A dancer at full stretch in the Everyday Dance Festival. Picture: Bec Hudson Smith
EVERYBODY Dance Festival 2025 will take over the Main House stage at York Theatre Royal for two days from tomorrow.
Run by York Dance Space, the event will feature 26 schools in 75-minute performances split between 7pm tomorrow and on Saturday.
Showcasing and celebrating dance in schools and community settings across Yorkshire, the festival is a chance for young performers to shine and share their creativity with a live audience and immerse themselves in all things dance.
Let’s dance at the Everybody Dance Festival at York Theatre Royal. Picture: Bec Hudson Smith
This week’s event brings together Dance Space Projects, Children’s and Young People’s Dance Network North, York Dance Space, Yorkshire Dance and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
Taking part tomorrow will be: Skipton Girls High School; Park Grove Primary Academy; Tang Hall Primary School; All Saints RC School; St Wilfred’s RC Primary School; Horizon Community College; York High School; Phoenix Youth Academy; Richmond School; Scarcroft Primary School; St Aelred’s RC Primary School and St Paul’s C of E Primary School.
Throwing shapes in the Everybody Dance Festival. Picture: Bec Hudson Smith
Saturday’s bill presents: Tang Hall Smart; Dance United Yorkshire; Hempland Primary Academy; York Youth Dance; St Oswald’s Primary School; Knavesmire Primary School; CHARGE Boys; CHARGE Dance; North Tyneside Youth Dance; Reflections; Activate York Dance Space; Tadcaster Youth Dance; Sherburn C of E Primary Academy and Luttons Community Primary Academy, from West Lutton, Malton.
For tickets, ring 01904 623568 or book online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/everybody-dance-festival-2025/.
Balletic grace in the Everybody Dance Festival. Picture: Bec Hudson Smith
Festival commission: BBC New Generation artist and mezzo soprano Helen Charlston will perform a new Anna Disley-Simpson work with theorbo player Toby Carr in In Heaven & Hell…Yours To Choose on July 9 at Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, York, at 6.30pm. Picture: Julien Gazeau
HEAVEN & Hell will be the theme of the 2025 York Early Music Festival, a summer fiesta of 19 concerts in eight days featuring international artists from July 4 to 11.
The Sixteen, the Tallis Scholars and Academy of Ancient Music will be taking part, as will French orchestral ensemble Le Consort, led by rising-star violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte, in their York debut with an “exceptional rendition of exceptional of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – but not quite as you know it”.
The festival will intertwine three very different themes: firstly, the music of Renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons, opening with viol consort Fretwork (Friday, July 4); secondly, the genius of the Baroque, focusing on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Sunday, July 6).
Thirdly, the strand that lends itself to the 2025 title: a reflection on Man’s fall from grace – from Heaven to Hell – in biblical times with YEMF artistic advisor and BBC New Generation artist Helen Charlston and her fellow Gramophone Award-winner, lutenist and theorbo player Toby Carr (Wednesday, July 9) in the medieval Guildhall of the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.
Fretwork: Viol consort will open York Early Music Festival with Renaissance music of Orlando Gibbons in My Days: Songs and Fantasias with mezzo soprano Helen Charlston on July 4 at 7.30pm at Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York
The Tallis Scholars (Saturday, July 5) and The Sixteen (Monday, July 7) will share their programmes in the glorious surroundings of York Minster; the Spanish ensemble Cantoria (Tuesday, July 8) will present a sizzling array of ensaladas and villancicos in their A La Fiesta programme and Swiss- based medievalists Sollazzo (Thursday, July 10) will return to York for the first time since winning a prestigious Diapason d’Or award.
Thefestival will finish with a flourish in the company of the Academy of Ancient Music and their leader, violinist Bojan Čičić (Friday, July 11) in a celebration of Bach’s violin concertos.
York Early Music Festival continues to support emerging musicians with invitations to two 2024 York Early Music Festival Young Artists Competition winners, Ayres Extemporae and Ensemble Bastion.
Once again, the festival will showcase a variety of York’s beautiful historic buildings, such as the Minster, the medieval Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and the intriguing hidden architectural gem Bedern Hall.
The Sixteen: Returning to York Minster to present Angel Of Peace on July 7at 7.30pm
In an open call for the York Early Music Festival Special Commission, NCEM Young Composers Award alumni were invited to respond to the Heaven & Hell theme by writing a piece to be performed by Charlston and Carr as part of their In Heaven & Hell…Yours To Choose programme featuring Purcell, Strozzi, Monteverdi, Charpentier and Humfrey works on July 9.
Anna Disley-Simpson has been awarded the commission from a competitive field of 24 applications for her piece Heaven Or Hell, for which she will collaborate with librettist Olivia Bell, drawing inspiration from Kurt Weill. Expect her composition to be “deliberately subversive and unexpected in several ways,” Anna promises.
Supported by the Hinrichsen Foundation and an anonymous donor, Anna will receive a commission fee of £2,000, plus travel and accommodation expenses within the United Kingdom to attend a workshop with the musicians in London and the York premiere.
Looking forward to the July event, festival director Dr Delma Tomlin says: “We are thrilled to welcome friends old and new to what promises to be a fantastic celebration of music from an outstanding array of artists.
Le Consort: French orchestral ensemble will make York Early Music Festival debut on July 6, performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, at 7.30pm
“Celebrating over 500 years of music from across Europe, we are particularly delighted to be able to welcome ensembles from France, Switzerland, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands to our wonderful city. We look forward to welcoming visitors and residents alike to eight wonderful days of music-making.”
The full programme and booking details can be found at ncem.co.uk/whats-on/yemf/. Bookings also can be made on 01904 658338, via boxoffice@ncem.co.uk and in person at the NCEM, Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York.
York Early Music Festival: the back story
ESTABLISHED in 1977, the festival is designed to celebrate York’s myriad of medieval churches, guildhalls and historic houses through historically informed music-making of the highest international standard.
The annual event is the “jewel in the crown” of the National Centre for Early Music’s annual programme, enjoyed by York residents and visitors from all over the UK and across the world.
The Tallis Scholars: Performing Glorious Creatures programme at York Minster on July 5 at 7.30pm. Picture: Hugo Glendinning
Something to be Smug about: Smug Roberts tops Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club bill today
A CHORUS of song, a clash of operas and an eye for comedy fill Charles Hutchinson’s in-box of entertainment for the week ahead.
Extremely rare chance to see Channel 4 legend: Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club presents Smug Roberts, Russell Arathoon, Oliver Bowler and MC Tony Vino, The Basement, City Screen Picturehouse, York, today, doors 3.30pm for 4pm start
BACK in the day, today’s headline act, Manchester humorist and radio presenter Smug Roberts, released the novelty anthem Meat Pie, Sausage Roll (Come on England, Gi’s A Goal) as Grandad Roberts. Three years earlier, he was discovered by Caroline Aherne when playing his first gig. He has since starred in That Peter Kay Thing, Cold Feet, Phoenix Nights, 24 Hour Party People and Buried.
“Smug is one the great unsung heroes of stand-up comedy and one of comedy’s best-kept secrets,” says promoter Damion Larkin. “His act is a joy to behold. A true superstar, he’s arguably the only non-famous genius among his North West contemporaries, and he’s not very often around in town, so make sure you grab this chance to see him.” Box office: lolcomedyclubs.co.uk.
Opera International in Madama Butterfly, on tour from Ukraine at the Grand Opera House, York
Opera dilemma of the day: Either…Senbla presents Opera International’s tour of Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyivin Madama Butterfly, Grand Opera House, York, tonight, 7.30pm.
BACK by overwhelming public demand, Opera International director Ellen Kent directs Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant.
Expect international soloists, full chorus and orchestra and exquisite sets, including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costume, not least antique wedding kimonos from Japan. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
English Touring Opera in rehearsal for The Capulets And The Montagues, playing York Theatre Royal tonight. Picture: Craig Fuller
Or…English Touring Opera in What Dreams May Come, York Theatre Royal Studio, today, 2.30pm; The Capulets And The Montagues, York Theatre Royal, tonight, 7.30pm
ENGLISH Touring Opera return to York Theatre Royal with a brace of Shakespeare-inspired new productions. Mixing puppetry with works by Purcell, Finzi, Amy Beach and Britten, performed by a chamber ensemble, What Dreams May Come draws on hundreds of years of music inspired by and adapted from Shakespeare’s plays and poetry to depict the joys and sorrows of a long life well lived.
The Capulets And The Montagues, Bellini’s gritty re-working of Romeo And Juliet, brings the warring families’ emotional and political struggle to life with devastating power. Soprano Jessica Cale sings the role of Giulietta opposite mezzo-soprano Samantha Price as Romeo. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Stamford Bridge Community Choir: Performing at York Community Choir Festival on March 5. Picture: Murray Swain
Festival of the week: York Community Choir Festival, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, tomorrow until March 8, 7.30pm nightly, except 6pm tomorrow, plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee
A FESTIVAL that began in 2016 with only 11 choirs now comprises eight concerts showcasing up to five choirs per night. More than 1,250 singers, including school groups and choirs from Harrogate, Selby and Malton as well as York, will perform diverse music styles from pop to classical.
Among the choirs will be Stamford Bridge Community Choir, who will use Makaton signing in their March 5 performance. Full details of all the choirs and their programmes can be found at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/york-community-choir-festival. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.
Visible Women company members Caroline Greenwood, left, Linda Fletcher, Helen Wilson and Marie Louise Feeley: Two evenings of monologues for York International Women’s Week
York International Women’s Week (March 3 to 9): Lyrics Of Life by Visible Women, Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, York, March 4 and 5, 7.30pm to 9.15pm
VISIBLE Women, a group of “mature female performers” from York, present both well-known and lesser-known monologues over two evenings.
“We met last year in York Settlement Community Players’ production of Terence Rattigan’s Separate Tables, which had good parts for older women,” says York theatre group member Helen Wilson. “But as most playwrights are male, plays tend to be male dominated, so here we are doing our own thing!
“There are still not enough plays giving women of our age a platform. As Visible Women, we want to redress the balance. Let’s move this forward. Come along for an evening of entertainment for a good cause.”
Material by Alan Bennett, Joyce Grenfell and York playwright Sara Murphy, winner of the first Script Factor in York, will feature. Box office: email basicbafmaw@gmail.com or pay on the door. Proceeds from ticket sales (£7 each) will be donated to York Women’s Counselling (yorkwomenscounselling.org).
Rob Auton: One in the eye for comedy at The Crescent, York, on March 5
The eyes have it: Rob Auton: The Eyes Open And Shut Show, Burning Duck Comedy Club at The Crescent, York, March 5, 7.30pm; Leeds City Varieties Music Hall, May 3, 7.30pm
“THE Eyes Open And Shut Show is a show about eyes when they are open and eyes when they are shut,” says surrealist York/Barmby Moor comedian, writer, artist, podcaster and actor Rob Auton. “With this show I wanted to explore what I could do to myself and others with language when eyes are open and shut…thinking about what makes me open my eyes and what makes me shut them.” Box office: York, thecrescentyork.com; Leeds, 0113 243 0808 or leedsheritagetheatres.com.
Fíonna Hewitt-Twamley in Myra’s Story, a tragic tale of a middle-aged homeless alcoholic struggling to survive on the streets of Dublin, on tour at the Grand Opera House, York
Charity support of the week: Fíonna Hewitt-Twamley in Myra’s Story, Grand Opera House, York, March 4, 7.30pm
DIRECT from the West End, Irish playwright Brian Foster’s four-time Edinburgh Fringe hit, Myra’s Story, tells the turbulent, tragic tale of a middle-aged homeless alcoholic struggling to survive on the streets of Dublin as she begs from passers-by on Ha’penny Bridge.
Performed by Fíonna Hewitt-Twamley, this show will benefit Restore, the York charity that provides accommodation and support to those who would otherwise be homeless. The charity will be on hand to collect donations. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Queenz: On song in Drag Me To The Disco at the Grand Opera House, York
Drag show of the week: Queenz, Drag Me To The Disco, Grand Opera House, York, March 5, 7.30pm
JOIN the gals for “an electrifying, live vocal, drag-stravaganza, where Dancing Queenz and Disco Dreams collide for the party of a lifetime”, created and produced by David Griego. Flying their rainbow-coloured flag high in the sky, Bella Du-Ball, Dior Montay, Candy Caned, Billie Eyelash and ZeZe Van Cartier serve up sass, singalongs and a message of love, equality and acceptance.
Craig Colley, alias Billie Eyelash, says: “Drag queens really do come in all shapes and sizes, but if you want to see some hilarious, stupidly talented, beautiful and of course humble ones, Queenz really is the show for you.” Age guidance: 14 plus. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Gorka Marquez and Karen Hauer: On Speakeasy terms at York Barbican
Dance spectacular of the week: Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez, Speakeasy, York Barbican, March 6, 7.30pm
STRICTLY Come Dancing professionals Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez follow up Firedance with new show Speakeasy on their biggest tour so far. Expect exhilarating live music and breathtaking choreography as they unlock the door to an undercover world of elegance and iconic dance flavours.
From the clandestine New York Speakeasy to the sultry Havana dance floors and from the burlesque cabaret clubs of the mid-1900s to the glittering mirror balls of Studio 54, this “delicious dance experience” serves up Mamba, Salsa, Charleston, Foxtrot and Samba moves. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.Also taking to the Yorkshire dance floor at Hull City Hall, March 5; Sheffield City Hall, March 9, and Bradford St George’s Hall, March 15.
In Focus: York Late Music presents Trifarious: Roger Marsh At 75, today, 1pm; Elysian Singers, Arvo PärtAt 90, today, 7.30pm, both at Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, York
Trifarious: Marking Roger Marsh At 75 with this afternoon’s concert
YORK Late Music celebrates the music of Roger Marsh, a major contributor to the music and academic life during his time as Professor of Music at the University of York (1989 – 2019).
The programme includes works by Luciano Berio and Toru Takemitsu, who both have had a strong influence on his music, alongside pieces by two of his former students, Tom Armstrong and David Power.
Roger is coming over from France to hear this Roger Marsh At 75 concert.
Programme: Roger Marsh: Ferry Music; Tom Armstrong: The Chief Inspector Of Holes; David Power: Six De Chirico Miniatures – first performance; Toru Takemitsu: A Bird Came Down The Walk; Luciano Berio: Wasserklavier; Luciano Berio: Erdenklavier, and Roger Marsh: Easy Steps.
Here are Roger’s programme notes for the two works:
Ferry Music (1988) – for clarinet, piano and cello. This trio is composed around material originally invented for a music theatre piece Love On The Rocks – a piece concerning the mythical Charon, who poled the dead across the river into Hades.
The piece is in five short movements, and the ferry takes approximately eight minutes to complete the crossing. For today’s performance the cello part has been rewritten for viola by Tom Armstrong.
Easy Steps (1987) – for solo piano. The title Easy Steps may be misleading. For the performer there is nothing easy aboutthis piece, some passages requiring a level of virtuosity which the Associated Board mayfind difficult to quantify.
Rather the title has to do with the structure of the piece –alternating sections, horizontally then vertically conceived, increasing in complexity byeasy steps.
Elysian Singers: Celebrating Arvo Pärt At 90 tonight. Picture: Linda Dawson
Elysian Singers: Arvo Pärt At 90
AS the great Estonian composer Arvo Pärt turns 90 this year, the Elysian Singers celebrate his enormous contribution to choral music over the last half century. York Late Music includes two of his most substantial unaccompanied pieces, alongside works by Baltic and American composers who were influenced by him.
Programme: Arvo Pärt: Nunc Dimittis; Ola Gjeilo: Ubi Caritas; Eriks Esenvalds: The Heavens’ Flock; Morten Lauridsen: Madrigali; Eric Whitacre: When David Heard; David Lancaster: Of Trumpets And Angels – first performance, and Arvo Pärt: Seven Magnificat Antiphons
Here is David Lancaster’s programme note for Of Trumpets And Angels:
THIS new is a setting of John Donne’s Holy Sonnett XIII (What if this present were the world’s last night). This text contemplates the possibility of the current moment being the end of the world – something we may have all considered in recent days!
With this in mind, he focuses on the image of Christ crucified, questioning whether or not he should be afraid. He observes Christ’s tears and the blood from his wounds, wondering if such a compassionate figure could ever condemn him to damnation.
In the sestet, Donne seeks to atone for his earlier sins, in particular his love for ‘profane mistresses’, recognising the fallacy of making judgements based on outward appearance alone, and concluding that a beautiful appearance (like that of Christ) is indicative of a compassionate and merciful mindset.
Banff Mountain Film Festival, on tour from the Canadian Rocky Mountains to York Barbican tonight. Picture: Jordan Manoukian
FROM dangerous liaisons to messy science experiments, Charles Hutchinson looks forward to an action-packed February half-term.
Nail-biting film adventure of the week: Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour, York Barbican, tonight, 7.30pm
HERE comes a new collection of short films packed with extreme expeditions, intrepid characters and stunning cinematography. “Join the world’s top outdoor filmmakers and adventurers as they climb, ski, paddle, run and ride through the wildest corners of the planet,” says tour director Neil Teasdale. “We guarantee you’ll leave inspired to have an adventure of your own.”
Tonight’s highlights include A Team Sport, featuring ultra-runner Courtney Dauwalter; Of A Lifetime’s account of three extreme skiers and snowboarders sailing across the notorious Drake Passage to ride the steep, icy lines of Antarctica and Soul Flyers – The Longest Line, where Fred Fugen, Vincent Cotte and Aurélien Chatard achieve the longest terrain-flying wingsuit line in history. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Abbie Budden’s Annette Hargrove in Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical at Grand Opera House, York. Picture: Pamela Raith
Dangerous liaison of the week: Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical, Grand Opera House, York, today, 2.30pm and 7.30pm; tomorrow, 7.30pm; Friday, 5pm and 8.30pm; Saturday, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
CREATED by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin and Roger Kumble from Kumble’s 1999 film spin on Les Liaisons Dangereuses, this American musical is powered by the 1990s’ pop gold dust of Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, TLC, R.E.M., Ace Of Base, Natalie Imbruglia and The Verve.
Step siblings Sebastian Valmont (Will Callan) and Kathryn Merteuil (Nic Myers) engage in a cruel bet, where Kathryn goads Sebastian into attempting to seduce Annette Hargrove (Abbie Budden), the headmaster’s virtuous daughter. Weaving a web of secrets and temptation, their crusade wreaks havoc on the students at their exclusive Manhattan high school. Soon the dastardly plotters become entangled in their own web of deception and unexpected romance with explosive results. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Stuart Green’s inspector, Truscott, and Miles John’s thief, Dennis, in York Settlement Community Players’ Loot at York Theatre Royal Studio
Scandalous play of the week: York Settlement Community Players in Loot, York Theatre Royal Studio, until February 27, 7.45pm except February 23; 2pm matinee, February 22
KATIE Leckey directs the Settlement Players in agent provocateur Joe Orton’s scabrous 1965 farce, the one with two thieves, dodgy police officers, adult themes, offensive language, sexism and xenophobia, references to sexual assault, including rape and necrophilia, a live actor playing a dead body in a coffin and digs at the Roman Catholic Church.
Don’t let that put you off! Yes, it still carries a content warning and age recommendation of 16 upwards, but it remains outrageously funny. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Connie Howcroft in rehearsal for her role as Jo March in Wharfemede Productions’ Little Women – The Broadway Musical
Marching on together: Wharfemede Productions: Little Women – The Broadway Musical, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee
HELEN Spencer directs York company Wharfemede Productions in their first solo show, playing Marmee too in Allan Knee, Jason Howland and Mindi Dickstein’s musical account of Louisa May Alcott’s story of the March sister – traditional Meg, wild, aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth and romantic Amy – growing up in Concord, Massachusetts, while their chaplain father is away serving in the American Civil War. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
Top Secret: Demonstrating the magic of science at Pocklington Arts Centre on Friday
Experimental show of the week: Top Secret: The Magic Of Science, Pocklington Arts Centre, Friday, 2pm
IS it magic… or is it science? Fusing the mystery of magic with wondrous and miraculous feats of science, Top Secret go on a high voltage adventure in a fast-moving, colourful, interactive show filled with mystery, suspense and loads of mess in experiments to capture the imagination. Box office: 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.
Julia Titus celebrating the blues of Bessie Smith in Ma Bessie’s Prohibition Party at Milton Rooms, Malton
Blues night of the week: Rural Arts On Tour presents Julia Titus in Ma Bessie’s Prohibition Party, Milton Rooms, Malton, Friday, 7.30pm
BUILDING on her passion for the Empress of the Blues, Julia Titus started to perform as Ma Bessie in 2015 to share the music of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation. Julia’s rich, warm vocals combine with dynamic guitar and saxophone musicians who look as well as sound the part.
Ma Bessie features classic blues and jazz tunes from the inter-war years, along with original songs and handpicked covers from the past 50 years of popular music: Careless Love, Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out, Gimme A Pig Foot et al. Box office: 01653 696240 or themiltonrooms.com.
Jenny Lockyer as Amy Johnson in Last Flight Out, on tour at Helmsley Arts Centre, where she will hold an afternoon workshop too
Ryedale play of the week: Jenny Lockyer in Amy Johnson: Last Flight Out, Helmsley Arts Centre, Saturday, 7.30pm
BORN in the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight and into an age where the romantic heights of flying captured her heart, Amy Johnson lived her life for adventure and the future of aviation. In January 1941, aged 37, she was killed while serving her country on a routine flight for the Air Transport Auxiliary.
Written and performed by Jenny Lockyer, Last Flight Out charts how the “lone girl flier” achieved so much while faced with challenges of all kinds. We meet Amy in a world of memories, desires, wishes and ambitions, where we see how the pieces fit together and learn of the tools she used to bring her dreams to reality. Box office: 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.
James Oliver, top, Mark Kemlo, bottom left, and Norman Watt-Roy: Playing Shire Hall, Howden, on Saturday
The other blues night of the week: Howden Live presents James Oliver with Norman Watt-Roy, Shire Hall, Howden, Saturday, doors 7.30pm for 8pm
IRREPRESSIBLE Welsh blues guitar talent and vocalist James Oliver will be joined in Howden by bass stalwart Norman Watt-Roy, from Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Wilko Johnson’s band and Wreckless Eric’s Captains Of Industry, plus drummer Mark Kemlo.
“James is a passionate roots rocker loaded with guitar firepower,” says guitar legend Bill Kirchen. “I am not easily impressed by guitarists, but this guy is definitely a comer,” adds Captain Beefheart drummer John Drumbo. Box office: 01430 432510 (Shire Hall), 01430 431660 (Dove House shop) or howden-live.com.
In Focus: 1812 Theatre Company in Art, Helmsley Arts Centre, February 26 to March 1, 7.30pm
1812 Theatre Company’s poster for Art at Helmsley Arts Centre
THE 1812 Theatre Company, resident troupe at Helmsley Arts Centre, will stage Yasmina Reza’s dazzling comedy Art in Joanne Lister’s directorial debut.
Art made its debut in Paris in 1994, followed by Christopher Hampton’s translation being premiered at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre in 1996. Among its many international awards were the Molière Awards for best play, production and author in 1994 and the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy in 1996.
Reza’s play asks: Can a friendship between three close friends – Marc, Serge and Yvan – survive when one of them does something completely unexpected? Classical art enthusiast Marc considers Serge to be his protégé, buy when Serge suddenly spends a fortune on a piece of modern art, sparks fly.
Yvan tries to keep the peace but he has his own problems. According to Marc, poor Yvan is “about to marry a gorgon”!
In the British debut, Marc, Serge and Yvan were played by Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott respectively, so the 1812 cast will have their work cut out to fill their shoes!
John Lister and Mike Martin are cast as Marc and Yvan. They last took to the stage together in 2011 in Martin Vander Weyer’s adaptation of Around the World In 80 Days in the roles of Phileas Fogg and Passepartout respectively.
Ivan Limon will complete the company as Serge, bringing a wealth of experience with him. He never stops performing, either for 1812 Theatre Company or for three drama groups in Teesside.
Joanne Lister is making her full directing debut after helping her husband John to direct 1812’s production of John Godber’s Scary Bikers last year.
Stag burning at Jorvik Viking Festival. More fun and games this week. Picture: Charlotte Graham
A NEW Viking longship, a sword that never misses its target and recreations of the world’s largest fossilised poo take centre stage at Europe’s largest Viking Festival over half-term.
Five days of Norse fun, living history, hands-on combat and lectures culminate in a parade through the historic streets and two dramatic evening son-et-lumière shows.
“This is our 40th anniversary year of Jorvik Viking Festival, and we’re determined that those who follow in the footsteps of our Norse ancestors will not be disappointed when they get here,” says programmer Gareth Henry, of York Archaeology, the charity that organises and funds the festival.
“As usual, we are celebrating the end of winter in true Nordic style – so whether you want to learn to fight like a Berserker, make your own authentic pair of Viking socks, or just stand back and watch an army of warriors take to the streets, we’ve got something for you.”
A free living history encampment will form the heart of the festival, taking over Parliament Street with an array of tents featuring craftsmen and traders and the opportunity to handle replica armour and weapons.
“In the medieval period, the Vikings were known as fierce warriors; in our living history encampment, they are brilliant explainers and interpreters who love to talk about their specialist areas of expertise,” says Gareth.
“We encourage all of our visitors not to simply walk through and observe, but to stop and talk to the re-enactors. It is easy to spend an hour or more just chatting about what life would have been like in 10th century York.”
Festival highlights include the March to Coppergate on February 22, when more than 200 Vikings muster in Dean’s Park, next to York Minster, before making their way through the city streets to Coppergate in an event free to watch from many vantage points along the route.
The parading Vikings then join the Viking Games at the Eye of York, next to Clifford’s Tower, when tempers are likely to fray, leading to an epic battle between rival factions!
On February 21 and 22, the Eye of York hosts the Evening Spectacular, a dramatic retelling of a Norse legend featuring a sword that can never miss its target – the ultimate warrior’s weapon. Actors and re-enactors perform this piece of open-air theatre with a thrilling soundtrack, culminating in a fiery finale.
DIG, the sister attraction to the Jorvik Viking Centre, will play host to Poo Week, inspired by one of Jorvik’s most infamous exhibits, the Lloyds Bank Coprolite, the world’s largest fossilised Viking poo. Children can re-create poo, discovering how the composition of human excrement reveals so much about the person who passed it! Undigested seeds, bits of bone and revolting worms all feature in the re-creations.
The festival will be the first opportunity to play the newest addition to the Top Trumps portfolio of card games. Jorvik Viking Centre’s Top Trumps will be highlighted in a fun, free city-wide trail with packs of the new game available to purchase throughout the event. Budding teen artists can meet the card designer, Katie Smith, at an illustration workshop.
Jorvik Viking Festival week is the last chance to experience A Winter Adventure at Jorvik Viking Centre. A ride through Viking-age York is the centrepiece of this Norse winter wonderland, where the centre’s interactive Vikings tell stories of how their ancestors would have fared against a harsh winter. Be aware, tickets are likely to sell out in advance.
For more information on the 2025 festival and to book tickets, go to: jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk. Early booking is recommended as a number of events have sold out already.
The 2025 Jorvik Viking Festival programme
Monday, February 17 Adult Crafting, Barley Hall Cafe, 10am to 1pm ENJOY a taste of Viking life with this hands-on leather-working workshop. Using traditional Viking tools, you will craft your very own leather bracers and perhaps discover a new hobby along the way. Suited for adults, these beginner-friendly sessions offer a glimpse into Viking life. With limited spots available, advance booking is recommended. Tickets: £40 per person Age restrictions: 16+ only. Workshop is aimed at beginners.
Encampment, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm THE Vikings have taken over York city centre. Snap some selfies as you watch them in action, from woodworking to making stunning jewellery. Try your hand at Viking games through lively demonstrations, and even have your face painted to look like a true Norse warrior. Visit Parliament Street or St Sampson’s Square to experience the excitement up close and catch a glimpse of Viking life right in the heart of the city. Tickets: Free of charge. Age restrictions: None.
Kids Crafting, Barley Hall, 10am to 4pm LET your little Vikings unleash their creativity with these crafting activities! They can make Buzz Bones — just like Viking children did — to create a fun buzzing sound (some things never change). From crafting their own shields and weaving braids to painting pottery, there is plenty to keep them busy. They can even create their own Viking beard! Why not enter their masterpiece in our Best Beard Competition for a chance to win? Tickets: Free with Barley Hall admission. Age restrictions: No, but most suited to children aged four to 12.
Berserker Boot Camp, Midgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm PREPARE your little Vikings ready for battle at the Berserker Bootcamp! Led by Jorvik’s seasoned warriors, children will learn the art of combat with wooden swords, by axe-throwing, and will finish by training in the fearsome shield wall. Don’t worry, Norse health and safety keeps it all safe and fun. This activity is a great way to let young warriors experience the thrill of Viking battle training. This is a drop-in activity, so no need to pre-book for this ideal preparation for the Kids Barbaric Battle event on Saturday. Tickets: £10 per person. Age restrictions: Suitable for ages five to 12 only.
Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps TrailAcross the city centre, 10.30am to 4.30pm TRYGGVI Treehammer has set up a Viking Trail, across the city of York. Follow in his footsteps by visiting the Jorvik Viking Centre, Barley Hall, DIG, the Midgard Marquee and festival information point on St Sampson’s Square. Collect special stamps along the wayto earn an exclusive Top Trumps card that’s a perfect addition to the new Jorvk Top Trumps set, making its debut at the festival. And the best part? Gathering stamps and completing the trail is completely free! Tickets: Free. Age restrictions: None.
Poo WeekDIG Lunch Room, 11am to 4pm IT’S smelly, it’s squelchy, and it’s a highlight of the festival calendar! Believe it or not, poo can reveal plenty about our past! Bring the children to DIG to discover why archaeologists are fascinated by this unexpected treasure. Children will have the chance to create their own replica fossilized poo, inspired by the famous Lloyds Bank Turd at Jorvik Viking Centre. Tickets: Free with a DIG tour ticket. Age restrictions: No, but most suited to children aged four.
Adult CraftingBarley Hall Cafe, 2pm to 5pm SEE details above. Tickets: £40 per person. Age restrictions: 16+ only. Workshop is aimed at beginners.
Jorvik, Immersive Theatre, Old York Theatre, Barley Hall Great Hall, 6pm to 7pm and 7:30pm to 8:30pm “Eoforwic has fallen. Today is the day that will impact this city for the rest of time. We may not be here for long, but our legacy will stand.” Jorvik is an immersive play set directly in the aftermath of the fall of Eoforwic to the Great Viking Army and its rebirth as Jorvik. Old York Theatre lean heavily on the Viking mythos, rejoicing in the fantastical, delivered with the spirit of larger-than-life storytelling as Ubbe, soaked in the blood of battle, finds himself at a great banquet in his honour. However, in this mysterious throne room,not all is as it seems. Jorvik is a play about loss, glory, family and celebrating life while we are still around to enjoy it. Expect big characters, song, fights and plenty of table banging. Tickets: £20 per person. Age restrictions: 16+
Tuesday, February 18 Adult CraftingBarley Hall Cafe 10am to 1pm Step into the world of Viking craftsmanship with these hands-on Nalebinding sessions. Make your own Viking hats and socks with this historical technique, one that uses the Norse method of knitting with one needle. Suitable for adults, these beginner-friendly sessions offer a glimpse into Viking life. With limited spots available, booking in advance is advised to secure your place. Tickets: £40 per person. Age restrictions: 16+ only. Workshop is aimed at beginners.
Poo WeekDIG Lunch Room 11am to 4pm SEE details on February 17.
EncampmentParliament Street 10.30am to 4.30pm.- 16:30pm SEE details on February 17.
Kids CraftingBarley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE details on February 17.
Berserker Boot CampMidgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE details on February 17.
Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps TrailAcross the city centre 10:30am -16:30pm SEE details on February 17.
Adult CraftingBarley Hall Cafe, 2pm to 5pm SEE details above.
Rum Tasting with Villains Rum at Barley HallBarley Hall Great Hall, 7.30pm to 8.30pm/9pm JOIN Villains Rum of York for an unforgettable evening in the historic setting of Barley Hall, for the launch of the new seasonal Queen Gunnhildr Honey Rum. This exclusive tasting event features five signature villain-inspired rums, alongside an introduction to the legend of Queen Gunnhildr with expert Alex Ibbott on hand to answer questions to those intrigued to know more. Adding to the atmosphere, a Villains Rum tour guide will deliver captivating stories of the infamous figures behind each rum from Erik Bloodaxe to Guy Fawkes. The evening includes: a welcome drink to start your villainous journey; tasting experience of five Villains Rums, including the new Queen Gunnhildr Honey Rum; a 50ml miniature of Queen Gunnhildr Honey Rum — Limited Edition miniature, not available for general sale. Tickets: £35 per person. Age restrictions: 18+.
Jorvik Viking Festival FeastMerchant Adventurers’ Hall, 7pm to 11pm CELEBRATE the end of a long winter with an unforgettable candlelit dining experience at the historic Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. Gather for a three-course feast inspired by traditional Viking fare, with live entertainment and epic tales from the past that will transport you to another era. For the first time, the Festival Feast will feature both the Best Dressed Viking and Best Beard Contest. All are welcome to enter: attire can be authentic or a new twist and beards can be natural or proudly homemade. Prizes for both competitions will be awarded on the night. Tickets: £95 per person Age restrictions: 18+.
Wednesday, February 19 Adult CraftingBarley Hall Cafe, 10am to 1pm DIVE into the past at hands-on Viking pottery workshops. This beginner-friendly workshop uses hand-building techniques (not the wheel-thrown pottery you may have tried before) to create your own unique piece to take home – a treasure worthy of any Viking hoard. With limited spots available, booking in advance s advised.Tickets: £40 per person. Age restrictions: 16+ only. Workshop is aimed at beginners
Poo WeekDIG Lunch Room, 11am to 4pm. SEE February 17 for details.
:The Haunting Of Fortune Farm with Sophie KirtleyYork Explore Library (Mariott Room), Library Square, York, 1.30pm to 3pm AFTER releasing her new Viking-themed novel, Sophie Kirtley, best-selling children’s author of The Wild Way Home and The Way To Impossible Island, discusses the inspiration for Edie’s mysterious adventure and what it’s like to write stories for a living. You can ask Sophie your questions, buy her new book and have it signed,Tickets: £5 for children (with a free accompanying adult), £5 extra adults, under-fives free. Pre-booking is essential. Age restrictions: Recommended for ages seven to 11.
EncampmentParliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Kids CraftingBarley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details.
Berserker Boot CampMidgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps TrailAcross the city centre, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Adult CraftingBarley Hall Cafe, 2pm to 5pm SEE above for details.
Mead TastingBarley Hall Great Hall, 7pm to 9pm DISCOVER Discover your new favourite drink! Join the award-winning Lancashire Mead Company as they introduce you to the Vikings’ drink of choice: mead. Learn about the cultural and historical significance of this honey-based beverage, cherished not only by the Vikings but throughout the Middle Ages and into the 21st century! Sample a variety of delicious meads, paired with tasty nibbles, and soak up the atmosphere in the Great Hall. Skål! Tickets: £35 per person. Age restrictions: 18+.
Thursday, February 20
Poo WeekDIG Lunch Room, 11am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details.
EncampmentParliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Kids CraftingBarley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details.
Berserker Boot CampMidgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
The Art of Illustration WorkshopBarley Hall cafe, 11am and 2pm JOIN illustrator Katie Smith for an exclusive event where she will share insights into her creative process, discussing how she designed the artwork for the new Vikings Top Trumps cards. The event will begin with an introductory talk, followed by a 45-minute drawing workshop, where Katie will guide participants in creating their own Top Trumps character using simple drawing techniques. Whether you are an aspiring illustrator or a Top Trumps fan, Katie’s expert tips will help you draw a character to take home with you. Additionally, attendees will be gifted a limited-edition Viking Top Trumps card, designed by Katie for the workshop, which the artist will sign. This event is designed for teenagers interested in illustration, drawing or pursuing a career in the creative arts. Tickets: £10 per person, £5 concession. Age restrictions: Suitable for age 15 to 19.
Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps Trail SEE February 17 for details.
Helen Thirza Addyman Lecture: JORVIK Viking Centre At 40National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, York, 8pm to 9.45pm JORVIK first opened its doors to the public on Saturday, April 14 1984. Join Chris Tuckley, head of interpretation & learning at York Archaeology, for an entertaining look back at how this museum and tourist attraction came to be. The lecture incorporates a screening of Jorvik Viking Centre At 40, a new documentary film that combines interviews with the original Jorvik project team and archival footage to explore the extraordinary circumstances of Jorvik’s creation. Tickets: £12, £10 concession/Friends of YAT. Age restrictions: None.
Unfeasibly Large DnD with Johnny ChiodiniBarley Hall, 7pm to 9pm STEP into an epic adventure with Dungeon Master Johnny Chiodini for a Viking-inspired game of Dungeons & Dragons like no other! With 34 players, six characters and one wild, unpredictable story, anything can happen. What’s in store? Who knows – so why not roll the dice and find out! This new addition to the festival promises chaotic fun, whether you are a seasoned D&D player or starting out. Is D&D designed for this many players? Probably not, but that will be all part of the excitement! Ready to roll a Nat 20? Book your place today! Tickets: £25 per person. Age restrictions: 18+.
Friday, February 21 Poo WeekDIG Lunch Room, 11am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details.
10th Century TradersMerchant Adventurers’ Hall, 10am to 4.30pm STEP into 10th century York as it takes over the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. Meet traders from across the Viking world and explore a vibrant market filled with treasures. Discover hand-crafted weaponry, authentic jewellery, drinking horns and much more. Tickets: adults £5.50; concessions £4.50; family of four £15; re-enactors £3 (with valid reenactment group card). Age restrictions: None.
EncampmentParliament Street. 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Kids CraftingBarley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details.
Berserker Boot CampMidgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps TrailAcross the city centre, 10:30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Go on an adventure with Johnny ChiodiniTravelling Man, 11am to 12 noon; 12.12pm to 1.15pm; 2pm to 3pm; 3.15pm to 4.15pm JOHNNY Chiodini, Dungeon Master of the Oxventure Dungeons & Dragons series on YouTube, guides you through the mysterious Mythic North. In this thrilling one-shot, you will face strange beings and twisted creatures that dwell in the shadows. Inspired by Nordic folklore, Vaesen is an award-winning tabletop RPG that brings dark legends to life. Tickets: £10 per person. Age restrictions: None.
Mead Cocktails and SagasBarley Hall Great Hall, 7pm to 9pm RAISE a horn with Nidhogger Mead Company for an evening of cocktails and Viking sagas. You may know a Mojito or an Old Fashioned, but have you ever tasted a mead cocktail? Each drink is inspired by a Viking saga, brought to life by the festival’s talented Skald. Be warned: if the mead makes you too merry, you might just become part of the story! Skål! Tickets: £35 per person. Age restrictions: 18+.
Evening Spectacular: Tyrfing. The Cursed Sword, Eye Of York, 7.30pm to 8.30pm BE guided into a world with a chance encounter between a king and two dwarves that leads to the forging of a magical sword – but not all is at it seems. The sword is named Tyrfing and it possesses formidable powers. It can cut through rock and iron as easily as cloth or flesh. The bearer of the sword will always defeat his opponent. However, this mighty blade also carries a terrible curse. Each time it is drawn, it must taste blood. Someone must die, and it will cause three evil deeds to be done. It will destroy those who wield it and cause great suffering! Join Time Will Tell Theatre to journey into the heart of a Viking myth with trickery, beauty, death and curses. This event sells out every year, so second performance is being added to enable more people to experience this show- stopping spectacular to finish their festival week. Tickets: adults £20; concessions (senior 60+/child aged three to 16) £15; under threes free. Age restrictions: None. Saturday, February 22 Archaeology On Prescription Pop-up ExhibitionDIG Classroom, 10am to 5pm CELEBRATE the achievements of the Archaeology On Prescription programme in a showcase of fascinating discoveries from the winter programme. Be hands-on with artefacts and finds unearthed during the excavation at Willow House and delve into the secrets of the post-excavation process. Hear captivating stories from project participants and uncover the rich history of the people who once called this area home. Tickets: N/A. Age restrictions: None.
10th Century TradersMerchant Adventurers’ Hall, 10am to 4.30pm SEE February 21 for details.
EncampmentParliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Kids CraftingBarley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details.
Berserker Boot CampMidgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps TrailAcross the city centre, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details.
Kids Barbaric BattleEye of York, 10.30am to 11am and 11.30am to 12 noon EVERY Viking remembers their first battle. Now comes the turn of your little warrior in the new Kids Barbaric Battle. Up to 100 young fighters will step into the Eye of York to prove themselves worthy of Valhalla . This is a practice battle, so safety comes first: foam weapons, shields and equipment are all provided. Little Vikings aged under five will need an adult by their side on the battlefield. If you want to prepare children for combat, check out the Berserker Bootcamp workshops for the ultimate Viking training. Tickets: £5 per child (accompanying adults free). Age restrictions: Accompanying adult required for under fives; optional for under sevens.
Viking GamesEye of York, 1.3pm to 2.30pm BACK by popular demand for 2025, two teams face off in the family-friendly Viking Games. Contestants battle it out in a test of strength, skill, cunning and wisdom with Odin as the referee. Expect combat, feats of endurance and laughs aplenty along the way. Please note, if you wish to participate in the March To Coppergate, you will not be able to join the Viking Games as it will already be under way. Tickets: adults £10 adults; concessions (Senior 60+/ children aged three to 16) £5; under threes free. Low income tickets: adults £5; concessions £2.50; under threes free. Age restrictions: None.
March To CoppergateYork Minster to Coppergate, 1.30pm to 2pm THE Viking March is a festival tradition like no other as Viking warriors parade through the city. Don’t miss your chance to experience their thunderous war cries echoing through the streets of York. Tickets: Free. Age restrictions: None.
Evening Spectacular: Tyrfing. The Cursed Sword, Eye Of York, 7.30pm to 8.30pm SEE February 21 for details.
York Wellbeing Choir members singing at York Community Choir Festival in 2024. Picture:Jenny Jones
YORK Community Choir Festival 2025 will run from March 2 to 8 when more than 1,250 voices will grace the Joseph Rowntree Theatre stage in York.
A festival that began in 2016 with 11 choirs taking part in three concerts will comprise eight concerts in 2025, each featuring up to five choirs, drawn fromHarrogate, Easingwold, Malton, Fairburn, Selby and Pocklington, as well as York.
Choirs of all sizes and types take the stage – all ladies, all men and mixed voices – covering everything from pop classics and show tunes to blues, jazz, folk, world, classical and religious music.
The smallest choir has ten members; Huntington School has 75 representatives and 50 will be participating from schools across the Excel Learning Trust Academy.
Some choirs will give a nod to the JoRo’s 90th birthday celebrations by performing a song from the 1935 “hit parade” in their set.
Festival chair Graham Mitchell says: “I moved to York in 2012, joined the theatre board in 2013 and was immediately struck by the number of choirs in York and the surrounding area, compared with where I had been living previously.
“I asked a colleague where they all sang and was told church halls, community centres and occasionally civic buildings or major halls.
Fairburn Singers on song at the 2024 festival. Picture: Jenny Jones
“It was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned that the theatre needed to give all these people a place to sing that was a real theatrical experience. Now, in the festival’s tenth year, the theatre’s decision to reach out and welcome all forms of performance has been fully justified.”
“In addition to choirs telling us how much they love the experience of being part of a major York event in lovely and welcoming surroundings, the festival ticket sales contribute to the theatre’s “Heart For The Arts Appeal”, raising funds for the improvement of theatre facilities that will benefit all theatre goers”.
March 2’s choirs will be: Selby Youth Choir; The Stray Notes (Harrogate); Aviva Vivace!; Singing Communities: Poppleton and Easingwold Community Singers. March 3, Euphonics Ladies Choir; The Pocklington Singers; Track 29 Ladies Close Harmony Chorus; Cantar Community Choir and Community Chorus. March 4: Jubilate; York City Harmonisers; Ryedale Voices; Supersingers and The Rolling Tones.
March 5: Stagecoach Performing Arts Choir; The Sounds Fun Singers; The Garrowby Singers; In Harmony Ladies Choir and Stamford Bridge Community Choir. March 6: Huntington Schools’ Choirs; York Military Wives Choir and Heworth Community Choir. March 7, York Theatre Royal Choir; Eboraca; Some Voices York; Bishopthorpe Community Choir and Harmonia.
March 8 matinee: Excel Learning Trust Schools’ Choir; The Rhythm Of Life Singers; The Fairburn Singers and The York Celebration Singers. March 8, evening: York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir; Chechelele, York Sing Space (Musical Theatre Choir); The Wellbeing Choir and Main Street Sound Ladies Barbershop Chorus.
Graham adds: “In addition to choirs telling us how much they love the experience of being part of a major York event in lovely and welcoming surroundings, the festival ticket sales contribute to the Rowntree Theatre’s Heart For The Arts Appeal, raising funds for the improvement of theatre facilities that will benefit all theatre-goers”.
Tickets are on sale on 01904 501935 or at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk. Evening concerts start at 7.30pm except March 2 at 6pm; March 8 matinee, 2.30pm.
Stagecoach Junior Choir taking part in last year’s festival. Picture: Murray Swain
York Community Choir Festival 2025 programme of songs
March 2, 6pm
Selby Youth Choir will sing: Raising My Voice; This Little Light Of Mine; Dreamer; Count On Me, Pure Imagination and I’m A Believer.
The Stray Notes: Let The River Run; A Thousand Years; I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For; Who But The Lord and The Scientist.
Aviva Vivace!: Ain’t No Sunshine, 80s’ Medley and Cheek To Cheek.
Singing Communities: Poppleton: Ticket To Ride; City Of Stars; Moor River; True Colours and Cantar.
Easingwold Community Singers: Go Down Deep; Ezatale; I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free; Shanty Medley; Spring Comes In; Dream A Little Dream and Life Is A Song.
March 3, 7.30pm
Euphonics: Flying Free, The Lady Is A Tramp; Colours Of The Wind; Song Sung Blue and California Dreamin’.
The Easingwold Singers: The Lord Is My Shepherd; Why Do The Roses, Magic Moments; Cantique de Jean Racine and The Seal Lullaby.
Track 29 Ladies Close Harmony Chorus: Ascot Gavotte; Chatanooga Choo Choo; Blue Moon; The Gospel Train; De Battle Of Jericho; Steel Away To Jesus; Only You and Goodnight Sweetheart.
Cantar Community Choir: Harbour; TaReKita; Sure On This Shining Night; Follow The Heron and Be The Change.
Community Chorus: Top Hat And Tails; Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree; King Of The Road; Breakout and You Can’t Stop The Beat.
March 4, 7.30pm
Jubilate: Autumn Leaves; Frankie And Johnny; Blue Skies; Cross The Wide Missouri and House Of The Raising Sun.
York City Harmonisers: Overture; Songbird; More I Cannot Wish You; Dancing In The Dark; Music Of The Night and New York, New York.
Ryedale Voices: Mack The Knife; Pokarekare Ana; Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around; Ramblin’ Sailor and Come What May.
SuperSingers: What A Wonderful World; With A Little Help From My Friends; Blue Moon; Defying Gravity; Never Enough and Waterloo.
The Rolling Tones: Rolling In The Deep; Shenandoah; Disney Movie Showstoppers; All Night, All Day and Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
March 5, 7.30pm
Stagecoach York Junior Choir: I’m A Believer; Please Can I Have A C?; Stars Mash Up and Aladdin Medley.
Sounds Fun Singers: Downtown; There Will Come Soft Rains; Smoke Gets In Your Eyes; Popular (from Wicked) and You Can’t Stop The Beat.
The Garrowby Singers: Lullaby Of Broadway; The Stars Are With The Voyager; Let The Praise Go Round; Wild Horses and River In Judea.
In Harmony Ladies Choir: The Lord Is My Shepherd; Sumer Is Icumen In; The Sound Of Silence; Summertime and Zadok The Priest.
Stamford Bridge Community Choir: Wellerman; California Dreamin’; Run; I Will Follow Him and Sing, Sing, Sing.
Easingwold Community Singers performing at the York Community Choir Festival in 2024. Picture: Murray Swain
March 6, 7.30pm
Huntington School Choirs: Apple Tree; Closer To Fine; Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe; Fire And Rain; And So It Goes; Hide And Seek; Ubi Caritas; Wonderwall; Jolly Roving Tar; Break My Stride and Keep Your Head Up.
York Military Wives Choir: November Sunday; For Good; When Will I See You Again; Make You Feel My Love; Carry Me and Home Thoughts From Abroad.
Heworth Community Choir: Ticket To Ride; The Ground; Little Blue; Pokarekare Ana and I’ll Be On My Way.
March 7, 7.30pm
York Theatre Royal Choir: It’s Grand Night For Singing; The Lord Is My Shepherd; Let The River Run; I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free; Anthem and Exultate Deo.
Eboraca: Cum Decore; Blue Moon; A Nightingale Sung In Berkeley Square; I Want It That Way and Walking On Sunshine.
Some Voices: I Wanna Dance With Somebody; Freed From Desire; Crazy In Love and Pink Pony Club.
Bishopthorpe Community Choir: Yundah; Run: Kiss From A Rose; Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and It Must Be Love.
Harmonia: Get Happy; Ca’ The Yowes; Sing A Song Of Sixpence; Embraceable You and Dubula.
March 8, 2.30pm
Excel Learning Trust Choir: Our Time; Song Of The Sea; Viva La Vida and Glorious.
The Rhythm Of Life Singers: If I Had A Hammer; Three Song Medley; Three Little Birds; Edelweiss and Sing.
Fairburn Singers: One Voice; I Am A Small Part Of The World; Why We Sing; Come Follow The Band and When The Saints Go Marching In.
York Celebration Singers: One (from A Chorus Line); 1935 Mash Up; Java Jive; Tell Me It’s Not True; Abba Medley and One Day More.
March 8, 7.30pm
York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir: Tydi a Roddaist; Run; Down By The Riverside; What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor; He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother and Alexander’s Ragtime Band.
Chechelele: Akanamandia; Ngothando; E Malama; Hope Lingers On; Ke Dau Bibi and Ladum Izulu.
York Sing Space Musical Theatre Choir: Welcome To The 60s; Come From Away Medley; Wicked Medley and A Million Dreams.
York Wellbeing Choir: Oklahoma; Hallelujah Get Happy; From A Distance; Tomorrow and A Little Peace.
Main Street Sound: White Winter Hymnal; Shenandoah; That Man; Girl On Fire and This Is Me.
REAL People Theatre, the York women’s community theatre group, will run a workshop for York International Women’s Week on March 8.
The event will run from 2pm to 4pm in person at SPARK York, Piccadilly, York, and on Zoom. Contact artistic director Sue Lister on 01904 488870 for the link.
The workshop will consider what the news of today is inspired by. “What or who has inspired you?”asks Sue. “A person past or present? An experience? The arts or sciences, exploration? Or have you been inspired by nature in all her wonders? As women, let’s share our inspirations and how they have influenced our lives.”
“This will be our 25th offering in the festival,” Sue continues. “It would be good to share women’s stories and record those who want to as a collage of positive life experiences! We need a bit of cheering up these days. The edited recording would go on my small YouTube channel, YouTube@ListerInteractions.
“By the way, if you can’t make March 8, I’ll be running the workshop again on March 12, same time, same place, same format for AWOC York (Ageing without the support of nearby children or family) All ‘awocs’ and allies are welcome.”
Sue will turn 80 next month. “I’m trying to slow down, so if anyone would like to run a drama workshop in the future under the Real People Theatre umbrella, do give me a ring.”
Stag burning at the Jorvik Viking Festival. More fun and games next week. Picture: Charlotte Graham
THE boat-burning Vikings are back as Charles Hutchinson looks forward to an action-packed February half-term.
Festival of the week: 40th anniversary Jorvik Viking Festival, York, February 17 to 23
A NEW Viking longship, a sword that never misses its target and recreations of the world’s largest fossilised poo take centre stage at Europe’s largest Viking Festival over half-term. Five days of Norse fun, living history, hands-on combat and lectures culminate in a parade of more than 200 Vikings through the historic streets on February 22 and two dramatic evening son-et-lumière shows.
A free living history encampment takes over Parliament Street with an array of tents featuring craftsmen and traders, with the opportunity to handle replica armour and weapons. For the full programme and to book tickets, go to jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk.
Emma Swainston’s Elle Woods, seated, with Bruiser, the Chihuahua (played by Lily), in York Light Opera Company’s Legally Blonde The Musical. Picture: Matthew Kitchen Photography
The power of pink musical of the week: York Light Opera Company in Legally Blonde The Musical, York Theatre Royal, until February 22, 7.30pm nightly (except February 16) plus 2.30pm matinees today, February 20 and 22
JOIN Elle Woods, a seemingly ditzy sorority girl with a heart of gold, as she tackles Harvard Law School to win back her man. Along the way, Elle discovers her own strength and intelligence, “proving that you can be both blonde and brilliant”.
Emma Swainston’s Elle Woods leads Martyn Knight’s 35-strong cast in this feel-good, sassy and stylish show with its powerful message of staying true to yourself, booted with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
David O’Doherty: Irish humour and song at Grand Opera House, York
Comedy show of the week: David O’Doherty, Tiny Piano Man, Grand Opera House, York, tonight, 8pm
THE dishevelled prince of €10 eBay keyboards tries to make you feel alive with a pageant of Irish humour, song and occasionally getting up from a chair. “It’s gonna be a big one,” says Dublin comedian, author, musician, actor and playwright David O’Doherty, star of The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2024 and Along For The Ride With David O’Doherty. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Chloe Petts: Getting personal in How You See Me, How You Don’t at Theatre@41, Monkgate
Alternative comedy gig of the week: Chloe Petts, How You See Me, How You Don’t, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, tonight, 8pm
CHLOE Petts returns with a new show and this time she’s getting personal. Between her newly found trolls, ‘oldly’ found school bullies and an excellent relationship with her food tech teacher, she brings her trademark ‘laddishness’ to tell you who she really is, all while her Head Girl badge glistens on her chest. Box office for returns only: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
Gareth Gates: Turning romantic crooner in a Valentine mood at York Barbican
Romantic concert of the week: Gareth Gates Sings Love Songs From The Movies – A Valentine Special, York Barbican, Sunday, 7.30pm
EXTENDING the St Valentine’s Day vibes to the weekend, Bradford singer Gareth Gates combines beloved ballads from classic films with the electrifying energy of up-tempo hits, from Unchained Melody to Dirty Dancing, in a celebration of love stories that have graced the silver screen.
Joining the 2002 Pop Idol alumnus and musical star will be Wicked actress Maggie Lynne, Dutch singer Britt Lenting, Performers College graduate Dan Herrington and a four-piece band. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Abbie Budden’s Annette Hargrove in Bill Kenwright Ltd’s production of Cruel Intentions: The’90s Musical, on tour at Grand Opera House, York, from Tuesday. Picture: Pamela Raith
Dangerous liaison of the week: Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical, Grand Opera House, York, February 18 to 22, Tuesday to Thursday, 7.30pm; Wednesday, 2.30pm; Friday, 5pm and 8.30pm; Saturday, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
CREATED by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin and Roger Kumble from Kumble’s 1999 film spin on Les Liaisons Dangereuses, this American musical is powered by the 1990s’ pop gold dust of Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, TLC, R.E.M., Ace Of Base, Natalie Imbruglia and The Verve.
Step siblings Sebastian Valmont (Will Callan) and Kathryn Merteuil (Nic Myers) engage in a cruel bet, where Kathryn goads Sebastian into attempting to seduce Annette Hargrove (Abbie Budden), the headmaster’s virtuous daughter. Weaving a web of secrets and temptation, their crusade wreaks havoc on the students at their exclusive Manhattan high school. Soon the dastardly plotters become entangled in their own web of deception and unexpected romance, with explosive results. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Stuart Green’s police inspector, Truscott, left, and Miles John’s thief, Dennis, in rehearsal for York Settlement Community Players’ production of Loot
Scandalous play of the week: York Settlement Community Players in Loot, York Theatre Royal Studio, February 18 to 27, 7.45pm except February 23; 2pm, February 22
KATIE Leckey directs the Settlement Players in agent provocateur Joe Orton’s scabrous 1965 farce, the one with two thieves, dodgy police officers, adult themes, offensive language, sexism and xenophobia, references to sexual assault, including rape and necrophilia, a live actor playing a dead body in a coffin and digs at the Roman Catholic Church.
Don’t let that put you off! Yes, it still carries a content warning and age recommendation of 16 upwards, but it remains outrageously funny. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Wharfemede Productions director Helen Spencer, centre, rehearsing her role as Marmee in Little Women with Connie Howcroft’s Jo, left, Catherine Foster’s Meg, Rachel Higgs’s Beth and Tess Ellis’s Amy. Picture: Matthew Warry
Marching on together: Wharfemede Productions: Little Women – The Broadway Musical, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, February 18 to 22, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee
HELEN Spencer directs York company Wharfemede Productions in their first solo show, playing Marmee too in Allan Knee, Jason Howland and Mindi Dickstein’s musical account of Louisa May Alcott’s story of the March sister – traditional Meg, wild, aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth and romantic Amy – growing up in Concord, Massachusetts, while their chaplain father is away serving during the American Civil War. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
Ugg’n’Ogg tell the story of The World’s First Dogg at Milton Rooms, Malton
Children’s play of the week: Rural Arts presents Fideri Fidera in Ugg’n’Ogg & The World’s First Dogg, Milton Rooms, Malton, February 20, 2pm
IN the fresh sparkling world just after the last Ice Age, there were no dogs. How, then, did we attain our best friend and the world’s number one pet? Luckily for us, along came young hunter gatherers Ugg‘n’Ogg to pal up with the wolves, Tooth’n’Claw, to defy flying meat bones, raging forest infernos and even a time-travelling stick to invent the dog.
This original play for pooch lovers aged three upwards highlights the evolutionary transition from lupine to canine in a show full of physical comedy, puppets, music and song. Box office: 01653 696240 or themiltonrooms.com.
In Focus:Exhibition refresh: Secrets Of Dress, Yorkshire Castle Museum, Fashion Gallery, Eye of York, York, from February 15
Fashion exhibits in the Secrets Of Dress exhibition at York Castle Museum. Picture: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions, for York Museums Trust
YORK Castle Museum’s Fashion Gallery has been refreshed, remodelled and enhanced for 2025 with new items and fresh interpretations to show Secrets Of Dress from the Middle Ages to the opening decades of the 21st century.
Not merely a fashion exhibition, this re-boot is an opportunity to look at dress and textiles from the perspective of social history, exploring what clothes and accessories can reveal about our lives and experiences.
Every object has a secret to tell, hence Secrets Of Dress provides insights into ways of life that are very different to today and yet relatable. From 400-year-old sequins to Second World War utility shoes, from the cottage industry of old Yorkshire to the factory-produced fashions of the industrial age, this is social history brought alive by the story of dress.
Dr Faye M Prior, Curator of Social History, with a 1970s’ outfit designed by Angela Holmes for her York-based fashion brand Droopy & Browns. The outfit was kindly donated by Angela’s sister, Leone Cockburn, and her niece, Clare Cockburn. Picture: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions, for York Museums Trust
This bespoke exhibition has been updated for the 21st century with a new section focusing on the City of York: York Makers. Thanks to the diligent research of York Castle Museum volunteers, York Makers presents York-made clothing, textiles and textile-working tools from the Middle Ages to the present day, alongside the stories of the people who made and used them.
York Makers celebrates creative people who lived and worked in York, some of whom contributed nationally as well as regionally to fashion.
On display are outfits by York-based designers Angela Holmes, founder of Droopy & Browns, and Vivien Smith, founder of Vivien Smith Simply Clothes. These two entrepreneurs created iconic fashion brands that offered distinctive styles on the high street from the 1960s to the early 2000s.
Gloves made of straw from the Secrets Of Dress exhibition at York Castle Museum. Picture: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions, for York Museums Trust
Other York Makers include Victorian shirtmaker Herbert Morris Crouch, who ran his own shop on Coney Street, and Mrs Maria Cook, the dressmaker whose ‘Made In York’ label sparked the volunteer research project.
Secrets Of Dress showcases 500 years of clothing, accessories and textiles, including items never displayed until now. Every object has something to tell, and many show repairs and adaptations, revealing how practices thought to be modern, such as ‘upcycling’ and ‘remaking’, have a long tradition.
Displayed in an accessible and fun way, iconic items and textiles from the 1960s and 1970s will be recognisable immediately. Visitors can touch, feel and try on costumes re-created by costume designer Naomi Pugh – aka ‘Nomes’ – of Textiles by Gnomes, and enjoy family trails with Little Spotters Trails, including a colouring page for creative little ones.
York Castle Museum is open Monday, 11am to 5pm; Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Tickets: adult £17; child £10.20; concessions available. Tickets are valid for 12 months. Children of York residents enter for free.
Visitors taking a close look at clothing and shoes in the Secrets Of Dress exhibition at York Castle Museum. Picture: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions, for York Museums Trust
Ric Liptrot: Exhibiting in The Other Collective exhibition at Bluebird Bakery, Acomb
FROM dollops of Dolly Parton advice to Stewart Lee’s werewolf encounter, devilish storytelling to a Cinderella prequel, Charles Hutchinson, cherry picks highlights for the days ahead.
Exhibition of the week: The Other Collective, Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, until March 13
CURATED by Bluebird Bakery, The Other Collective brings together the work of Lu Mason, Ric Liptrot, Rob Burton, Liz Foster and Jill Tattersall.
“These wonderful artists were all missed off the billing for York Open Studios 2025 and we felt that was a real shame,” says Bluebird boss Nicky Kippax. “So The Other Collective was born and we hope the work will get a lot of interest from our customers.”
The poster for South Bank Singers’ Of All The Birds concert
Nature concert of the week: South Bank Singers, Of All The Birds, A Winter Chorus, St Clement’s Church, Scarcroft Road, York, today, 3pm
SOUTH Bank Singers present Of All The Birds, A Winter Chrous, a Saturday afternoon concert of choral music inspired by the enchanting beauty and song of birds. Directed by Carlos Zamora, the choral programme spans six centuries, taking in Mendelssohn, Stanford, Ravel, Gibbons, Janequin, Vautor, Guastavino and Bartlet. Admission is free with a retiring collection for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
The poster for A Million Dreams, presented by Steve Coates Productions, at the Grand Opera House, York
Fundraiser of the week: A Million Dreams, A Charity Broadway Spectacular, Grand Opera House, York, tonight, 7.30pm
STEVE Coates Productions present an evening of musical magic, song, dance and laughter by York talent in aid of The Snappy Trust, a charity “dedicated to maximising the personal development of children and young people with wide- ranging disabilities”.
Bev Jones Music Company, Flying Ducks Youth Theatre and a ten-piece band perform songs from Broadway and West End shows such as Wicked, Hamilton, Frozen, The Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables and The Greatest Showman. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Mark Reynolds’ tour poster illustration for Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf, playing York Theatre Royal from January 28 to February 1
Comedy gigs of the week: Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf, York Theatre Royal, January 28 to February 1, 7.30pm
IN Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf, Lee shares the stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious who hates humanity. The Man-Wulf lays down a ferocious comedy challenge to the “culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled Lee”: can the beast inside us all be silenced by the silver bullet of Lee’s deadpan stand-up? Tickets advice: Hurry, hurry as all shows are closing in on selling out; 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Tricia Paoluccio’s Dolly Parton and Steven Webb’s Kevin in Here You Come Again at Grand Opera House, York
Musical of the week: Here You Come Again, Grand Opera House, York, January 28 to February 1, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Wednesday and Saturday matinees
SIMON Friend Entertainment and Leeds Playhouse team up for the tour of Here You Come Again, starring and co-written by Broadway actress Tricia Paoluccio, who visits York for the first time in the guise of a fantasy vision of country icon Dolly Parton.
Gimme Gimme Gimme writer Jonathan Harvey has put a British spin on Bruce Vilanch, director Gabriel Barre and Paoluccio’s story of diehard Dolly devotee Kevin (Steven Webb) needing dollops of Dolly advice on life and love in trying times. Parton hits galore help too! Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Sylvie (Aileen Hall), centre, demonstrates her skills to friends Amelie (Perri Ann Barley), left, and Helene (Devon Wells), right, in rehearsal for Blue Light Theatre Company’s Where The Magic Begins!
Premiere of the week: Blue Light Theatre Company in Where The Magic Begins!, Acomb Working Men’s Club, York, January 29, 30 and 31, 7.30pm; February 1, 2pm matinee
BLUE Light Theatre Company will forego their annual panto in favour of staging York playwright and actress Perri Ann Barley’s new play Where The Magic Begins!, a prequel to Cinderella based on characters from the original Charles Perrault version of “everyone’s favourite fairytale”.
“We meet many beloved characters in their younger days, such as a young Fairy Godmother, who is about to discover her ‘gift’. We follow her journey as she struggles with a secret that could put her life, and that of her family, in grave danger,” says director Craig Barley. Box office: 07933 329654, at bluelight-theatre.co.uk or on the door.
Hannah Rowe: Performing in the cabaret set-up of The Old Paint Shop at York Theatre Royal Studio
Cabaret night of the week: CPWM Presents An Evening With Hannah Rowe, The Old Paint Shop, York Theatre Royal Studio, January 30, 8pm
YORK promoters Come Play With Me (CPWM) welcome Hannah Rowe to The Old Paint Shop’s winter season. This young singer writes of experiences and shifts in life, offering a sense of reflection within her rich, authentic, jazz-infused sound.
The Old Paint Shop shows by irreverent York covers combo Hyde Family Jam (today, 2pm and 8pm) and Karl Mullen, upstanding York pianist Karl Mullen (January 31, 8pm) have sold out. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Tim Ralphs: Wild reimagining of folktale, fairytale and urban legend at Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb
Devilish delight of the week: Tim Ralphs and Adderstone, Infernal Delights, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, January 31, doors 7.30pm
TIM Ralphs and York alt-folk storytellers Adderstone serve up a winter night’s double bill of dark delights. Let Adderstone’s Cath Heinemeyer and Gemma McDermott lead you down the steps to the underworld with story-songs from wild places in their Songs To Meet The Darkness set.
In Beelzebub Rebranded, Tim Ralphs’s stand-up storytelling exhumes the bones of ancient Devil stories and stitches them into new skins for fresh consumption in his wild reimagining of folktale, fairytale and urban legend. Box office: ticketsource.co.uk/adderstone/infernal-delights/e-xjjber.
York Ice Trail: Taking the theme of Origins next weekend
Whatever the weather, here comes the new ice age: York Ice Trail 2025, February 1 and 2
YORK’S “free weekend of frosty fun” returns with a 2025 theme of Origins as York’s streets are turned into an icy wonderland of frozen tableau in this annual event run by Make It York. Among the 30 ice sculptures showcasing 2,000 years of city history will be a Roman shield, a Viking helmet, a chocolate bar, a drifting ghost, a majestic train and a Yorkshire rose, all captured in the language of ice by Icebox. Full details can be found at visityork.org/york-ice-trail.
Before all that ice, windswept York has another free event on the city streets and beyond this weekend: York Residents’ Festival today and tomorrow. For the full list of offers, head to: visityork.org/offers/category/york-residents-festival.
Snow Patrol: Returning to Scarborough Open Air Theatre this summer
Gig announcement of the week: Snow Patrol, TK Maxx Presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, June 27
THE Northern Irish-Scottish indie rock band Snow Patrol are to return to the Scarborough coast for the first time since July 2021, led as ever by Gary Lightbody, accompanied by long-time lead guitarist Nathan Connolly and pianist Johnny McDaid.
Emotionally charged anthems such as Chasing Cars, Run and Open Your Eyes will be complemented by selections from 2024’s The Forest Is The Path, their first chart topper in 18 years. Box office: ticketmaster.co.uk and scarboroughopenairtheatre.com.
In Focus: Hayden Thorpe & Propellor Ensemble, National Centre for Early Music, York, January 29, doors 7pm, start 7.30pm
Hayden Thorpe: Performing Ness with Propellor Ensemble at the NCEM
PLEASE Please You and Brudenell Presents bring Hayden Thorpe & Propellor Ensemble to the NCEM to perform Ness on Wednesday, with the promise of a “sonically spectacular and transformational live show”.
Thorpe, 39-year-old former frontman and chief songwriter of Kendal and Leeds band Wild Beasts, promotes his September 2024 album, Ness, released on Domino Records.
Using a process of redaction, Cumbrian musician Thorpe brought songs to life from nature writer Robert Macfarlane’s book Ness, inspired by Orford Ness, a ten-mile long shingle spit on the coast of Suffolk that housed the former Ministry of Defence weapons development site during both World Wars and the Cold War.
Acquired by the National Trustin 1993 and left to re-wild, to this day it remains a place of paradox, mystery and constant evolution.
Thorpe’s ode to Orford Ness, the physical place and the book, features Macfarlane’s words and illustrations by Stanley Donwood. He premiered Ness with Propellor Ensemble at Orford Ness on September 28 and 29 last year.
Here Hayden discusses working with Robert Macfarlane and Propellor Ensemble, the Cold War, nature and past York experiences with CharlesHutchPress.
Do you have any past experiences of York, whether on a school visit or whatever, Hayden?
“My parents used to take us to the Jorvik Viking Museum when me and my siblings were young. I was always amazed by the fake open sewer smell they would pump into the space.”
When did you last play in York, either solo or with Wild Beasts?
“I believe it was in 2006 or 2007. A rather long time ago. In any case, it’s been too long. It was somewhere quite familiar to me when Wild Beasts were coming up in Leeds. We’d make a regular dash across.”
How did the Ness project come about with Robert Macfarlane?
“In a really old fashioned manner. I fan-mailed Rob and he wrote back with all the generosity and open heartedness of his books. He’s as good as his word in the truest sense.
“Rob and I decided to perform some improvised music to his reading of Ness. It was a Eureka moment. The atmosphere and drama of the sound we made demanded that we commit to expanding it.”
Did you visit Orford Ness, now the Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, for research purposes?
“Yes. Orford Ness is an astonishing place. It’s a monument to rejuvenation and a monument to destruction. The very best and the very worst of us.”
By the way, Hayden, York has a Cold War Bunker Museum, in Monument Close, Holgate: a two-storey, semi-subterranean bunker built in 1961 to monitor nuclear explosions and fallout in Yorkshire, in the event of nuclear war.
“I had no idea that a Cold War museum existed in York. That’s fabulous. Bizarrely, I’ve developed a Cold War romance. I guess the conflicts and hostilities we face today have brought these conversations back into our everyday consciousness.”
The album cover artwork for Hayden Thorpe’s Ness
How have you turned the album into a concert performance?
“The album is very much made of sounds we’ve made with our hands and lungs, so with enough pairs of those it actually translates in a very true way. The unusual instrumentation, with orchestral percussion and clarinet foregrounded alongside me, creates a very distinct ‘Ness’ sound. The shows have been really emotional as a result.”
Were you tempted to feature strings in the Ness project for their emotional heft?
“We deliberately did not use strings. We opted to use the elemental forces at my play at Orford Ness: wind and resistant materials like metal and wood. It creates a haunted, volatile soundscape.”
Which Propellor Ensemble members will play in York?
“Jack McNeill plays clarinet and Delia Stevens plays orchestral percussion. Molly Gromadzki performs the spoken-word parts and sings in the choir. Brigitte Hart and Helen Ganya make up the choral section. It’s been a joy to work with such expressive and capable performers.”
What does a “sonically spectacular and transformational live show” entail?
“Something which is sonically ambitious and immersive. Once we start the show we don’t stop, it’s the album in full back to front. We want to take the audience to Ness, have them come face to face with the monster.”
Why was the National Centre for Early Music, in the former St Margaret’s Church in Walmgate, chosen for the York gig rather than The Crescent community venue, a classic working men’s club design?
“We’ve heard such great things about NCEM. Much of the story of Ness takes place ‘In The Green Chapel’, so the work lends itself to a space of worship.”
What is your own relationship with nature? Wild Beasts hailed originally from Kendal, with all that Lake District beauty around you…
“Nature has become increasingly important to my life and work. As artists we’re forced to ask what side of the conversation we sit on, one which acknowledges the existential crisis facing us or one which excuses it. Music can carry non-human voices really effectively. Ness is very much a meditation on that.”
What will be the next project you work on?“
Good question. Ness has certainly expanded my palette. I’ve come to feel maybe my strength is in making strange and ambitious works which would otherwise not get made. It’s crucial to keep the flame burning on works of exploration and oddity in an industry which increasingly incentivises conformity.”
Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk.
More Things To Do in York and beyond. Hutch’s List No. 5, from The York Press
The cheek of it: Freida Nipples hosting The Exhibitionists at The Old Paint Shop, York Theatre Royal Studio
FROM exhibitionist burlesque to imaginative dance moments, wildlife illuminations to bend-and-snap musical empowerment, Charles Hutchinson finds February fulfilment.
Cabaret night of the week: Freida Nipples Presents…The Exhibitionists, The Old Paint Shop, York Theatre Royal Studio, February 8, 8pm
YORK’S very own internationally award-winning burlesque artiste Freida Nipples welcomes some of her favourite and most fabulous performance artists from across Great Britain and beyond to The Old Paint Shop cabaret night.
“Get ready to be dazzled, shocked and in awe,” says Freida. “Only a few things are guaranteed: glamour, gags and giggles.” Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk, for returned tickets only.
Chris Newman and Maire Ni Chathasaigh
Folk gig of the week: Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman, Helmsley Arts Centre, February 8, 7.30pm
MULTIPLE award-winning, internationally renowned virtuoso harp and guitar duo Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman return to Helmsley after playing to a full house there in December 2023.
County Cork harpist Chathasaigh and flat-picking guitarist, improviser, composer and record producer Newman have toured to 24 countries on five continents, playing venues ranging from village halls and town halls to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul, from London’s Barbican to Cologne’s Philharmonia. Expect a fusion of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, spiced with new compositions and Newman’s subversive wit. Box office: 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.
Stop! Evie Hart, left, Sean Moss, Hobie Schouppe, Juliette Tellier, Donny Beau Ferris, Risa Maki and Oliver Rumaizen in Jasmin Vardimon Company’s Now. Picture: Tristram Kenton
Dance show of the week: Jasmin Vardimon Company, York Theatre Royal, February 8, 2.30pm with post-show discussion and 7.30pm
NOW, a new creation by choreographer Jasmin Vardimon MBE, celebrates her company’s 25th anniversary in a work that reflects the current moment, the present, and the continuous movement of time in a terpsichorean toast to the beauty of imagination and art.
Rooted in her interest in contemporary lives, the structures of society and the ever-changing socio-political dynamics, Vardimon uses her distinctive dance theatre style to tell a story of our time with an international cast of performers and relevant, iconic moments from the Ashford, Kent company’s repertoire. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Jamie Walton: Cello soloist at York Guildhall Orchestra’s concert at York Barbican
Classical concerts of the week: Yorkshire Bach Choir, Bach To The Future, St Lawrence Parish Church, York, February 8, 7.30pm; York Guildhall Orchestra: Sibelius, Bloch, Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich, York Barbican, February 9, 3pm
PETER Seymour conducts Yorkshire Bach Choir on a choral journey through German polyphony, including music by Schutz, Johann Bach, JS Bach, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Rheinberger. Professor Thomas Schmidt gives a pre-concert talk at 6.45pm. Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk.
Jamie Walton, cellist and North York Moors Chamber Music Festival artistic director, will be the soloist for Ernst Bloch’s “rarely played, but utterly beautiful” Shelomo in February 9’s concert by the York Guildhall Orchestra. Sibelius’s Karelia Suite, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo And Juliet and Shostakovic’s Symphony No. 9 in Eb feature too in conductor Simon Wright’s programme. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Dominic Halpin & The Hurricanes in A Country Night In Nashville
Country gig of the week: A Country Night In Nashville, Grand Opera House, York, February 9, 7.30pm
DOMINIC Halpin & The Hurricanes re-create a buzzing honky-tonk in downtown Nashville, capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of country music, featuring songs from its biggest stars both past and present: Johnny Cash to Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton to The Chicks, Willie Nelson to Kacey Musgraves. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Colour & Light framing the South Transept of York Minster
Illumination of the week: Colour & Light, York Minster South Transept, February 12 to March 2
THIS free outdoor event promises a “mesmerising projection” of famous and lesser-known stories of York’s animal world, from the peregrine falcons that call the Minster home and the foxes that roam the city after dark, to the horses on which the Romans rode into Eboracum and the legendary dragons carved into York’s history.
Colour & Light will run nightly from 6pm to 9pm with projections on a ten-minute loop. The final hour each evening will feature a designated quiet hour with reduced noise and crowd levels, ensuring everyone can enjoy the event. No tickets are required.
Pop Princesses World Tour: Popping into the Grand Opera House, York
Children’s pop concert of the week: Pop Princesses World Tour, Grand Opera House, York, February 13, 6pm
IN a magical show where four fabulous fairytale princesses become pop stars on an epic adventure, they just love to sing the hits of Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Lizzo, complemented by a few of the best songs from all your favourite films and musicals. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Emma Swainston’s Elle Woods in York Light Opera Company’s Legally Blonde The Musical
Musical of the week: York Light Opera Company in Legally Blonde The Musical, York Theatre Royal, February 13 to 22, 7.30pm nightly (except February 16) plus 2.30pm matinees on February 15, 20
JOIN Elle Woods, a seemingly ditzy sorority girl with a heart of gold, as she tackles Harvard Law School to win back her man. Along the way Elle discovers her own strength and intelligence, proving that you can be both a beautiful blonde and brilliant.
Emma Swainston’s Elle Woods leads Martyn Knight’s 35-strong cast in this feel-good, sassy and stylish show with a powerful message about staying true to yourself, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Festival of the week: National Parks Dark Skies Festival, North York Moors, February 14 to March 2
THIS year is the tenth anniversary of the Dark Skies Festival and where better to celebrate than on the North York Moors, one of only 21 locations in the world to be recognised for pristine, dark skies as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Look out for Stargazing Experiences in Dalby Forest; Stargazing at Ampleforth Abbey; the Robin Hood’s Bay Dark Skies Ghost Walks; Evening Adventure Walks with River Mountain Rescue; a Night Navigation Experience with Large Outdoors; Dancing with The Long Dead Stars (and a walk to Boggle Hole) and plenty more. For full details, visit: darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/north-york-moors-events.
The Steelers: Re-creating the songs of Steely Dan at Helmsley Arts Centre
FROM a residents’ free festival to a Steely Dan tribute, the return of The Old Paint Shop cabaret to the Poet Laureate’s foray into music, Charles Hutchinson welcomes signs of 2025 gathering pace.
Tribute show of the week: The Steelers, Helmsley Arts Centre, tonight, 7.30pm
THE Steelers, a nine-piece band of musicians drawn from around Great Britain, perform songs from iconic Steely Dan Steel albums Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam, AJA and Goucho, crafted by Walter Becker and Donald Fagan since 1972. Box office: 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.
Lyrical musicianship at York Theatre Royal: Poet Laureate and LYR band members Richard Walters and Patrick Pearson. Picture: Katie Silvester
The language of music: An Evening With Simon Armitage and LYR, York Theatre Royal, tonight, 7.30pm
UK Poet Laureate, dramatist, novelist, broadcaster and University of Leeds Professor of Poetry Simon Armitage teams up with his band LYR for an evening of poetry (first half) and music (second half), where LYR’s soaring vocal melodies and ambient instrumentation create an evocative and enchanting soundscape for West Yorkshireman Armitage’s spoken-word passages. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Ned Swarbrick: Debut headline gig at The Crescent at the age of 16
Headline debut of the week: Ned Swarbrick, The Crescent, York, tonight, 7.30pm
AT 16, York singer-songwriter Ned Swarbrick heads to The Crescent – with a couple of band mates in tow – for his debut headline show after accruing 40 gigs over the past two years. Penning acoustic songs that reflect his love of literature and pop culture, he sways from melancholy to upbeat, sad to happy, serious to tongue in cheek.
The first to admit that he is still finding his feet, in his live shows Ned switches between Belle & Sebastian-style pop numbers and intimate folk tunes more reminiscent of Nick Drake. Check out his debut EP, Michelangelo, featuring National Youth Folk Ensemble members, and look out for him busking on York’s streets. Box office: thecrescentyork.com.
Frankie Monroe: Transforming The Old Paint Shop into the Misty Moon working men’s club at York Theatre Royal
Beyond compere: Frankie Monroe And Friends, The Old Paint Shop, York Theatre Royal Studio, tonight, 8pm
BBC New Comedy and Edinburgh Fringe Newcomer winner Frankie Monroe hosts an evening of humour, tricks and mucky bitter in The Old Paint Shop. Join the owner of the Misty Moon – “a working men’s club in Rotherham that also serves as a portal to hell” – in his biggest show yet with some of York’s finest cabaret performers. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Clifford’s Tower: Taking part in York Residents’ Festival this weekend
Festival of the week: York Residents’ Festival, Saturday and Sunday
ORGANISED by Make It York, this annual festival combines free offers, events and discounts for valid York Card, student card or identity card holders that proves your York residency. Among the participating visitor attractions will be Bedern Hall, Clifford’s Tower, Yorkshire Air Museum, Merchant Taylors Hall and, outside York, Beningbrough Hall and Castle Howard. For the full list of offers, head to: visityork.org/offers/category/york-residents-festival.
Scott Matthews: Wolverhampton singer-songwriter plays the NCEM, York
Folk gig of the week: The Crescent and Black Swan Folk Club present Scott Matthews, National Centre for Early Music, York, Saturday, doors 7pm
ON a tour that has taken in churches and caves, Wolverhampton singer-songwriter Scott Matthews plays St Margaret’s Church, home to the NCEM in Walmgate, next weekend.
Combining folk, rock, blues and Eastern-inspired song-writing, he has released eight albums since his 2007 debut single, Elusive, won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. His most recent recording, 2023’s Restless Lullabies, found him revisiting songs from 2020’s New Skin with a stark acoustic boldness. Box office: seetickets.com/event/scott-matthews/ncem/3211118. Please note, this is a seated show with all seating unreserved.
The Cactus Blossoms: In harmony at Pocklington Arts Centre
Harmony duo of the week: The Cactus Blossoms, Pocklington Arts Centre, January 31, 8pm
THE Cactus Blossoms’ brothers, Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, are modern practitioners of the magical art of harmony duo singing, as heard on their August 2024 album Every Time I Think About You. Like any great magician, they cannot or will not fully explain the illusion they create. See if you can work it out at Pocklington Arts Centre.
Support act Campbell/Jensen features the late Glen Campbell’s banjo-playing daughter Ashley Campbell, who performed in her father’s band on several world tours, including at York Barbican. The duo combines Campbell’s country and Americana with New York guitarist and songwriter Thor Jensen’s rock and gypsy jazz. Box office: 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.
Snow Patrol: Returning to Scarborough Open Air Theatre this summer
Gig announcement of the week: Snow Patrol, TK Maxx Presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, June 27
THE Northern Irish-Scottish indie rock band Snow Patrol are to return to the Scarborough coast for the first time since July 2021, led as ever by Gary Lightbody, accompanied by long-time lead guitarist Nathan Connolly and pianist Johnny McDaid.
Emotionally charged anthems such as Chasing Cars, Run and Open Your Eyes will be complemented by selections from 2024’s The Forest Is The Path, their first chart topper in 18 years. Tickets go on sale today (24/1/2025) at 9am at ticketmaster.co.uk and scarboroughopenairtheatre.com.
