Author: Charles Hutchinson

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Dominic Goodwin recalls variety’s golden days in solo comedy show Twice Nightly on tour in Helmsley, Richmond and York

Dominic Goodwin in a triptych of variety guises in Twice Nightly

DOMINIC Goodwin, one-time manager of Helmsley Arts Centre, pantomime dame and actor, returns to his old stamping ground with his first one-man comedy show in a celebration of the glory days of variety on Friday and Saturday.

Written and performed by Goodwin and directed by York director and actor Thomas Frere, Twice Nightly follows the story of struggling comedian Freddie Francis in 1956 as the final curtain hovers over variety.

Many acts of the time are highlighted, including Norman “Over The Garden Wall” Evans (said to be an influence on Les Dawson), Stockton comic Jimmy James, wartime star Robb Wilton and the iconic Max Miller.

“It’s been an honour to perform these stars’ material, and even more so to have the backing of the families,” says Dominic, who will be on tour until July 25, including further North Yorkshire performances at the Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, on July 10 and 11 and Friargate Theatre, York, on July 17 and 18.

Dominic Goodwin at his most colourful in Twice Nightly

Here Dominic discusses Twice Nightly, variety’s golden age and going solo with CharlesHutchPress.


Introduce the show, Dominic…

“Freddie Francis has been a second spot comic for 30 years, touring the country on every variety bill going. We find him in 1956 recalling his life spent touring the halls; the ups, the downs, the riotous, the fantastic and the downright silly!

“He recalls his days entertaining the troops during the Second World War, playing at the infamous Glasgow Empire, and we discover what really happened when a speciality act lost her snake on stage!!

“Ultimately Twice Nightly is a fading memory of the variety stage. The death of something that has been part of everyone’s life for decades is now on the decline. Where will Freddie go when he finishes this tour? Who will he go back to, and ultimately who really cares?”

What are your own memories of the golden era of variety? Did you see any of the icons on stage?
“Oh how I wish I had! I’ve only ever seen them in YouTube clips. The sheer diversity of the acts on offer was extraordinary. From singers to comics, contortionists to animal acts like Rumba the man-eating lion! And even a guy who would walk on stage with a live bull!”

Who are your variety heroes?
“It would have to be Jimmy James – he of the “box routine” fame – and Norman Evans. Norman was the forerunner of Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough with their Ada & Cissie act. Norman did his ‘over the garden wall’ sketches with his character of Fanny Fairbottom. Very funny sketches and at the time there was nothing like it.

“I suppose the ultimate variety star would be Max Miller. He had the longest stage life and was top of the bill for longer.”

What has been the gestation of Twice Nightly from idea to stage?
“I originally wrote it in 2015 and performed in Scotland with a cast of eight, when [Easingwold actor, songwriter and magician] Phil Grainger was in it, but the intention was always to do it as a one-man play.”

Dominic Goodwin’s Dr Watson, left, and Julian Finnegan’s Sherlock Holmes in Kirkbymoorside company Pyramus and Thisbe Productions’ 2021 revival of Stuart Fortey’s two-hander Holmes And Watson: The Farewell Tour

What was the attraction of performing a solo show when we have often seen you in double acts previously?
“My friends at The Swallow [Scotland’s smallest theatre at Ravenstone, Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway], have asked about a return of Twice Nightly for a few years and after the success of Switcheroo last year I decided the time was right, while I was still young enough to tackle a one-man play!”

Why is the show called Twice Nightly?
“In the heyday days of variety, the shows would be performed twice nightly, at 6pm and 8pm, so the title kind of fits!”

Which variety acts feature in Twice Nightly?

“The show includes routines from amongst others, Max Miller, Rob Wilton, Jimmy James and Norman Evans, and renditions of many of the popular songs of the time, such as The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo, Happy Days Are Here Again and Goodnight Sweetheart.”

What form has the “backing of the [variety act] families” taken for Twice Nightly?
“That has been amazing! Firstly, the Max Miller Appreciation Society has been very helpful. They’ve given me permission to use his gags, and on the matinee of the week I’m doing in Brighton they have booked the theatre out for a social event! So they’ll all sit and watch the show and then we’ll have a little do.

“Jimmy James’s granddaughter has given me permission to do the box routine, and she is actually coming to the show on Thursday (25/6/2026) at Grantham! I had quite an online trawl to find her.

“The Norman Evans routine was written by Ronnie Taylor, who died in the 1970s, and all his scripts and ephemera went to the V&A, but his two daughters have also given me permission to perform a Fanny Fairbottom sketch!”

Dominic Goodwin in the role of Norman Evans’s variety character Fanny Fairbottom

Why did the good old days of variety die out? 

“Things changed, The Beatles, Cliff Richard etc. People wanted something different. When Johnnie Ray came to the UK in 1956, that was the beginning of the end. Then of course the introduction of television, people could see their favourite acts while sitting in their living rooms.”

Have you worked with director Thomas Frere previously and why did you pick him to direct Twice Nightly?
“Thom is a dear good friend and a top-notch director. We’ve worked together a few times now, although always as co-actors, from panto in 2009 to Switcheroo in 2025. This is the first time he’s sat in the director’s seat and I wouldn’t hesitate to hook him again.

“He knows instinctively what will work and what won’t. His understanding of the relationship between actor and audience is top-notch.

“We’ve together worked to give the show its shape and form. He’s also very well aware of when it’s time to stop for the day in the rehearsal room. Doing a one-man show is pretty knackering and generally he wouldn’t let me go on after 4pm.”

What are your happiest memories of your time as manager of Helmsley Arts Centre?
“Running the youth theatre for so many years and watching youngsters really get to grips with texts; meeting some top-class names, like Jonathan Miller, Nicholas Parsons and Robert Powell, and working alongside people who had a real love of the arts centre and its aims.”

Finally, Dominic, why should we see Twice Nightly?
“Come along for a laugh. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, you’ll go away having had a high old time. If you want to laugh, go! It’s not a show to be viewed as a piece of history; it’s full of fun, with an added dollop of pathos thrown in for good measure.”

Pyramus and Thisbe Productions presents Dominic Goodwin in Twice Nightly, Helmsley Arts Centre, June 26 & 27, 7.30pm; Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, July 10 & 11, 7.30pm; Friargate Theatre, York, July 17 & 18, 7.30pm.

Box office: Helmsley, 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk; Richmond, 01748 825252 or georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk; York, 01904 655317 or ridinglights.org/friargatetheatre.

Dominic Goodwin making his point in Twice Nightly

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Feel the tension as York Light enters The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Daniel Wood, left, Stephen Wright, Lotty Farmer, Rosa Burns, Hannah Shaw and James Dickinson in in York Light Opera Company’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

SIX awkward spelling champions learn that winning – and losing – is not everything in York Light Opera Company’s summer production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Rachel Sheinkin, the 2004 American musical will be staged at Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, from June 24 to July 4 under the direction of Neil Wood and musical direction of Martin Lay, at the helm of a four-piece band.

Be prepared for a riotous ride as an eclectic group of six “mid-pubescents” battle for the spelling championship of a lifetime in a fast-paced, wildly humorous show replete with audience participation.

While candidly disclosing touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of – potentially made-up – words, each hoping to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing ding of the bell that signals a spelling mistake.

Rosa Byrne’s Marcy Park rehearsing for York Light’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Taking part will be Lotty Farmer’s Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre; Hannah Shaw’s Olive Ostrovsky; Rosa Burns’ Marcy Park; Daniel Wood’s Leaf Coneybear; James Dickinson’s Chip Tolentino and Stephen Wright’s William Barfeé.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee promises unforgettable entertainment with a heart-warming message highlighting themes of friendship, identity and perseverance, all while celebrating the awkwardness and excitement of growing up,” says Neil, as York Light looks to build on the success of Eurobeat and Annie, Martyn Knight’s final production in the director’s chair.

“I love this quirkly little show that was first done as a workshop show in 2004 and then played off-Broadway and made its Broadway debut in 2005. Spelling Bee is one of those shows that invites the audience into the world of the spellers to cheer, to laugh, to cry and just have a wonderful evening. It’s back in New York, playing off-Broadway, winning every award insight, playing in a complex with six productions going on in one building.

“It has top-quality writing and is just as relevant today from when it was first performed and we’ve upated with a reference to President Trump! With a show that has such a cult following, once you see it, you will want to come back over and over again!”

Vice-principal Douglas Panch (Neil Foster), left, watching the contestants, James Dickinson’s Chip Tolentino, front, left, Daniel Wood’s Leaf Coneybear, Lotty Farmer’s Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre and Stephen Wright’s William Barfeé, in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Part of the fun will be audience members’ opportunity to be guest spellers in each performance. “I’ll be chatting beforehand, saying, ‘do you fancy trying out your spelling’? It’s not compulsory, but I’m confident we will find people to do it,” says Neil.

The show has echoes of Dennis Potter’s Blue Remembered Hills and Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers in having adult actors play children. “The six main spellers in the competition are 12/13-year-old adolescents, and most people will be able to recognise themselves in at least one of them,” says Neil.

“There’s a geek;  a zany, off-the-rails one; an alpha-male; a future businesswoman, already looking career driven; a young politician, being brought up by two dads, and a girl whose parents adore her but they’re always busy pursuing their own lives. I think the audience will end up rooting for the one they identify with the most.

“There’s a proper plot in this character-centred show, whereas there wasn’t in Eurobeat, which was more like ‘an experience’. The three adults running the event are important too: the one-time champion (Katie Brier’s Rona Lisa Piretti), the vice-principal (Neil Foster’s Douglas Panch) and the comfort counsellor (Mikhail Lim’s Mitch Mahoney), who is there to look after the children, should they not success in the spelling bee. They all have a back story, and the stories intertwine with little bits of flashback.”

Mikhail Lim’s comfort counsellor Mitch Mahoney in rehearsal

The fact that the children are played by adults, “you just get transfixed by them,” suggests Neil. “It calls on a totally different skill set for the actors , and one of the things that we’ve really worked on is the consistency of the characters as they’re on stage all the time, so they have to hold those characters traits at all times.”

Should you be wondering, Neil’s research reveals there are no fewer than nine Putnam Counties in the United States. “But then there are 20 different Springfields there by the way, including the one in Missouri in The Sopranos and the town in The Simpsons!” he says.

“We’ve given it over to the company members to find their accents for our show, which is set at a regional heat before the national final in Washington,”

The setting will be a school gymnasium, where the young spellers must exercise their minds. “We’ll have a basketball hoop on the set to give a sense of a gym,” says Neil.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s opening, he enthuses: “What I love about the show is how the audience can forget about the outside world for two hours, when they’ll smile, they’ll be moved by the story, they’ll have fun – and you’ve got to have fun at the theatre!

“We giggle at rehearsals from start to finish, and you have to do that with this piece because, if we’re not having fun, nor will the audience, but I guarantee they will come out with grins on their faces.”

York Light Opera Company in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, June 24 to 27 & June 30 to July 4, 7.30pm, plus 2.30pm Saturday matinees and 2pm Sunday matinee (28/6/2026). Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Katie Brier’s Rona Lisa Piretti, left, and Hannah Shaw’s Olive Ostrovsky in a scene from York Light’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

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REVIEW: Paul Rhodes’s verdict on Sons Of Town Hall, The Dolphin,  Robin Hood’s Bay, June 15, and Ripon Arts Hub, June 16

Sons Of Town Hall’s Ben Parker, in the guise of George Ulysses Brown, at The Dolphin, Robin Hood’s Bay. All pictures: Paul Rhodes

TEN long years on a raft together were two migrants. You’d imagine they’d want to run in separate directions the moment they made landfall.

Somehow, joyfully, Ben Parker and David Berkeley, appearing as their ageless characters who make up Sons Of Town Hall, are still as fresh and fun while their music strikes both deep and popular notes. Their two North Yorkshire shows showed off their talents.

Word had spread, so admirers clogged the waterways to Robin Hood’s Bay and Ripon (where apparently there was not a berth to be had for love or money) to see this fine pair perform their mix of folk, comedy and a winning story of travel and enduring friendship.

Sons Of Town Hall’s David Berkeley in the guise of Josiah Chester Jones at The Dolphin, Robin Hood’s Bay

On record, Sons Of Town Hall create music that makes you think, providing solace in desperate times, but the live experience is altogether more immersive. For the unfamiliar, Sons of Town Hall have created an ever-elaborating story of being Victorian water boatmen who try but fail at numerous jobs and run into the occasional celebrity such as Ernest Shackleton (which inspired Antarctica).

Their stories are also well travelled, but the interplay between the two is so natural that it never feels forced and there is plenty of ad-libbing. The way they step outside the story to laugh at themselves only adds yet another layer.

It is all said with a twinkle and the deft timing of two pro comics. The only thing sepia about them were their clothes, hats and boots.

Sons Of Town Hall in tandem at The Dolphin

The crowd is expected to sing along (“if you don’t sing we’ll stop,” they joked). In Robin Hoods’s Bay, a location tailor-made for these performers, it was a lively, loud and engaged room. Ben engaged in a comic battle of wits with Row 2, dealing with these admirers superbly.

Sons of Town Hall are familiar faces in Ripon, where they have played many times. Last Tuesday the set list drew less on their Of Ghosts And Gods album and included some welcome older material, with The Man With Two Wives one of several highlights.

Back at the coast, the call-and-response songs rang loud and true, especially the traditional I Saw A Light and their own Bossman. These touring songs are probably too generic to stand alone on record, but in situ they worked a treat.

At the start of the tour, they seemed well rested, but unencumbered by any rust from not playing together. Their interplay clearly runs deep.

Ripon Arts Hub concert co-organiser Nick Thompson being acknowledged by the audience as he prepares for retirement

These unusual migrants tend to return twice a year, which makes them something of an outlier, and musically, too, they are a rarity with their combination of beautiful harmonies and incisive, crafted lyrics, presented with the bravura of the tavern and timing that could grace the largest stages.

None of this would be possible without the efforts of Nick (Thompson) and Kate in Ripon, Dave and Helen (on a mission to make The Dolphin a restored jewel in Robin Hood’s Bay) and James Duffy, the Hurricane Promotions promoter, taking another chance. Live music is a tough business, but warm and welcoming venues provide safe harbour.

Once the spell of the performance is over, you are left with a memory and a smile. A moment that somehow captures how people respond to Sons of Town Hall was an impromptu encore of In My Arms Once More from the gents over the urinals. All in all, probably the most fun you can have without taking off your hat.

Booted and suited at Ripon Arts Hub

Review by Paul Rhodes

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Bar Convent is taking part in York Mystery Plays Festival for the first time. Here’s how

The poster for the Bar Convent’s debut involvement in the York Mystery Plays Festival

THE Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, in Blossom Street, York, is celebrating its medieval heritage by taking part in the theatrical spectacle of the York Mystery Plays Festival for the first time.

Making the headlines are:

* Women in the Mystery Plays exhibition, until August 29.

* Performance of Journey To Calvary in the garden, July 4, 2pm.

* Medieval Arma Christi scroll, on display until July 4, for the last time until 2027.

* Family-friendly activities during summer school holidays.

Every four years, the streets of York are transformed into an immersive historic stage as part of the Mystery Plays tradition dating back to medieval times. The Bar Convent is thrilled to be included in the programme of special events taking over the city with performances, exhibitions, talks, trails and more.

Dr Hannah Thomas: Special collections manager and research fellow at the Bar Convent. Picture: Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre

Dr Hannah Thomas says: “The discovery of the incredible rare medieval Arma Christi prayer scroll has enabled us to explore and reinterpret our medieval heritage and connections across the city.

“York Mystery Plays Festival is such a befitting partnership for us with its religious content, our medieval links, both histories intertwining with the Reformation and the fact that the Arma Christi scroll depicts the Journey to Calvary.

“We are incredibly excited to showcase our collections to new audiences, to work with Diane Heaven on her new display and for people to experience our garden in a new and exciting way.”

Diane Heaven, curator of the Women in the Mystery Plays exhibition, says: “I have worked on the York Mystery Plays Festival for five cycles in various capacities. This year, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to curate this exhibition at the Bar Convent to honour and celebrate the Women of the Mystery Plays, past and present.

“From Lucy Toulmin Smith, the woman who re-discovered and then translated the medieval manuscripts, to those working on the plays today who have been generous enough to provide us with scrap books, model stages, fabrics and sketches that give us a fascinating and unique insight into the creative processes behind the plays.”

Women in the Mystery Plays and the Arma Christi display are included in admission to the Bar Convent exhibition, open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, last admission 4pm. Journey To Calvary is a free event.

Women in the Mystery Plays, on display in the Gregory Gallery at the Bar Convent. Picture: Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre

Activities for York Mystery Plays Festival at Bar Convent

Women in the Mystery Plays, curated by Diane Heaven, until August 29.

FASCINATING exploration of women in the York Mystery Plays, past and present, revealing hidden stories, voices and contributions across the years. The exhibition also responds to the Bar Convent’s medieval collections and significance as a driving force for equality both historically and in the present day.

Curator Diane Heaven has taken on many roles in the York Mystery Plays over the years, but for 2026, she has written and adapted the music for Doomsday, designed the costumes and set and made many of the costumes (examples of which can be seen on display at the Bar Convent).

Arma Christi, on public display, until July 4

ARMA Christi, the most spectacular medieval prayer scroll in the world, is on display for the last time until 2027. From the 11 scrolls that have survived the Reformation, the Bar Convent Arma Christi is the best preserved and the only example to have responses, which gives new insight into how experts previously thought the scrolls were used. This will be on display alongside the convent’s medieval collection.

Summer at the Bar Convent, July 20 to September 5

IN celebration of the York Mystery Plays Festival, enjoy a summer of creativity at the Bar Convent. Visit the new display Women of the Mystery Plays and take inspiration from the creatives past and present who have worked on these spectacular medieval historic plays.

Journey To Calvary in rehearsal. Picture: York Mystery Plays Trust

Find children’s costumes to try on and explore the beautiful colours of the medieval Arma Christi, alongside the objects throughout the exhibition, to create your own artwork.

Step into the garden where you will find easels and art materials to capture the nature that surrounds you. All ages and abilities are welcome.

Admission applies to the exhibition. Easels are available at no charge, Monday to Friday.

Journey To Calvary, July 4, 2pm

THE Bar Convent garden will become a stage for Journey To Calvary: Play No. 34, presented in response to the Arma Christi scroll. For the story of Jesus having to carry his cross to the place of crucifixion, uniquely among this summer’s plays, Journey To Calvary does not utilise a pageant waggon, on account of the fundamentally processional nature of the play.

This free performance will run for 20 minutes approximately; some seating will be provided. Food and drink can be bought at the Bar Convent café, with a discount to the Bar Convent exhibition available for those who attend. Find more details at yorkmysteryplays.co.uk/the-2026-festival/.

Dr Isobel Staton, special collections officer, with a selection of the Bar Convent’s medieval objects. Picture: Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre

Bar Convent: back story

THE Bar Convent was established in 1686, when it was illegal to be a Roman Catholic, hiding in plain sight as a school for girls. The foundress of the order was Yorkshire woman Mary Ward (1585-1625), a pioneer in women’s education who famously said, “There is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things”.

Over the past 300 years, the order has been entrusted with the safe-keeping of many relics and artefacts, many of them on display in the exhibition.

Today, the Bar Convent is the oldest living convent in Great Britain.  The house is central to the global order and there are more than 200 schools worldwide in Mary Ward’s name.

The house is open for all faiths and none to explore, with an exhibition, chapel, café, garden, meeting rooms and guest house on site.

The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, in Blossom Street, York. Picture: Gareth Buddo

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Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan to play York Barbican on May 6 2027 on debut Talking Gib’rish Tour. When do tickets go on sale?

Ian Gillan: Purple prose at York Barbican next May

DEEP Purple frontman Ian Gillan will play York Barbican on May 6 2027 on his Talking Gib’rish Tour. Tickets go on sale on Friday (26/6/2026) at 10am at https://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk/whats-on/ian-gillan/.

Next spring’s series of live speaking events will allow audiences to hear personal stories from Gillan’s remarkable life and career in rock music.

From his childhood in Hounslow to the global rise of Deep Purple, Gillan will reflect on his experiences, music and outlook on life. 

Now 80, Gillan’s career spans more than six decades. He joined his first band, The Javelins, in 1962, then teamed up with Roger Glover in Episode Six in 1965. Touring with Dusty Springfield and performing across Europe and the Middle East helped shape his musicianship and distinctive vocal style.

In 1969, Gillan joined Deep Purple in what became one of the pivotal moments in rock history. Formed in 1968, Deep Purple are pioneers of hard rock, best known for their 1972 album Machine Head, featuring Smoke On The Water.

In 1970, Gillan took on the role of Jesus Christ in the original London studio recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar for MCA Records, earning acclaim for his powerful and emotive interpretation.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, he broke new ground leading the bands Gillan, Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners and Repo Depo.

The Talking Gib’rish Tour will be a rare opportunity to hear behind-the-scenes stories from Gillan in his own words: candid, humorous and unfiltered.

“I am quivering with anticipation at the prospect of embarking on my first ever public speaking engagements, The Talking Gib’rish Tour, in April/May 2027. I’ll be covering a lot of ground, from my early days in Hounslow to whatever might have happened on the latest world tour with my beloved Deep Purple…and maybe something funky in between.

“After 65 years on the road, there will be stories about some of the fascinating and sometimes magical events and people that I’ve encountered along the trail. It’s going to be a blast!”

The cover artwork for Deep Purple’s new studio album, Splat!, out on July 3

Ian Gillan: back story 

BORN on August 19 1945 in Hounslow. Built career as singer and songwriter, recording 79 studio albums, along with countless live recordings, including Deep Purple’s legendary double album Made in Japan, released in December 1972.

Deep Purple’s latest album, the 13-track recording Splat!, will be released on July 3 on earMUSIC. Produced by Bob Ezrin, it will be available on vinyl and CD formats and can be pre-ordered directly from https://deeppurple.lnk.to/SPLAT.

Gillan says: “Where we are now with this incarnation of Deep Purple feels very much like a very ‘now’ version of Deep Purple as it was in the Seventies. I have to say, now we are very much back in with material that is compatible with Highway Star, Smoke On The Water, Lazy – the dynamics, the balance and the fun of the music we made from ‘69 to ‘73.”

At the heart of Splat! is an idea conceived by Gillan. Rather than treating the end as destruction, the album imagines it as transformation: Splat! explores the end of humanity not in any crude apocalyptic sense but as a metamorphosis beyond physical existence.

To celebrate the release, Deep Purple will continue their extensive 2026 touring schedule with no fewer than 86 shows across 28 countries on three continents.

Gillan’s honours include induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Hall of Fame award and the Ivor Novello International Award. His global record sales have exceeded 200 million.

His website can be found at https://gillan.com.

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In Focus: Prima Choral Artists, Under One Sky, National Centre for Early Music, York, Sunday, 21/6/2026, 5pm & 7.30pm

Prima Choral Artists; poster for Sunday’s concerts at the double on Father’s Day

PRODUCER and artistic director Eve Lorian leads Prima Choral Artists in a compelling journey through global vocal traditions in two concerts on Sunday at the National Centre For Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York.

Under One Sky is a signature programme by this Polish-born, York-based choral director, who has consistently introduced unique concerts and explored new territory for York choirs for nearly two decades.

Eve’s latest artistic compilation is designed to celebrate the relationship between musical language, cultural identity and vocal technique, while recognising the unifying nature of the choral canon. Spanning a wide geographical and cultural spectrum, the repertoire highlights distinctive approaches to tone production, ornamentation, rhythm and ensemble cohesion.

Sunday’s programme opens with Sakura, a Japanese folk melody characterised by its pentatonic modality and lyrical phrasing. The Bulgarian works Kaval Sviri and Dilmano Dilbero exemplify the highly resonant, open-throated “white voice” technique, and this vocal aesthetic continues in Serbian folk music, where dance-derived rhythms and communal expression are central.

Folk traditions of the North Atlantic are represented through the French-Canadian J’entends le Moulin, with its rhythmic drive, alongside Wild Mountain Thyme and Gaelic Song Of The Boatman, which reflect the modal inflections of Scottish and Gaelic song traditions.

Prima Choral Artists’ founder, producer and artistic director Eve Lorian

The programme broadens even further afield through Yeish Kochavim (Hebrew), Evohé (Venezuela) and Dao Mai Fan Ye’ (Mandarin), each illustrating the interaction between text, rhythm and collective energy within their respective traditions. These works foreground the role of music in both ritual and communal celebration.

The final section centres on vocal traditions from the Torres Strait Islands and Southern Africa. Sesere Eeye reflects oral transmission practices and community-based performance, while Ngothando, Ndikhokhele Bawo and Papaoutai demonstrate the harmonies and call-and-response structures that are foundational to many African musical forms.

Eve’s diligent research has brought together this sparkling burst of music with the support of a choir who are no strangers to world music and singing in multiple languages.

“We have always been proud of our multi-cultural, international identity,” says Eve. “Music has always been a unifying force for good. These concerts, celebrating unity through diversity, represent a truth that sometimes only music can express.”

Giving a brief glimpse into the creative process behind these events, she adds: “Selecting the music takes weeks upon weeks of research and listening. I thrive on fresh choices, on presenting the unexpected – and these pieces are far from the standard choral repertoire.

Prima Choral Artists in concert under Eve Lorian’s direction

“But the title came so naturally: Under One Sky says everything that we mean to convey in these two performances!”

International connections for Eve and Prima Choral Artists are not merely constrained to concert programming. For more than a decade, Eve has led the way in introducing outstanding overseas opportunities for York choirs.

This commitment continues this summer with a concert tour to Prague from July 8 to 13 to take part in the International Choir and Orchestra Festival (Prague Festival 2026, July 9 to 13).

On September 6, Eve will welcome the Norwegian choir Fanakoret, from Bergen, for a Friendship performance with Prima Choral Artists at St Olave’s Church, Marygate, York, at 5pm.

“Before these opportunities comes the unmissable chance to join Prima on Father’s Day on Sunday at the National Centre For Early Music with the two time slots designed to complement everyone’s plans and make for a truly special weekend celebration,” she says.

Tickets are available from www.primachoral.com; with limited seating available, booking is recommended.

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More Things To Do in York and beyond. Hutch’s List No. 25, from The York Press

Al Dunn, Matt Freeman and Nick Bunt in Oh Zeus! on Le Navet Bete’s fifth visit to York Theatre Royal. Picture: Mark Senior

A MYTHOLOGICAL farce and Lenny Henry at large, a snappy crocodile and a Man-Wulf, a spelling bee musical and a mirrored installation keep Charles Hutchinson’s arty eye on the ball and off the football.

Greek comedy of the week: Le Navet Bete in Oh Zeus!, York Theatre Royal, today, 2pm and 7.30pm

EXETER’S chaotic comedy specialists, Le Navet Bete, conduct a riotous ride through Ancient Greece, the Underworld and back in Oh Zeus! Written by director John Nicholson and company founders Al Dunn, Nick Bunt and Matt Freeman, this mythological farce finds the stability of Olympus being threatened by the marriage of Zeus’s daughter, Hebe, to a mere mortal, whereupon the King of the Gods hatches a plan to derail the wedding.

Expect physical comedy, outrageous jokes and fast-paced pandemonium as Dunn, Bunt and Freeman play 40 characters between them. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Beverley Knight: Born to perform at York Barbican. Picture: Lewis Shaw

Recommended but sold out: Beverley Knight, Born To Perform, York Barbican, tonight, 7.30pm

QUEEN of British soul Beverley Knight shares stories from her life on stage, as well as performing her biggest hits, musical theatre favourites and cherished songs that have inspired her on her 20-date UK tour.

“Born To Perform is me taking you on a journey through my life on both music and theatre stages, using my memories and of course my songs. I’m stripping back my sound so the audience can lean in a little closer and really hear my soul,” says Knight, whose hits include Made It Black, Greatest Day, Get Up, Shoulda Woulda Coulda, Gold, Come As You Are, Keep This Fire Burning and Piece Of My Heart. Her special guest is Gabriella Cilmi. Box office for returns only: yorkbarbican.co.uk.

Anastacia: Playing Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Not That Kind tour

Coastal gigs of the week: TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Skunk Anansie & Garbage, tonight; Anastacia and Heather Small tomorrow, gates 6pm

SKUNK Anansie and Garbage play Scarborough on a six-date tour. Formed in London in 1994, fronted by Skin, Skunk Anansie blend hard rock with political and social themes;  American alternative rock band Garbage, fronted by Scottish singer Shirley Manson, combine rock, electronica and pop influences.

Chicago singer Anastacia heads to the Yorkshire coast to perform I’m Outta Love, Paid My Dues and Left Outside Alone et al on her Not That Kind tour. London soul singer Heather Small, of M People fame, is her special guest. Box office: scarboroughopenairtheatre.com.

York artist Ric Liptrot’s illustration for tomorrow’s 2026 Bishy Road Street Party

Community event of the week: Bishy Road Street Party, Bishopthorpe Road, York, tomorrow, 11am to 4pm

 CELEBRATING community spirit and independent shops, Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association’s 2026 Bishy Road Street Party combines live music, family activities and food and drink, plus street vendors and community stalls. The main stage  plays host to performances by Yorkshire Voices (11am), Third Parallel (11.45am), Gaia On Fire (Juno, 12.30pm) and Bargestra (1.30pm), climaxing with headline sets by the Yorky Pud Street Band (14.15pm) and The Unnamed Band (3.15pm).

Look out for five children’s performances and interactive sessions, with appearances from Evergreen Explorers (11am), Professor Dan (12 noon), Baby Band (1pm), Elevate Dance Sessions (2pm) and Josh Benson (3pm). A children’s zone, featuring face painting, mud kitchen, crafts, hair braiding and balloons, will be set up on Ebor Street and entertainment will be spread across the event space. Charities, artists, makers and community groups offer games, activities and information. Free to attend; no booking required.

Artist and designer Es Devlin in the Temple of the Fours Winds at Castle Howard. Picture: Rick Walker, PA Media

Installation of the week: Es Devlin, Library Of The Four Winds, Temple of the Four Winds, Castle Howard, near Malton, until September 27

AS part of the Vanbrugh 300 celebrations at Castle Howard, artist and designer Es Devlin responds to  Sir John Vanbrugh’s visionary architecture with her luminous installation Library Of The Four Winds, a new mirrored sculpture that takes over the Temple of the Four Winds in honour of the National Year of Reading.

The temple’s original use as a place for refreshment and reading was Devlin’s starting point for a central sculpture made up of hundreds of books, curated from the personal libraries of Vanbrugh and Devlin.  The temple is encompassed by four concentric tables where the public can read, draw, talk, eat and listen. The space will host events throughout the summer. Tickets: castlehoward.co.uk.

The many faces of Lenny Henry: Actor, comedian, fundraiser and stand-up anedoctalist

Talk of the week: Lenny Henry, Still At Large, Grand Opera House, York, June 23, 7.30pm

PART stand-up, part storytelling and part conversation with himself and with you, Still At Large finds Lenny Henry returning to the experiences that shaped him while also exploring the ideas, challenges and creative sparks driving him today.

From The Lenny Henry Show and Chef! to dramatic performances in Othello and The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power,  he traces the roles, characters and moments that have defined his six-decade career and shares what continues to inspire him as he reflects on a life lived out loud. On show will be the many versions of Lenny: actor, impressionist, comedian, fundraiser and stand-up anecdotalist. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Dan Wood, left, Stephen Wright, Lotty Farmer, Rosa Burns, Hannah Shaw and James Dickinson in York Light Opera Company’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Musical of the week: York Light Opera Company in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, June 24 to 27 & June 30 to July 4, 7.30pm, plus 2.30pm Saturday matinees and 2pm Sunday matinee (28/6/2026)

NEIL Wood directs York Light in Rebecca Feldman, William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s musical account of six ‘mid-pubescents’ battling for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of words hoping to never hear the bell that signals a mistake.

Cue a heart-warming message that highlights themes of friendship, identity and perseverance, all while celebrating the awkwardness and excitement of growing up. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Jordan Eskeisa, left, Marienella Phillips, Chelsea Da Silva (The Enormous Crocodile, front), Precious Abimbola and Ciara Hudson in The Enormous Crocodile. Picture: Danny Kaan

Mischievous adaptation of the week: Roald Dahl Story Company in Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile The Musical, York Theatre Royal, June 25 to 28, 10.30am and 1.30pm.

ROALD Dahl’s Enormous Crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees. Only fellow jungle creatures can foil his “secret plans and clever tricks”, but they need courage aplenty to stop this greedy, grumptious, horrid brute.

Equipped with Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab’s tunes, Suhayla El-Bushra’s rib-tickling book and lyrics and Tom Brady’s additional music and lyrics, the dastardly family adventure has been developed and directed by Emily Lim, working in tandem with co-director and puppetry designer Toby Olié. Chelsea Da Silva, Precious Abimbola, Jordan Eskeisa, Ciara Hudson, Marienella Phillips and actor-musician René Francalanza star.Age guidance: Three plus. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Stewart Lee’s poster illustration for Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf, on tour for three nights at Grand Opera House, York

Comedy gigs of the week: Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf, Grand Opera House, York, June 25 to 27, 7.30pm

AFTER a five-night Theatre Royal run in the fledgling days of Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf in January 2025, the contrarian comedian returns to York for three more nights of testing whether the beast inside us all can be silenced with the silver bullet of Lee’s scalpel-sharp stand-up?

Lee will play the same material three ways: first up, telling liberal jokes in a liberal way, then, after a screaming transformation into the Man-Wulf, reactionary jokes in a reactionary way post-interval and, finally, wolf’s head removed, reactionary jokes in a liberal, left-leaning way. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Karl Mullen: Playing everything from Chopin to Oasis, via Led Zeppelin and Les Dawson, at The Old Paint Shop

Cabaret gig of the week: The Old Paint Shop presents Karl Mullen, York Theatre Royal Studio, June 26, 8pm

AFTER two Old Paint Shop gigs last year, Karl Mullen, upright-piano busker, Phoenix Inn fixture and Leeds Piano Competition Pub Piano Champion, completes his hat-trick, serving up his high-energy take on everything from Chopin to Oasis, via Led Zeppelin and Les Dawson, packed with outrageous and heartfelt stories from decades of gigging. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

In Focus: Prima Choral Artists, Under One Sky, National Centre for Early Music, York, Sunday, 21/6/2026, 5pm & 7.30pm

Prima Choral Artists; poster for Sunday’s concerts at the double on Father’s Day

PRODUCER and artistic director Eve Lorian leads Prima Choral Artists in a compelling journey through global vocal traditions in two concerts on Sunday at the National Centre For Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York.

Under One Sky is a signature programme by this Polish-born, York-based choral director, who has consistently introduced unique concerts and explored new territory for York choirs for nearly two decades.

Eve’s latest artistic compilation is designed to celebrate the relationship between musical language, cultural identity and vocal technique, while recognising the unifying nature of the choral canon. Spanning a wide geographical and cultural spectrum, the repertoire highlights distinctive approaches to tone production, ornamentation, rhythm and ensemble cohesion.

Sunday’s programme opens with Sakura, a Japanese folk melody characterised by its pentatonic modality and lyrical phrasing. The Bulgarian works Kaval Sviri and Dilmano Dilbero exemplify the highly resonant, open-throated “white voice” technique, and this vocal aesthetic continues in Serbian folk music, where dance-derived rhythms and communal expression are central.

Folk traditions of the North Atlantic are represented through the French-Canadian J’entends le Moulin, with its rhythmic drive, alongside Wild Mountain Thyme and Gaelic Song Of The Boatman, which reflect the modal inflections of Scottish and Gaelic song traditions.

Prima Choral Artists’ founder, producer and artistic director Eve Lorian

The programme broadens even further afield through Yeish Kochavim (Hebrew), Evohé (Venezuela) and Dao Mai Fan Ye’ (Mandarin), each illustrating the interaction between text, rhythm and collective energy within their respective traditions. These works foreground the role of music in both ritual and communal celebration.

The final section centres on vocal traditions from the Torres Strait Islands and Southern Africa. Sesere Eeye reflects oral transmission practices and community-based performance, while Ngothando, Ndikhokhele Bawo and Papaoutai demonstrate the harmonies and call-and-response structures that are foundational to many African musical forms.

Eve’s diligent research has brought together this sparkling burst of music with the support of a choir who are no strangers to world music and singing in multiple languages.

“We have always been proud of our multi-cultural, international identity,” says Eve. “Music has always been a unifying force for good. These concerts, celebrating unity through diversity, represent a truth that sometimes only music can express.”

Giving a brief glimpse into the creative process behind these events, she adds: “Selecting the music takes weeks upon weeks of research and listening. I thrive on fresh choices, on presenting the unexpected – and these pieces are far from the standard choral repertoire.

Prima Choral Artists in concert under Eve Lorian’s direction

“But the title came so naturally: Under One Sky says everything that we mean to convey in these two performances!”

International connections for Eve and Prima Choral Artists are not merely constrained to concert programming. For more than a decade, Eve has led the way in introducing outstanding overseas opportunities for York choirs.

This commitment continues this summer with a concert tour to Prague from July 8 to 13 to take part in the International Choir and Orchestra Festival (Prague Festival 2026, July 9 to 13).

On September 6, Eve will welcome the Norwegian choir Fanakoret, from Bergen, for a Friendship performance with Prima Choral Artists at St Olave’s Church, Marygate, York, at 5pm.

“Before these opportunities comes the unmissable chance to join Prima on Father’s Day on Sunday at the National Centre For Early Music with the two time slots designed to complement everyone’s plans and make for a truly special weekend celebration,” she says.

Tickets are available from www.primachoral.com; with limited seating available, booking is recommended.

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The Enormous Crocodile is ready to snap into musical action at York Theatre Royal

Ciara Hudson, left, Jordan Eskeisa and Chelsea Da Silva in Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile The Musical, on tour at York Theatre Royal. Picture: Danny Kaan

HE’s greedy, he’s grumptious, he’s horrid! Welcome to the lovable anti-hero world of The Enormous Crocodile, a mischievous musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s snappy book, on tour at York Theatre Royal from June 25 to 28.

Equipped with Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab’s tunes, Suhayla El-Bushra’s rib-tickling book and lyrics and Tom Brady’s additional music and lyrics, the dastardly family adventure has been developed and directed by Emily Lim, working in tandem with co-director and puppetry designer Toby Olié, with set and costume design by Fly Davis.

Originally co-produced by the Roald Dahl Story Company, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Leeds Playhouse, The Enormous Crocodile will be performed in York by the tour cast of professional theatre debutant Chelsea Da Silva, Precious Abimbola, Jordan Eskeisa, Ciara Hudson, Marienella Phillips and actor-musician René Francalanza.

“The tour has been going really, really well,” says puppetry designer Toby Olié. “The book was written for age three upwards, but we wanted to make a show that parents and carers could enjoy as much as children. I genuinely think that anyone can see this show.

Toby Olié: Puppetry designer and co-director of The Enormous Crocodile The Musical. Picture: Steve Tanner

“Because I work in puppetry, I try to make work that hits the sweet spot, like Pixar’s work. It’s an inclusive, family-friendly piece that our director [Emily Lim] describes as ‘an explosion of radical joy’. It’s bombastic, it’s gregarious but it’s still emotional.”

Toby was first approached to be involved in the musical production in early 2020, but then the Covid-19 pandemic intervened. “We had lots of Zoom meetings that year, but the show didn’t open until December 2023 at Leeds Playhouse, where it was their Christmas show for children,” he says.

“It’s then gone to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, in London, and last autumn it went to Minneapolis and Los Angeles over Christmas. So there’s a hunger for it as a beloved book and a stage adaptation that feels entertaining and something for everyone in the family.”

Toby’s brief was to make “playful and inventive puppets, where we don’t hide the actors”. “Everyone is on show as you watch five adults telling the story with puppets attached to them in many different forms,” he says.

Jordan Eskeisa, Chelsea Da Silva (The Enormous Crocodile), Marienella Phillips and Precious Abimbol in the jungle in The Enormous Crocodile. Picture: Danny Kaan

The “crocodile” of the title appears in three guises. “The first time you see him, he’s in the swamp, so you only see the parts that appear above the surface, like the Loch Ness Monster, so you see him first in mystery form,” says Toby.

“Then you see what we call the ‘crocmobile’, which is a huge body, with the head mounted on the steering wheel, in front of the actor, and a tail behind that misbehaves as the ‘crocmobile’ moves around.

“Then, because the crocodile has ‘secret plans and clever tricks’ to disguise him, he rebuilds himself in various devious forms, where he takes more risks and you won’t  see him coming!”

Dahl’s 12-page picture book has been turned into a 55-minute play. “Nothing in the original book has been changed, and certainly in the adaptation, we were encouraged to make a story for everyone with characterisation that wasn’t pandering to early-age audiences,” says Toby.

“We knew we could embellish it for the stage show in an expanded opportunity to turn it into a full stage show, where the big part was deciding where the songs would fit in. The songwriters and musical director were rigorous in doing that, and for the directorial and design team it was about fleshing out the characters.

Jordan Eskeisa and Ciara Hudson with the Giant African Land Snails in The Enormous Crocodile The Musical. Picture: Danny Kaan

“We also realised you can’t just get children being ‘in the jungle’; we have to explain why they would be there, so we’ve enjoyed finding ways for the audience to meet the children  before the crocodile does.”

The show has invented a scout group, the Jungle Juniors, led by an enthusiastic but haphazard teacher. “The children in the group are represented by ‘humanettes’: puppets that have their roots in vaudeville,” says Toby. “They have puppet arms, puppet legs, puppet torsos, but the actors’ heads, which gives them much more of a children’s scale that makes it look like the crocodile could eat them.”

In  Dahl’s story, should you need a refresher course, the Enormous Crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees. Only the other jungle creatures can foil his “secret plans and clever tricks”, but they need courage aplenty to stop this greedy brute.

“Tonally, in finding the balance in the story, the songs, even the characterisation, you have to find the meeting point where the gleeful, evil buffoon meets the hungry, scary croc,” says Toby.

Jordan Eskeisa, Marienella Phillips, Chelsea Da Silva (The Enormous Crocodile), Precious Abimbola and Ciara Hudson in a scene from The Enormous Crocodile. Picture: Danny Kaan

“The audience are in that place where they think, ‘I sort of love the croc, but I’m scared of him too’, like Cruella de Vil or Captain Hook. The crocodile is the anti-hero figure, where the audience cheer when he’s defeated, but they think ‘where’s he gone?’, because they want to see him again.”

The show has changed with each iteration, including making changes to the storytelling. “This is an entirely new cast for the tour that joined at the start of the year. They’re funny, they can sing and they’re really good puppeteers, some with experience, some new to it, and it’s a show where the group dynamic really defines it, bringing their own slant to it,” says Toby.

New animal species have been added to the jungle puppets throughout the story. “I’m calling them ‘narrator characters’ who step out to engage with the audience,” says Toby. “We have frogs in the swamp; Plover birds, who pick the crocodile’s teeth – they’re the ‘dentist bird’! – who act like a Greek chorus and are on the audience’s side, which I felt we needed.

“There are Giant African Land Snails, with slimy sound effects to go with them, and two ‘Bush Babies’ [Galago] too. They’re like the gatekeepers of the story because, when you have an anti-hero antagonist, it feels important to have characters that ‘check in’ with you.”

The Enormous Crocodile The Musical, York Theatre Royal, June 25 to 28, 10.30am and 1.30pm. Age guidance: Three plus. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

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York pianist Sarah Beth Briggs to play at Northern Aldborough Festival for first time

York classical pianist Sarah Beth Briggs. Picture: Fritz Curzon

THE 2026 Northern Aldborough Festival will see York pianist Sarah Beth Briggs performing at the prestigious classical event for the first time in what the organisers describe as “her long overdue appearance at our festival”.

For Saturday morning’s concert, at The Old Hall, North Deighton, near Wetherby, Sarah has crafted a programme designed to welcome seasoned concert-goers and newcomers alike, comprising Haydn’s Sonata in C, Hob XVI/50, Mendelssohn’s Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54 and works by Poulenc and Schumann.

What should listeners expect at the 11am performance, Sarah? “Vibrant, infectious classical melodies sit alongside a romantic depiction of a German forest and French music, in turn sunny and zany, and a concluding work where solemn, haunting melodies give way to explosive speed, drama and pure romantic passion,” she says.

Sarah Beth Briggs in Dean’s Park, York Minster. Picture: Marci Stuchlikova

Those infectious classical melodies, specifically the recital-opening first movement of Haydn’s late C major Sonata,  have earned it the distinction of being Sarah’s most popular track globally, boasting more than 1.8 million plays on Apple Music, showcasing the timeless appeal of Haydn’s writing.

As ever with Sarah’s recital performances, Saturday’s programme will be introduced from the stage. “Breaking down barriers in the classical music world is something which I see as essential,” she says.

To prove the point, her December 2025 concert at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall was described by the Nottingham Post reviewer as “presenting each piece in ways which both illuminated the music and created just the right sort of rapport with an audience that really does appreciate artists who can manage friendly chat as well as fine playing.”

“Breaking down barriers in the classical music world is something which I see as essential,” says Sarah Beth Briggs. Picture: Fritz Curzon

Newcastle-born Sarah’s career was launched as a child prodigy, performing as the then youngest-ever finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition at the age of 11 in 1984, the year when she gained a Dame Myra Hess Award too. This was followed by international success, winning the International Mozart Competition four years later in Salzburg, aged 15.

Her piano playing has taken her to many of England’s premier venues. “I’ve performed with numerous major orchestras and played in Europe and the USA too, but I’m greatly looking forward to playing for the thriving Yorkshire cultural community this Saturday,” she says.

Sarah Beth Briggs: Heading for Crucible Playhouse, Sheffield, for Piano Classics concert on September 5

Sarah’s next appearance in Yorkshire will be as part of the Piano Classics series at the Crucible Playhouse, Sheffield on Saturday, September 5.  Her 2pm programme will feature Beethoven’s Bagatelles Op.126; Clara Schumann’s 4 Pièces Fugitives Op.15; Tailleferre’s Sicilienne; Poulenc’s 3 Novelettes; Robert Schumann’s Waldszenen Op.82 and Brahms’ Piano Pieces Op.119.

Tickets for Saturday can be booked at https://aldboroughfestival.co.uk/tc-events/sarah-beth-briggs/; for Sheffield, 0114 249 6000 or https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/piano-classics-2.

NORTHERN Aldborough Festival runs at Aldborough, near Boroughbridge, from today until June 27. For the full line-up, go to: https://aldboroughfestival.co.uk/line-up/); for ticket details, go to: https://aldboroughfestival.co.uk/.

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Photographer Nikki Bowling launches York In Lockdown book of Covid city streets

Photographer Nikki Bowling at the Bedern Hall launch of her book York In Lockdown

YORK professional photographer Nikki Bowling has produced a new book that records the city in black and white images taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Entitled York In Lockdown, the publication includes images of empty streets, showing many of the iconic attractions and streetscapes in York “like never before”.

Described as “coffee table landscape in style”, this atmospheric book has many historical notes, along with Nikki’s personal recollections of the 2020-2021 lockdowns when everyone was told to stay at home.

“It started as something to do when nothing else was possible, when I took my camera on my daily permitted exercise walks around the city,” says Nikki, who used a Panasonic Lumix G9 with 7-14mm lens.

Stonegate, by Nikki Bowling

“I love York and love photography so decided to share the images with the world through this book as it shows, uniquely, the deserted city streets as the complete opposite of the usual hustle and bustle.”

York In Lockdown was launched at Bedern Hall, Bartle Garth, St Andrewgate, York, on June 3, when Nikki signed copies and discussed what inspired her to create the images.

“The book is dedicated to my late grandmother Marion Purdy, who died age 101 in 2023, and who had a wicked sense of humour, positivity, kindness and a hopeful and philosophical outlook on life. I was lucky to be able to spend so much time with her during lockdown,” she says.

Clifford’s Tower and Tower Street, by Nikki Bowling

Here Nikki answers CharlesHutchPress’s questions on York In Lockdown

Why did you photograph in black and white? 

“I actually shot in colour but changed into black and white (b/w) afterwards. I love b/w photography, and I think it especially works for old buildings. Also, the desolate atmosphere of the empty streets and the difficult times people were going through at the time, I felt were better reflected in b/w.”

How did the empty streets make you feel? Do you wish you could have that experience more often? 

“When we were first allowed to go out for daily walks, I thought the empty streets felt quite desolate and sad. It wasn’t the York I was used to walking around. I missed being able to pop into a shop if I wanted to, and the lack food and drink establishments that were allowed to open was very limited.

Shambles towards Newgate, by Nikki Bowling

Goodramgate and King’s Square, by Nikki Bowling

“But…I actually grew to love the emptiness. It allowed me to appreciate York even more than I did already. The silence was beautiful, and I loved just being able to just sit on a bench, or walk around, without the crowds of tourists and locals.

“It was an amazing thing to be able to photograph the streets and buildings without people getting in the way! It was a peaceful experience and gave me time to reflect on many things. It also took me back to imagining how York must have been in mediaeval times, as it was easier to picture those times without the people and modern influences.”

How did the lockdown experience contrast with the noise and excitement of a wedding-day photographic assignment? 

“I love both equally! The lockdown images were a reflective and slower way of taking photos. I wasn’t actually working, just using my passion of images as something to keep me going through difficult times.

“It was a one-off time (I hope!) and I feel lucky I live in such a beautiful city and I was able to admire its beauty during my walks.

Fossgate from Merchantgate, by Nikki Bowling

Newgate Market, by Nikki Bowling

“When I shoot a wedding, it is very fast paced and non-stop! I have a list of shots agreed upon and I work my way though this, making sure I get everything the couple want. I am forever people watching, making sure I don’t miss those special moments!

“A wedding is a full-on day, but I absolutely love that fast pace of working. Weddings also involve talking to and directing many different people, which I also love – the exact oppose of covid times.  

Will you be holding an exhibition of your lockdown photographs?

 “Yes, I am hoping so. There are a few local hotels interested in doing a display for me (more info to come!) and I am certainly looking to do an exhibition/book promotion when the initial ‘busy-ness’ of launching the book has calmed down a bit!”

Photographer Nikki Bowling

Nikki Bowling: back story

NIKKI began her photographic career after studying Photography and Design at Harrogate College for four years and set up her business straight from college in 2001.

Over 25 years, she has provided photographic services for weddings, social occasions and commercial photography for businesses and organisations, including press and magazine publications, estate agents and holiday lets, capturing properties for sale or rent.

“I am very lucky indeed to do what I do,” she says. “I am totally passionate and committed to my work. My style is relaxed, artistic and above all natural. I do not believe in messing around with images too much, or over-stylising them. Do them well and true to life in the first place and they will look amazing.

“People need to look like themselves in an image and I can help them relax in front of the camera, and have fun while doing so. I feel, for a photographer, I have the perfect mix of a press background, an artistic mind, a female eye for detail and an honest and down-to-earth approach to my work and life in general.”

Nikki lives in York with her daughter Mia. Find her website at nikkibowling.com.

The cover to Nikki Bowling’s York In Lockdown

York In Lockdown costs £20 plus postage directly from nikki@nikkibowling.com and will be on sale soon in York book shops, hotels and tourist places, priced £23.99.