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TakeOver 2025 celebrates disco as York St John University arts students stage festival at York Theatre Royal for five days

Northern Rascals in Sunny Side at York Theatre Royal on Thursday. Picture: Ellywel Photography

FINAL year students from York St John University are taking over York Theatre Royal for five days of creative activities for the whole family with the theme of disco.

As part of TakeOver 2025, students of musical theatre, drama and acting are creating performances within their theatre company, with each show varying so that every day is a different experience. Professional theatre companies are welcomed to the Theatre Royal too.

The disco theme will revel in vibrant colours and funky beats in a celebration of music, movement and talented performers. Audience members will be encouraged to join in on these dazzling disco events by bringing out the sequins and platform shoes.

This is the third year that York St John University has collaborated with York Theatre Royal on the TakeOver festival.

What’s in store on the disco floor?

TODAY

Goldilocks And The Three Bears Workshop: A drama-filled adventure, De Grey House, 2pm to 3.30pm

IN a session inspired by Goldilocks And The Three Bears, this workshop is suitable for five to 11-year-old children, whether they have done a drama workshop or not, and will explore movement and vocalisation to help develop the skills of a performer. Using storytelling and games as a tool for creativity, the children will gain valuable experience in performance-making.

Opening ceremony, York Theatre Royal foyer and patio, 6pm to 8pm

WELCOME to Takeover 2025 with ribbon cutting and music.

Battle Of The Bands, York Theatre Royal Studio, 8.30pm to 10.30pm

EPIC showdown between bands as they battle for victory and the title of TakeOver’s 2025 champions.

WEDNESDAY

Fulford School Show, York Theatre Royal Studio, 10.30am

OVER  the past few weeks, Fulford School students have been exploring different musicals, learning harmonies and studying the work of famous musical theatre choreographers to create a small showcase for friends and family.

Joesph Rowntree School Show, York Theatre Royal Studio, 12.30pm

LED by York St John University students Darcy and Emily, Joseph Rowntree Theatre students sing and dance their way through a medley of songs from Matilda The Musical,showcasing their hard work and abilities. “See you here, revolting children,” they say.

Cabaret, York Theatre Royal lower foyer, 1pm to 2.30pm

PREPARE to be entertained as you dance and sing your way into the afternoon.

She Speaks presents Systematic Reflections, York Theatre Royal main house, 7.30pm

SET in a mental health institution, Systematic Reflections follows five women as they decide to try to escape, but can they do so without being caught?

The show discusses themes surrounding anxiety, depression, eating disorders and more mental health topics. Age guidance: 14 plus. Content guidance: Eating disorders, anxiety, depression and mental health.

Popodyssey: A journey to find a home, a father and our place in this mad, complex world, at York Theatre Royal on Saturday. Picture: Ellywel Photography

As You Dislike It , York Theatre Royal main house, 7:30pm

INSPIRED by Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It, As You Dislike It explores the values of feminism and relationships through the use of humour and absurdity. Age guidance: 16 plus. Content guidance: Mild graphic language and mild sexual language.

Call Of The Ram presents Totally Royally F*****, York Theatre Royal main house, 7.30pm

WHEN a man of a meagre disposition finds himself down on his luck and in need of a break, outside forces push him to reconcile with his siblings in the hope he can somehow put his life back on track. This musical comedy extravaganza will “leave you feeling totally, royally, satisfied”. Age guidance: 18 plus. Content guidance: Strong language and sexual references.

Matt Price presents Raging Bill, York Theatre Royal Studio, 8pm

STAND-UP comedian Matt Price spent 18 months training to win a trophy to honour the memory of his grandad, Raging Bill Price, after he found boxing trophies in his attic.

The show is not about boxing – there is a lot more to it than that – but you will want to know what happens next. Most amateur fighters have their first fight within a few months, whereas it took Matt a year and a half before he was “ready.”

How and why does a painfully shy 21-year-old man go to a boxing gym and spend so long pursuing a sport for which he has zero talent? Why does he hate Humpty Dumpty but love karaoke?

Raging Bill is a humorous show about getting back up when life has hit you hard. Years later, having been through some ups and downs, Price learns something about himself that you will not forget. “But you will love it,” he promises.

THURSDAY

Play In A Day, York Theatre Royal Billiard Room, 10am to 1pm, free entry

ONE-DAY workshop, offering the chance to learn new skills and make a play in a day.

Free Origami Workshop, York Theatre Royal foyer, 2pm to 3.30pm, free entry, age five plus

ARE you interested in origami-style crafts? Whether you are an origami enthusiast or a complete beginner, everyone is welcome. Join this free session where the workshop hosts will run through some basic designs with step-by-step guidance. Bring your friends too to enjoy a stress-free afternoon and learn a new skill at the same time.

Northern Rascals in Sunny Side, York Theatre Royal main house, 7pm

K is struggling, at 18, living in a world where everyone but himself is rushing full steam ahead. Instead, he is trapped in a small English Everytown; a self-proclaimed “rain-soaked paradise” in the bottom of a Yorkshire valley. A town of two sides: old versus new, indigenous versus gentrified. Still nowhere fits K.

In a last attempt to understand and reconnect, he revisits the pivotal moments of his life but is left paralysed at the prospect of a future in which his voice cannot be heard.

“Where do young men stand in a world that seems to have no place for them,” asks Sunny Side, a raw and powerful portrayal of the modern young male experience, touring in partnership with Andy’s Man Club and informed by the voices of more than 750 young people across the UK.

Combining contemporary dance, theatre and spoken word, this socially urgent work from Northern Rascals explores the pain and loneliness that shape the journey from adolescence to adulthood.

Age guidance: 14 plus. Content guidance: Sunny Side explores sensitive and potentially distressing topics related to mental health, loneliness and societal pressures faced by young people. Haze and flashing light are used.

Clownpocalypse: Tragic, horrifying tale of 4½ clowns trying to stay alive in the zombie apocalypse at York Theatre Royal on Thursday

[insert company name here] presents Clownpocalypse, York Theatre Royal Studio, 7:30pm

RUN.  AHHHH!!!! This is not a show. This is the true, tragic, horrifying tale of 4½ clowns trying to stay alive in the zombie apocalypse with their new (suspiciously green and hungry) friend. 

It just so happens that the only safe place left is the York Theatre Royal Studio…oh no, guess you have to buy a ticket now. Age guidance: 14 plus. Content guidance: Clowns, loud noises, balloons.

Club For Hero’s presents The Face, York Theatre Royal Studio, 7.30pm

COME inside club Elysium! Experience things you never have before through fashion, music, dance and personalities of the club staff and regulars. Follow as stars rise from the darkest depths and see the people that make it happen! The beautifully unconventional are celebrated here. Could Elysium be your paradise? Age guidance: 16 plus. Content guidance: Homophobic language, violence, swearing and mild sexual references.

Daisy Chain presents Under My Skin, York Theatre Royal Studio, 7.30pm

THIS evocative theatre show intertwines Daisy Chain’s original artwork with powerful spoken word and poetry to explore the multifaceted themes of beauty, womanhood and friendship.

Delving deep into what lies beneath the surface, Under My Skin examines the experiences that shape our identities and emotions.

“Together with the audience, we will gaze at the beauty that surrounds us, questioning the routines we adopt to enhance our appearances and the societal influences that drive these choices,” say Daisy Chain cast members Amy Sparke, Sophie Budd, Catherine Dale and Gemma Gudgeon.

This immersive experience invites you to reflect on your own perceptions of beauty and the intricate tapestry of thoughts and feelings that connect us all.

Age guidance: 14 plus. Content guidance: Discussions of womanhood, touching on themes related to body dysmorphia, self-image and anxiety that may be triggering for some audience members.

FRIDAY

 A Tale of Us, York Theatre Royal Studio, from 10am, 12 noon and 3pm

A CELEBRATION of the wonders, joys and challenges of becoming a new parent, blending drama and multi-sensory playtime in a relaxed environment. The experience includes a guided stay-and-play session.

Seven presents Void, York Theatre Royal main house, 7.30pm 

WHAT remains when memory fades?  Where does the part of ourselves that has been lost go? What is to become of the body we once lived in? Seven answers these questions in Void. Age guidance: 11 plus. Content guidance: Contains the theme of memory loss, which may be upsetting.

Symfoney presents Off Script, York Theatre Royal main house, 7.30pm

MUSICAL theatre comedy Off Script focuses on the students of Ivison Performing Arts Academy, their teacher, Miss Kelly, and their final show, exploring  their complex relationships with one another, as well as exploiting the flaws of the performing arts industry as a whole. Age guidance: 14 plus. Content guidance: Strong language and adult topics.

The poster for TakeOver 2025 at York Theatre Royal

Ariel Hebditch in Skeleton Out Of The Closet, York Theatre Royal Studio, 8pm

AFTER winning the Women in Comedy Festival’s Best Newcomer Award 2024, Ariel Hebditch is back, reeling from her disappointing job interview with Death. This time, your resident asexual goth takes you through her own personal haunted house.

From werewolves to vampires to the devil herself, Ariel brings you a night of queer joy and the decidedly more-hard-to-come-by gothic joy as your ‘humerus’ entertainer promises you the time of your death.

Stage Fright, York Theatre Royal lower foyer, 9pm, free entry

STEP into the shadows for a chilling, interactive ghost hunt where nothing is what it seems. Guided by paranormal investigators, you will explore a haunted theatre filled with secrets ready to be exposed and scare actors waiting to blur the lines between reality and nightmare. Are you brave enough to face what is lurking backstage?

SATURDAY

Mud Pie Arts presents Beetles and Bees Tales, York Theatre Royal Studio, 11am

WHOSE side will you take when Cora, the crafty cuckoo bumblebee, sneaks her way into Queen Red-tail’s nest? Will you dare to stand up to the Brutus, the invading bark beetle, as he devours every forest in his way? Find out with Mud Pie Arts.

“Together, we will act out these bold tales of bombastic beasties!” says spinner of yarns Jenna Drury. “May half-term is the perfect time to go bug hunting, so come along to learn more. Expect all-join-in storytelling, riddles, games and post-show doodling on an epic scale.”

Jazz Dance Workshop, Billiard Room, York Theatre Royal, 3pm to 4.30pm

THIS beginner’s jazz dance class, Feeling Good, is for anyone aged 30 years and above. The class will entail a warm-up to boost the energy, followed by some basic Jazz technique in smaller groups, travelling from the corner, ending with a short jazz dance to Nina Simone’s Feeling Good.

SEND Disco Youth Session 11-17, York Theatre Royal Studio, 5.30pm to 6.30pm

GROOVE out your best moves at this electrifying disco: a dazzling evening filled with funky beats, vibrant lights and non-stop dancing. Whether you are a disco diva or boogie master, this is the place to let loose and shine.

Put on your best disco attire and prepare for unforgettable fun with friends. Focused on inclusivity and fun, this will be a memorable experience for everyone.

SEND Disco Adult Session 17+, York Theatre Royal Studio, 7pm to 8.30pm

See details above.

Popodyssey, York Theatre Royal main house, 7:30pm

LOVE Island, an inflatable Trojan horse and a thirst trap bot dressed up like a nymph: welcome to this epic storytelling show where ancient Greece collides with modern pop culture in a high-energy reworking of Homer’s Odyssey, told through text and movement.

Popodyssey is a journey to find a home, a father and our place in this mad, complex world of fake lips, telling fake news in deep fake utopias. Age guidance: 14 plus. Content warning: Infrequent swearing; discussion of war and violence; mild/subtle reference to sex, alcohol and drug use.

For more information on the 2025 TakeOver festival, visit: https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/be-part-of-it/children-and-young-people/takeover/. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

What remains when memory fades? Find out in Seven’s show Void at TakeOver 2025 on Friday

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York Actors Collective play doctors and nurses in Nina Raine’s hospital drama Tiger Country at Theatre@41 from tomorrow

Victoria Delaney, left, and Clare Halliday in a scene from York Actors Collective’s production of Tiger Country

NINA Raine’s hospital drama Tiger Country derives its title from a term used in surgery. When operating near a big blood vessel, a surgeon is in dangerous territory and might warn the team: “Careful, you’re approaching tiger country”.

Premiered at a sold-out Hampstead Theatre in 2011, this meticulously researched play was last staged in its revival at the London theatre in 2014. Now, Angie Millard gives it a contemporary, post-Covid setting in its York premiere by her York Actors Collective (YAC) company, with advice from a couple of medics to update it.

“I read a lot of plays to find something that’s suitable for YAC to stage. I don’t do potboilers. I do plays that interest me. If I’m going to make theatre as a hobby, I’m not doing soap opera material! After reading Tiger Country I thought, ‘wow, I must do this play’. It’s so different from anything I’ve done before,” says Angie, who has undergone hospital surgery herself recently.

 “It’s about doctors, which struck me as interesting, as in so many plays, or if you watch Holby City or Casualty on TV, you empathise with the patients. The last play I could think of that touched on this subject was Peter Nicholls’ black comedy, The Health Health [or Nurse Norton’s Affair] at the National Theatre, and that was decades ago [1969, to be be precise].

Madusha Ferdinando: Sri Lanka-born actor and ward nursing assistant, who will perform in Tiger Country

“Raine’s play sees it from the surgeons’ point of view, drawing attention to the effect the pressures have on the medical staff’s daily life, and I’ve never seen a play that’s done that before. As with the TV dramas, you don’t ‘go home’ with the surgeons and see the impact on their home lives that way, but you hear them talk about it in the mess. You really feel for the medics.”

For research, Oxford-educated theatre director and playwright Raine spent months embedded in an urological surgeon’s surgical team, learning about the mechanics of a hospital and what makes doctors and surgeons tick.

The resulting play considers doctors’ dilemmas as a range of clinical and ethical issues come under the spotlight in a busy hospital. Professionalism and prejudice, turbulent staff romances, ambition and failure collide in a frank account of the dedicated individuals that keep our overburdened health service going.

“It’s hard to direct and to perform because it’s almost cinematic in its style,” says Angie. “Characters will come on, do one quick scene and then they’re off again, so it’s fast-paced dialogue to match what’s happening.”

Mick Liversidge, left, and Chris Pomfrett in rehearsal for York Actors Collective’s York premiere of Tiger Country

In the cast at Theatre@41, Monkgate, from tomorrow are Victoria Delaney, Madusha Ferdinando, Clare Halliday, Mick Liversidge, Xandra Logan, Laurence O’Reilly, Chris Pomfrett and Lucinda Rennison.

“I said I wouldn’t do this play if I couldn’t find actors from different cultures because the NHS is so diverse in its ethnicity. Thankfully I found Madusha Ferdinando through the York Mystery Plays Supporters Trust.

“He was an actor in Sri Lanka before coming here, and then played a king in A Nativity for York. He’s a comic actor at heart, who plays the doctor who’s the joker in our play.

“The rest of the cast is like a rep company of regulars, and they don’t let me down. They know that I only work for eight weeks on each play, where I like the rehearsals to be intense.”

Several cast members work in the health service in various roles – community nurse (Chris Pomfrett), ward nursing assistant (Madusha Ferdinando) and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Laurence O’Reilly, at Northern General Hospital, Sheffield), all helping to conjure up a credible portrait of hospital life.

On call: Xandra Logan in a scene from Tiger Country

“They’re aware of what it takes to work in the hospital environment, so it’s been handy to have them on board,” says Angie. “Chris, for example, worked with his consultant, who took him through all the procedures he needs to do in the play. We also consulted with a medical advisor and resuscitation officer to help the team learn how to manage procedures.

“They were shown how to mime stitching, draining a lung and general examination techniques. I don’t think anyone realised how tricky it all is. The trick on stage is to get all the ‘mimes’ correct and not do them in a fussy way.”

Angie has paid for a torso and head from the British Heart Foundation. “It’s usually used to teach CPR, and we do have CPR in one scene after a heart attack. We put a wig on the head and it does look quite real as the torso bounces up and down!” she says. “Earlier in rehearsals we had to use a rolled-up duvet!”

Assembling the set has been “fun”. “It features hospital beds and operating tables, which would cost £500 even to hire, so I got beds that are used by massage therapists – I bought two on the internet – and  some tables and chairs that could be used in the NHS or in the mess,” says Angie.

“Whatever we couldn’t manage to get in the way of items, we learnt how to use mime for them, like scalpels or oxygen supplies. You will be watching a dramatic theatrical representation. That’s the point of theatre!”

York Actors Collective in Tiger Country, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, May 27 to 31; tomorrow to Friday, 7.30pm; Saturday,  2.30pm and 6pm. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

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How Miles Salter turned Love Bites rejection into debut play One Step Beyond, a story of marriage, midlife and Madness

Ready to go One Step Beyond: left to right, Liz Quinlan, Chris Meadley, Stuart Green, director Jon Mills, Jess Murray and Pamela Gourlay

YORK poet, songwriter, journalist, podcaster and festival director Miles Salter is adding playwriting to his cultural tool bag.

His debut short play, One Step Beyond, will be staged by York Settlement Community Players in a sold-out run at the Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, York, from tonight (26/05/2025) to Wednesday.

“It started life as a short monologue several years ago. It’s a bit Nick Hornby meets John Godber. I like the humour in it. All men are a bit nerdy about something. I enjoyed writing it. I think it’s good fun,” says Miles in a aptly short summation. 

One Step Beyond is being directed by Harrogate filmmaker, scriptwriter, prop and set designer and promo video producer Jon Mills in his directorial debut under YSCP’s nurturing project The Direct Approach.

Meet Steve and Kerry: married for a long time, but Steve’s vinyl collection, Madness to the max,  may tear them apart. Luckily they have a counsellor…and Steve’s friend Boring Ryan on hand to help them out. It must be love, love, love.

Steve (played by Stuart Green) is “a man in his 40s or 50s, depending on how many pints he’s had. Content and uncomplicated,” says Miles. “Kerry (Pamela Gourlay) is a woman in her 40s or 50s, depending on how much sleep she’s had. Pin-sharp and unfulfilled.

“Boring Ryan (Chris Meadley), Steve’s friend, is that mate we all have but we’re not sure why. Counsellor Marcia(Liz Quinlan) is a professional listener who can still – just – see the bright side.

“Our fifth character, Jen (Jess Murray), runs a ceramics class. She exudes warmth and calm, like a Zen hot-water bottle.”

Seeds were seen for One Step Beyond in 2021 when invited Miles was among more than 200 York artists who applied for £1,000 love letter commissions to be staged at York Theatre Royal in Love Bites on May 17 – the first day theatres could reopen after lockdown restrictions were first lifted  – and May 18 in a celebration of the creative talent across the city.

“I wrote a ten-minute piece, originally called It Must Be Love, about a bloke talking about his midlife crisis, his wife and his love of Madness, ” he recalls. “Juliet [Theatre Royal creative director Juliet Forster] said ‘close, but no cigar’.”

Hey you! Don’t watch that, watch this! It’s the heavy-heavy-monster sound of a brand new play, Miles Salter’s One Step Beyond

Rejection did not deter him. “Last year I went to one of Settlement’s summer sessions, where I saw a play about two people watching their child in the park and it turns out one is a ghost. Anyway, after that, I started writing It Must Be Love about Steve and Kerry.

“He’s obsessed with Madness; she’s a control freak. Their marriage has lost its spark and energy, and so they go to see a therapist, Marcia, who’s rational and almost like a Greek chorus, connecting the action and saying ‘when are you two going to wake up?’.

“It’s fun, not particularly profound, and it’s very influenced by John Godber’s plays and Nick   Hornby’s writing.

“At first I wondered if I was being a bit unoriginal, but I decided I wasn’t! Everything is influenced by something else, isn’t it. The play has as many laughs as possible in there, and it abides to that thing of not taking yourself too seriously.”

Miles quoutes a  “very good piece of advice” he received. In a nutshell, “Make’em laugh. Make’em cry. Make’em wait.” “Every good writer understands that. When I write, I don’t want it to be too dark or too light. That’s what life is: funny and ridiculous, but also sad and melancholy and beautiful – and that’s what you’ll find in my poetry too.

“Life is a crazy, strange mixture. One moment you’re sad, and then you’ll hear a funny story and you’re laughing your head off. My play reflects that.”

One Step Beyond takes its title from Madness’s 1979 debut album and second hit single, but it also nods to another meaning of that phrase. “One of the things about therapy is that it’s quite a brace thing to do. A lot of people avoid it. Only a relatively small number of men will go to counselling or therapy.

“It occurred to me, that thing of going one step beyond what you think you’re capable of. Be brave, go for it, whereas if we don’t try things, we can get terribly stuck in our little worlds, which is kind of sad. As the therapist says. ‘it’s sad people when people give up, it’s too easy to do that’.”

You could say that writing One Step Beyond was a case of doing exactly that by taking the step beyond after Miles missed out on selection for Love Bites. Once bitten, but not twice shy.

York Settlement Community Players in Miles Salter’s One Step Beyond, Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, York, May 26  to 28, 7.30pm. Tickets update: SOLD OUT.

Writer Miles Salter

Miles Salter: the back story

WRITER of poetry, journalism, fiction and songs since 1990, when he first came to York as a student of English Literature and Drama.

His CV includes stints as presenter of The Arts Show on Jorvik Radio and director of York Literature Festival and York Alive festival. Host of York Calling podcast.

Fronts York rock and Americana band  Miles And The Chain Gang.  

Jon Mills: the back story

ORIGINALLYfrom Birmingham. Studied English at University of Leeds before settling in Harrogate.

Background in film-making and scriptwriting. Now rekindled his interest in theatre, creating props and sets for York Settlement Community Players’ productions of Separate Tables and Picasso At The Lapin Agile, along with York Mystery Plays’ A Creation for York and A Nativity for York.

Produced promo videos for YSCP productions. One Step Beyond marks his directorial debut under YSCP’s Direct Approach scheme.

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REVIEW: Paul Rhodes’s verdict on Crash Test Dummies, The Crescent, York, May 20  

Crash Test Dummies: Returning to York more than 30 years since their first appearance at York Barbican Centre. Picture: Paul Rhodes

WHEN music gets under your skin, it can be permanent. Most of the Crescent-sized room listening to this greatest hits selection from Crash Test Dummies will have been enjoying their music for 30 years.

Their love of the band has endured through some lengthy hiatuses. While the Canadians had one monster and some minor hits, they didn’t stay at the top for very long.

Returning to York more than 30 years since their first appearance (York Barbican Centre, November 1994), they received a rapturous welcome. “You’ve treated us like royalty,” said a smiling Brad Roberts (he of the deep mmms). 

Brad Roberts: “His material weighs upon some heavy subject matter”. Picture: Paul Rhodes

The band are hot off the Antipodean leg of their world tour, but looked like they were still really enjoying the performance. Ellen Reid in particular was a joy to watch, vibrant, energetic and in good voice, while Leith Fleming-Smith on keyboards was in his element, like Jack Black’s rock star younger brother.

They were joined by the core band of Dan Roberts on bass and Mitch Dorge, behind a spit-proof barrier on drums.

Another upbeat performer was the charming opening John Adams. This Welshman can sing like an angel but this is no demure choirboy; he knows how to whip a crowd into action.

Opening act Jon Adams: “This is no demure choirboy”

The headliners’ 17 songs drew on all corners of the CTD’s comparatively modest album haul. Most of us were there for their prime period, but the later material fared OK in comparison.

Roberts is a serious songwriter: his material weighs upon some heavy subject matter, and the music, like the lyrics, always has a clever hook or twist. It doesn’t all land. As is his way, Roberts demanded quiet before the first encore of the night, Heart Of Stone, but for all that he invested in this slow number, it felt like someone trying to say something important that remained just out of reach.

For all their seriousness, there is a rich seam of dark humour that runs through their work and it felt good to bounce along to Afternoons & Coffeespoons.

Crash Test Dummies’ Ellen Reid: “A joy to watch, vibrant, energetic and in good voice.” Picture: Paul Rhodes

There seems to be plenty of life left in the band, although they don’t seem to want to rush back into the studio. For now, a new Best Of contains two new songs, one of them, Sacred Alphabet, having a run out.

The existential duck also put in an appearance (his relatives were also dotted about the stage), as did Superman and Peter Pumpkinhead (originally by XTC and one of two covers, the other by The Replacements).

Naturally, they made us wait until the end for Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm. This out-of-nowhere hit single, where they managed to capture lightning in a bottle, takes a sober look at kids who don’t fit in, propelled by the best wordless chorus you can imagine. A wonderful four minutes to cap a very welcome return.

Review by Paul Rhodes

Top: Quack squad: Crash Test Dummies’ existential duck and colleagues at The Crescent. Picture: Paul Rhodes

Bottom: Crash Test Dummies’ set list, The Crescent, York, 20/5/2025. Picture: Paul Rhodes

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More Things To Do in York and beyond as wizards and Stars Wars take over. Here Hutch’s List No. 21 from The York Press

The Wizard of York, Dan Wood, sets his spellbinding WizardFest in motion for three magical days. Picture: The Story Of You

NOT only a new festival of wizardry, but Charles Hutchinson has plenty more wizard ideas too for the Bank Holiday weekend and beyond the wand.

Enchanting festival of the week:  WizardFest, waving a wand over York, today to Monday

ORGANISED by The Wizard of York, Dan Wood, York’s first ever festival of wizardry promises 25 activities, events, workshops and fantastical food and drink, featuring  the city’s most magical businesses.

Highlights include Wizard Walk of York walks; a Brick Magic LEGO workshop; screenings of the first three Harry Potter films at City Screen Picturehouse; Professor Kettlestring’s Puzzling World needing  help to defeat dark wizard Mortius Darktrix; The Cat Gallery’s Black Cat Trail and Make It York’s Owl Trail; Monday’s Magical Night Market at Shambles Market and a fancy dress parade between St Helen’s Square and York Minster at 3pm on Monday. Plan your magical itinerary and make bookings at wizardwalkofyork.com/wizardfest.

York Printmakers’ poster for the 2025 Festival of Print

“More than an exhibition” of the week: York Printmakers, Festival of Print, 22 High Petergate, York, until July 20, open every Friday and Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sundays, 10am to 4pm

YORK Printmakers celebrate creativity, craft and community in a curated exhibition of original prints, from linocut and etching to screenprint and collagraph, complemented by demonstrations, talks and workshops. Visitors can explore the stories and processes behind each piece and meet the makers behind the art.

“This year’s festival is more than an exhibition,” say the organisers. “It’s an invitation to discover, to ask questions and to support York artists keeping traditional and contemporary printmaking alive.” Entry is free.

Festival Of The Force: The Star Wars convention from another galaxy, here in York

Film convention of the week: Festival Of The Force, York Railway Institute, Queen Street, York, Sunday, 10am to 5pm

MAY the Force be with you for this Star Wars convention, Festival Of The Force, whose mission is to deliver an immersive experience in celebration  of the Star Wars universe while building a strong sense of community among collectors, fans, and cosplayers of all ages. Look out for a galaxy of merchandise, celebrity appearances and fan-led events. Box office: eventbrite.co.uk/e/festival-of-the-force-tickets.

Wanted in York: Julian Clary swaps guns for puns and putdowns in A Fistful Of Clary on Sunday

Camp sight of the week: Julian Clary in A Fistful Of Clary, Grand Opera House, York, Sunday, 7.30pm

JULIAN Clary goes Western as he saddles up for entendres at the double, sure that the men in the audience won’t be able to keep their hands off his Rawhide.

The lucky few will play with him on stage in the Hang‘em Low saloon, but life in the Old West was tough. Not all of Julian’s wild bunch will be around to witness the final shoot-out when he gives himself selflessly at high noon to the last man standing. Tickets update for Clary’s pun fight: still available at atgtickets.com/york.

Sophie Ellis Bextor: Disco nights at York Barbican and York Racecourse

Dancefloor diva at the double: Sophie Ellis Bextor, York Barbican, May 26, Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 7.30pm; York Racecourse Music Showcase Weekend 2025, July 25, after 8.23pm last race  

“IT will be wonderful to bring the disco fun to everyone,” says Sophie Ellis Bextor, lockdown queen of the Kitchen Disco online sessions, as she heads to York twice. Buoyed by Murder On The Dancefloor’s appearance in the final scene of Emerald Fennell’s film Saltburn returning her 2001 smash to number two in the UK charts, she takes to the road with a career-spanning set also featuring  Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love), Take Me Home (A Girl Like Me) and Freedom Of The Night.

The former lead singer of theaudience will be joined by special guest Natasha Bedingfield for the post-racing concert on Knavesmire in July. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk (last few tickets); yorkracecourse.co.uk.

Jon Mills’s cast for Miles Salter’s short play One Step Beyond, premiering at the Black Swan Inn next week

Premiere of the week: Yortk Settlement Community Players presents Miles Salter’s One Step Beyond, Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, York, May 26 to 28, 7.30pm

STEVE and Kerry have been married a long time. Steve’s vinyl collection may tear them apart. Luckily they have a counsellor…and Steve’s friend Boring Ryan on hand to help them out. It must be love, love, love. Jon Mills directs Stuart Green, Pamela Gourlay, Liz Quinlan, Chris Meadley and Jess Murray in York writer Miles Salter’s short play for YSCP’s Direct Approach project. Tickets to enter this House of Fun:  £5, pay on the door, cash or card.

Victoria Delaney, left, and Clare Halliday in rehearsal for York Actors Collective’s production of Tiger Country at Theatre@41, Monkgate

Hospital drama of the week: York Actors Collective in Tiger Country, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, May 27 to 31, 7.30pm, Tuesday to Friday; 2.30pm and 6pm, Saturday

NINA Raine’s doctors-and-nurses drama, last performed at Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2014, is revived by Angie Millard’s company York Actors Collective.

This fast-paced play considers doctors’ dilemmas as a range of clinical and ethical issues come under the spotlight in a busy hospital. Professionalism and prejudice, turbulent staff romances, ambition and failure collide as Raine depicts an overburdened health service and the dedicated individuals that keep it going. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Nick Mohammed’s alter-ego, Mr Swallow, in Show Pony, cantering into the Grand Opera House next week and in the autumn. Picture: Matt Crockett

Comedy gig of the week: Nick Mohammed Is Mr Swallow in Show Pony, Grand Opera House, York, May 28 and October 23, 7.30pm

COMEDIAN, writer, Ted Lasso regular and Taskmaster loser Nick Mohammed transforms into his alter-ego, Mr Swallow in Show Pony, a new show that will “cover everything from not having his own sitcom to not having his own sitcom… and everything in between (critical race theory). As per – expect magic, music and a whole load of brand-new mistakes”.  Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Sir Tim Rice: Mulling over a life in musicals at the Grand Opera House, York

Musical knight of the week: Sir Tim Rice, My Life In Musicals – I Know Him So Well, Grand Opera House, York, May 29,7.30pm

LYRICIST supreme Sir Tim Rice reflects on his illustrious career at the heart of musical theatre, sharing anecdotes behind the songs, both the hits and the misses, complemented by stories of his life and live performances by leading West End singers and musicians, led by musical director Duncan Waugh. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

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More Things To Do in York and beyond Gary Oldman’s exit stage left, minus bananas. Hutch’s List No. 20, from The York Press

Bull: “Reverse headlining” Sunday’s bill at the By The Blue Bridge Festival on the Arts Barge

First published on May 17 2025

AS the Arts Barge launches a new season and Mikron head to an allotment, Charles Hutchinson welcomes signs of the summer season ahead.

Festival of the week: By The Blue Bridge, Arts Barge, Foss Basin, York, today (17/5/2025) and tomorrow

BULL bassist, illustrator and designer Kai West and Rowan & Friends curator and frontman Rowan Evans launch the Arts Barge’s 2025 season with the By The Blue Bridge festival of music and art.

Today features free workshops from 11am to 2pm, including Water Poetry with Becca Drake, Digital Plotting with Des Clarke and a Sound Workshop led by a collective from the Hague. Musical acts from 3pm will be Sinead Una, Rowan & Friends, Captain Starlet, Gaia Blandina, Slagroom, Des Clarke, Gabriella Hunzinger and The Rattlers.

Sunday’s theme is “Folky and Weird”, kicking off with an open-mic session from 12 noon to 2pm, followed by “reverse headliners” Bull at 4pm, plus Oli, We Are Hannah, Mugwort, Kirk, Big Rain In The Morning, The Caterpillars and headliners Milkweed. Box office https://wegottickets.com/f/13779/.

Bella Gaffney: The Magpies’ folk musician plays solo at Rise@Bluebird Bakery tonight. Picture: Esme Mai

Folk gig of the week: Bella Gaffney, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, tonight (17/5/2025), 7.30pm

FOLK troubadour and guitarist Bella Gaffney, one third of The Magpies, weaves together original compositions and traditional tunes from British folk and Americana traditions, as heard on her 2023 album Reflections. Support act Jake Robinson sings soulful interpretations of folk classics and jazz-inspired originals. Box office: eventbrite.com/e/bella-gaffney.

This summer, The Magpies will be hosting their annual festival at Sutton Park, Sutton on the Forest, near York, on August 8 and 9. Tickets are on sale at themagpiesfestival.co.uk.

Mikron Theatre Company actor-musicians Georgina Liley, left, James McLean, Robert Took and Catherine Warnock in Operation Beach Hut, on tour at Scarcroft Allotments, York, on Sunday. Picture: Robling Photography

Outdoor entertainment of the week: Mikron Theatre Company in Operation Beach Hut, Scarcroft Allotments, Scarcroft Road, York, Sunday (18/5/2025), 2pm

HARVEY Badger’s Operation Beach Hut whisks Sunday afternoon’s audience away to the golden sands of Fiddling-On-Sea for the annual Best Beach Hut competition as stressed-out city dweller seeks solace by the sea. As the competition day draws closer, the history of the seaside floats to the surface, washing up a host of characters and stories from centuries gone by. Soon Holly realises far more is at stake than a prize for best beach hut.

Marianne McNamara’s cast of four actor-musicians, Georgina Liley, Robert Took, Catherine Warnock and returnee James McLean, combine Marsden company Mikron’s theatrical trademarks of storytelling, original songs and live music with the guarantee of a whale of a time. No tickets required; a pay-what –you-feel collection will be taken post-show.

Harry Hill: New Bits & Greatest Hits shake up the Grand Opera House on Sunday fun day

Get on board the laughter train: Harry Hill, New Bits & Greatest Hits, Grand Opera House, York, Sunday (18/5/2025), 7.30pm

JOIN Harry Hill on his on his Diamond Jubilee lap of honour in celebration of 60 glorious years of fun, laughter and low-level disruption. Marvel as he offers new insights into the hot topics of the day from the culture wars to the origins of Tiramisu.

Guffaw with delight as big-collared Harry delves into his back catalogue, using his patented Old Bit Randomiser tom reactivate old favourites. Look out for son Gary, Stouffer The Cat, the Badger Parade with guest appearances from The Knitted Character and Abu Hamster, plus the chance for one lucky audience member to join Harry in a double act. Box office: for returns only, atgtickets.com/york.

Nikita Kuzmin: From Strictly Come Dancing star to Cinderella-style dance drama of star-crossed lovers in Midnight Dancer

Dance drama of the week: Nikita Kuzmin in Midnight Dancer, Grand Opera House, York, May 20, 7.30pm

STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Ukrainian star dancer and choreographer Nikita Kuzmin leaps into York in his debut British and Irish solo tour: “a fairytale ball like no other and a night full of music, sequins, and world- class dancing”.

A company of dancers and West End singer Rebecca Lisewski join him in a classic romance story as two star-crossed lovers meet only to be torn apart in this modern-day Cinderella dance drama. Will they reunite at the masked ball, or will real life put an end to their fairytale fantasy? Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Sisters doing it for themselves: Hayley Bamford’s Deloris Van Cartier, centre, leading the nuns in song in Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy

Nun better musical of the week: York Musical Theatre Company in Sister Act: A Divine Musical Company, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, May 21 to 24, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee

KATHRYN Addison directs York Musical Theatre Company in Alan Menken’s American musical with Hayley Bamford in the sassy role of “novice nun” Deloris Van Cartier.

When club singer Deloris witnesses nightclub owner Curtis Jackson (Zander Fick), commit murder, the police hide her in a convent, where she meets the Mother Superior (Kirstin Grififths) and an ensemble of 22 nuns. Cue multiple upbeat numbers as friendships grow and the convent is saved from financial ruin. Hallelujah!  Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

Switch way now? Thomas Frere and Cal Stockbridge in Clap Trap Theatre’s Switcheroo, the play told two ways, as comedy, then in serious mode. Picture: Jay Sillence

Role-swapping play of the week: Clap Trap Theatre in Switcheroo, York Theatre Royal Studio, May 22 to 24, 7.45pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Post-show discussion, May 23. Also Hemsley Arts Centre, May 31, 7.30pm

TOM Needham’s play Switcheroo is based on the simple premise that “it’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it”. Presented by Ryedale company Clap Trap Theatre, the story follows three siblings who, when it comes to scattering their mother’s ashes, are hit with a bombshell revelation that turns their world upside down.

The first act is a full-blown, larger-than-life comedy, whereupon the actors swap characters to repeat it as a serious drama. Paul Birch directs a cast of Thomas Frere (Alex/Sam), Clap Trap co-founder Cal Stockbridge (Sam/Pat) and Dominic Goodwin (Pat/Alex). Box office: York, 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk; Helmsley, 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.

Paul Chowdhry: On tour in Englandia at York Barbican on Friday

Comedy gig of the week: Paul Chowdhry, Englandia, York Barbican, May 23, 7.30pm

PAUL Chowdhry, the most successful British Indian stand-up comedian in British history, heads to York on his 41-date itinerary. “After more than a quarter of a century and half my

life on comedy stages, it’s time for my biggest tour ever,” says The Paul Chowdhry PudCast podcaster. “I hope to see you there. If not, I’ll be in massive debt and doing benefit gigs for the foreseeable future.” To help Chowdhry avoid that scenario, book tickets at yorkbarbican.co.uk.

Neigh sayer: Elf Lyons horsing around at Theatre@41, Monkgate

Horse show of the year: Elf Lyons: Horses, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, May 23, 8pm

WELCOME to the first ever comedy show performed entirely by a horse. Made by award-winning comedian, clown, theatre practitioner and teacher Elf Lyons, performed by Treacle. Horse box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk

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REVIEW: Clap Trap Theatre in Switcheroo, York Theatre Royal Studio, tonight and tomorrow, comedy ***, straight ****

Dominic Goodwin’s Pat, left, and Thomas Frere’s Alex in Clap Trap Theatre’s Switcheroo, played comically

SWITCHEROO writer Tom Needham is a BAFTA-nominated North Yorkshire playwright and scriptwriter who lives on a very small farm with, at the last count, three cats, three dogs, six ducks, seven chickens, five pigs, two horses, two turkeys, two llamas and one conure parrot by the name of Pearl.

He has an impressive writing stock too with 100-plus theatre and TV credits: 65 episodes of The Bill over 25 years; episodes of Casualty, EastEnders,  Wycliffe, Dangerfield, Dalziel & Pascoe, Silent Witness and more, plus his own series, Cold Blood and children’s show Retrace.

Needham is in his 13th year of writing for Ryedale company Clap Trap Theatre, Switcheroo being the latest addition to the ghost story The Room Upstairs, The Wrecker, The Rape Queen, Impact and Blindfold.

Rehearsed in Needham and company co-founder Cal Stockbridge’s converted barn near Pickering, shared with a small colony of bats, Switcheroo is heading out on a month-long tour, opening at York Theatre Royal Studio this week and running until June 24.

Directed by Riding Lights Theatre Company artistic director Paul Birch, opening night timer in hand, Switcheroo is spun on a simple premise: “It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it”. 

Three squabbling siblings, stuck in the mud of midlife, are confronted by a bombshell revelation in their mother’s will when charged with the task of scattering her ashes.

In keeping with the two faces of theatre, the play is first played out as a rollicking comedy, nudging into farce. Post-interval, the same play, the same dialogue, is replayed seriously seriously by the same actors, but now playing different roles, having done their own switcheroo.

And the way they say it most definitely changes, to the point where you wonder how it could ever have been a comedy in the first place, such is the impact in particular of Dominic Goodwin’s embittered, drunk, wounded Alex, the one who had looked after their mother in her last days.

Cal Stockbridge’s Pat in Switcheroo, played seriously straight

It would be wrong to divulge the plot, but let’s just say it forces Alex, Sam and Pat to confront their past, their relationships, their parental bonds, what is true, what is false, as family secrets bubble to the surface.

Thomas Frere transfers from wild-haired, wild-eyed, heavy-drinking Alex, shirt buttoned erratically, to the uptight, neat, trim, testy Sam, trying to hold things in check. Cal Stockbridge transforms from guarded, glacial Sam to exasperated Pat.

Goodwin, always a larger-than-life presence on stage, all the more so here, changes from the spoilt child of the family to the emotionally bruised Alex, albeit that both his characterisations are marked by self-pity.

Just wondered: could the production do its own switcheroo, where one performance is comedy first, then straight drama post-interval, and the next night would be played vice versa?

Needham answers that question in his programme note: “For a long time, I thought the straight version should go first and then be hammed up in the second, but it just didn’t work that way round.

“The straight version has to be performed second because we learn so much more from it – it contains the pain, the emotion and the truth.”

How right he is, but so too is his observation that Switcheroo is “two completely different plays. And yet, it isn’t.”

Clap Trap Theatre in Switcheroo: A Story Told Twice, York Theatre Royal, tonight, 7.45pm; tomorrow, 2.30pm and 7.45pm, all sold out; Helmsley Arts Centre, May 31, 7.30pm; The Old Dining Room, Thirsk Hall, Thirsk, June 5, doors from 6pm; Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, June 6 and 7, 7.30pm; Hutton Rudby Village Hall, June 8, 7.30pm; Askrigg Temperance Village Hall, Leyburn, Wensleydale Community Arts Festival, June 11, 7.30pm; Birdsall House, Birdsall, Malton, June 24 (no details available).

Box office: York, for returns, 01904  623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk; Helmsley, 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk; Thirsk, thirskhall.com/events; Richmond, georgiantheatreroyal.savoysystems.co.uk. For Hutton Rudby and Askrigg, go to claptraptheatre.com/2025-tour/. For Birdsall, phone 01944 316000.

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Magic awaits as The Wizard of York promotes city’s first WizardFest from May 24 to 26. What’s in store? Ask Dan Wood

Magic ahead: The Wizard of York, alias Dan Wood, raises his wand to conjure WizardFest, York’s first festival of wizardry. Picture: The Story Of You

THE Wizard of York has waved his magic wand over the upcoming Spring Bank Holiday to conjure up the city’s first WizardFest.

Programmed by Dan Wood, owner of The Wizard Walk of York, the May half-term festival will feature a spellbinding range of activities, events, workshops and fantastical food and drink.

Little Vikings are co-hosting the May 24 to 26 event with support from Make It York.  Maps can be collected from the Visit York Centre or from festival sponsors Loopy Scoops, The Cat Gallery, Totally Awesome Toys and The Society of Alchemists.

Alternatively, a full list of events and booking links can be found at wizardwalkofyork.com/wizardfest to plan your magical itinerary. Prompt booking is recommended.

“One of my favourite moments on The Wizard Walk is when visitors new to the city first turn down Minster Gates and see the Minster in all its magnificent glory,” says The Wizard of York, Dan Wood. Picture: The Story Of You

Here Dan Wood discusses wizardry, walks and the magic of York with CharlesHutchPress.

What gave you the idea to run a Wizard Fest in York, Dan?

“I’ve been running The Wizard Walk of York for more than three years now, and in that short time I’d already collaborated with lots of businesses doing magical things in the city. We’d enjoyed other York festivals as a family, and thought it was high time we really celebrated York’s magical side with a city-wide family festival of fun!

“I’d previously helped create festivals during my role as creative manager of Alton Towers – including ScareFest for Halloween and JingleFest over Christmas – so it’s nice to don this hat once again.

“My wife Bev is stage managing the festival, and we have a whole team of marshals (in hi-vis wiz jackets) involved. It’s quite the undertaking, but also very exciting and the first of many to come.”

You have brought plenty of partners on board, wide ranging too. How important is that support?

“We’ve been absolutely blown away by the support from local businesses. I’ve approached companies with some fairly unusual and outlandish ideas, and they’ve almost always said ‘yes, we can do that!’.

“The goal has always been to bring together small businesses, to really champion and shout about great independent organisations in the city. Almost all WizardFest partners are indies, except for LUSH, who are providing magical bath bomb making sessions with Avocado Events.

“We have a new exclusive Black Cat Quest with the Cat Gallery, Beastly Burgers in the shape of a monster from Baby Boy’s Burger at SPARK:York, Dragon Sundaes at Loopy Scoops and lots more. Professor Kettlestring’s have a new Cursed event, where visitors can find the witches and wizards around the attraction to lift the spell, and there are all kinds of workshops, tours and trails. Wizard fans can even catch the first three Harry Potter films at City Screen.

“Many businesses have donated prizes too, whether for my recent Name A Dragon contest for the free Fancy Dress Parade on the final day. Many are offering discounts for anyone dressed up as a witch or wizard too, so be sure to dress to impress.

“We’ve partnered with Little Vikings, York’s leading guide to what’s on for families across the city. Loopy Scoops, The Cat Gallery, Totally Awesome Toys and The Society of Alchemists are sponsoring the event. Make it York are also supporting it with the Owl Trail and Magical Night Market.”

What first drew you to wizardry, Dan?

“I started magic as a young child but discovered wizardry later in life when, like so many others, I got swept up in the Harry Potter phenomenon. In fact, long before becoming The Wizard of York, I was hired as a wizard at a bookshop whilst living in London, for the launch of the fifth book.

“When I moved to York, wizardry was one of many themed parties I offered as The Magic Hatter. My Halloween shows at Piglets Adventure Farm became wizard-themed rather than spooky or scary. The National Railway Museum later booked me to perform walkaround magic as a wizard when they had the Oulton Hall, aka Hogwarts Express. Who’d have thought I’d now be York’s own full-time wandering Wizard?!”

Dan Wood in his magical Easter bonnet circa 1992

When did you first do a magic/wizard show?

“My magical journey first started with a Paul Daniels Magic set one Christmas. I liked it, not a lot! I was fascinated with how the tricks worked and the reactions they got from friends and family.

“My first magic show was at the tender age of seven, in a cardboard top hat and my dad’s oversized wedding jacket. A young entrepreneur, I’d charge friends ten pence to watch shows in our back garden. No photos or video unfortunately as this was long before smartphones, but I wonder if I’m still doing any of the same jokes…

“I did manage to find a photo of me in a magical Easter bonnet top hat though, circa 1992, and it’s funny to think I later became The Magic Hatter and made a career in magic!”

Who inspired your love of wizardry?

“I’ve always been intrigued by wizardry, and find it elevates magic from just magic shop props to something a little more theatrical. The eagle-eyed may recognise that my first Wizard of York outfit – complete with dark red cloak and hat – is actually more inspired by Pratchett’s Rincewind than Potter!

“I grew up watching and reading The Lord Of The Rings, and then the Harry Potter series too. Along with Mrs Wizard, I’m heading to London this summer to see Cursed Child for our 40th birthday celebrations, which I hear is full of magic, illusions and stage trickery. It should be right up my alley.

“For the Wizard Walk though, and for WizardFest, I feel we’ve put our own stamp on wizardry and created something unique. It’s ideal for Harry Potter fans, but no knowledge of the wizarding world is needed.”

What makes York such a magical city?

“Quite simply, York is magic. The cobbled streets, winding alleys and crooked buildings could be lifted from the pages of any fantasy novel. It’s the people who really make it though; whether the enthusiastic and excited families who join my tours, or the shop owners who are always up for a friendly chat and to throw ideas around.

“Some locals will say that it’s becoming a theme park, but I don’t think wizardry detracts from the history or beauty of York. I love York’s rich and diverse history, and there are some fantastic historical tours, activities and museums. Some will want to explore York’s history – which is still very much available and accessible – and others will want to focus on magical family fun, or ideally a bit of both!”

The Wizard Of York print, designed by Lincoln Lightfoot in a nod to The Wizard Of Oz

Factually, Harry Potter has no links with York and yet he has become synonymous with Shambles.  Is that good for York and for wizardry in the city?

“The Wizard Walk is not a Harry Potter tour, and I never make the claim that York has anything to do with the franchise. But, of course, the city attracts Potter fans by the thousands, and there are plenty of magical things to do for visiting families.

“There are no tangible links to Harry Potter in York, not even York Railway Station. Many people think that the footbridge was used for shots in the first film, but this was in fact a bridge in Kings Cross that has since been moved to the Watercress Line in Hampshire.

“I still hear tour guides – and tourists – saying that Shambles inspired JK Rowling, or even that Harry Potter was filmed here! Not true in the slightest, but to me this doesn’t make York any less enchanting.

“Perhaps the local link is a rumour that got out of hand, but wizardry is very much here to stay, especially with a new ten-season Harry Potter TV series in the works. For me, York really lends itself to the concept of wizardry and I absolutely love bringing a whirlwind of magical entertainment to the streets.”

What makes York an ideal city for all manner of walking tours:  from ghosts to history to wizardry?

“There really is something for everyone in York, whether visitors want to find out about local history, get spooked on a ghost walk or enjoy magic and comedy. The beauty of any tour in York is that we pass the most spellbinding sights…from the iconic Shambles to York Minster, Clifford’s Tower to  St William’s College.

“One of my favourite moments on The Wizard Walk is when visitors new to the city first turn down Minster Gates with me and see the Minster in all its magnificent glory.”

Which WizardFest events have sold out?

“We’ve added extra tours on the Wizard Walk of York over WizardFest – and throughout half-term  – and some of these filled up well in advance. The Story Craft Theatre workshops,  A Kind Of Magic, are sold out, and there are very limited spaces left on the Brick Magic LEGO workshops at York Medical Society.

“We recommend visitors book for all paid activities as soon as possible, before tickets all…vanish! All booking links are at wizardwalkofyork.com.”

York artist Lincoln Lightfoot with his Wizard of York print

How did York surrealist artist Lincoln Lightfoot become involved in the festival?

“The idea for the Wizard of York print was a real light bulb moment. One day the sun was bouncing off the Shambles cobbles, giving them a yellowish hue. It reminded me of the Yellow  Brick Road from The Wizard Of Oz, and then I thought back to Lincoln’s renowned film prints.

“He had already put King Kong on York Minster, a Kraken in the Ouse and a T-Rex on Shambles – so it wasn’t a stretch to create a Wizard of York/Oz mashup!

“Another ‘full circle’ moment is that I played the Wizard in The Wiz in a high school production many moons ago too…  

“It’s a real ‘pinch me’ moment to be immortalised in a piece of art and I’m thrilled with the piece that he’s conjured up. The print is available from me directly, from Fabrication Crafts, on Stonegate, or Lincoln’s website, lincolnlightfoot.com.

“Lincoln also will have a stall at the Magical Night Market as part of the festival, on Monday evening in Shambles Market between 7.30pm and 10pm.”

What a wizard idea for a festival

What plans are in place for the 2026 festival?

“We are already busily working on plans for WizardFest 2026 and I have spreadsheets…I mean ancient parchment scrolls…full of new ideas and activities,. We’re already accepting applications from new sponsors and collaborators, and looking to build on the partnerships we already have.

“We’re considering a world-record attempt on a huge scale, and we’re talking to various companies about bringing in pop-up events, such as broomstick training, wand duelling and more.

“With 25 activities this year, it’s bigger than we ever expected, but we plan to go even bigger and better next year. Like a great magic trick though, I don’t want to give away the secrets and spoil it, but be sure to keep an eye on my Wizard Walk of York socials for details.

“To get involved, send me an owl of enquiry via wizardwalkofyork.com, where you can also plan your magical itinerary for this coming weekend. Bring on the magic!”

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REVIEW: York Musical Theatre Company in Sister Act, A Divine Musical Comedy, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York ****

Hayley Bamford’s Deloris Van Cartier, now hiding as Sister Mary Clarence, centre, in York Musical Theatre Company’s Sister Act, A Divine Musical Comedy. Picture Lucy Baines, Joy Photography

AFTER York Stage Musicals’ York premiere in 2014 and Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver’s Mother Superior and Landi Oshinowo’s Deloris Van Cartier on tour at the Grand Opera House in  2024, Sister Act, A Divine Musical Comedy returns to the city in Kathryn Addison’s hands in 2025.

You can see why companies are making a habit of staging Alan Menken’s Broadway and West End musical spin on Emile Ardolino’s 1992 movie. We know nuns en masse are fun from the film, so full of cheery daftness.

Then add Motown, funk, soul and disco pastiches and even a brief burst of rap by Little Shop Of Horrors’ maestro Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a sassy book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellener, steeped in the original spirit and re-booted with theatrical camp sparkle.

Jack Hooper’s Eddie Souther performing I Could Be That Guy. Picture: Lucy Baines, Joy Photography

It has been the norm for the likes of Alexandra Burke at Leeds Grand Theatre and Cleopatra Rey for York Stage to whoop up the lead role of lounge singer Deloris in the Whoopi Goldberg manner, but the movie part was first offered to Bette Midler.

Step forward Hayley Bamford, and, wham-bam, Bamford still stands out from her fellow wimple wearers, on account of her height, her strut and her soul-filled lung power.

We lose the nods to Richard Roundtree movies, Pam Grier and Shaft, but Addison’s smart production still echoes the American Seventies of Studio 54, Saturday Night Fever and Telly Savalas’s Kojak (although the programme states Act I is set at Christmas 1997 in Philadelphia, New Jersey).

Director Kathryn Addison, right, in rehearsal with Kirsten Griffiths (Mother Superior), right, and Hayley Bamford (Deloris Van Cartier)

Bamford’s Deloris has been placed in protective custody by gun-shy, profusely sweaty cop Eddie Souther (Jack Hooper) after witnessing her cool but cruel mobster lover  Curtis Jackson (Zander Fick) commit murder.

She may sing Take Me To Heaven, but Curtis has taken her closer to hell. Now she must flee from the Mafia’s clutches into the safety and sanctity of the Queen Of Angels convent, whose stained glass frames double as the nightclub decor.

Bamford’s irrepressible Deloris kicks the habits into shape, transferring the sisters’ hapless, off-key singing from doleful into soulful and herself into a divine diva. In doing so, she impresses Monsignor O’Hara (Rob Davies); exasperates the earnest Mother Superior (Kirsten Griffiths, whose singing hits the spectacular heights); re-invigorates the rundown neighbourhood’s church services and coffers, and rekindles the flame in Eddie’s schooldays crush.

Philadelphia mobster Curtis Jackson (Zander Fick, second from left) and his hoodlums, Eddie (Jonathan Wells), TJ (James Dickinson), Pablo (Adam Gill) and Joey (Joe Marucci). Picture: Lucy Baines, Joy Photography

Addison directs with an eye to both individual expression and collective impact, bringing an irreverent edge to the comedy and fabulous flair and fun to the choreography, while musical director John Atkin’s11-strong orchestra are as soulful as James Brown’s band The J.B.’s.

Bamford is feisty, lippy, funny and a natural show leader; Hopper’s amusing Eddie pulls at the heart strings; Eve Clark, in her gap year after A-levels, announces her singing talent as Sister Mary Robert; Fick’s Curtis, with his cigarette-card moustache,  is a matine-idol villain, and Katie Melia, so “super excited to be playing Sister Mary Patrick”, is exactly that in her scene-stealing role.

Look out too for Sandy Nicholson’s Sister Mary Lazarus, rapping in shades, and the bungling badinage of Curtis’s hoodlums, Joe Marucci’s Joey, James Dickinson’s TJ, Adam Gill’s Pablo and Jonathan Wells’s soon-to-be-deadie Eddie. All’s well that ends up Wells, however, as he has three further cameos, topped by a camp flurry as a drag queen.

Sister Act, A Divine Musical Comedy, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, until Saturday, 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Box office: limited availability on 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

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Jessa Liversidge to perform A Tapestry Of Life concert for Mental Health Awareness Week at The Courthouse, Thirsk. Further concerts to follow in York & Husthwaite

Easingwold singer and workshop leader Jessa Liversidge, left, with her poet sister Andrea Brown

First published on May 16 2025

EASINGWOLD singer, songwriter and community singing workshop champion Jessa Liversidge will perform A Tapestry Of Life today (16/5/2025) as part of Rural Arts’ Mental Health Awareness Week at The Courthouse, Thirsk, at 6.30pm.

Jessa’s 60-minute, one-woman musical performance, inspired by Carole King’s  album Tapestry, features such much-loved songs as You’ve Got A Friend, Will You Love Me  Tomorrow?, It’s Too Late, So Far Away, I Feel The Earth Move and Natural Woman, interspersed with original songs, rooted in the powerful poetry of Jessa’s sister, Andrea Brown, from her Life, Love, Loss collection.

“With titles such as Unrequited Love, The Girl Who Wasn’t Enough, If Only, Crazy, Sorry and Beautiful Day, these new pieces reflect on life’s big themes of love and friendship and loss, situations and journeys, that every human can identify with and all go through, just as Carole King’s timeless songs on Tapestry do,” says Jessa.

In addition to her debut Courthouse concert, she will be running a Friday Feelgood Singing Session earlier in the day, with a discount available if booking for both the workshop and performance at ruralarts.org. Tickets are on sale at ruralarts.org/whats-on/performances/jessa-liversidge/.

Further performances of A Tapestry Of Life will follow in Dundee-born Jessa’s Scottish homeland, at Leslie Town Hall, Fife, on May 31 at 7.30pm (UPDATE on 22/05/2025: CANCELLED) ; Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, on June 15 at 6pm (tickets, tickets.41monkgate.co.uk), and her Husthwaite Village Hall debut on July 18 at 7.30pm (tickets, 07836 721775 or at sheila_mowatt@btinternet.com).

Jessa and Andrea in 1970s’ childhood days in Dundee

In 1971 Carole King released her award-winning album, Tapestry, whose  themes of love and friendship are still so relevant more than 50 years later. Thousands of miles away, two sisters were born in Dundee that year.

Jessa moved to Yorkshire at 18, Andrea stayed in Dundee, and although they followed very different pathways, their bond grew stronger as they followed their dreams and went through difficult times, such as losing their parents.

In 2022, Andrea published a first book of poetry, Life, Love, Loss, inspired by her experiences.  “I wrote this show during 2024, sparked by my sister’s poetry book,” says Jessa. “As a family, we hadn’t realised she wrote poems until she said she wanted to read at our mother’s funeral, and and then at our father’s too.

“Andrea works as a medical practice manager and wrote the poem Three Sides To Every Story during Covid, written from the doctor’s side, the patient’s side and Reception’s side. She then came up with the idea of a self-challenge to write a poem a day, and a lot of them were quite personal and emotional.”

Jessa “thought it would be lovely to set them to music”. “Andrea wrote about struggles that people go through, and I, as a sister, felt bad that I hadn’t realised it. Her revelations drew us closer,” she says.

The cover artwork for Jessa’s album recording of A Tapestry Of Life

“I’d never really written my own music, so I started writing songs using my looping skills, layering up harmonies, and it felt very therapeutic to work on them.”

A photograph that Jessa found of Andrea and herself in their childhood days reminded her of the cover to Carole King’s Tapestry, and the seed for A Tapestry Of Life was sown. “I’d sung Carole King’s songs through the years but had never focused on the album,” says Jessa. “Almost any of them could have featured in the show, but I picked out nine in the end to go with nine of my compositions.

“Hopefully I’ve created a journey through the show that’s not seamless but certainly is a journey, and I talk a little between songs about the stories behind them. Like Ripples In The Water, which reflects on four of us going our different ways but having strong roots that hold us together, and not realising how lucky we were as children but appreciating how close we are as adults, having gone through so much separately.”

Jessa first pieced together A Tapestry Of Life for a performance at the Durham Fringe last year. “It was a chance to try out material, as well as play Carole King songs, and I got good feedback from that, so it was a really positive experience and a very emotional one too, because people remembered when they first heard Carole’s songs; the feelings that the songs triggered in them.

“It was the same with Andrea’s poems set to music, with people identifying with those experiences. The way I perform it, just me and the piano, and the style I perform the show in, a heartfelt style where I just tell the story with my voice, and just a little piano assistance underneath, means the audience can really feel the emotions.”

“People have said the music has helped them connect with Andrea’s poetry,” says Jessa Liversidge

Creating the song settings of Andrea’s poetry came naturally to Jessa. “I struggle to call some of them songs as it’s me singing the poems, but some have more layers of harmonies; on others, it’s me playing one or two chords, almost improvising as I go along.

“Hopefully the music complements the poems and it’s more than just me reciting them. People have said the music has helped them connect with the poetry.”

The choice of intimate performance spaces has a further benefit. “Performing in a small space makes people think more about the possible meaning behind Carole King’s lyrics too,” says Jessa.

She has made an album version of A Tapestry Of Life, recorded live over a day at Beck View Studios in Scarborough, where she was joined by Malcolm Maddock, who played the piano parts on Carole King’s songs. The album is available at Jessa’s concerts, as well as on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

As well as performing, Jessa spends her week leading choirs, singing groups and workshops, as well as one-to-one singing teaching. Her regular groups include York Military Wives Choir, Easingwold Community Singers, children’s choir Wigginton Singstars  and her dementia-friendly group Singing For All.

Jessa Liversidge’s poster artwork for A Tapestry Of Life, her show combining Carole King songs from Tapestry with Jessa’s musical settings of her sister Andrea’s poetry

As a certified vocal health first aider, Jessa knows how to bring the best out of voices safely and will happily share plenty of healthy voice tips through her singing sessions.

Today’s (16/5/2025) workshop participants will take part in useful vocal warm-ups, then work with Jessa on songs linked to the A Tapestry Of Life show, both King and Liversidge compositions.

There is no need to be able to read music; all parts will be taught by ear and the songs will be tailored to whoever takes part. Jessa is known for her encouraging and positive leading style and is experienced at bringing diverse groups of people together to sing, so the workshop will be suitable for all abilities and levels of experience. Younger singers will be welcomed if accompanied by an adult, who would be responsible for them at all times.

Workshop singers will be able to take a break at teatime, then return in the evening to enjoy the show, with an opportunity for those who wish to perform the songs they have learned in the afternoon as part of the performance. 

More information on Jessa and her singing leadership can be found at jessaliversidge.com or JessaLiversidgeSinger on Facebook.