Category: Exhibitions

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More Things To Do in and around York amid the Christmas merriment. Feast your mince pies on Hutch’s List No. 54, from The Press

Jared More and Katie Coen feeling stressed out at the Bethlehem Inn in Riding Lights’ Christmas Inn Trouble 

CHRISTMAS shows in myriad merry modes dominate Charles Hutchinson’s recommendations for the week ahead.

Magical new twist on the Nativity of the week: Riding Lights Theatre Company in Christmas Inn Trouble, Friargate Theatre, Lower Friargate, York, today, 1.30pm and 4pm, then December 21 to 24, 11am, 1.30pm and 4pm

BOTHER aplenty is afflicting The Bethlehem Inn and Spa, where taps are leaking, the rats are squeaking and the rooms are fit to burst. So many guests have arrived that parking your camel is impossible and, if things were not bad enough already, a rascally Roman soldier has come to make sure everything is above board.

Written by Rachel Price, directed by Riding Lights artistic director Paul Birch and starring Jared More and Katie Coen, festive farce Christmas Inn Trouble “turns the traditional tale on its head” in a slapstick comedy perfect for telling the Nativity story to primary-school aged children and their families. Box office: 01904 655317 or ridinglights.org/christmasinntrouble.

Eve Lorian: Conducting Prima Choral Artists’ Family Christmas Concert at St Olave’s Church, Marygate, York

Choral concert of the week: Prima Choral Artists, Family Christmas Concert, St Olave’s Church, Marygate, York, today, 4pm to 5pm

PRODUCED and conducted by Prima Choral Artists director Eve Lorian, today’s concert unites her choir with the New World String Quartet, organist James Webb and pianist Greg Birch in reflective and cheerful Christmas celebrations.

Here come high-spirited festive classics, modern choral arrangements and string and organ repertoire, including works by Tchaikovsky and Rawsthorne. Box office: primachoral.com and on the door.

The Queeries: Fun, frolicsome fiddling at Navigators Art’s As Yule Like It

All cracker, no cheese festive menu of the week: Navigators Art presents As Yule Like It, The Basement, City Screen Picturehouse, York, tonight, 7.30pm (doors 7pm)

NAVIGATORS Art promises “All cracker, no cheese” at As Yule Like It, tonight’s live, local and loud showcase of “some of York’s finest and most individual sounds”. On the bill are University of York music student Cast Beatbox, racing up the ranks in national contests; Knitting Circle, York’s socially conscious and urgent post-punk trio, and York St John University folkies The Queeries, purveyors of fun, frolicsome fiddling.

Performing too will be Tang Hall Smart tutor and passionate singer-songwriter Toemouse, offering an invitation to a mystical ride, and Weather Balloons with a set of Boschian vignettes and betrayals of guitar music from a soft-rock renegade off duty from regular band Fat Spatula. Some material may not be suitable for young children. Box office: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/navigators-art-performance.

Hole Of Horcum, 2025, from Donna Maria Taylor’s This Rugged Earth exhibition at Rise@Bluebird Bakery

Exhibition of the week: Donna Maria Taylor, This Rugged Earth, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, until February 12 2026

SOUTH Bank Studios resident artist Donna Maria Taylor’s latest collection of paintings, This Rugged Earth, is inspired by the world around her and her travels both in the United Kingdom and Europe.

“The majority of the new work nod to my love of rugged hillscapes and mountainous landscapes,” says Donna, who will be exhibiting at York Open Studios and York Hospital in 2026.

Hannah Christina’s Rosie and Emilio Encinoso-Gil’s Rex in Pocklington Arts Centre’s Christmas show, Jingle All The Way

Deer double act of the week: Jingle All The Way, Pocklington Arts Centre, today, tomorrow, 1.30pm; Monday, 4.30pm; Tuesday, 10.30am and 4.30pm  

FROM the team behind The Elves And The Shoemaker Save Christmas and Jack Frost’s Christmas Wish comes Elizabeth Godber’s latest Christmas family adventure, co-directed by Jane Thornton with musical direction by Dylan Allcock.

Reindeer siblings Rex (Emilio Encinoso-Gil) and Rosie (Hannah Christina) are reluctant to start at a new school just before Christmas, especially when that school is the East Riding Reindeer Academy, home of supreme athletes. Santa, however, has a position free on his sleigh squad; could this be Rex’s big chance? Box office: 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.

Northern Ballet’s dancers in a flurry of snow in The Nutcracker at Leeds Grand Theatre. Picture: Sophie Beth Jones

Ballet of the week: Northern Ballet in The Nutcracker, Leeds Grand Theatre, until January 4 2026

LEEDS company Northern Ballet’s much-loved festive production of The Nutcracker – premiered in 2007 – is revived anew this winter, featuring lavish costumes and Charles Cusick Smith sets that capture the 19th century Regency England setting beautifully for the timeless story of Clara and her wooden Nutcracker doll. As the clock strikes midnight, she finds herself being whisked away on a magical adventure filled with dancing snowflakes and a whole host of colourful characters. 

Choreographed by former artistic director David Nixon CBE, the ballet is performed to the instantly recognisable music of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky that first accompanied Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov’s original choreography in 1892. Glory be, that score will be performed live under conductor Yi Wei. Box office: https://northernballet.com/the-nutcracker.

Gemma Curry and her Arctic Fox puppet in Yuletide Tales at Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb

Where the Northern Lights dance and old tales come alive: Hoglets Theatre in Yuletide Tales, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb Road, Acomb, York, Sunday, doors 4pm

GATHER round as the snow begins to fall and step into a world of wonder, cheeky robins and enchanted polar bears in Yuletide Tales, York company Hoglets Theatre’s heartwarming festive show for families, full of original songs, puppetry and magical storytelling.

Join cheerful storyteller Gemma Curry and her mischievous Arctic Fox friend as they journey through wintery folktales from the icy kingdoms of the North to the shimmer of the Northern Lights. Re-imaginings of traditional stories East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon, The Arctic Fox And The Northern Lights and How The Moon Got Its Cloak are accompanied by gentle audience interaction and a message of warmth and togetherness. Box office: bluebirdbakery.co.uk/rise.

The poster for Anton Du Beke’s festive song-and-dance show with friends at York Barbican

Dandy dancing of the week: Christmas With Anton Du Beke & Friends, York Barbican, Sunday, 5pm

EMBARK on a dazzling journey into a festive wonderland as Strictly Come Dancing judge and ballroom king Anton Du Beke joins forces with his dynamic live band, vocalist Lance Ellington and  troupe of dancers for a magical evening of cherished Christmas songs, captivating dance and festive humour. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.

Recommended but sold out already is Robert Plant’s Saving Grace gig, Ding Dong Merrily, at York Barbican on December 23 (doors 7pm), when Plant, co-vocalist Suzi Dian drummer Oli Jefferson, guitarist Tony Kelsey, banjo and string player Matt Worley and cellist Barney Morse-Brown showcase September 26’s Saving Grace album, “a song book of the lost and found”.

David Ward Maclean: Marking Winter Solstice with “iceberg songs with penguins on them”

Solo show of the week: David Ward Maclean Winter Solstice Concert, The Basement, City Screen Picturehouse, York, Sunday, 7.30pm

JOIN York singer-songwriting legend David Ward Maclean for a lovely night of songs to mark the Winter Solstice, drawing on material from the past 20 years for his two sets. “My songs are icebergs. With penguins on them,” he says. “All revenue will go straight to recording my new album Pilgrims.” Box office: https://wegottickets.com/event/668355/.

Copyright of The York Press.

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Donna Maria Taylor’s paintings of rugged hills and mountain landscapes rise high at Bluebird Bakery, Acomb from Thursday

Artist Donna Maria Taylor at work in her “bright and airy” Studio 1 at South Bank Studios, York. Picture: Paul Oscar Photography

SOUTH Bank Studios resident artist Donna Maria Taylor’s latest collection of paintings will be on display at Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb Road, Acomb, York, from Thursday, when she will attend the 6pm to 9pm launch.

At the invitation of Bluebird artistic curator Jo Walton and bakery co-owner and poet Nicky Kippax, her This Rugged Earth exhibition will run for eight weeks until February 12 2026.

Inspired by the world around her and her travels both here in the United Kingdom and Europe, the majority of the new work nods to her love of rugged hillscapes and mountainous landscapes.

Donna exhibits regularly, this year taking part in York Open Studios, North Yorkshire Open Studios and the Saltaire and Staithes art festivals, as well as exhibiting in Skipton, Danby, Scarborough and Lincoln.

Her Bluebird Bakery exhibition, however, brings her work much closer to home. “Therefore I’m thrilled to have my paintings exhibited here,” she says.

Alongside her professional art practice, Donna is a fully qualified and experienced tutor, offering  regular art workshops in York, as well as art retreats to Southern Morocco, Andalusia in Spain and Tuscany in Italy.

Next year, she will be opening her South Bank studio for the seventh consecutive year for  York Open Studios (April 18/19 and 25/26 2026), and she will exhibit in the main gallery space of York Hospital, Wiggington Road, York, from September 2026 onwards.

The poster for Donna Maria Taylor’s launch of This Rugged Earth at Rise:@Bluebird Bakery

Here, Donna discusses This Rugged Earth, her highly productive 2025 and plans for next September’s York Hospital show with CharlesHutchPress.

Does the look of Rise/Bluebird Bakery influence your choice of artworks to be shown there?

“Only in terms of scaling up the size of some of my paintings to fill the space. Given that I’m used to painting large backdrops in the theatre though, going a little bigger is no real problem. It just means more paint and bigger brushes!

“I do think that the colour palette I’ve been using recently compliments Bluebird’s interiors, but I’m not someone who creates original artwork to match a room. My work is personal to me and hopefully forms a cohesive collection, no matter where it’s shown.”

What draws you to rugged hillscapes and mountainous landscapes? 

“Something within me I guess – maybe it stems from walks I used to enjoy as a child in the Peak District…or family holidays in the Lake District and North Wales? I also spent three  winter seasons working as a ski instructor in the Austrian Alps when I was younger, so maybe that’s it?

Loch Long, 2025, by Donna Maria Taylor

“I love the drama of rugged landscapes, the fresh air and the connection you have with nature. Although I don’t think I could live permanently in the countryside, I’ll often spend my spare time there – sketching, en-plein-air painting, walking or mountain biking with family and friends.”

Where have you travelled in Europe recently?

“I’ve been lucky enough to travel through quite a few places – Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria – mainly because I chose the ‘slow travel’ option to reach my art retreat destinations.

“I also came back from Italy via Slovenia this time: a place I’ve never visited before. The scenery there is stunning, although you do have to be aware of bears – not something we have to worry about when wandering around in this country…”

How do the opportunities to teach in Morocco, Andalusia and Tuscany come about? What do your sessions cover? 

“They come via word of mouth and recommendations really. My first Moroccan holiday came about when I tripped and broke my foot whilst working on stage in the theatre back in 2018, meaning I couldn’t walk for several months.

Hole Of Horcum, 2025, by Donna Maria Taylor

“I had a lot of time on my hands and was stuck at home all day, so what was I to do? Make exciting plans for the future, of course!

“I’d already run a couple of art holidays in the UK, so going further afield and combining my love of art and travel felt like the perfect next step. By that point, I’d also had more than 20 years’ experience teaching adults, so I was used to working with a wide range of groups and abilities.

“Sketchbooks have always played an important role on the retreats because they allow you to get out and explore. When you’re somewhere new, that’s essential – so that you really get a sense of the place.

“The sketchbook becomes a sort of visual diary; a real record of your time spent there. Sketchbooks also make the retreats accessible to everyone, from complete beginners onwards.

“I encourage the use of a range of media in them, including watercolour, collage and acrylics. Of course, some people prefer to focus on more finished pieces, and that’s absolutely fine too. As an experienced educator you learn to adapt to each person’s needs.”

La Tania, 2025, by Donna Maria Taylor

What do your art classes and workshops cover?

“There’s a wide range of media and techniques: watercolours, inks, acrylic, print, collage, pastels and oils. I try to encourage learners to experiment, play with the mediums and really develop their own style, but observational drawing is also an important and fundamental part of it all too. It’s all about ‘learning to see’ and creating your own visual language.

“I think coming from a theatre background really has given me a multi-disciplinary approach to both my art and my teaching.”

How did your exhibitions in 2025 compare and contrast: Skipton, Danby, Scarborough, Lincoln, York Open Studios, North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS), Saltaire, Staithes and York Hospital (from November 2025 to February 2026)? It sounds like a very busy, very productive year. 

“Yes, I perhaps packed a little too much into my calendar this year, but I do like to keep busy. The exhibitions organised through NYOS, York Hospital and the gallery were fantastic for getting my work out in front of new audiences, but festivals and events are quite different because you get to meet and engage with the people who want to talk to you about your work, so it becomes far more interactive and personal.

Les Chenus, 2025, by Donna Maria Taylor

“Also, you’re often working alongside other artists at events too, which I love. It’s harder work but very rewarding.”

Looking ahead, what will you exhibit in the York Hospital main gallery space from next September?

“New work that hopefully doesn’t exist yet! As an artist, I’m always striving to stretch myself and find new ways of expressing myself, so the answer to that really is ‘watch this space’…”

What is the function of art in a hospital? 

“Having art in hospitals genuinely makes a difference to the lives of patients, visitors and staff alike. I know this from personal experience but also from the lovely messages people sometimes send me to tell me how much seeing my work has meant to them or made their day.”

Donna Maria Taylor: back story

ORIGINALLY from South Yorkshire, Donna completed Art Foundation course after A-levels, followed by degree in Multi-disciplinary Design.

Began career in Stoke-on-Trent as textile and ceramic tile/mural designer before gaining  a distinction in her Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Design.

Led to long and varied career in theatre design and production, allowing her to draw on wide range of creative skills. Worked in theatres across UK and abroad before moving to York in 2000 to take up post of full-time scenic artist at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds.

Continues to work regularly with Yorkshire theatres, including Leeds Playhouse and York Theatre Royal, where she served as prop maker and workshop facilitator for this summer’s community production, His Last Report.

Well known for creating large-scale animal puppets that first appeared in the York Minster Mystery Plays, From Darkness Into Light, in 2016.

Alongside her theatre work, Donna contributes to community art projects, including  two pieces inspired by the work of artist John Piper, now on display at Southlands Methodist Church.

Based at Studio 1, South Bank Studios, Southlands Methodist Church, Bishopthorpe Road,
York, where you can visit her by appointment (donnataylorart@icloud.com) .

Join her  mailing list at https://donnamariataylor.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=f53feedf07e7c7ef532cecaba&id=a9ce963475 to be the first to learn of her latest art news, including information on new courses, workshops and art holidays to Morocco, Spain and Italy.

View Donna’s paintings and learn more about her extensive career in the arts at: www.donnamariataylor.com. She is on Facebook: @DonnaTaylorArt; Instagram: @donnataylorart.

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York printmaker Gerard Hobson designs Robin illustration for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s 2025 charity Christmas card

Gerard Hobson’s Christmas card design for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

YORK printmaker and wildlife enthusiast Gerard Hobson has teamed up with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to design a mixed-media illustration of a Robin for the charity’s 2025 Christmas card.

York Open Studios regular Gerard, of Water Lane, Clifton, says: “As a Yorkshireman and artist, I hold a deep love for our country’s wild and varied landscapes. Each visit leaves me renewed and inspired by its beauty and the wildlife I encounter, from the snow buntings and swallows to curlews and short-eared owls that influence my work.”

Celebrating the wonder of wildlife this winter, Gerard’s exclusive Robin illustration is available in a pack of eight cards, left blank inside for your own message, on sale at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s visitor centres at #PottericCarr Nature Reserve, Mallard Way, Doncaster, and Spurn National Nature Reserve, Spurn Head, south of Kilnsea, East Riding.

York printmaker Gerard Hobson at work in his garden studio

Responsibly sourced and 100 per cent recyclable, the cards, envelopes and packaging are on sale at Hobson’s Choice, Gerard’s daughter Grace Bird’s shop in Castlegate, Malton, and online at ywt.org.uk/shop too.

“The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust chose the Robin print,” says Sheffield-born former zoologist Gerard. “The trust felt it had neglected Robins for its card in recent years but said ‘everyone likes them’, so decided the Robin should be the card design for this year.”

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is driving nature’s recovery, from the Yorkshire Dales to Flamborough Head. “We care for our nature reserves, landscapes, rivers and coastline so wildlife and people can thrive,” says the trust. “With the help of our members, we are nurturing our wild life and wild places back from the brink. Consider adding your voice to the chorus at: ywt.org.uk/membership.”

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Art launch of the week: Swarmgate!, Art Of Protest Gallery and National Centre for Early Music, December 11, 5pm to 9pm

What’s the buzz? Tell us what’s a-happening at the Swarmgate! launch tomorrow

THE Swarmgate! artwork launch takes place at the Art Of Protest Gallery and National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, York, tomorrow.

This free event celebrates the Walmgate Reframed Project and installation of Gemma Wood’s Swarmgate! artwork. “York Creatives has led on this project, and you can come along to find out all about what we’ve done and what might be coming next,” says York Creatives’ Sarah Williams.

Here is tomorrow’s timetable:

5pm to 6pm: Head to the Art of Protest Gallery to view the Swarmgate! exhibition.

6pm to 6.30pm: Follow the Swarmgate Trail: Art Of Protest to Huby Court.

6.30pm: Arrive at NCEM, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, to hear about the project.

7pm to 9pm: Stay awhile amid the ancient charms of the NCEM for live storytelling and poetry. Enjoy a chat with the Swarmgate! artist and York Creatives team, while finding out how you can tell the bees your own news.

No ticket or booking is required. Just turn up!

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York River Art Market to take break in 2026 but Charlotte Dawson vows to return in ’27

Lucy Hook Designs’ poster for York River Art Market’s tenth anniversary in 2025

AFTER a decade by the Ouse riverside on Dame Judi Dench Walk, by Lendal Bridge, York River Art Market is to take a year off in 2026.

Announcing the decision behind the fallow summer on Instagram, organiser, artist and tutor Charlotte Dawson says: “The 2026 January Call Out will not be happening. After ten years of YRAM, I have decided to take a break next summer. There will be no YRAM 2026.

“Though part of me feels a little sad, it has been ten years since I took all of the summer holidays off. I have also just recently started a new job, which I am still navigating. It also involves a lot of admin work, particularly so around the time when I’d be doing an intense amount of admin for YRAM. This would be too much for me, been (sic) so new in the job.”

York River Art Market organiser Charlotte Dawson

In 2025, York River Art Market was held on three August weekends, from 10am to 5.30pm each day, when 30 artists and designers set up stalls each day by the Museum Gardens railings.  

York’s answer to Paris’s Left Bank offers the chance to buy directly from the makers of ceramics, jewellery, paintings, prints, photographs, clothing, candles, soaps, cards and more besides. Admission is free.

Charlotte adds: “I love YRAM and I am so happy that it has become a York summertime staple thanks to your continued support. I hope that you love it as much as me and will return as an artist or visitor in 2027. Have a wonderful festive period. Love, Charlotte.”

Enjoy the thoroughly deserved break, Charlotte. Roll on 2027.

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What’s On in Ryedale, York and beyond. Hutch’s List No. 51, from Gazette & Herald

Deep in conversation: Snow goes underground in A Winter Wonderland at JORVIK Viking Centre

A SNOWY reboot, festive trail, treasured exhibition and pantomime launches spell out that winter staples aplenty are up and running, as Charles Hutchinson reports.  

Time travel of the week: A Winter Adventure at JORVIK Viking Centre, York, until February 22 2026

A WINTER Adventure brings a new wintery experience to the underground York visitor attraction, where the 10th century Vikings are preparing to celebrate Yule with natural decorations hung on their houses. For the first time, visitors can peer through Bright White’s time portal into the blacksmith’s house excavated on this site in the 1970s.

They will then board a time sleigh to travel back in time around the backstreets, transformed for winter by Wetherby set dressers EPH Creative, who have covered streets and houses in a thick blanket of snow, bathed in cold blue lighting. Pre-booking is essential for all visits to JORVIK at jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk.

Christmas at The Bar Convent in York. Illustration by Nick Ellwood

Activity trail of the week: Christmas At The Convent, The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, Blossom Street, York, until December 22, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, last admission 4pm

DECEMBER visitors to The Bar Convent can uncover fascinating festive traditions through the centuries in a family-friendly activity trail through the exhibition that combines the convent’s history with the Advent season.

Families can enjoy finding clues, making decorations, dressing up, discovering traditions from Christmas past and much more. Look out for the traditional crib scene in the chapel. Tickets: barconvent.co.uk.

Garlands galore at An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House, York. Picture: National Trust, Anthony Chappel-Ross

Festive exhibition of the week: An Inspired Christmas at Fairfax House, York, until December 21, open Saturday to Wednesday, 11am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm

TREASURER’S House has undergone a winter transformation, where stories of its past residents come to life through handcrafted decoration as rooms are re-imagined by the National Trust with festive flair, inspired by the 17th-century house’s rich history.

Each room is styled to reflect the personalities and tales of those who once called Treasurer’s House home, from last occupant Frank Green, the visionary industrialist who gifted the property to the National Trust, to the Young family, Jane Squire, Ann Eliza Morritt, Elizabeth Montague, Sarah Scott, John Goodricke and Royal visitor Queen Alexandra. No booking is required, with free entry for National Trust members and under-fives.

The Jeremiahs: Irish folk band play York for the first time on December 3. Picture: Tony Gavin

York debut craic of the week: The Jeremiahs, National Centre for Early Music, York, December 3, 7.30pm

IRISH band The Jeremiahs have travelled extensively, including playing 26 states in the USA, performing rousing new songs and tunes in the folk genre, peppered with picks from the trad folk catalogue. Lead vocalist and occasional whistle player Joe Gibney, from County Dublin, is joined by his fellow founder,  Dublin guitarist James Ryan, New York-born fiddler Matt Mancuso and County Clare flautist Conor Crimmins. Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk.

Malton White Star Band: Performing Brass and Voices At Christmas at Milton Rooms, Malton

Ryedale festive concert of the week: Brass and Voices At Christmas with Malton White Star Band, Milton Rooms, Malton, tomorrow, 7pm

MALTON White Star Band and Community Training Band team up with singers from Norton Primary School for the 2025 edition of Brass and Voices at Christmas. Doors open at 6.30pm. Tickets are on sale at https://donate.givetap.co.uk/f/malton-white-star-band/christmas-concert-2025 or by ringing Dave Creigh on 07766 237947.

The one and only Jesca Hoop: Playing NCEM in York tomorrow

Singer-songwriter of the week: Brudenell Presents and Please Please You present Jesca Hoop, National Centre for Early Music, York, December 4, 7.30pm

DISCOVERED by Tom Waits, invited on tour by Peter Gabriel and encouraged to relocate to the UK by Elbow’s Guy Garvey, Jesca Hoop left California for Manchester to carve out a singular path across six albums of original material. Collaborations with producers John Parish (PJ Harvey), Blake Mills (Feist), and Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers) have only sharpened the intricacy of her craft. Box office: thecrescentyork.com/events/jesca-hoop-at-the-ncem-york/.

Ryedale Christmas children’s show of the week: Esmerelda The Elf And Father Christmas, Milton Rooms, Malton, Saturday, 12 noon, 2pm and 3.30pm; Sunday, 10.30am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3.30pm

WHO thought it was a good idea to put Elf friend Esmeralda in charge of Christmas sweeties? Can you help her to have everything ready in time? Will any goodies be left by the time Christmas Day arrives?

Each family has its own space to sit in at this interactive show and can visit Father Christmas individually at the end. All children will receive a gift. Box office: 01653 696240 or themiltonrooms.com.

Bec Silk’s Robin Hood and writer Martin Vander Weyer’s Dame Daphne in 1812 Theatre Company’s pantomime Robin Hood’s Helmsley Adventure

Ryedale pantomime opening of the week: 1812 Theatre Company in Robin Hood’s Helmsley Adventure, Helmsley Arts Centre, Saturday, 2.30pm and 7.30pm; Sunday, 2.30pm; December 9 to 12, 7.30pm; December 13, 2.30pm and 7.30pm; December 14, 2.30pm

HELMSLEY Arts Centre artistic director Natasha Jones directs company-in-residence 1812 Theatre Company in this traditional panto with a Knock Knock Joke Contest, scripted by Martin Vander Weyer.

Robin Hood will be rescuing the lovely Maid Marian from the wicked Sheriff of Pickering, while Black Swan landlady Dame Daphne will lead the merriment and mayhem. Knock Knock! Who’s there? Daphne! Daphne who? Daph-nitely book early to avoid disappointment on 01439 771700 or at helmsleyarts.co.uk.  

Hannah King’s Peter Pan in Rowntree Players’ The Pantomime Adventures Of Peter Pan at Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York

Putting ‘Pan’ into pantomime: Rowntree Players in The Pantomime Adventures Of Peter Pan, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, Saturday, 2pm and 7.30pm, Sunday, 2pm and 6pm; December 9 to 12, 7.30pm; December 13, 2pm and 7.30pm

JOIN Wendy, John and Michael as they fly with Peter Pan to the fantastical world of Neverland in Howard Ella and Gemma McDonald’s pantomime for Rowntree Players. Cling on to your seats as Peter and the Lost Boys do battle with Jamie McKeller’s rather nasty Captain Hook and his even nastier bunch of pirates. Fear not as Nanny McFlea and her ever eager apprentice Barkly are on hand to assist in the most ridiculous of ways. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

Michael Ball: Glowing at York Barbican next September

Concert announcement of the week: Michael Ball, Glow UK Tour, York Barbican, September 12 2026

MUSICAL star and radio presenter Michael Ball will promote his 23rd solo album, Glow, on next year’s 25-date tour. “There’s probably only one thing I enjoy more than being in the studio – writing, producing and singing songs with people I love – and that’s taking it all out on the road and performing those songs as well as all the old favourites to the audiences I love,” he says.

“It’s going to be an exciting year, and I can’t wait to see you all.’’ Tickets go on sale on Friday at 9am at https://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk/whats-on/michael-ball-2026/.

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Purpleman RIP (Rest In Purple): A tribute to York street performer and artist Mike Todd

Farewell to Purpleman: Good Rabbits Gone obituary cartoonist Bertt deBaldock’s tribute to Mike Todd. Bertt is the nom d’artiste of Pyramid Gallery owner, curator and artist Terry Brett, who played host to Purpleman’s For The Love Of Purple exhibition in 2014

HIS love of the colour purple began on the family farm. “My first purple memories were of the purple potatoes,” he said. “As a six-year-old I envisaged myself as purple and I kept having that dream.”

A dream that would turn into street performer Purpleman, hitting his purple patch each day and staying there, motionless, as if turned to stone on Stonegate, as the commotion of shoppers passed by either side.

Purpleman would break out of that deep freeze, maybe to startle an unsuspecting tourist, or for a chat, quietly spoken, waspishly witty, putting the world to rights, as he did in his tireless fundraising on tyres, most memorably heading to war-torn Syria with vanloads of toys for children and food.

He was Purpleman, a character as colourful as his name, part of the street furniture of York, like George Leeman, Willam Etty or Emperor Constantine, and he was ahead of his time too, setting others in motion – although still, not moving – in other cities.

He never revealed his name in interview – he once referred to himself as “Sebastian” when curating his 2014 exhibition For The Love Of Purple at the adjacent Pyramid Gallery, but that was a red, or should I say purple, herring. It turns out he was Mike Todd, on his todd on his bike, perennially Purpleman.

He had left behind the “unhappy Yuppie corporate world” to become stationary, bike-riding Mr Windy City in 2001 before transforming into Purpleman in 2007, perpetually in a rush yet never moving from his pitch.

“I kept the windy look where I appear to be going fast but I’m actually going nowhere and finding inner calm when everyone around me is chasing happiness, but that happiness is just illusionary,” he once said. “If they just stopped, they could find it inside themselves.”

Purpleman became very possibly the most photographed cyclist in the world. “Well, maybe apart from Lance Armstrong, but it’s not always positive with Lance,” he said. Indeed so, but it was always positive with Purpleman, whether handing out paint brushes daubed with messages of love in the street or collecting his thoughts in his autobiography, I Am Purpleman, printed in what else but purple.

 “It’s a book about love, positivity, overcoming obstacles and expressing unconditional love for strangers, and it comes from my purple heart because I used to be normal but I wasn’t happy,” he said.

Always Purpleman, never Yellowman, he famously declined the request to change to mark Le Grand Depart from York for 2014 Tour de France. “I’m going to ask Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme if the first stage winner could wear purple rather than the traditional yellow,” came his retort.

As opposed to Purple Rain’s Prince, whose favourite colour turned out to be orange, Purpleman will be forever in purple, forever in our memory, on that purple bike, looking as if time were against him, like  Lewis Carroll’s Mad March Hare, but never leaving his purple patch, a living statue. How lovely it would be if York could honour him in similar fashion, a work of art for a man so full of heart.  

Mike Todd, aka Purpleman, died suddenly on November 27 2025, aged 65.

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More Things To Do in York and beyond as snow blanket covers JORVIK. Here’s Hutch’s List No. 51, from The York Press

The deep freeze: Snow goes underground in A Winter Wonderland at JORVIK Viking Centre

A FESTIVE trail, treasured exhibition and snow reboot, pantomime and A Christmas Carol spell out that winter staples aplenty are up and running, as Charles Hutchinson reports.  

Time travel of the week: A Winter Adventure at JORVIK Viking Centre, York, until February 22 2026

A WINTER Adventure brings a new wintery experience to the underground York visitor attraction, where the 10th century Vikings are preparing to celebrate Yule with natural decorations hung on their houses. For the first time, visitors can peer through Bright White’s time portal into the blacksmith’s house excavated on this site in the 1970s, seeing what it would have been like to live there.

They will then board a time sleigh to travel back in time around the backstreets, transformed for winter by Wetherby set dressers EPH Creative, who have covered streets and houses in a thick blanket of snow, bathed in cold blue lighting. Pre-booking is essential for all visits to JORVIK at jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk.

Christmas at The Bar Convent. Illustration by Nick Ellwood

Activity trail of the week: Christmas At The Convent, The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, Blossom Street, York, until December 22, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, last admission 4pm

DECEMBER visitors to The Bar Convent can uncover fascinating festive traditions through the centuries in a family-friendly activity trail through the exhibition that combines the convent’s history with the Advent season.

Families can enjoy finding clues, making decorations, dressing up, discovering traditions from Christmas past and much more. Look out for the traditional crib scene in the chapel. Tickets: barconvent.co.uk.

Garlands galore at An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House, York. Picture: National Trust, Anthony Chappel-Ross

Festive exhibition of the week: An Inspired Christmas at Fairfax House, York, until December 21, open Saturday to Wednesday, 11am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm

TREASURER’S House has undergone a winter transformation, where stories of its past residents come to life through handcrafted decoration as rooms are re-imagined by the National Trust with festive flair, inspired by the 17th-century house’s rich history.

Each room is styled to reflect the personalities and tales of those who once called Treasurer’s House home, from last occupant Frank Green, the visionary industrialist who gifted the property to the National Trust, to the Young family, Jane Squire, Ann Eliza Morritt, Elizabeth Montague, Sarah Scott, John Goodricke and Royal visitor Queen Alexandra, wife to King Edward VII. No booking is required, with free entry for National Trust members and under-fives.

Guy Masterson’s Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, on tour at Theatre@41, Monkgate, York

Festive ghostly return of the week: Guy Masterson in A Christmas Carol, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, today, 2pm 7.30pm

HEADING back to Theatre@41 for the fourth time, Olivier Award winner Guy Masterson presents Charles Dickens’s Christmas fable anew, bringing multiple characters to vivid life as ever, from Scrooge and Marley to the Cratchits and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet To Come. 

Be dazzled, be enchanted by a performance destined to linger long in the memory. “It’s guaranteed to get you into the Christmas Spirit – in many  more ways than one,” says Masters. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Ellie Gowers: Songs exploring distance, longing and identity at Rise@Bluebird Bakery

Ecological songs of the week: Ellie Gowers, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, Sunday, 8pm, doors 7.30pm

WARWICKSHIRE singer-songwriter – and Morris dancer to boot – Ellie Gowers blends contemporary acoustic sounds with the storytelling traditions of folk. Her 2022 debut album Dwelling By The Weir addressed ecological themes and her 2024 EP You The Passenger received airplay on Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie’s BBC 6Music show.

Her influences range from Mipso to Jeff Buckley is songs that explore distance, longing and identity. An extended version of the EP arrives this autumn 2025. Easingwold singer-songwriter Gary Stewart supports. Box office: bluebirdbakery.co.uk/rise.

St Agnes Fountain: Promoting new Christmas album Flakes & Flurries at NCEM, York

Folk gig of the week: Black Swan Folk Club presents St Agnes Fountain, National Centre for Early Music, York, December 1, 7.30pm

AFFECTIONATELY known as “the Aggies”, Chris While, Julie Matthews and Chris Leslie bring their Christmas cheer to the NCEM, presenting carols with a curve. They celebrate 25 years together with material from new festive album Flakes & Flurries (Fat Cat Records), old Aggie classics and a doff of the fedora to founder member David Hughes, who died in 2021. Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk.

Name of the dame: Robin Simpson will be playing Nurse Nellie in Sleeping Beauty at York Theatre Royal

Pantomime opening of the week: Sleeping Beauty, York Theatre Royal, December 2 to January 4 2026

THEATRE Royal creative director Juliet Forster directs returnee dame Robin Simpson’s Nurse Nellie, Jocasta Almgill’s Carabosse, Tommy Carmichael’s Jangles, CBeebies star Jennie Dale’s Fairy Moonbeam, Aoife Kenny’s Aurora and Harrogate actor Christian Mortimer’s Prince Michael in Sleeping Beauty.

Written once more by Paul Hendy, the Theatre Royal’s festive extravaganza is co-produced with award-winning Evolution Productions, the same team behind All New Adventures Of Peter Pan, Jack And The Beanstalk and last winter’s Aladdin. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk. 

Mark Thomas in Ed Edwards’s play Ordinary Decent Criminal at York Theatre Royal Studio. Picture: Pamela Raith Photography

Recommended but sold out already: Paines Plough presents Mark Thomas in Ordinary Decent Criminal, York Theatre Royal Studio, December 2 and 3, 7.30pm

MEET recovering addict Frankie, played by political comedian Mark Thomas in his second acting role for playwright Ed Edwards after England & Son in 2023. In Ordinary Decent Criminal’s tale of freedom, revolution and messy love, Frankie has been sentenced to three and a half years in jail for dealing drugs. 

On his arrival, none of his fellow convicts are what they seem, but with his typewriter, activist soul and sore lack of a right hook, he somehow finds his way into their troubled hearts, and they into his. In the most unexpected of places, Frankie discovers that the revolution is not dead, only sleeping. Box office for returns only: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

The Jeremiahs: Irish folk band play York for the first time on December 3. Picture: Tony Gavin

York debut craic of the week: The Jeremiahs, National Centre for Early Music, York, December 3, 7.30pm

IRISH band The Jeremiahs have travelled extensively, including playing 26 states in the USA, performing rousing new songs and tunes in the folk genre, peppered with picks from the trad folk catalogue. Lead vocalist and occasional whistle player Joe Gibney, from County Dublin, is joined by his fellow founder,  Dublin guitarist James Ryan, New York-born fiddler Matt Mancuso and County Clare flautist Conor Crimmins. Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk.

The one and only Jesca Hoop: Playing NCEM on December 4

Singer-songwriter of the week: Brudenell Presents and Please Please You present Jesca Hoop, National Centre for Early Music, York, December 4, 7.30pm

DISCOVERED by Tom Waits, invited on tour by Peter Gabriel and encouraged to relocate to the UK by Elbow’s Guy Garvey, Jesca Hoop left California for Manchester to carve out a singular path across six albums of original material. Collaborations with producers John Parish (PJ Harvey), Blake Mills (Feist), and Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers) have only sharpened the intricacy of her craft.

Now she has released Selective Memory, an unplugged reworking of 2017’s Memories Are Now, recorded live at home with bandmates Chloe Foy and Rachel Rimmer for Last Laugh Records. Box office: thecrescentyork.com/events/jesca-hoop-at-the-ncem-york/.

In Focus: York Mystery Plays Supporters Trust in A Nativity For York, on tour, November 29 to December 10

A Nativity For York director Paul Toy

YORK Mystery Plays Supporters Trust is touring A Nativity For York to Acomb, Fulford, Nether Poppleton and All Saints Church, North Street, bringing the Christmas story to York neighbourhoods from November 29 to December 10.

Directed by Paul Toy, this new and unique interpretation of the Nativity dramatises events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ from the York Cycle of Mystery Plays, presented by a community cast and production team with music in candlelight.

Using medieval scripts from the York Cycle of Mystery Plays and music both medieval and folk in style, A Nativity For York “tells a familiar story of a marvellous birth, threaded with humour, reverence and, sadly, hatred”.

The candlelight emphasises the constant struggle of the light against the darkness in Toy’s production, set in a time of threat when a homeless couple and their newborn baby are driven from home by oppressors.  

“My vision is that of an underground, secret activity; clandestine performances of a play promoting banned religious doctrine in a time of oppression,” he says. “It mirrors both history and our current world situation, but it’s also a time of great hope.”

The York Mystery Plays were written in medieval times: 48 plays, once performed in the streets by the city’s Guilds, telling the Biblical story from Creation to Judgement Day, including the life of Jesus Christ.  

York Mystery Plays Supporters Trust is a registered charity whose group of volunteers aims to keep the story of the York Mystery Plays alive at the forefront of York’s cultural heritage.

Performances will take place at St Hilda’s Church, Tang Hall Lane, York, on November 29 at 1pm and 4pm; St Mary Bishophill Junior, York, December 2 and 4, 7.30pm; St Mary’s Church, The Village, Haxby, December 6, 1pm and 4pm, and All Saints Church, North Street, York, December 10, 7.30pm

Tickets are on sale at https://ympst.co.uk/nativitytickets or on 0333 666 3366. The performance lasts 60 minutes with no interval. Festive refreshments will be available.

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Festive exhibition of the week: An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House, until Dec 21

A bauble decoration in An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House, York. Picture: National Trust, Anthony Chappel-Ross

THE National Trust invites festive visitors to experience An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House, in Minster Yard, York, until December 21 – and look out for the kitchen’s trademark Christmas Pudding Scones returning to the cafe menu too.

Nestled beside York Minster, this early 17th-century house has undergone a winter transformation, where stories of its past residents come to life through handcrafted decoration as rooms are re-imagined with festive flair, inspired by the house’s rich history.

“Treasurer’s House has long been more than just bricks and mortar,” reads the National Trust’s Welcome to An Inspired Christmas. “It has been a home, a place of ideas and ambition. Over the centuries, its rooms have echoed with the lives of remarkable individuals who shaped society in ways both bold and quiet.

“This Christmas, we celebrate eight extraordinary former residents whose stories continue to inspire. From writers to thinkers, pioneers and reformers, each has left a legacy that reaches far beyond these walls.

“As you explore the house today, we invite you to walk in their footsteps, discover their impact, and reflect on how the past can illuminate the present.”

A Christmas stocking decoration in honour of Frank Green at An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House

Each room is styled to reflect the personalities and tales of those who once called Treasurer’s House home, from last occupant Frank Green, the visionary industrialist who gifted the property to the National Trust, to the Young family, Jane Squire, Ann Eliza Morritt, Elizabeth Montague, Sarah Scott, John Goodricke and Royal visitor Queen Alexandra, wife to King Edward VII.

Until 1648, the house was home to the Young family, who are responsible for much of how Treasurer’s House looks today. Thomas Young was Archbishop of York, whose role was to establish the insecure Protestant church in the north for Queen Elizabeth I’s government.

Christmas in the Youngs’ time would have looked very different to how the season is celebrated now, but they shared many similarities, such as games, greenery, jokes and cake.

From 1717 to 1725, Treasurer’s House was owned by Jane Squire at a time when it was unusual for women to own property. During her ownership, she leased the house to Matthew and Elizabeth Robinson, parents of future literary figures Elizabeth Montague and Sarah Scott.

Garlands galore on the stairwell for An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House. Picture: National Trust, Anthony Chappel-Ross

Squire was a pioneering mathematician and the only woman who is known to have submitted a formal proposal to measure longitude at sea accurately (crucial to the success of early 18th century British naval power). Her proposal was “not very practical” but showed the active mind of a woman whose story was one of resilience, curiosity and determination to succeed.

Ann Eliza Morritt’s family owned part of the house from 1725 to 1813. While her parents and brother lived a few streets away, the five Morritt sisters resided here together. Ann Eliza was a talented embroidery artist, copying the artwork of great painters,  and her work is still on display at Rokeby Park, near Barnard Castle.

Born at Treasurer’s House, Elizabeth Montague became known as the “Queen of Bluestockings”. She hosted lively gatherings where writers, thinkers and politicians exchanged ideas in an era when women’s voices were often silenced.

A successful businesswoman as well as a patron of the arts, she used her wealth to support literature and social reform. From her York beginnings to the salons of London, her life’s journey stands as a testament to the power of intellect, determination and the courage to defy convention.

The 18ft Christmas tree for An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House. Picture: National Trust, Anthony Chappel-Ross

Elizabeth’s sister, Sarah Scott, who lived at Treasurer’s House for a time, was a novelist, translator and member of the Bluestocking circle of intellectual women, using her writing to imagine a fairer, more compassionate society.

Her most celebrated work, A Description Of Millennium Hall (1762), told the story of a community where women lived independently, pooling their talents and wealth to support education, healthcare and charitable work.

Scott’s ideas were far ahead of her time. She believed that women could shape society, not only within the home, but also through learning, creativity and collective action. From her years in York, she carried forward a legacy that still informs debates over community, gender and social justice.

From 1781, John Goodricke took up residence at Treasurer’s House, where he would change the course of astronomy forever. Deaf from childhood, in tandem with his friend Edward Piggot, he measured the variation of light from stars that would enable 20th century astronomers to determine distances to distant galaxies.

A decorative tribute to mathematician Jane Squire at An Inspired Christmas

He was awarded the Copley Medal, the oldest scientific prized in the world, also bestowed on Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein.

The stars in the room dedicated to him for this exhibition represent the star Algol, discovered by Goodricke at Treasurer’s House.

Queen Alexandra, King Edward VII’s wife, stayed at Treasurer’s House in 1900 when she was still Princess of Wales, on a visit to the Royal Agricultural Show, held in York. Alexandra, from Denmark, was hard of hearing, so she was accompanied by her daughter Victoria, known to be dignified and charming, affectionate and jolly, with a love of skating too, much to her mother-in-law Queen Victoria’s disapproval.

On her visit, she found Treasurer’s House uncomfortable, so there are comforting reminders in Queen Alexandra’s Room of a traditional Danish Christmas, such as the works of Hans Christian Andersen, who would read stories to Alexandra and her siblings in Copenhagen, Snow Queen among them.

Visitors can explore at their own pace, soaking in the ambience of period rooms adorned with bespoke festive décor, much of it created lovingly by National Trust volunteers, along with other rooms decorated by two community groups, MySight York knitting group and York Central Women’s Institute, whose founding meeting was held at Treasurer’s House.

Got it taped: An unusual Christmas tree decoration at Treasurer’s House

“Christmas at Treasurer’s House is always a special time, but this year we’ve gone even further to bring the stories of the house to life through the decorations,” says visitor experience officer Edward Walker.

“Each room tells a different tale thanks to the creativity of the volunteers, local community groups and artists. If you’re looking to get into the festive spirit, it’s the place for you; if you want to uncover pockets of history or something new alongside candles and trees, it’s also for you.”

Edward continues: “My personal favourite space is the Queen’s Room, where we’re representing Hans Christian Andersen. We’re celebrating a royal visit to Treasurer’s House, plus the author who used to be invited to the Danish palace to read to the young princesses.”

Back by popular demand are the Christmas Pudding Scones, among many seasonal treats. This scone was invented in the Treasurer’s House kitchen, following a competition for visitors to suggest new flavour ideas.

Freshly baked: Christmas Pudding Scones at Treasurer’s House. Picture: National Trust

The Scone Blogger voted it her top scone, and she should know as she travelled the country to sample from every National Trust café. For five weeks only, the team will be baking freshly each day; just follow your nose!

For younger visitors, a spotter trail features handcrafted stained-glass stars, created by artist Megan Barnett from York company Woodside Stained Glass.

On Tuesdays, you can watch the conservation team showcase their work caring for the Treasurer’s House collection. From 2pm on Wednesdays, lights will be switched on, music turned off and shutters opened for visitors who prefer a lighter and quieter Christmas.

The Minster Minstrels, young York musicians from the National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, will perform in the Great Hall on Sunday, December 7, adding a joyful sound throughout the house in 30-minute sets at 12.30pm and 2pm. Each will offer different songs from a changing group of musicians.

An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House, York, runs until December 21, open Saturday to Wednesday, 11am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm. No booking is required, with free entry for National Trust members and under-fives. For further details visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/treasurershouse.

Tree decoration at An Inspired Christmas at Treasurer’s House, York

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What’s On in Ryedale, York and beyond. Hutch’s List No. 50, from Gazette & Herald

James Swanton: Returning to York Medical Society with his Dickensian ghost stories

FROM Dickensian ghost stories and Gothic tales to mischievous mice and a festive talent showcase, ’tis the season to be out and about, reports Charles Hutchinson.

Storyteller of the week: James Swanton presents Charles Dickens’ Ghost Stories, York Medical Society, Stonegate, York, until Sunday

YORK storyteller supreme and Gothic actor James Swanton returns to York Medical Society with two of Dickens’ seasonal ghost stories: The Haunted Man, a neglected Gothic classic (November 27, 7pm) and A Christmas Carol, Scrooge’s saga (November 28, 7pm, and November 30, 2pm and 6pm).

“Their words unlock a world teeming with chain-rattling spectres, with dark and shadowy doubles, with Ghosts of Christmases Past and Present and Yet To Come,” he says. “These tales chill the marrow and tickle the funny bone, but always they enchant, as only the works of a master storyteller can.” Box office for returns only: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Steve Tearle: Directing NE Theatre York in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Musical of the week: NE Theatre York in Roald Dahl’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, tonight to Friday, 7.30pm; Saturday, 2.30pm and 7.30pm

DIRECTED by Steve Tearle, this musical will take you to a world of pure imagination in Roald Dahl’s devilishly delicious tale of young golden ticket winner Charlie Bucket entering the scrumptious chocolate factory. There, he and his grandpa Joe, along with five more children, will meet the mysterious confectionary wizard Willy Wonka for an adventure like no other.

“The story of chocolate is at the very heart and history of this amazing city and it is only fitting that NE Theatre York brings Charlie And The Chocolate Factory to York,” says Tearle. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

Rebecca Vaughan: Telling haunting tales of the festive season at Theatre@41

Frailties of human nature of the week: Dafyd Productions in Christmas Gothic, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, Thursday, 7.30pm

REGULAR York frequenters Dafyd Productions return with Christmas Gothic, an invitation to enter into the Christmas spirit as spectral woman (Rebecca Vaughan) tells haunting tales of the festive season, lighting a candle to the frailties of human nature and illuminating the chilling depths of bleak wintry darkness. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Tucking into the cheese at A Christmas Mousequerade at Fairfax House

Mischievous mice takeover of the week: A Christmas Mousequerade at Fairfax House, Castlegate, York, until January 4 2026

FAIRFAX House’s much-loved Christmas display returns for 2025 with a new theme of A Christmas Mousequerade, combining more mice than ever before in the “ultimate 18th century house party”.

A multitude of mice is dressed in hand-crafted and exquisitely miniature Georgian finery, custom made by Fairfax House volunteers, as you step into the glittering world of Georgian York and join the Fairfax family’s preparations for the most spectacular ball of the season. Tickets: https://fairfaxhouse.co.uk/event/christmas-at-fairfax-house/.

Poetry gig of the week: Stairwell Books presents Poetry For All, National Centre for Early Music, York, Friday, 7.30pm

THIS annual event is designed to remove as many barriers as possible from enjoying live poetry events. All poems are projected on a screen, and BSL (British Sign Language) interpreted by Dave Wycherley and Vicci Ackroyd in a venue with fab acoustics and level access throughout.

Headliners Dominic Berry and Pete Kalu will be supported by five York poets, co-hosted by Fay Roberts and Rose Drew. Service dogs are welcome; entry for carers is free. VI tarot card reader Gillian Avart will read your potential future. Look out for special guests too. Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk.

Kevin Daniel: Relatable storytelling at Milton Rooms, Malton. Picture: Steve Best

Ryedale comedy gig of the week: Hilarity Bites Comedy Club, Kevin Daniel, Paul Tonkinson and Stephanie Laing, Milton Rooms, Malton, Friday, 8pm

KEVIN Daniel combines a commanding stage presence with relatable storytelling and jokes aplenty. Paul Tonkinson, Yorkshireman, marathon runner and two-time Time Out Comedian of the Year, is noted for his effervescent physicality and skilful impressions, bringing alive exuberant, tender comic reflections of love, family and the day-to-day idiosyncrasies of 21st century living.

“Goofy and peculiar” host Stephanie Laing, an Edinburgh Fringe regular since 2010, fuses silliness, filth and unusual observations, underpinned by a disarming honesty and charming vulnerability. Box office: 01653 696240 or themiltonrooms.com.

The Catenary Wires team up with poet Brian Bilston at Pocklington Arts Centre

Poetry-and-song union of the week: Brian Bilston & The Catenary Wires, Pocklington Arts Centre, Friday, 8pm

POET Brian Bilston started out by sharing his brief, direct, and witty poems online and now has more than half a million followers on social media. The Catenary Wires comprise Amelia Fletcher, Rob Pursey and Ian Button, who also play as Heavenly, whose T-shirt Bilston was spotted wearing at one of his gigs.

Word reached Fletcher and Pursey,  introductions were made, friendships were formed, and the Sounds Made By Humans album took shape: a collection of songs, where words and music have become intertwined. Friday’s first half features a solo spoken-word set by Bilston and a music set by The Catenary Wires; in the second, they unite to perform tracks from the album. Box office: 01759 301 5 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.

Poet Brian Bilston

Talent showcase of the week: HAC Studio Bar Festive Open Mic, Helmsley Arts Centre, Saturday, 7.30pm

HELMSLEY Arts Centre plays host to a cosy evening for creatives to share their talents in the relaxed and friendly environment of the Studio Bar. Mulled wine and mince pies are on the menu and festive tunes will be the order of the day.

This Open Mic is a comfortable space for both seasoned performers and those taking the stage for the first time, as well as anyone who wants to enjoy a drink from the bar and be entertained by Ryedale talent. No need to book to listen or perform, just turn up.

Jake Lambert: The Sunshine Kid with bright ideas at Pocklington Arts Centre

Debut tour of the week: Jake Lambert, The Sunshine Kid, Pocklington Arts Centre, Saturday, 8pm

RAPIDLY rising stand-up comic Jake Lambert has chalked up more than 500 million views of his online videos featuring his gag-filled storytelling. Having supported Michael McIntyre on his worldwide tour, he is undertaking his inaugural international tour with his show The Sunshine Kid, selling out across the UK, Europe and Australia. Box office: 01759 301 5 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.

Thornton Le Dale Ukuleles: Christmas concert at Kirk Theatre

Christmas Singalong of the week: Thornton Le Dale Ukuleles and Scoble and Friends, Kirk Theatre, Pickering, December 4, 7.30pm

THORNTON Le Dale Ukuleles’ Christmas Singalong is divided into two parts, kicking off with Scoble and Friends, a small group of talented singers and musicians.

Thornton Le Dale Ukuleles, the brainchild of leader John Scoble, will fill the stage with 40 players. Scoble provides tuition free of charge, while singer-songwriter David Swann gives lessons too. The group performs all genres of music, but virtually no George Formby, playing the melody as well as strumming and complementing ukuleles with other instruments. Box office: 01751 474833 or kirktheatre.co.uk.