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Lost in time, mysterious Punch Porteous finds new home at Friargate Theatre

Punch Porteous writer Robert Powell and creative practitioner Ben Pugh

WRITER Robert Powell and creative practitioner Ben Pugh are reviving Punch Porteous – Lost In Time! at Friargate Theatre, York, from tomorrow to Saturday as part of York Literature Festival.

Originally commissioned by All Saints North Street for its October 2023 premiere with support from York Theatre Royal, Powell’s poetic multi-media experience depicts Punch Porteous, a mysterious and ordinary man with an extraordinary predicament, lost in time in York, where he is catapulted unpredictably into different eras from c.70 to c.2025 while the city shape-shifts around him.

“He keeps waking up at various points of the city’s past, dazed and confused, but also with a disturbing knowledge that he’s been there before,” says Canadian-born Robert.

Punch seems to remember Romans, Vikings, Saxons, seeing Henry VIII and meeting Dick Turpin. Now a prophecy says he is to appear at the site of an ancient Friary to find his lost wife Eve – and tell all in Powell and Pugh’s imaginative journey in words, music, film and sound featuring the recorded, “disembodied”  voice of York poet Kitty Greenbrown, as well as Powell as Narrator, Nicholas Naidu as Alistair and Imogen Wood as Beatrice.

Nicholas Naidu, as Alistair, and Imogen Wood, as Beatrice, in Punch Porteous – Lost In Time! Picture: Ben Pugh

Inspired by the history of York, Robert first recounted a story of Punch in his poem Punch Porteous Goes To York Races, with further poetic stories in his 2023 commission for York Civic Trust, Time Town, Some Poems Of York.

“We’re totally delighted to be bringing Punch back,” says Robert. “I thought Punch had some more breath left in him after All Saints and we had the sense that there was more of an audience to see it.

“Friargate Theatre is an artistic asset to York with new management, and what better place could we find to stage it: a theatre space, rather than a church, though it was the church [All Saints North Street] that commissioned it, and the church provided a rich, deeply resonant space.

Kitty Greenbrown: Lending her voice to this week’s performances of Punch Porteous – Lost In Time!

“We’re also delighted to be taking part in York Literature Festival, which I was part of for a long time. We talked to Friargate Theatre first, absolutely the right place for it, and then approached the festival about featuring a piece based on poetry, and they responded very positively, especially when you consider they don’t usually have plays.”

Robert has re-written his drama to take in the history of the Friargate Theatre site as a friary. “We now have Punch ‘predicting’ that it was friarage from the tenth century up until Henry VIII’s boys tore it apart, leaving only the wall along the river. We will now be reopening the Friarage, with Punch determined to get there from Baile Hill.”

How will the audience experience differ from the All Saints premiere? “I think that being in a theatre space, rather than a church, the audience will need to use their imagination more, and we will need to work their imagination more to imagine the historic buildings of York, whereas previously we had the incredible prop of the church building,” says Robert.

Robert Powell in his role as Narrator for Punch Porteous – Lost In Time! Picture: Ben Pugh

“Now we have to use our ‘prop’ box to bring to life this semi-visible everyman who had bumped into some famous people but mainly lived among the ordinary people of York, creating that sense of Punch being grounded and having a working man’s sensibilities.”

Describing Punch’s character, Robert says: “He’s comic but serious; he gets drunk but is very philosophical. He’s seen a lot and suffered a lot, as the people of York have.

“With Dick Turpin, for example, what happens is that he becomes like a fairytale figure, but in Punch Porteous, Punch remembers attending Turpin’s public execution, seeing the horror of his feet turning in the air, so I’ve tried to bring the harsh reality to folk tales. Turpin’s death would have been horrendous.

“In Punch Porteous, I’m conveying the friction between the heritage myth and the darker reality that people have had to live with in York over the centuries.

The poster for Punch Porteous – Lost In Time at Friargate Theatre, York

“It’s a story told in a somewhat different way from the historical, heritage way that the story of the city is so often told. So, in a sense, without being too heavy about it, I wanted to disrupt that norm, to think about history from the ‘ordinary’ perspective that most of us experience it from.

“Writers can bring an understanding of history where I think there’s a role for the imagination that runs parallel with the facts. It’s not enough to have the testimonies and the photographs. You need your imagination to bear witness. Hilary Mantel thought a lot about this, about the role of fiction to engage with people, as opposed to documentary evidence. Where documentary leaves off, the imagination takes over, but rooted in experience.”

Robert loves the experience of walking through York, “passing through veils, where one minute you are in the 21st century, and then in the past”. “As a Canadian boy, from an early age, I had a hunger for what York offered,” he says. “Here I am, this little kid in Ottawa, digging in the fields next door, hoping to find Roman remains, so I had to come to York to do that. It’s been a very personal journey for me, and York gives you that in a very intense way.

“What is a Canadian doing fooling around with York’s precious history? To me, from that perspective, as a writer, it’s a heavenly place to be, and as a writer, I’m fascinated by time. Punch Porteous is a great opportunity to have someone who slips and slides through York and time, and so though I’m not originally from York, I hope it has resonance for true Yorkists.”

The cover to Robert Powell’s latest poetry collection, Time Town, Some Poems of York

Punch Porteous may have further life beyond this week’s performances. “I’ve had this niggling thought that might bring a further bit of spark to the exercise,” says Robert. “Was Punch Porteous a real person?

“Since my tales of Punch were inspired by a story told to me about an actual York man called Punch Porteous in the 1920s, who won a small fortune at York Races, it would be fun to ask The Press readers if they’ve ever heard of such a person. I would love to hear from you and I can be reached at https://www.rjpowell.org/.

“I would love Punch Porteous to become one of the urban myths of York and hopefully we are moving in that direction.”

York Literature Festival presents Punch Porteous – Lost In Time!, Friargate Theatre, Lower Friargate, York, tomorrow until Saturday, 7pm plus 2pm Saturday matinee. Box office: ticketsource.co.uk.

For Ben Pugh’s film trailer of Punch Porteous – Lost In Time!, head to:  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ky2ym8uovcqisjmyahpjt/Punch-Trailer-1.mov?rlkey=0twzzrbektny13v2tu3oe2hkz&dl=0

Robert Powell: Writer, curator and cultural consultant with background in the arts, place-making, photography and journalism. Picture: Owen Powell

Robert Powell: the back story

WRITER, curator, and cultural consultant with more than 40 years’ experience in the arts, built environment, community engagement and media in England, Scotland and his native Canada.

Director of Stills Gallery of Photography in Edinburgh from 1986 to 1989. Worked for Canada Council for the Arts from 1989 to 1997.

Director of Beam, arts, architecture and education charity in Wakefield, from 1997 to 2015, working with many leading artists, architects, and urban designers.

Established Wakefield Lit Fest, festival of reading & writing, in 2012. Made Honorary
Fellow of RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) in 2017.

Robert’s creative writing has been published widely in Canada and UK. Since 2007, produced five poetry collections, plus performances and film-poems inspired by buildings, rivers and other places.

In 2018, artist in residence with Kone Foundation at Saari, Finland. In 2019, undertook community-based artistic project on Irish border during Brexit negotiations.

In 2023-24, writer in residence with York Civic Trust. Wrote and performed in Punch Porteous – Lost In Time!, poetic drama inspired by history of York, at All Saints North Street.

Resident in York for ten years, based in South Bank. Latest publication, Time Town, Some Poems of York, features poetry about a Georgian museum and a man lost in time from his York Civic Trust residency.

The first knock-out Punch poem by Robert Powell: Punch Porteous Goes to York Races

ONE Saturday afternoon, in summer 1930,
at York Races, Punch won a fortune, £17,
tramped back into town, bought a tin hip bath
and took it to the Red Lion, where Uncle John’s wife Rose
was publican and the boatmen-gypsies supped;
required of John to fill it full with drink, then
helped him and two others lurch it, slopping
on cobbles in the early evening light,
to the tram stop, calling on all and sundry
Come take wine with me!
though in truth it was ale;
and cupping its contents for free
to drivers, passengers, passers-by;
and the bath, once emptied,
by a drunken Punch
tossed into the Foss.
Gaze down from the bridge, they say,
in certain light, on certain days,
in the shallows, in the depths,
you can still see it,
among the vagrant
shopping carts,
the swans.

© Robert Powell

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Laura Veirs is bursting with creativity, from songs to art to a book, as she heads to The Crescent. Oh, and she is tying the knot too

Laura Veirs: Portland singer, songwriter, children’s author, Midnight Lightning podcaster, visual artist , songwriting workshop leader, teacher and mother

LAURA Veirs’ diary for 2025 is filling up. Not only is the Portland, Oregon singer-songwriter working on an instrumental guitar album, new paintings and a book on creativity, but she is tying the knot and doing up her house too.

All that on top of  playing her latest British tour, heading to The Crescent in York on Thursday in her 22nd year of visiting these shores. She last released an album, Found Light, her first without long-time producer and ex-husband Tucker Martine, in July 2022, so what brings her here this time?

“I just need the money,” she says frankly, on her morning phonecall from the USA. “That’s how a lot of musicians make their living these days. This year I’m getting married in the summer, going on honeymoon, and we’re remodelling the house.

“I’ll be trying out new material in the shows, going on this trip with my fiancé (Morgan Luker], my first with just the two of us. He’ll be selling the ‘merch’, as he likes talking to the locals! He’s a music professor, an ethnomusicologist, at Reed College, who I met when I taught a songwriting workshop in his class.

“Back home, we’ll be adding two bedrooms and a bathroom to the house as we’re blending two families. There’ll be four teenagers and two adults: we’re very outnumbered!”

By way of contrast, 51-year-old Laura will be playing solo on tour, performing songs drawn from 14 albums spanning 25 years on her trusty nylon string guitar. “I like to keep my materials limited, my paints, my palettes, the tools at my disposal, so I have only three guitars,” she says.

“One is the nylon string guitar that used to lie around in the house, which my dad had bought from a thrift shop in Chicago. It dates from the Fifties or Sixties; it’s my family guitar, my favourite guitar, that’s been on all my records, except for the first one.

“I also have a Martin steel string guitar and an electric Les Paul, and they’re kind of equal on the albums. I just don’t have the urge to get more instruments as I feel I haven’t explored these ones deeply enough – and I do have a piano too.”

She is not drawn to the infinite possibilities of multiple tracks on recording studio equipment. “I’m getting a four-track,” she says. “I did an album of demos recorded on my phone [November 2023’s Phone Orphans], so they were one-track recordings! You can become overwhelmed by all the tracking, when it should be,’what is the song?’. ‘Can you write the lyrics?’. That’s why I like to keep my tools minimal.

“I just feel like it’s so easy to get lost in overdubs, when you can lose the core of what matters, which is to write a compelling song, and that’s the hardest part. Then you can add other stuff. It requires focus, discipline.”

Constructing a set list from 25 years of songwriting, “at this point it’s a combination of my choices and giving people what they want. I always take requests as that adds an element of surprise for me and it makes them happy too,” says Laura.

“It means I stay engaged with my material, bringing in songs I haven’t played for years, modifying them, harmonising with them, improvising new guitar stuff and vocal stuff while playing, improvising my set list and my banter, all of this to keep me from feeling that I am ‘puppeting’.”

Artist Laura will be selling new paintings on her tour. “I can bring paintings on the road as I make works on paper, so they’re easy to transport. I’ve been doing that for the last couple of years, and I bring prints too, and I can personalise them by signing them,” she says.

“I want to keep exploring myself as a multi-faceted artist. I’m not sure where that’s taking me next, but I’m remodelling the house, I’m painting, I’m working on the instrumental album, I’m being the mother to four teenagers in the house now.

“I’m not an artist whoever sees myself retiring, and I feel grateful for that, though I do sometimes feel confused about my direction but that’s all part of being an artist, Like, what is my next big project with all these irons in the fire?”

Laura continues: “I’ve been in this business long enough to know that sometimes I’ll be in a dabbling phase, and I’m more than comfortable now to allow projects to percolate. I realise that sometimes you need to pause and collect thoughts and move on to do the next thing.”

She is collating such thoughts for her book on creativity, now 18,000 words into its own creation. “It’s both about learning about myself and helping others: how I’ve done things and how I would recommend people to do things; how I write songs; how I schedule what I do,” says Laura, who is also a children’s author and host of the Midnight Lightning podcast. “It’s a book about how to do it, how I’ve done it, and how you feel less dead, more alive, more fulfilled, by doing it.

“I like to see how other people do things, learning better methods, reading about how to write – Stephen King has written a cool book on writing – and I think it’s always interesting to read about creative processes.

“I don’t know when the book will come out. It’s still a pretty young project, but I’m a persistent person, so it will happen.”

Over the years, Laura has collaborated with such musicians as kd lang, Neko Case, Sufjan Stevens, Bill Frisell, Jim James, Colin Meloy, This Is The Kit’s Kate Stables, Sam Amidon, Karl Blau and Shahzad Ismaily: experiences she can bring  to providing her Stanford University songwriting workshops and teaching her weekly lessons too.

“They can sign up on Zoom. I’m teaching a woman in her 70s how to make her first album, a guy in Boston, who’s doing his first record, and a woman in Australia, who’s writing a book,” says Laura, who also has an ongoing workshop residency at Rancho Loa Puerta in Tecate, Mexico.

Inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in October 2024, in her songs Laura draws on her childhood in Colorado Springs, Colorado, spending summers camping with her family, as much as her fascination with the intersection of art and science from days of studying geology (and Mandarin Chinese) at Carleton College in rural Minnesota.

“Nature is a huge part of my work, from my background in science and going to  perfect places in Oregon. Whether you want it or not, nature is everywhere, and I’ve found it a fruitful place lyrically, so it’s a full-on regular inspiration.”

In turn, her songs have been an inspiration for a French children’s choir, run by an old friend of hers, Patrice, in Angeloume, where she will travel to perform with the choir on May 25. “They’re a choir of around 30 children, almost all of them girls. Patrice has chosen 18 songs and arranged them for the choir, I’ll be on guitar, Patrice on keyboards,” says Laura.

“He’s sent me a video of them singing one of the songs, Black Butterfly, and it’s beautiful. We first did a concert of my songs with the choir 17 years ago, before I had kids, which we put out on CD – it’s sold out now – and we’re going to record this one too. If it sounds good, I’ll release it.”

Laura is in good company. Patrice has presented choral concerts of grunge iconoclasts Nirvana and Modesto, California indie rock band Grandaddy songs too.

Please Please You & Brudenell Presents present Laura Veirs at The Crescent, York, supported by London soul/rock’n’roll singer Lucca Mae, on March 27, 7.30pm. Box office thecrescentyork.com/events/laura-veirs-2/. Also playing Upper Chapel, Sheffield, March 26, 8pm; doors 7.30pm; wegottickets.com/event/638480.

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Wizard of York magics up WizardFest, York’s spellbinding May half-term festival

The Wizard of York, Dan Wood: Founder, host and programmer of York’s inaugural WizardFest. Picture: The Story Of You

YORK’S first festival of wizardry, WizardFest, will fizz with fun from May 24 to 26.

The magical new festival is the spellbinding idea of Phoenix the Red, the award-winning host of the Wizard Walk of York, who will co-host the city-wide event with Little Vikings, the guide to York for families.

“Although it isn’t until May half-term, I’m promoting it now, so that families visiting York can plan their magical trip in advance!” reasons the Wizard of York, alias Dan Wood, fresh from winning  Experience of the Year 2025 at the Visit York Awards.

A magical myriad of attractions, both paid and free, will be on offer with the promise of “more magical fun than you can shake a wand at”.

“Since announcing WizardFest, I’ve had lots of exciting companies come forward for an event that will appeal to wizard fans of all ages,” says Dan. “We’re flying the flag for all things magical in this enchanting city, and of course we’ll be running plenty of extra Wizard Walks to meet demand.” 

York company Story Craft Theatre’s Cassie Vallance, left, and Janet Bruce: Hosting A Kind Of Magic sessions

Working closely with independent businesses, the festival is supported by Visit York and sponsored by Loopy Scoops Ice-Cream Parlour, Totally Awesome Toys, The Cat Gallery and The Society of Alchemists.

Little Vikings will help to promote the attractions on offer. ““This magical event is the perfect opportunity for families to explore the enchanting experiences York has to offer,” says Little Vikings’ Polly Bennett. “We’re thrilled to be supporting it.”

Some events are yet  to be confirmed, but confirmed so far are extra Wizard Walks; Harry Potter films at City Screen Picturehouse; Lego workshops with The Brick Box; A Kind Of Magic sessions with Story Craft Theatre’s Janet Bruce and Cassie Vallance; Witch and Wizard crafts with Avocado Events; bird of prey experiences, dragon meet-and-greets and more.

A purr-fect partnership with The Cat Gallery, in Low Petergate, will see families searching for cats around shop windows and spelling a magic word to receive their own mini magical cat. A permanent Wizard of York cat will be added to their regular Cat Trail, complemented by a competition to name the magical moggy.

From Visit York and Make it York, visitors can peruse a Magical Night Market in Shambles Market on the Monday evening, with interested traders invited to email York-markets@makeityork.com to book a stall.

Wizard Of York ice creams at Loopy Scoops

The free Owl Trail will return to Shambles Market and a Wizard Activity Area will appear on Parliament Street. Expect majestic birds of prey to meet, face painting, wizard props and more.

Hungry witches and wizards are in for a treat too at themed specials across the city. Wizard Afternoon Teas will be available at Plush Café, in Stonegate, and monstrously good Beastly Burgers from Baby Boys Burgers at Spark:York. Wanderers can be all ‘fired up’ about Phoenix cocktails and mocktails at Ate O’ Clock, in High Ousegate, too.

Wizards with a sweet tooth can enjoy a chocolate Magic Minster or Mystic Macaron from Florian Poirot, in Shambles, chocolate shots at Monk Bar Chocolatiers or the Wizard of York ice-creams at Loopy Scoops. New to this Church Street ice-cream parlour will be the Wizard’s Butter Brew Soda Float, an ice-cream twist on a drink that wizard fans go Potty for.

Elsewhere, many shops will offer discounts to visitors dressed as wizards and The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring, in Merchantgate, will have a new quest to lift the curse of dark wizard Mortius Darktrix. York surrealist artist and illustrator Lincoln Lightfoot will create an exclusive Wizard of York print.

Bird of Prey experiences with York Bird Of Prey Centre, being held in Parliament Street

The festival will culminate in a fancy-dress parade on May 26 at 3pm from St Helen’s Square, with a contest for Best Dressed Witch or Wizard. Prizes include a Phoenix Lego set and family Wizard Walk tickets, dragon hatchlings from The Society of Alchemists and magical goody bags from The Shop That Must Not Be Named.

A dedicated web page is being made for the wizardwalkofyork.com site. Wizard fans are advised to check in closer to the event, as the festival programme is subject to change. In the meantime, you can follow facebook.com/wizardwalkofyork for WizardFest updates and booking links.

“Many activities are already bookable, so locals are advised tobook early as tickets are expected to vanish…as if by magic,” advises Dan.

2024 was a busy year for The Wizard Walk, winning Best Tour of York for the third time alongside myriad further accolades. At the Visit York Awards, the team won both Best of York and New Tourism Business Award, followed by winning gold at the VisitEngland Awards in Liverpool.

Lego workshops with The Brick Box at York Medical Society

The Wizard Walk also scooped TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best for the second year running as one of only a handful of UK attractions making the cut.

Dan says: “It’s been absolutely spellbinding to win so many awards, and we’re thrilled to have so much support locally too. We love working with business who are doing great things in the city, and we’ve already waved a wand over some magical partnerships, with many more to come.”

In response to tours continuing to sell out, Dan cast a duplication spell last May to conjure up a second guide, Viridian the Green, and he is now looking for a third. 

“We have big plans for 2025 and beyond, and WizardFest is an event that I aim to build on year after year,” says Dan. “If you’re interested in being involved, you can send an owl of enquiry to info@wizardwalkofyork.com or contact us via www.wizardwalkofyork.com.” 

The logo for WizardFest

Summary of events at Wizard Fest, May 24 to 26

 The Wizard Walk of York. Booking at www.wizardwalkofyork.com.

 Brick Magic Lego workshops with The Brick Box – York Medical Society. Booking at brickboxyorkshire.com/brick-magic-york.

 Harry Potter film screenings – City Screen Picturehouse. Booking at www.picturehouses.com/cinema/city-screen-picturehouse.

 Totally Wicked craft workshops – Avocado Events (Monday only). Booking at www.bookwhen.com/avocadoevents.

 A Kind Of Magic workshops – Story Craft Theatre (Saturday only). Booking at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

 The Curse of Professor Kettlestring – Professor Kettlestring’s Puzzling World. Booking at www.puzzlingworldyork.co.uk.

 Wizard Activity Area – Parliament Street.

 Magical Night Market – Shambles Market (Monday only).

 Owl Trail – Shambles Market.

 Black Cat Quest and naming of new Wizard of York cat – The Cat Gallery.

 Bird of Prey experiences with York Bird of Prey Centre – Parliament Street.

 Dragon meet-and-greets – St. Crux Churchyard (Monday only).

 Wizard Afternoon Teas at Plush Café.

 Phoenix cocktails and mocktails – Ate O’ Clock.

 Wizard of York Ice-Creams and Wizard’s Butter Brew – Loopy Scoops.

 Beastly Burgers – Baby Boys Burgers, Spark:York.

 The Magic Minster and Mystic Macaron – wondrous creations by Florian Poirot.

 Chocolate Shots at Monk Bar Chocolatiers.

 Fancy Dress Parade and Best Dressed Witch or Wizard competition. 

 Exclusive Wizard of York art print by Lincoln Lightfoot.

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Rising costs force Pickering Musical Society to say ‘goodbye, musicals’ after 106 years with Hello, Dolly! farewell in June

Say Hello, wave goodbye: Pickering Musical Society’s poster for its final musical in June. Pantomimes and music from the shows productions will continue

PICKERING  Musical Society will stage its final musical after 106 years in a spectacular farewell production of Hello, Dolly!, at the Kirk Theatre, Pickering, from June 10 to 14.

However, the society’s annual pantomime will continue to thrive, after a growth in popularity in recent years, and the October concert of music from the shows – a staple of the Ryedale theatre calendar – will move into the June slot from next year.

The society has made the difficult decision to terminate its musical productions in response to rising production costs and a decline in membership.

Theatre manager and director Luke Arnold says: “It is with a heavy heart that we’ve made this choice, but production costs have now exceeded those of the pantomime, despite only running for six performances compared to the panto’s 15.

“This, combined with a dwindling membership, has made it harder to cast these productions in recent years. However, we must look to the future. We have a fantastic venue in the Kirk Theatre, which is going from strength to strength, as we continue to introduce new genres of musical entertainment, as well as a full programme of speakers and a vibrant pantomime tradition that will continue to flourish.

“We have much to look forward to, and I’m particularly excited about the development and build phase of our Sylvia Allanson Studio project.”

Joined in the production team by musical director Clive Wass, Arnold is at the directorial helm for Jeremy Harman’s Broadway musical Hello, Dolly!, set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century, when irrepressible Dolly Gallagher Levi, widow, matchmaker and professional meddler, decides to find a match for herself.

Packed with charm, humour and show-stopping numbers such as Before The Parade Passes By, It Only Takes A Moment, Put On Your Sunday Clothes and Hello, Dolly!, Arnold’s production will feature Rachel Anderson as the charismatic Dolly Levi; Michael O’Brien as Horace Vandergelder; Pickering stage favourites Marcus Burnside and Stephen Temple as comedic duo Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker;  Paula Cook as Irene Molloy; Danielle Long as Minnie Fay; Courtney Brown as Ermengarde and John Brooks as Rudolph Reisenweber.

June 10 to 14’s 7.30pm performances will be complemented by a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Ticket demand is expected to be high for this grand and emotional send-off for Pickering Musical Society’s rich tradition of musical theatre. Box office:  01751 474833, at kirktheatre.co.uk or in person from the Kirk Theatre on Tuesdays from 11am to 1pm.

Pickering Musical Society: the back story

Courtney Brown in Pickering Musical Society’s production of Oklahoma!

PICKERING Musical Society can trace its origins back to the beginning of the First World War.

During the early Edwardian period, Pickering’s inaugural amateur musical groups were formed by like-minded individuals who fuelled their interest in music by meeting at each other’s homes and performing in drawing rooms.

In response to the outbreak of the Great War, groups and charities nationwide raised funds for the war effort at home and abroad. Many of the smaller groups in Pickering gathered together to put on larger “glee” performances in church halls.

In 1919, members of this larger group decided to create a musical society in the town for all ages that had an interest in music and performance.

Pickering Musical Society continued throughout the first half of the 20th century. By the early 1970s, the society had grown, prompting a need to seek a move from the War Memorial Hall to a permanent home.

In the late 1970s, the society purchased the old Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, on Hungate, and set about converting the derelict building into a fully operational theatre. By 1982, the conversion from chapel to theatre was complete and the inaugural performance was staged there that  year.

Until now, the society has presented three productions each year: a pantomime in January, a musical in May and a Music From The Shows production in October.

Membership is drawn Whitby, Scarborough, Malton and beyond, as well as Pickering.

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What’s On in Ryedale, York & beyond when not only Poirot exercises the little grey cells. Hutch’s List No. 12, from Gazette & Herald

Printmaker Pamela Knight: Exhibiting at Bluebird Bakery in Acomb, York

SPRING has sprung, the cue for the arts world to have an extra spring in its step, much to Charles Hutchinson’s joy.

Exhibition of the week: Three Printmakers, Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, until May 7

YORK Printmakers members Pamela Knight, Vanessa Oo and Sandra Storey are taking part in the Three Printmakers: Energy, Atmosphere & Light exhibition. York artist and former theatre set and costume designer Knight specialises in collagraphy, enjoying the textures and effects she creates using this process, often enriched with monoprint and chine colle.

Oo, from York, is displaying monotypes for the first time. “My work is about capturing the magic of the moment; an unseen energy and rhythm,” she says. Harrogate artist Sandra Storey’s work evokes the “talisman-like quality” of plants, birds and natural objects found within the North York Moors landscape. Admission is free.

Lucy Bailey’s cast for the Fiery Angel production of Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express, on tour at the Grand Opera House, York

Thriller of the week: Fiery Angel in Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express, Grand Opera House, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Wednesday and Saturday matinees

FIERY Angel follow up November 2023’s visit of And Then There Were None with another Agatha Christie murder mystery directed by Lucy Bailey, this time with Michael Maloney on board for a “deliciously thrilling ride” as Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot.

In Winter 1934, an avalanche stops The Orient Express dead in its tracks. Cue a murder. A train full of suspects. An impossible case. Trapped in the snow with a killer still on-board, can the world’s most famous detective crack the case before the train reaches its final destination?

Meanwhile, Wise Children’s world premiere of Emma Rice’s theatrical take on Alfred Hitchcock’s North By North West continues at York Theatre Royal until April 5. Box office: GOH, atgtickets.com/york; YTR, 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Mark Simmonds in rehearsal for his role as Prospero in Black Sheep Theatre’s The Tempest at Theatre@41, Monkgate, York

Shakespeare debut of the week: Black Sheep Theatre in The Tempest, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee

AFTER making their mark with musical theatre productions, York company Black Sheep Productions branch out into Shakespeare territory under Matthew Peter Clare’s direction. “Prepare for The Tempest like you’ve never seen it before,” he says, promising magic, music and mayhem in a dark re-telling of the one with “a storm, a shipwreck and the torment of it all”, featuring Mark Simmonds as Prospero, Freya McIntosh as Miranda, Mikhail Lim as Gonzalo, Deathly Dark Tours guide and Kisskisskill singer Gemma-Louise Keane as Ariel, Meg Conway as Antonia and Josh Woodgate as Caliban.

“With a phenomenal cast and a live eight-piece band, our production re-imagines Shakespeare’s tale of power, revenge, and redemption in a truly immersive and unforgettable way.” Box office:  tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Public Service Broadcasting: York Barbican debut tomorrow

Past meets future in the present: Public Service Broadcasting, York Barbican, tomorrow, doors 7pm

PUBLIC Service Broadcasting make their York Barbican debut with  J. Willgoose, Esq on guitar, banjo, other stringed instruments, samples and electronic musical instruments; Wrigglesworth on drums, piano and electronic instruments; J F Abraham on flugelhorn, bass guitar, drums and vibraslap and Mr B on visuals and set design.

“Teaching the lessons of the past through the music of the future” for more than a decade, the corduroy-wearing Londoners will select material from their five themed albums, 2013’s Inform – Educate – Entertain, 2015’s The Race For Space, 2017’s  Every Valley, 2021’s Bright Magic and 2024’s The Last Flight. She Drew The Gun support. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.

Laura Veirs: Art meets science via geology in her songs at The Crescent, York, tomorrow

Folk gig of the week: Please Please You and Brudenell Presents present Laura Veirs, supported by Lucca Mae, The Crescent, York, tomorrow, doors 7pm

PORTLAND, Oregon, folk singer, songwriter, children’s author, artist, Midnight Lightning podcaster, Stanford University songwriting teacher and mother Laura Veirs draws on her 14 albums in her Crescent set. Growing up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she spent summers camping with her family, inspiring her songwriting as much as her fascination with the intersection of art and science from days of studying geology (and Mandarin Chinese) at Carleton College.

This year, polymath Veirs is working on new paintings, an instrumental guitar album and a book about creativity. Box office: thecrescentyork.com.

Kiki Dee & Carmelo Ruggeri: Playing together for 25 years, bound for All Saints Church, Pocklington, this weekend

Acoustic duo of the week: Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri, All Saints Church, Pocklington, Saturday, 7.30pm

JOIN Bradford-born  singer Kiki Dee and guitarist Carmelo Luggeri for an acoustic journey through their songs and stories, taking in songs from 2022 album The Long Ride Home, Kate Bush and Frank Sinatra covers and hits from Kiki’s 55 years and more in the music business,  Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, I Got The Music In Me, Loving & Free and Amoureuse. Box office:  kikiandcarmelo.com.

Top brass: Brighouse & Rastrick Band at Pocklington Arts Centre on Sunday afternoon

Brass concert of the week: Brighouse & Rastrick Band, Pocklington Arts Centre, Sunday, 2pm

FOREVER associated with 1977 number two hit and “unofficial encore”The Floral Dance, West Yorkshire’s Brighouse & Rastrick Band presents a highly entertaining concert suitable for casual listener and connoisseur alike.

The majority of premier band championships have been held by ‘Briggus’, most recently becoming the 2022 British Open and Brass in Concert champions. ‘Briggus’ are noted too for collaborations outside the brass band tradition, from the late Terry Wogan to Kate Rusby, classical actor Simon Callow to The Unthanks at York Minster in 2012. Box office: 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.

Lynne Hanson: “Hard-living brand of porch music” at Milton Rooms, Malton, on Sunday

Here comes Canada’s queen of Americana: Lynne Hanson, Milton Rooms, Malton, Sunday, 8pm

TOO tough for folk and too blues-influenced for country, Lynne Hanson’s hard-living brand of porch music with a little red dirt can turn from a sunshine, blue sky ballad to a thunderstorm of gritty Americana swamp from one song to the next.

Her deep, bluesy croon has drawn comparisons with Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch, but the poetry of her lyrics sets her apart. In concert, she is noted for her high energy, roots guitar-driven performances, whether playing solo or with her band The Good Intentions. Box office: 01653 696240 or themiltonrooms.com.

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Return Of The Oaks mural and tree-inspired benches launched by Art Of Protest’s return to nature project in Front Street, Acomb

The launch of the Return Of The Oaks mural in Acomb

THE launch of Art Of Protest’s new mural and street benches drew a big community turnout to Front Street, Acomb, York, last Saturday .

The Return Of The Oaks mural is part of the wider project designed to return nature to the high street. 

Eight public benches have been painted to denote the trees in Acomb, each featuring a carved-out leaf emblem. The trees’ names feature on the benches, serving as a reminder of the diverse ecology in the area. 

In the week leading up to last Saturday’s launch, residents and visitors praised the installation for its brightness and welcoming vision.

The views of the Acomb community were central to the designs. A comprehensive engagement programme featuring 17 events and street art workshops at locations in Acomb captured residents’ wishes. This conveyed the community’s strong voice, now reflected in the geometric design. 

An innovative Street Art Academy trained up the community and four residents were chosen to take part in the talent development programme and assist on the mural. This has created a legacy, boosting the skills and confidence of the participants.

Art Of Protest creative director Jeff Clark said: “I’m beyond pleased to say that this public art project has been a huge success. Getting to know the Acomb community was not only paramount to influencing the design of the artwork but also a real pleasure in itself.”

Art Of Protest lead artist Tom Jackson said: “Working on a project in the place where I live is a privilege. My children and I will walk past this mural almost every day, and I’m fortunate that the people of Acomb have embraced it in such a positive way.”  

A mood of celebration and excitement marked the weekend event at the mural. The Lord Mayor of York, Sheriff and councillors took part in the pop-up street art workshops.

Art Of Protest organised an exhibition of the community art produced from the engagement sessions, held at Rise@ Bluebird Bakery in Acomb Road.

The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells, said: “It was great to be at the event at the weekend to see the amazing new artwork and other changes around Acomb. This is an incredible piece of work which speaks volumes about working together as a community.

“It is wonderful to see the links to Acomb’s heritage and the local woodland within the paintings. Thank you to everyone involved.”

Councillor Katie Lomas, City of York Council executive member with responsibility for finance and major projects, said: “I am very proud of Acomb and the way the local community has come together to shape these recent changes. This new artwork is a fantastic addition and really pulls together all the work that has been going on to improve the area.

“The wider scheme, funded through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, has seen some real investment in the area over recent months. It has brought not only this incredible artwork but also upgraded seating, planting, wayfinding and many other improvements to help ensure Front Street is a great place to be for years to come.

“I would like to thank everybody involved in making this happen and anyone who has got involved along the way. I especially want to pay tribute to the wider engagement work done by the Art Of Protest team to engage and inspire young people across the Acomb area, making sure they know that art is for them too.”

Acomb resident Kat Hunt, mother of one of the talent development students, said: “Throughout the project and the community engagement sessions, my daughter has developed new skills and she has so much more confidence in her artwork as a result. It’s really inspired her. It’s fantastic that Acomb now has such vibrant artwork, inspired by the views of the community.”

Art Of Protest, York’s urban art and engagement specialists, are experts in ‘placemaking’ and approved ‘Alternative Providers’, offering a Street Art Academy through the Danesgate Community Pupil Referral Unit. “We are driven by partnering with the local community, public sector and businesses to transform spaces through public art,” says Jeff. “If you would like to work with us, please contact us at info.aopprojects@gmail.com.”  

The Return Of The Oaks art project is part of the broader scheme to improve Front Street and create a more accessible, vibrant, people-friendly space. City of York Council received £570,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Funding to deliver Phase 2 improvements that include new seating and planters, improved Blue Badge parking, wide and level pedestrian crossings, wayfinding signs and upgraded public loos.

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Lightning Seeds to play York Barbican on October 9 on extended 35 Years Greatest Hits Tour. When do tickets go on sale?

Ian Broudie: 35 years of Lightning Seeds at York Barbican. Picture: Peter Ashworth

LIVERPOOL singer, songwriter and producer Ian Broudie is extending Lightning Seeds’ 35th anniversary tour with 11 more dates this autumn, taking in York Barbican on October 9. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10am at https://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk/whats-on/the-lightning-seeds/.

The first tranche of Tomorrow’s Here Today: 35 Years Greatest Hits Tour dates took in Scarborough Spa Grand Hall last November and The Welly, Hull, and Leeds Beckett Students’ Union in December among 22 sold-out shows to accompany the release of the 20-track Tomorrow’s Here Today compilation album.

Broudie, 66, says: “Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 35 years! Our first single Pure really opened the door to a life’s worth of songs, shows and recordings. I owe everything to Pure and I’m really looking forward to celebrating the 35th anniversary of its release.”

Here come Pure, The Life Of Riley, Change, Lucky You, Sense, All I Want, Sugar Coated Iceberg, You Showed Me, Emily Smiles, Three Lions et al and many more, not only at York Barbican but also in a second Yorkshire gig at Holmfirth Picturedrome on October 11 (box office: picturedrome.net).

Earlier in 2025, Lightning Seeds will support York band Shed Seven at Millennium Square, Leeds, on July 11.

The poster for Lightning Seeds’ extended Tomorrow’s Here Today 35 Years Greatest Hits Tour, visiting York Barbican on October 9

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Public Service Broadcasting take The Last Flight to York Barbican on Thursday

Public Service Broadcasting: Raiding the archives at York Barbican

PUBLIC Service Broadcasting make their York Barbican debut on Thursday on their ten-date March itinerary.

The spring tour follows last October’s release of the ever-evolving Londoners’ Top Three-charting fifth studio album, The Last Flight, with its exploration of the final voyage of American female aviator Amelia Earhart on July 2 1937 in a study of adventure, speed, freedom and the psychological depths of this pioneering life-force.

Recorded in the band’s southeast London studio, with strings added by the London Contemporary Orchestra at The Church in north London, the album was prompted by band leader J Wildgoose Esq’s desire to do a woman-focused story, “because most of the archive we have access to is overwhelmingly male”.

“I was initially drawn in by Earhart’s final fight, rather than the successes that she had, but the more I read, the more I became fascinated by her,” he says. “Her bravery and her aeronautical achievements were extraordinary, but her philosophy and the dignity that she had… she was an outstanding person. 

“The final flight is the spine of the journey: the story jumps off at different points and examines different facets of her personality, her relationship with her husband, her attitude to flying, her attitude to existing.”

The artwork for Public Service Broadcasting’s October 2024 album The Last Flight

Wildgoose continues:  She gave herself, I think, less than a 50 per cent chance of survival when she flew the Atlantic alone. To put yourself, willingly, in those situations…I think it says something about that drive at the heart of humanity.

“However The Last Flight isn’t doom-laden or covered in grief. There’s adventure, freedom, the joy of being alive. The reason why she wanted to fly was to find the beauty in living:  ‘to know the reason why I’m alive, and to feel that every minute’. The flight did fail, but she was right. Of all the people we’ve written about, I have the deepest respect and admiration for her.”

Thursday’s set list will draw on all five themed Public Service Broadcasting albums:  2013’s Inform – Educate – Entertain, 2015’s The Race For Space, 2017’s Every Valley, 2021’s Bright Magic and 2024’s The Last Flight. “Naturally, the most focus is on the new one with six or seven from that one and plenty of space for songs we couldn’t leave out, like Go!, Spitfire and Everest,” says Wildgoose.

“But we change it every night, maybe changing three or four songs a night or maybe the order. I don’t know how some bands play the same set every night on a tour. The bands who I’ve loved over the ages, like Radiohead  at the Roundhouse [London] on three May nights in 2016, they changed the set every night. One of my favourite bands, My Morning Jacket, they always change the set.

“The only thing it does require is a lot more work to make sure the musicians can play the songs to the right standard; and Mr B, who does our visuals and set design, has to be sure the visuals are right for every show.

“It’s the fullest, richest and most varied sound we’ve had,” says J Wildgoose Esq of Public Service Broadcasting’s 2025 configuration

“The musicians are equipped to play 37 songs with 12 that we can’t leave out. We normally have a bit of a chat at the soundcheck, and if there’s anything we’re not comfortable to run with, we’ll try it out.”

Since the conceptual art exploits of Bright Magic, Public Service Broadcasting have four core members: Wildgoose on guitar, banjo, other stringed instruments, samples and electronic musical instruments; Wrigglesworth on drums, piano and electronic instruments; J F Abraham on flugelhorn, bass guitar, drums and vibraslap and the aforementioned Mr B.

“Back in the early days, it was just me, and actually it was really lonely, just me packing things into the car and thinking, ‘this is too lonely’. You need someone else to be there with you to share it,” says Wildgoose.

On this month’s tour, the staple quartet are joined by Norwegian singer EERA and three brass musicians. “It’s the fullest, richest and most varied sound we’ve had. We always try to enrich every album with more upbeat numbers, slower numbers. In the early days, we could only play the same songs each show, but now we have so many more options.”

“We will always wear corduroy: it’s the thread that’s woven through our career,” says Public Service Broadcasting’s J Wildgoose Esq

Each album takes considerable preparation. “Each time it has to be something that intrigues me as it’s a big undertaking to write a record. The world is not short of stories, but  it’s also that thing of how do we tell that story; whether we use archive material or material that’s not recorded, or forsaking any narrative, as we did for Bright Magic [the history, myth and nightlife of Berlin album], and then returning to a really narrative album for The Last Flight,” says Wildgoose.

“I think I have something in mind for the next one, which is exciting, but daunting, especially the time frame involved. I’ll start in July this summer and bring it out in 2027. Why so long? Other bands don’t need such a long build –up that I do for the research.”

As ever, Public Service Broadcasting will be wearing corduroys at York Barbican on Thursday. “Absolutely! That will never change. We even wore white corduroys that we had specially made for Bright Magic,” says Wildgoose. “We will always wear corduroy: it’s the thread that’s woven through our career.”

Should you be wondering whether  Public Service Broadcasting have played York previously, the answer is yes. “Fibbers, twice, maybe three times,” says Wildgoose. “Once was for DV8, a Goth trance festival. I did wonder if they knew who we were!”

Public Service Broadcasting, supported by She Drew The Gun, York Barbican, Thursday, doors 7pm. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk. Also playing Sheffield Octagon Wednesday, doors 7pm. Box office: ticketmaster.co.uk.

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CBeebies’ swashbuckling Jennie Dale to shine as Fairy Moonbeam in Sleeping Beauty pantomime at York Theatre Royal

Jennie Dale: CBeebies’ star in her York Theatre Royal pantomime role as Fairy Moonbeam in Sleeping Beauty

JENNIE Dale, star of CBeebies’ Swashbuckle, will play Fairy Moonbeam in York Theatre Royal’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, from December 2 to January 4 2025.

She follows in the CBeebies’ footsteps of Andy Day’s Dandini  in 2021, Mandy Moate’s Tinkerbell in 2022, James “Raven” McKenzie’s villainous Luke Backinanger  in 2023 and Evie Pickerill’s Spirit of the Ring and Genie of the Lamp in 2024 in appearing in the Theatre Royal co-production with award-winning pantomime producers Evolution Productions.

Jennie is best known for playing Captain Captain in the CBeebies television series Swashbuckle and for presenting Jennie’s Fitness In 5 for CBeebies and CBBC.

Her theatre credits include Elf(Dominion Theatre), The Pajama Game (Shaftesbury Theatre), Sister Act (London Palladium), The Lord Of The Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre).

Jennie has appeared in CBeebies’ pantomimes aplenty, playing Growl in Beauty And The Beast, Sheriff in Robin Hood, Mrs Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington And His Cat and Jiffy in Christmas In Storyland.

Jennie Dale: Presenter of CBeebies’ show Swashbuckle

Evolution writer and producer Paul Hendy and Theatre Royal creative director Juliet Forster, the team behind Cinderella, All New Adventures Of Peter Pan, Jack And The Beanstalk and last winter’s Aladdin, will reunite for Sleeping Beauty.

Juliet previously directed Jennie as the Nurse in CBeebies’ production of Romeo & Juliet. “Fairy Moonbeam is such a fun role and I can’t wait to welcome Jennie to York Theatre Royal’s stage this Christmas,” she says. “Jennie is fabulously talented and York audiences can expect a real treat with this year’s pantomime. Don’t miss it!”

Paul says: “We’re delighted Jennie Dale will be joining the cast of Sleeping Beauty as Fairy Moonbeam. She’s an absolutely fantastic West End performer and CBeebies’ star, who we know will amaze the pantomime audiences at York Theatre Royal. Sleeping Beauty is going to be a truly spectacular show. Book now!”

Jennie joins the already confirmed Robin Simpson, who will play the dame for a sixth successive Theatre Royal pantomime. Expect “stunning costumes, gorgeous sets, dazzling special effects and lots of hilarious jokes in a festive treat for the whole family”.

Early birds who book before the end of March can benefit from a price freeze on ticket prices, with options ranging from £15 to £43.50. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

And now there are two: Jennie Dale is the second cast member to be announced for York Theatre Royal and Evolution Productions’ co-production of Sleeping Beauty, joining regular dame Robin Simpson

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Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs to play St Peter’s, Osmotherly, on April 5 and give Hutton Rudby Village Hall masterclass next day

Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs. Picture: Fritz Curzon

YORK classical pianist Sarah Beth Briggs will give a recital at St Peter’s Church, Osmotherley, near Northallerton, on April 5.

The 7pm programme will include music by Haydn, Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Robert and Clara Schumann, Poulenc and Germaine Taillefairre. 

“St Peter’s has a long tradition of music making, putting on several concerts every year for the local community to enjoy and is delighted to welcome Sarah to play,” says concert organiser Eleanor Gill.

Tickets cost £15, available at eleanor_gill@yahoo.co.uk and from the village coffee shop and Top Shop in Osmotherley. 

In addition, Sarah will give a masterclass to more advanced pianists from the Positively Piano Group – run by Eleanor – in Hutton Rudby Village Hall on April 6 at 2pm.

Sarah Beth Briggs: Recorded new album Small Treasures for autumn release. Picture: Fritz Curzon

Looking forward to next month’s recital, Sarah says: “I’ve chosen a very audience-friendly programme with something for everyone. It opens and closes with works from my warmly reviewed discography:  Haydn’s late C major Sonata and what many view as Mendelssohn’s finest composition for piano, the dramatic Variations Serieuses.

“Much of the rest of the programme draws from my  forthcoming release, recorded earlier this month, entitled Small Treasures, in which I juxtapose some of the greatest and best-loved piano miniatures by Robert Schumann and Brahms with lesser-known gems by Poulenc, Clara Schumann and Germaine Tailleferre.”

As ever, Sarah’s informative but light-hearted introductions to the repertoire will uncover fascinating facts that even the most seasoned concert-goers may not know, while also highlighting details to guide the first-time concert-goer, enabling every audience member to delight in all the music.

Small Treasures will be released in the autumn. Watch this space for further details.