on Wednesday. Some people might think it was planned!” says Nik.

York Stage in The Great British Bake Off Musical, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, November 5 to 8, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

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REVIEW: Pick Me Up Theatre in Bugsy Malone, Grand Opera House, York, until Saturday ****

Joseph Egan’s club boss Fat Sam, from Team Malone, in Pick Me Up Theatre’s Bugsy Malone

THIS is Pick Me Up Youth Theatre by all but name, revelling in the chance to fire off splurge guns at those joyless dullard authoritarians determined to make artistic expression more and more difficult for young people.

Why, why, why? I defy anyone not too see the benefits, the joys, the camaraderie, the sheer fun of being on stage, working as a team but flourishing individually, in Bugsy Malone, British writer-director Alan Parker’s 1976  gangster spoof with words and Jazz Age  music by Paul Williams.

The Grand Opera House stage is buzzing with energy, with comic glee, with the sharpest of suits and glitziest of gowns (outstanding work by Julie Fisher & Costume Team).

A gauze screen with a full canvas of a young chap in suit and pork pie hat, and the title Bugsy Malone in boldest red, establishes immediately that Pick Me Up producer Robert Readman and fellow designer Rich Musk are going to hit the right notes on the design front.

Theo Rae’s Fizzy: Outstanding performance, topped off by his rendition of Tomorrow

In familiar Readman style, there is a stairway to either side of a mezzanine level, on which musical director Adam Tomlinson’s band members are kitted out in Prohibition-era attire.  To the front of them, singers will be picked out by squares of light bulbs.

To the sides of the stage are yet more banks of light bulbs, the kind to be seen in dressing rooms. A revolving stage turns from well-stocked bar to a plain backdrop. Images of New York’s skyline and more besides are projected on drapes. The evocation of the Big Apple and Fat Sam’s Club is complete, and it looks fantastic, good enough, frankly, for a touring professional show.

Readman has focused on the staging this time. Lesley Hill, from the Attitude Dance Club in Copmanthorpe, takes on the dual role of director and choreographer, and her cast responds with both aptitude and just the right attitude to portray 1920s’ gangland New York.

“This has been a truly wonderful experience,” says Lesley, in the programme, and that enjoyment is writ large in her cast. Make that casts, not cast, because performances are being shared between Team Bugsy and Team Malone, some actors appearing in both, and more than 40 involved overall.

Pick Me Up Theatre’s Dandy Dan at the double: Kurtis Moss from Team Bugsy, left, and Max Porter from Team Malone

The love for this musical among the performers – one of the Blousey Browns said she had watched Parker’s film more than 100 times – is evident from the start, whether in principal or ensemble roles, in the opening Bugsy Malone and Fat Sam’s Grand Slam numbers.

The joy for these young swells is being centre stage, children playing adult roles, showing up the absurdities, mannerisms and machinations of adult behaviour by playing it straight, eliciting laughter from doing so, as club boss Fat Sam (Team Malone’s Joseph Egan on press night) goes to turf war with Dandy Dan (Max Porter) who is holding all the aces.

Penniless ex-boxer Bugsy (Zachary Stoney) is Fat Sam’s fixer, drawn to wannabe club singer Blousey Brown (Elizabeth Reece), but can he resist the charms of seductive songstress and former flame Tallulah (Cara Suddaby, now Dandy Dan’s moll)?

You watch throughout with a beaming smile, loving the audacity, the confidence, the dazzling look and the delightfully daft comedy of this sassy, snazzy jazzy show, suffused with knockout performances, not only from Stoney, Egan, Porter, Reece and Suddaby, but also Tommy Lonsdale (good surname for a boxer) as putative pugilist  Leroy in the outstanding ensemble routine So You Wanna Be A Boxer?

Bugsy Malone times two: Team Malone’s Zachary Stoney, left, and Team Bugsy’s Dan Tomlin

Taylor Carlyle’s Knuckles gives a cracking performance too, as does Nancy Walker is her cameo as Lena Marrelli, the loose-cannon star singer.

On talent watch, keep an eye on Theo Rae’s Fizzy, a stage natural with a wondrous voice already. Good news, he will be fizzing his way through every performance, serving in both teams.

As if Bugsy Malone were not fun enough already, SAHA Media provides even more thrills in Fat Sam and Dandy Dan’s car on the big screen.

Bugsy Malone remains the perfect avenue for theatre colts and fillies to learn the ropes, here kitted out with New York accents, custard pies and whipped cream-firing splurge guns in this tongue-in-cheek look at gang warfare in 1920s’ America that hits the target with every song, every gag.

Pick Me Up Theatre in Bugsy Malone, Grand Opera House, York, resumes tomorrow until November 8, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Their name is Tallulah: Cara Suddaby, left, and Freya Horsman in Pick Me Up Theatre’s Bugsy Malone

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Ex-England manager at the double: In Conversation with Gareth Southgate, Lessons In Leadership, York Barbican, November 3; National Theatre in Dear England, Leeds Grand Theatre, Nov 4 to 8

Sir Gareth Southgate: Discussing his new book Dear England at York Barbican…and the subject of James Graham’s play of that title at Leeds Grand Theatre

SIR Gareth Southgate, of Swinsty Hall, Fewston, Harrogate, makes the comparatively short trip to York Barbican to discuss his eight years of leading England’s footballers on the world stage with a revolutionary management style that combined calm empathy with mental resilience, courageous integrity with strong accountability.

He will discuss his new book Dear England: Lessons In Leadership, a title shared with James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play (and forthcoming television drama) that takes its name from Southgate’s open letter during the Covid-19 pandemic.

David Sturzaker plays Southgate, Samantha Womack, team psychologist Pippa Grange, in this “inspiring, at times heart-breaking and ultimately uplifting story” of England, penalties, lost finals and a new-found national identity. 

The cast also includes returning performers Jass Beki as Bukayo Saka, Courtney George as Alex Scott, Miles Henderson as Ensemble and Tom Lane as Eric Dier, joined by Jake Ashton-Nelson as Jordan Henderson, Luke Azille as Jadon Sancho, Ian Bartholomew as Greg Dyke, and Ashley Byam as Raheem Sterling.

Steven Dykes plays Sam Allardyce; Oscar Gough, Harry Kane; Jayden Hanley, Marcus Rashford; Connor Hawker,  Harry Maguire; Ian Kirkby, Gary Lineker; Jack Maddison, Jordan Pickford; Liam Prince-Donnelly, Dele Alli, and George Rainsford, Mike Webster.

In Conversation With Gareth Southgate, Lessons In Leadership, York Barbican, November 3, 7.30pm; National Theatre in Dear England, November 4 to 8, kick-off at 7.30pm plus 2pm Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees. Box office: York, yorkbarbican.co.uk; Leeds, 0113 243 0808 or leedsheritagetheatres.com.

David Sturzaker’s Gareth Southgate, in signature waistcoat, in James Graham’s play Dear England, on tour at Leeds Grand Theatre

Here stage and screen writer James Graham discusses Dear England, meeting Gareth Southgate, his own lack of sporting prowess and the power of theatre.

What did you feel when you met Gareth Southgate, James?

“Well, he’s a hero, so I felt nervous. But I was relieved that he didn’t remotely disappoint. I felt moved by his humility, his evident decency and his normality. He gave me confidence.

“I felt like a bit of a fraud in the world of competitive male sport. I wasn’t a sporty person at school. PE was my least favourite subject. I wanted to do plays, but I felt safe with Gareth. He’s a bit more like me, slightly shyer and softer and not an alpha male in the traditional sense.

“In a very Gareth Southgate way, he was mortified that the play was happening and that a famous actor [Joseph Fiennes, National Theatre, 2023] was playing him. He said he wanted to help, but he would never come and see it.”

Samantha Womack’s Pippa Grange, the team psychologist in Dear England. Picture: Mark Brenner

Have other England players seen the play?

Former England greats such as Gary Lineker, David Seaman and Ian Wright have come along. Lee Dixon too. And members of the women’s team, such as Alex Scott. The reaction has been really positive because they think that what Gareth has done is extraordinary and it’s exciting for them to come to a theatre and see their world reflected.

“They also enjoyed the comedic impressions of people they’re familiar with. Gary Lineker thought Gunnar Cauthery, who played him when he caught the production in 2023, was bang on.”

What can you say about making Dear England into a four-part TV series for BBC One?

“On stage, it’s a big panorama, quite comedic and the football is very abstract. That all plays to theatre’s strengths. On television, it’s going to be more literal and naturalistic, with more of the behind-the-scenes machinations and more of the players’ interior lives.”

David Sturzaker’s Gareth Southgate leading a team talk in Dear England. Picture: Mark Brenner

You say you weren’t a sporty child at school. More of a nerd?

“An absolute nerd. I tried to get out of games all the time. I did support Nottingham Forest and Mansfield Town but didn’t follow club football like some people do. It was the sheer operatic scale of World Cups and international tournaments, the stakes of them, the fact that they only come round so often, that I loved.

“I had to get over my imposter syndrome with this play, and in a very Gareth Southgate way, what I’ve learned is you can’t fake it. I knew I had to walk into a room of young actors who could explain the offside rule in two and a half seconds and admit that there are things about football I don’t know or feel innately. I feel the drama and passion of it but I don’t know the data.”

Why do you love theatre so much?

“Because there’s nothing else in the modern world except arguably sport, arguably football, that demands you leave your home and go to a physical space and sit in proximity with your community and laugh and cry together.

Goal celebration for, who else, but England in James Graham’s Dear England. Picture: Mark Brenner

“You interrogate your nation together, and the systems that run it, and what it is to be alive together and it’s that final bit of being together that makes it just electric.

“I felt that the first time I was ever in a play at school. The feeling of making your neighbours laugh and sharing it as an endeavour with your cast mates. The chemical reaction of it is extraordinary. It’s the most eruptive thing I experience in my life, and it is so satisfying.”

Did you know?

THE National Theatre is running a year-long schools engagement programme inspired by Gareth Southgate’s Dear England open letter that he wrote to England fans in 2021.

This programme, designed to prompt young people across the UK to reflect on their own place in history, just as the footballers in Southgate’s squad were encouraged to do, is in response to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

It is being delivered in schools across England with assemblies and workshops using spoken word and sound design to support students to share the hopes and aspirations they have for themselves, and other young people, 80 years from now.

The resulting sound archive will form a unique 2025–2026 time-capsule. Students also will be invited to see performances of Dear England during the tour.

This engagement programme is expected to reach more than 10,000 young people.

Oh dear, England. Will we ever win a final again? David Sturzaker’s Gareth Southgate in contemplative mood on James Graham’s play. Picture: Mark Brenner

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Navigators Art to present poet Ian Parks and Friends at The Basement, City Screen. Who else is in November 21 line-up?

Poet Ian Parks with his new collection The Sons Of Darkness And The Sons Of Light

YORK arts collective Navigators Art plays host to An Evening With Ian Parks and Friends on November 21 at The Basement, City Screen Picturehouse, York.

“This is one for lovers of poetry and folk music,” says organiser Richard Kitchen. “Ian is a widely published and much admired poet from Mexborough, described as ‘the finest love poet of his generation’, although his work vigorously addresses the political as well as the personal.”

Parks will be reading from his new collection, The Sons Of Darkness And The Sons Of Light. Joining him will be York novelist and poet Janet Dean, critic and poet Matthew Paul and singer-songwriter Jane Stockdale, from York alt-folk trio White Sail.

In addition, Parks will be in conversation with publisher Tim Fellows, of Crooked Spire Press.
Tickets for this 7.30pm event cost £5 in advance at bit.ly/nav-events or £8 on the door from 7pm. “We hope to adjourn for a chat after the show with anyone who’d like to join us,” says Richard.

The poster for Navigators Art’s November 21 bill at The Basement, City Screen Picturehouse, York

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David Walliams is up for a chat, a surprise and a question at York Barbican on Tuesday

David Walliams: Frank chat at York Barbican. Picture: Charlie Clift

CANDID  conversation, outrageous anecdotes, storytelling and surprises combine in An Evening With David Walliams, actor, writer, sketch comedian and talent show judge, at York Barbican on November 4.

Everything, from his breakthrough with Matt Lucas on Little Britain, Come Fly With Me and judging duty on Britain’s Got Talent to his prolific book writing for young readers, will be on the table, opening in Little Britain attire and topped off with the chance to put questions to “one of Britain’s most beloved entertainers” in the second-half Q&A.

“I was last in York for a book signing about a year ago. I love the city,” he says. “Went to the Minster, bought some old-fashioned sweets. I like cities and towns where you can walk around, not too big. That’s why I like Edinburgh, Bath and York.

“I love the National Railway Museum too. I’ve been there a few times. I went there as a kid, when the Mallard was my favourite. I had a Horny train set too. I like a train journey, so I’ve always wanted to write a book based around trains but I haven’t had the right idea yet.”

When does he know that moment has arrived? “I think it’s when…I make a lot of notes…and it’s normally when you have a number of ideas coming out of you at once. What will make it different from other books?” says David, whose books have been translated into 55 languages.

“I read a brilliant book by Stephen King about writing where he said, ‘a good book has to have two ideas’, and it just stuck with me. With kids’ books, you write in a world halfway between imagination and reality, Like, if there was an empty house on my street as a child, I would say it was haunted.

“With each book now, it’s very much a case of having to top the last book, having started by drawing on my childhood experiences, like The Boy In The Dress, writing stories very much grounded in our world, even though fantastical things might be happening.

“But as I went on, I had to invent more, or I would have written the same book again, and indeed I’ve had to let my imagination run riot. What is popular with kids is writing a series of books, like The World’s Worst Children, but most of the time with my books I have to start with a new character, maybe a new setting.”

Writing a book can be a slog, but that slog is worthwhile. “It’s not something I can speed up. It’s not something you can dash off,” says David, who puts plenty of planning into his writing. “Some things get cancelled because they’re just not working.”

 Has the prolific David Walliams ever experienced writer’s block? “Sometimes I don’t know what to write, but I then just get up and do something else. There is always tomorrow,” he says. “Sometimes maybe you need to go for a walk, or weirdly, when you’re not thinking about it, your brain goes into problem-solving mode and comes up with the solution.

“I’m constantly alive to ideas, wherever they come from, like reading an article in the newspaper and thinking, ‘this is a great story’. The other day I was reading about an archaeologist and then flipped it on its head for an [Egyptian] mummy to travel to the modern world.

“It’s stuff like that which makes you constantly open to new ideas – and I’ve had many more ideas than I’ve used. Just like with Little Britain, where we had so many characters that never saw the light of day, maybe two thirds of the things we came up with.”

The three series of  Walliams & Lucas’s satirical sketch show Little Britain aired from 2003 and 2005 and, such is the nature of comedy, they were very much of their time whereas books tend to transcend time – or so I suggested to David.

“My son is 12 and we watch comedy movies together, and he’s drawn to the ones from 20 years ago, like Borat [from 2006]  and the Austin Powers films [from 1997 to 2002]. You might think, ‘you couldn’t do that now’, but I think, ‘what’s the point of this debate?’. They’re still really funny. Sometimes it’s context.

“If you don’t like Borat, which I think is the funniest film ever made, what are you going to do to complain about it?”

David continues: “Interestingly, people are still finding Little Britain funny and teenagers are sharing it on social media, which is pleasing because it means they’re enjoying it. You can remember bad reviews and negative voices, which are always loud. People can always turn off the TV if they don’t like it.

“You have to remember that there’s a spread of opinions, and just because there are negative opinions, it doesn’t mean they are more important.

“At the end of the day, there were moments of satire, but it was silly as well, and entertaining people, if you’re successful, is a fantastic feeling, because it can be life-changing when people say ‘I was going through difficult times and thank you for helping me to get through that’.”

Humour, by its nature, will either be found funny or not, and that may change with changing tastes too. “Come Fly With Me, which came out in 2011 [first episode, December 25 2010], the kids are really into it now, partly because it’s edgy,” says David. “We’re watching things thinking ‘you couldn’t make that now’, but Mitchell & Webb have just done a new sketch show [Mitchell And Webb Are Not Helping, Channel 4] that I loved.

“It’s just that people are much more able to articulate their response now. You can be on your phone at the same time [as you are watching], saying you find something offensive, whereas before you had to call the BBC and wait in a queue, when 100 complaints would be a big deal.”

Was he tempted to call his tour show ‘A Night With’ rather than ‘An Evening With’? “No. I think if you said ‘Night’, you would think you’d be up all night on a crawl of kebab shops!” he reasons. “I was first asked to go to Australia and New Zealand with ‘An Evening With’ and had a brilliant time there as they’re very aware of what shows I’ve done.

“We put together this show with all my funny stories and favourite characters, talking about my career and where ideas came from, showing clips of the best bits, then inviting audience questions.”

What is the most unusual question he has been asked? “In Australia, an 11-year-old girl said her mum had given her her ticket because she wasn’t well…‘My question is, who are you?’! The audience love it when they put you down.”

He is enjoying the format, with more shows planned for next year after this autumn’s dates in York, Hull and Derby. “It’s like a stand-up show with a stool for me to sit on,” says David. “I’m at that age [54] where you make noises when you get up!”

An Evening With David Walliams, York Barbican, November 4, 7.30pm. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk. Also Hull Connexin Live, November 5, 7.30pm. Box office: https://connexinlivehull.com/

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More Things To Do in York and beyond the Halloween spooks and ghost train rides. Hutch’s List No. 48, from The York Press

Film critic Mark Kermode: Book talk and gig with his band Dodge Brothers at York Theatre Royal in the Beyond the Frame strand of Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2025. Picture: Julie Edwards Visuals

THE 15th Aesthetica Short Film Festival tops the bill in a week when Sir Gareth Southgate and David Walliams are keen to talk too,  as Charles Hutchinson highlights.

Festival of the week: Aesthetica Short Film Festival, all over York, November 5 to 9

NOT so much a film festival as a “screen and media event”, in its 15th year, York’s Aesthetica Short Film Festival is bigger and broader than ever. Not only more than 300 shorts, features, documentaries, animations and experimental films, but also the VR & Games Lab; masterclasses and panels; workshops and roundtables; networking and pitching; Listening Pitch premieres; the inaugural New Music Stage and Aesthetica Fringe shows; Beyond the Frame events at York Theatre Royal; the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO and the Podcasting strand. For the full programme and tickets, go to: asff.co.uk.

Joseph Egan’s club boss Fat Sam from the Team Bugsy cast for Pick Me Up Theatre’s Bugsy Malone

Young swells of the week: Pick Me Up Theatre in Bugsy Malone, Grand Opera House, York, until November 8, 7.30pm, except Sunday and Monday; 2.30pm, both Saturdays and Sunday

LESLEY Hill directs and choreographs York company Pick Me Up Theatre’s cast of more than 40 young performers in Alan Parker and Paul Williams’s Jazz Age musical, replete with the film songs You Give A Little Love,  My Name Is Tallulah, So You Wanna Be A Boxer?, Fat Sam’s Grand Slam and Bugsy Malone.

In Prohibition-era New York, rival gangsters Fat Sam and Dandy Dan are at loggerheads. As custard pies fly and Dan’s splurge guns wreak havoc, penniless ex-boxer and all-round nice guy Bugsy Malone falls for aspiring singer Blousey Brown. Can Bugsy resist seductive songstress Tallulah, Fat Sam’s moll and Bugsy’s old flame, and stay out of trouble while helping Fat Sam to defend his business? Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Mark Steel: Addressing the leopard in his house at York Theatre Royal tonight

“Leftie, working-class, BBC Radio 4 favourite” comedy gig of the week: Mark Steel: The Leopard In My House, York Theatre Royal, tonight, 7.30pm

COMEDIAN, nation-travelling radio presenter and writer Mark Steel has not so much an elephant in the room as The Leopard In My House. Under discussion is his battle with throat cancer, one that he is winning (thankfully) and that has spawned his new comedy tour show. Cancer, by the way, has done nothing to dull the edge of Steel’s trademark acute political and cultural observations.

“This show is the story of my year, of wonderful characters and often tricky but bafflingly positive experiences,” says Steel. “Doing the show doesn’t quite make me glad that it happened, but it definitely makes up for it quite a bit”. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

The Magpies: Launching new EP at the NCEM

Folk gig of the week: The Magpies, National Centre for Early Music, York, tonight, 7.30pm

THE Magpies, the folk trio that hosts The Magpies Festival at Sutton House, near York, every summer, combine rich harmonies with fiddle-led fire and lyrical storytelling, wherein Bella Gaffney (banjo, vocals), Holly Brandon (fiddle, vocals) and Ellie Gowers (guitar, vocals) meld Anglo and American traditions.

Tonight’s intimate gig marks the launch of this autumn’s EP, The One Thing That I Know. Lead single Painted Pony is a stirring tribute to the St John and St Lawrence rivers of Canada: a song that flows with memory, movement and the quiet majesty of nature’s imprint. Box office for returns only: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk.

George Stagnell in the short film Bomb Happy, part of an Everwitch Theatre double bill

Theatre and film memorial of the week: Everwitch Theatre in Bomb Happy VE Day double bill, Milton Rooms, Malton, Sunday, 3pm

PRESENTED in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday, whose focus this year falls on 80th anniversary of VE Day, Bomb Happy has been created by writer-performer Helena Fox and actor-vocalist Natasha Jones, of Everwitch Theatre.

From D-Day to VE Day, this powerful one-hour double bill of live performance (30 minutes) and short film (30 minutes) brings to life the verbatim accounts of two working-class Yorkshire Normandy veterans, highlighting the lifelong impact of post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep trauma, not only on war veterans but on their families too. Box office: 01653 696240 or themiltonrooms.com.

Leading light Mad Alice: Welcoming passengers to her Ghost Train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Train ride of the week: Mad Alice’s Ghost Train, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering Station, Sunday, 6.15pm and 8pm

JOIN York ghost walk hostess Mad Alice as she takes a spine-tingling ghost-train ride through the haunted heart of the North York Moors from Pickering to Levisham and back again in an hour-long eerie adventure. “I’ll be joined by Jonny Holbek, from York Light Opera Company, and professional actor Joe Standerline to help me tell stories in the carriage,” says Mad Alice. “Plus a few extra ‘ghosts’, who are actually either NYMR volunteers or York Light members – and even my own niece!”

All on board to learn of the mysterious ghosts that still haunt the carriages and stations; hear of supernatural tales and folklore of the land, and enjoy a special retelling of Charles Dickens’s ghost story, The Signal Man, all while sipping Mini Mad Alice’s Bloody Orange Gin & Tonic from York Gin (age 18 upwards). Box office for waiting list only: nymr.co.uk/Event/ghosttrain.

Sir Gareth Southgate: Discussing his new book Dear England at York Barbican…and the subject of James Graham’s play of that title at Leeds Grand Theatre

Ex-England manager at the double: In Conversation with Gareth Southgate, Lessons In Leadership, York Barbican, November 3, 7.30pm;  National Theatre in Dear England, Leeds Grand Theatre, November 4 to 8, kick-off at 7.30pm plus 2pm Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees

SIR Gareth Southgate, of Swinsty Hall, Fewston, Harrogate, makes the comparatively short trip to York Barbican to discuss his eight years of leading England’s footballers on the world stage with a revolutionary management style that combined calm empathy with mental resilience, courageous integrity with strong accountability.

David Sturzaker’s Gareth Southgate, in trademark waistcoat, in James Graham’s play Dear England, on tour at Leeds Grand Theatre. Picture: Mark Brenner

He will discuss his new book Dear England: Lessons In Leadership, a title shared with James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play (and forthcoming television drama) that takes its name from Southgate’s open letter during the Covid-19 pandemic.

David Sturzaker plays Southgate, Samantha Womack, team psychologist Pippa Grange, in this “inspiring, at times heart-breaking and ultimately uplifting story” of England, penalties, lost finals and a new-found national identity. Box office: York, yorkbarbican.co.uk; Leeds, 0113 243 0808 or leedsheritagetheatres.com.

David Walliams: An evening of frank chat and outrageous anecdotes at York Barbican. Picture: Charlie Clift

Candid comedic conversation of the week: An Evening With David Walliams, York Barbican, November 4, 7.30pm

SKETCH comedian, prolific author, talent show judge and English Channel swimmer David Walliams presents an evening of laughter, storytelling and surprises, discussing his Little Britain breakthrough,  Come Fly With Me and his days on Britain’s Got Talent.

Expect the stories behind legendary TV sketches and reflections on his myriad books and the highs and lows of a career. Prepare for candid conversation and outrageous anecdotes, topped off with the chance to put questions to Walliams in the Q&A. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.

Ben Rosenfield and Laura McKeller in The Wetwang Hauntings – Live. Picture: Emma Warley

Halloween horrors and jump scares of the week: Neon Crypt & The Deathly Dark Tours present The Wetwang Hauntings – Live!, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, November 4 to 8, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee

BETWEEN 1986 and 1993, a series of often violent hauntings rocked the small Yorkshire town of Wetwang. The cases went cold and all the records were lost…until now! Join York ghost walk guide Dr Dorian Deathly as the Neon Crypt and The Deathly Dark Tours team digs into the history and horrors of these cases. “This show is not for the faint of heart,” he forewarns. Suitable for age 13 upwards. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Nik Briggs: York Stage director back on stage to play a contestant in The Great British Bake Off Musical

York musical premiere of the week: York Stage in The Great British Bake Off Musical, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, November 5 to 8, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee

BAKING battles, singing sponges and a sprinkling of hilarity is the recipe for York Stage’s York premiere of The Great British Bake Off Musical, rising to the occasion under the direction of Nik Briggs, who also makes a rare stage appearance as one of the Bake Off contestants.

Expect a sweet and savoury symphony of British wit and oven mitts, propelled by a menu of  jazz hands and jubilant original songs that capture the essence of the Bake Off tent, from nerve-wracking technical challenges to triumphant showstoppers. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster ride, where cakes crumble, friendships form and dreams become fruitful reality. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

Katie Leckey: Directing Griffonage Theatre’s three nights of Kafka’ strangest short stories in the House of Trembling Madness cellar in Lendal

Deliciously disturbing stories of the week: Griffonage Theatre, Kafka By Candlelight, The House Of Trembling Madness, Lendal, York, November 5 to 7. 6.30pm and 8.30pm  

“NO rest for the week,” say Griffonage Theatre, York’s purveyors of the madcap and the macabre, who are performing Kafka By Candlelight in the cavernous belly of the House Of Trembling Madness cellar as part of Aesthetica Short Film Festival’s debut  Aesthetica Fringe, featuring 25 shows across the city.

This one showcases five of Franz Kafka’s strangest short stories, told disturbingly in the darkness with the audience in masks (optional). “Dare to join us?” they tease. Box office: eventbrite.com/e/kafka-by-candlelight-tickets-1815618316259.

York actor, writer and director Constance Peel: Presenting Service Please at Aesthetica Fringe 2025

In Focus: Introducing Constance Peel, Service Please, Aesthetica Fringe, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb Road, Acomb, York, November 4 and 7, 8.30pm; Micklegate Social, Micklegate, York, November 9, 2pm and 8pm

CONSTANCE (Connie) Peel, York-born director, producer, writer and performer, will present her debut one-woman show Service Please as part of the inaugural Aesthetica Fringe.

“I’ve been working as an assistant director and performer in theatre professionally for the past two years, since graduating from the University of York,” says Connie, 24. “This show explores the reality of working in hospitality, including the harassment and sexism you can face as a young woman.”

Service Please is billed as “a relatable and comedic monologue that follows Lara, a creative writing graduate, who hopes to write the next best-selling fantasy romance novel. There’s only one thing standing in her way, her casual waitressing job that keeps the money coming in.”

“We’ve all been there, but Lara wasn’t ready for the stressful and chaotic reality of working in the service industry,” says Connie, introducing her monodrama. “Can Lara keep her sanity and get her big writing break or will she crumble under the pressure of understaffed shifts, creepy comments and customers who say their only food allergies are ‘women’?”

Hospitality is the fastest-growing economic sector, worth £93 billion to the UK economy. “But it’s under severe pressure with more than 100,000 job losses predicted by the time of this month’s Budget, due to National Insurance rises (according to UK Hospitality),” says Connie.

“It’s evident working in the sector that to continue profits and keep up with the cost of living, food prices and discounts both need to increase while labour hours decrease. Being a server has never been more stressful and unpredictable and this experience (as other working-class experiences) is so often overlooked by theatre.” 

Sexual harassment is an epidemic in the hospitality industry too, says Connie. “As many as 47 per cent of workers having experienced it – and 69 per cent witnessed it in 2021 (Culture Shift).

“These statistics, though informative, mask the personal cost to the individuals harassed and abused. My play presents interpretations of my own personal experiences, including those with harassment, and they’re an unfortunate part of the job when working as a waitress.

“They shouldn’t be, and awareness of this experience even in Fringe-scale theatre is always beneficial to the cause.” 

Lastly, says Connie, Service Please tells the story of an artist with no clear way into her industry. “This is the most personally accurate part of my script. I wrote and performed the 50-minute monologue while producing and marketing it alone for its six-day debut run at the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe, where it won plaudits from critics and top reviews.

“Though this is hopeful for creatives, both in the execution of the play and my own story behind it, I wanted to show the emotional toll of struggling as an artist, especially as in the past five years there has been one third fewer art jobs (directly impacting my career).

“It was important that I brought this show back to where my career started, in York where I graduated from the University of York and where I’ve been working for the past three years between York and Leeds. I hope this production and my story makes people see the importance of a small-scale play like this in today’s society.” 

For tickets, go to: ticketsource.co.uk.

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Why York’s Aesthetica Short Film Festival is now a five-day screen and media event

Aesthetica Short Film Festival director Cherie Federico

THE 15th Aesthetica Short Film Festival, York’s festival of storytelling, creativity and culture, will run from November 5 to 9 in a celebration of film, art and innovation.

The festival has become a transformative force for the creative industries in York, the UNESCO City of Media Arts. Over its 15-year history, the festival has grown from a niche celebration of short films into an internationally recognised event that drives economic, cultural and social impact across York, the North and the UK.

“Beyond screenings, Aesthetica shows us what we can achieve as a city and region, opening doors and creating opportunities for emerging and established creatives alike,” says festival founder and artistic director Cherie Federico. “It brings fresh perspectives, proving that world-class creative innovation does not have to be London-centric.

“By attracting filmmakers, musicians, media artists and industry professionals from around the globe, the festival creates a platform for collaboration, professional development and experimentation.

“It positions York as a hub for cutting-edge media arts, immersive experiences and industry-leading conversations, while championing the UK’s creative industries and nurturing bold new voices.”

Reflecting on 15 years of Aesthetica Short Film Festival, Cherie says: “The festival started 15 years ago as an idea to screen amazing talent in a city that had never had a film festival before. It was an incredible opportunity to break new ground.

“Over the years, it has grown into a globally recognised platform, attracting submissions from more than 80 countries and programming across film, animation, VR, games, podcasts and media arts.

“York itself has grown alongside the festival, evolving into an internationally visible hub for creativity. The festival now bridges traditional cinema with innovative storytelling, offering audiences and industry professionals alike a space to discover, collaborate and experiment.”

Picking the festival’s greatest achievement, Cherie says: “We’ve proved that something of this scale and ambition can thrive outside London. From York, a city traditionally celebrated for its heritage, rather than contemporary creative industries, Aesthetica has built a platform with real global reach.

“For 22 years, it has published and supported independent art and film through the Aesthetica Art Prize, curated programmes and festival screenings, connecting creators from around the world with audiences, industry and media.

“It opens doors to new perspectives and possibilities, showing the city – and the wider UK – what can be achieved with ambition, creativity and vision.”

Mark Kermode: Participating in Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2025 with a talk and a concert by his band Dodge Brothers. Picture: Julie Edwards Visuals

Cherie continues: “Launching initiatives such as the UK Film Production Summit, immersive media labs and national education strands demonstrates how Aesthetica embraces York as a place of innovation, bringing the world to the city, rather than expecting everyone to come to traditional hubs.

“The festival consistently champions bold, original voices, elevates independent arts and merges cultural, social, and economic impact, while showing that excellence in creative industries is not limited to London.”

Beyond being a film festival, the annual event continues to evolve its identity. “The festival has grown beyond a traditional film festival to celebrate all forms of screen and media arts,” highlights Cherie.

“With strands covering VR [virtual reality], gaming, podcasts, music and interactive media, the festival reflects the evolving landscape of storytelling. While a name change could emphasise this broader remit, the festival’s established brand carries heritage, international recognition and prestige. The programming itself now embodies the expansion, giving audiences a rich, multidisciplinary experience.”

Among the initiatives for 2025 is the Beyond The Frame strand of wider programming. “Our Fringe programme’s expansion into Beyond The Frame reflects the festival’s commitment to experimental, cross-disciplinary and interactive media,” says Cherie.

“Partnering with York Theatre Royal, it offers audiences immersive live experiences, combining performance, film and storytelling in innovative ways. Highlights include comedy from Sophie Duker, screenings from Silent Cinema, and special industry talks with Mark Kermode, among others.”

“Beyond The Frame demonstrates the festival’s ambition to push creative boundaries, attract diverse audiences, and provide a platform for both emerging talent and established international artists. It shows York what is possible creatively, blending heritage venues with cutting-edge programming and reinforcing the festival’s role in opening doors and offering new perspectives beyond London.”

This festival may have an international reach but it celebrates York’s identity too, being as much a festival for York and about York as it is a magnet for overseas talent and visitors.

“While the Aesthetica Film Festival has grown into a truly international platform – attracting submissions and participants from more than 60 countries – it remains deeply rooted in York,” says Cherie.

“Local schools, creative hubs and venues are central to the festival experience, ensuring it celebrates the city’s culture alongside global talent. Aesthetica shows York what it can achieve, opening doors to new opportunities and perspectives that are not London-centric.

“By connecting York-based creatives with international filmmakers, musicians, media artists and industry professionals, it provides exposure, networks, and inspiration that would otherwise be less accessible outside traditional industry hubs.”

Cherie continues: “Our initiatives such as Filmmaking in Schools, the New Music Stage, VR and Games Lab and the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO at the Guildhall ensure that local talent benefits from international engagement.

Aesthetica Short Film Festival: A hub of creative activity in York for five days each November. Picture: Jim Poyner Photography

“This dual identity strengthens community engagement, supports careers and demonstrates that world-class creative innovation can flourish anywhere in the UK, not just in London.”

Launching the UK Film Production Summit positions the festival at the heart of the British screen industry, says Cherie. “More than 100 production companies, commissioners and development executives – including BBC Films, Film4, Working Title, Warp Films, Paramount, Scott Free, and BFI – converge to tackle pressing industry questions, from AI and virtual production to the rise of streaming platforms.

Mark Herbert, CEO of Warp Films, will headline the summit, bringing with him the weight of critically acclaimed productions such as This Is England, Four Lions, and Adolescence.

“Landmark sessions such as The Future of Production: Scripted, Unscripted, Film, TV & Streaming demonstrate the festival’s strategic influence,” says Cherie. “Hosting the summit in York shows that the festival is no longer just a showcase for films. It’s a national platform shaping the future of UK production.”

Looking forward to Aesthetica 2025, Cherie says: “What I’m most excited to see is the seamless integration of new and traditional media across the programme, which reflects the festival’s forward-thinking approach to storytelling.

“The VR and Games Lab pushes the boundaries of immersive and interactive experiences, while the Podcasting strand embraces innovative audio narratives, and the New Music Stage highlights emerging talent and the crossover between sound, performance and media arts.

“Meanwhile, the expansion of Filmmaking in Schools demonstrates the festival’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation, equipping young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities to shape the future of creative industries.

“The UK Film Production Summit is another standout moment. Bringing together the country’s leading producers, commissioners and creative decision-makers in York is both inspiring and transformative.

“These conversations don’t just define what gets made; they influence how stories are told, who gets to tell them, and where creative opportunities can flourish.”

Summing up the ever-growing impact of the Aesthetica Film Festival, Cherie concludes: “The festival offers a dynamic, multi-dimensional experience that celebrates innovation, champions new voices and showcases the full scale, ambition and influence of Aesthetica, positioning York as a hub for creativity and a centre for the future of storytelling in the UK.”

Aesthetica Short Film Festival runs from November 5 to 9 and in a digital extension to November 30. For full details and tickets, go to: asff.co.uk. Find the festival trailer at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Z2zT1QRL9We3cyR5H1tdB0nyy6nmb-DE

The poster for Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2025

More questions for Cherie

What will happen on the New Music Stage?

“DUBBED by many as the UK’s version of SXSW (South By Southwest in Austin, Texas), the New Music Stage is a major innovation for the Aesthetica Film Festival, celebrating emerging musical talent while driving economic, cultural, and social impact for York, the North,and the UK,” says Cherie.

“The stage brings together acts championed by major tastemakers such as BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, RTÉ Radio 1, MOJO and Rolling Stone, offering national and international exposure to artists across genres.

Highlights include Irish singer-songwriter BLÁNID, who has graced RTÉ 1’s The Late Late Show and surpassed one million Spotify streams; Crazy James, celebrated by BBC Introducing; Daisy Gill, who followed her The Voice UK exposure with performances at Glastonbury and the Royal Albert Hall; Dilettante, praised by MOJO and featured at SXSW and The Great Escape, and Ewan Sim, showcased at SXSW London and featured on Spotify Fresh Finds.

Taking part too are Isabel Maria, BBC Introducing One-to-Watch and North East Culture Award winner; Jemma Johnson, whose alt-pop has featured on BBC Radio 1 and Radio X; Kengo, who has earned BBC Introducing support for her introspective hip-hop; Scarborough’s Pleasure Centre, celebrated for their immersive art-rock sound; and Tarian, praised by BBC Radio Wales with millions of listeners.

“By combining live performance with media innovation, the New Music Stage exemplifies the festival’s commitment to championing new voices, supporting creative industries, and positioning York as a vibrant hub for contemporary culture,” says Cherie.

The VR Lab: very much a reality at Aesthetica Short Film Festival

Why has the VR & Games Lab become so integral to ASFF’s expansion?

“Aesthetica is the only festival in the UK to include gaming as part of its public programme, making us a pioneer in showcasing interactive and immersive storytelling to general audiences,” says Cherie.

“As early adopters of VR technology, the festival has championed virtual reality and gaming as vital mediums for the future of storytelling, long before they became mainstream.”

In 2025, the Lab features more than 50 stations for immersive experiences, giving audiences hands-on opportunities to explore narrative innovation, interactive gameplay, and experimental media.

“It provides a space for collaboration, experimentation and learning, enabling developers, artists and audiences to engage directly with cutting-edge technology,” says Cherie.

“This strand reinforces the festival’s reputation as a thought-leader in creative innovation, demonstrating how film, VR and games intersect to push storytelling into bold new territories while engaging the public with emerging media in an accessible and inspiring way.”

Why has Aesthetica introduced the Podcasting strand for the 2025 festival?

“THE introduction of a Podcasting strand reflects the festival’s commitment to embracing different ways of telling stories, responding to the evolving landscape of narrative and media,” says Cherie.

“Aesthetica was the first UK film festival to include this dedicated strand, recognising that podcasts have become a major platform for storytelling, investigative journalism, audio drama and experimental sound art.

“By incorporating this medium, the festival supports creators in developing, showcasing and networking around audio storytelling, providing practical insight into production, distribution and audience engagement.

“This strand not only expands the festival’s creative scope beyond visual media but also celebrates the diversity of contemporary narrative forms, encouraging innovation and experimentation while offering audiences a rich, multi-sensory experience.”

You champion York’s status as a UNESCO City of Media Arts at every opportunity, hence its prominent involvement in the 2025 festival with the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO. Discuss…

“Running at the Guildhall from November 6 to 8, it brings together more than 40 creative businesses from film, TV, gaming, VR, design, publishing and interactive media, the EXPO showcases York and North Yorkshire’s role at the forefront of the UK’s creative industries.

“It highlights the economic, cultural, and social impact of the sector, while providing meaningful opportunities for young people and emerging talent.”

The EXPO features such innovative companies as York’s Viridian FX (visual effects for House Of The Dragon), Revolution Games (Broken Sword series), Orillo Productions (Netflix and Amazon Prime collaborations) and Beckview Studios (state-of-the-art recording studio).

Complementing the EXPO are Media Arts exhibitions at York Art Gallery and a vibrant Festival Fringe, turning the city into a living showcase of creativity and innovation.

How important is the Filmmaking in Schools strand?

“The Filmmaking in Schools programme has expanded significantly in 2025, offering workshops, mentorship and screenings for students across York and the wider region,” says Cherie.

“It introduces young people to technical skills, creative storytelling and professional pathways in film and media. This strand demonstrates the festival’s broader commitment to the next generation, ensuring that York’s designation as a UNESCO City of Media Arts is meaningful in practice, not just in title.

“By providing hands-on learning, professional mentorship and exposure to international standards, the programme helps students develop real-world skills, creative confidence and industry awareness.

“It opens doors to future careers in the creative industries, fostering the talent pipeline that underpins the UK’s cultural and economic growth. Through this initiative, Aesthetica not only inspires young people but also showcases how a city can leverage its creative credentials to deliver demonstrable opportunities, nurturing the next generation of filmmakers, media artists and storytellers.”

York Theatre Royal audience on day three of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024
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Top Ten Things To Do at Aesthetica Short Film Festival in York from November 5 to 9

The Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2025 poster

CELEBRATING its 15th anniversary, the Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) transforms York each November into a vibrant hub of culture and creativity next week.

Over five days, from November 5 to 9, and in a digital extension, from November 5 to 30, the city becomes a global meeting point for filmmakers, musicians, technologists and audiences.

Presenting more than 300 films screening across the city, including many Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying titles, the festival champions bold storytelling and new voices from around the world.

Yet Aesthetica’s reach extends far beyond cinema. Its VR & Games Lab, Podcasting Lounge, Aesthetica Fringe and Beyond the Frame events merge film, music, art, comedy and digital culture into one seamless celebration of creativity.

This year, audiences can expect Sophie Duker’s comedy night, film critic Mark Kermode in conversation, a silent cinema live-score performance and the debut of the New Music Stage: a full music festival within the festival, spotlighting ten breakthrough UK artists in partnership with Universal Music and Caffè Nero.

For York and the wider UK, Aesthetica is a cultural catalyst, connecting York venues, supporting artists, boosting tourism and shining a global light on Yorkshire’s thriving creative economy. Driven by the Aesthetica motto that “it’s only an idea away”, ASFF is proof of what culture and creativity do, opening doors, building communities and expanding how we see the world.

Dodge Brothers, featuring film critic Mark Kermode, second from right: Playing at Aesthetica Short Film Festival

Top Ten  Things To Do

1. Film screenings

EXPERIENCE more than 300 shorts, features, documentaries, animations and experimental films from across the globe. Many of these titles are Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying, giving audiences a first look at the filmmakers of the future.

Attend the Makers’ Forum to hear from directors and producers, discover new cinematic voices and celebrate bold, thought-provoking storytelling that pushes boundaries and challenges perspectives.

2. VR & Games Lab

STEP into the future of storytelling. The VR & Games Lab invites audiences to explore cutting-edge works in virtual, augmented and mixed reality, plus innovative indie games. Engage with immersive environments, interactive narratives and demonstrations from the frontier of creative technology. Learn how artists are merging code, design and emotion to reinvent what it means to experience a story.

3. Masterclasses & Panels

AESTHETICA’S  industry sessions feature icons and innovators from Ridley Scott Associates, Aardman, BBC, Film4 and Framestore. Gain insight into the craft and business of filmmaking, from production design and cinematography to pitching, funding and post-production.

Highlights include Behind the Scenes of Gladiator, Napoleon and Alien and Film4’s From Shorts to Features. Ideal for anyone serious about their creative career.

4. Workshops & Roundtables

GET hands-on with practical sessions designed for filmmakers, producers and writers. From screenwriting labs and pitching clinics to discussions on funding, diversity and distribution, these workshops provide actionable advice from professionals. The roundtable format encourages open dialogue and peer learning: the right space to test ideas, ask questions and gain valuable mentorship.

The Games Lab at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2025

5. Networking & Pitching

MEET producers, commissioners and collaborators at Aesthetica’s networking events and UK Film Production Summit, featuring more than 150 companies. Speed-pitching sessions and informal meet-ups give you a chance to share your ideas, find partners and make connections that could propel your next project forward. This is where creative relationships and future deals are born.

6. Parties & Socials

WHEN the lights go down, the city comes alive. Aesthetica’s parties are legendary: relaxed, welcoming spaces where creatives from film, music, gaming and art collide.

Whether you are winding down after a screening or celebrating a new collaboration, the festival’s social scene is where friendships form, ideas spark and stories continue long into the night.

7. Listening Pitch premieres

NOW in its fifth year, the Listening Pitch shines a spotlight on the future of audio documentary. Aesthetica has commissioned ten original documentaries through this pioneering programme, and this year marks the premiere of three new projects.

Previous commissions have gone on to screen at SXSW and Sundance and been acquired by The Guardian. This is the place to discover bold new documentary talent, with live presentations, audience Q&As and an atmosphere that celebrates the art of sound and story.

Comedian Sophie Duker: Celebrating female voices in the festival’s Beyond the Frame strand at York Theatre Royal

8. New Music Stage

FEATURING a line-up of some of the UK and Ireland’s most exciting emerging artists, the New Music Stage blends film and sound in thrilling ways. This year’s acts include BLÁNID, Crazy James, Daisy Gill, Dilettante, Ewan Sim, Isabel Maria, Jemma Johnson, Kengo, Pleasure Centre and Tarian: artists championed by BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, RTÉ Radio 1, MOJO and Rolling Stone.

With performances spanning Glastonbury, The Late Late Show, SXSW and The Great Escape, this new stage celebrates the shared rhythm of cinema and song.

9. Beyond the Frame

STEP beyond the screen and into live performance. Highlights include Sophie Duker & Friends, a comedy night celebrating female voices; Mark Kermode in conversation with Jenny Nelson on film music, and a Silent Cinema & Live Score by The Dodge Brothers with Neil Brand and Mark Kermode. These events blur the lines between film, performance and criticism – cinematic storytelling at its most alive.

10. Aesthetica Fringe

RUNNING city-wide, the Fringe transforms York into an open-air gallery. Expect art installations, theatre, DJ sets, exhibitions and surprise pop-ups across independent venues. The Fringe brings York and international artists together, inviting audiences to see the city through a creative lens in a celebration of community, experimentation and the energy that fuels York’s cultural heartbeat.

Aesthetica Short Film Festival invites you to “be part of the story”. “Whether you’re a filmmaker, musician, gamer or culture-lover, our 2025 festival is your invitation to experience creativity without limits,” says festival director Cherie Federico. “Join us in York and be part of a global conversation about the future of storytelling.”

For the full festival programme and tickets, go to: www.asff.co.uk.

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York supernatural thriller writer C.M. Vassie to launch SCRAVIR III – Possession at bookshops over Whitby Goth Weekend

The poster for York supernatural thriller author C.M. Vassie’s book launch of SCRAVIR III – Possession at the Whitby Shop this evening

THE third book in York author C.M. Vassie’s SCRAVIR trilogy of Whitby supernatural thrillers will be launched at  a 5pm to 7pm signing session this evening at the Whitby Shop, on Church Street, amid the buzz of Whitby Goth Weekend.

Further book signings for SCRAVIR III – Possession will follow at the same shop tomorrow at 2pm to 4pm and Whitby Bookshop, on Church Street, on Sunday from 12 noon to 2pm.

Then, as part of the first Whitby Literature Festival Fringe, Vassie will hold a book signing/meet & greet session at Holman’s bookshop, on Skinner Street, on November 8 from 2pm to 4pm.

He is not only an author but also the City of York councillor for Wheldrake with a long back story as a music composer for the BBC too. 

“While the SCRAVIR books are dark and nasty, they are nowhere as dark or as nasty as local politics,” says Liberal Democrats Councillor Christian Vassie/author C.M. Vassie.

York author C.M. Vassie in 1820s’ attire at the Whitby launch of his time-travelling book The Whitby Trap. Now comes his third SCRAVIR thriller, Possession

SCRAVIR is a contemporary gothic horror story that serves up a thriller and a police detective story too. Set in Whitby and Romania, its protagonists are a London youth and a Whitby lass who works in a fish-and-chip shop. The nemesis is a Goth music star and the action takes place over Whitby Goth Weekend when emaciated bodies appear on streets in the old town. 

The original book, SCRAVIR – While Whitby Sleeps appeared in the summer of 2021; the second, SCRAVIR II – Lacklight, published in 2023, continued the gothic horror story.  

Vassie also wrote the time-travelling adventure The Whitby Trap. SCRAVIR III – Possession will retail at £10.99.

The book cover to C.M. Vassie’s SCRAVIR III – Possession

Did you know?

HOLMAN’S bookshop is celebrating its 105th anniversary over Whitby Goth Weekend, an occasion marked by the launch of owner Angela O’Connor’s commemorative book, Holman’s, Whitby’s Time Travelling Bookshop, charting the bookshop’s history.

“Angela spent a great deal of time researching at the Whitby Museum, talking with relatives and other shop keepers along the street,” says C.M. Vassie.

“Having spent days in the Whitby Museum researching for my time-travelling story The Whitby Trap, I know how difficult it can be extracting stuff from the archives!

“Interestingly, three members of staff have covered the entire 105 years of Holman’s existence, the last lady retiring earlier this year after nearly half a century at the shop.”

Full interview with C.M. Vassie to follow.