Tag: Lincoln Lightfoot

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More Things To Do in York and beyond as Rowntree report makes dramatic impact. Hutch’s List No. 32 from The York Press

Amelia Donkor and Antony Jardine: Playing Gulie Harlock and Seebohm Rowntree respectively alongside 100-strong community ensemble in His Last Report at York Theatre Royal. Picture: Millie Stephens

YORK Theatre Royal’s community play takes top billing in Charles Hutchinson’s selections for summer satisfaction.

Community play of the week: York Theatre Royal and Riding Lights Theatre Company present His Last Report, York Theatre Royal, today to August 3  

FOCUSING on pioneering York social reformer Seebohm Rowntree and his groundbreaking investigation into the harsh realities of poverty, Misha Duncan-Barry and Bridget Foreman’s play will be told through the voices of York’s residents, past and present.

Seebohm’s findings illuminate the struggles of the working class, laying the foundation for the welfare state and sparking a movement that will redefine life as we know it. However, when fast forwarding to present-day York, what is Seebohm’s real legacy as the Ministry begins to dismantle the very structures he championed in His Last Report’s York story with a national impact? Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Bean there, done that: “Appetite For Destruction” artist Lincoln Lightfoot takes his spay can to York’s iconic Bile Beans mural advert at VandalFest

Street art takeover of the summer: Vandals At Work present VandalFest, today, Sunday, then July 25 to 27, 11am to 6pm

VANDALS At Work reunite with youth homelessness charity Safe and Sound Homes (SASH) for VandalFest, the immersive street art takeover of a disused office block with a 2025 theme of the playful, cheeky, witty and mischievous.

Among more than 30 artists from the UK and beyond are Bristol graffiti pioneer Inkie, subversive stencilist Dotmasters, inflatable prankster Filthy Luker, master of optical illusions Chu, rooftop renegade Rowdy and York’s own Sharon McDonagh, Lincoln Lightfoot and Boxxhead. Entry is free, with a suggested £3 donation to SASH.

Craig David: In party mood at Scarborough Open Air Theatre today

Coastal gigs of the week: TK Maxx Presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Craig David TS5 Show plus special guest Patrick Nazemi, today; Judas Priest, July 23. Gates open at 6pm

SOUTHAMPTON rhythm & blues musician Craig David parades his triple threat as singer, MC and DJ at his TS5 party night – patented at his Miami penthouse – on the East Coast this weekend. On the 25th anniversary of debut album Born To Do It, expect a set combining old skool anthems from R&B to Swing Beat, Garage to Bashment, while merging chart-topping House hits too.

Judas  Priest, formed in Birmingham in 1969, are still receiving a Grammy nomination in 2025 for Best Metal Performance, on top of being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, appointed by shock rocker Alice Cooper, in 2022. Their 19th studio album, Invincible Shield, was released in March 2024. Wednesday’s support act will be Phil Campbell & The B**stard Sons. Box office: scarboroughopenairtheatre.com.

Heather Leech in Gleowit Productions’ King Harold’s Mother at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre

Historical solo show of the week: Gleowit Productions in King Harold’s Mother, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, tonight, 7.30pm

IN 1066, a mother loses four sons; three killed at the Battle of Hastings, one branded as a traitor. However, these are times of turmoil, where crowns on the head go with swords in the hand, and this mother has lost everything.

Two years later in Exeter, King Harold’s mother, Gytha Thorkelsdottir, makes her last stand against the might of the new king, William. She is forced to face the consequences of her own actions, to accept the overwhelming might of the Conqueror. Is nothing all she is left with? Is nothing better than this, asks Gleowit Productions in King Harold’s Mother, written and performed by Heather Leech. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

Dame Harriet Walter: Pride And Prejudice celebration at Wesley Centre, Malton

Ryedale Festival theatre event of the week: Pride And Prejudice, Dame Harriet Walter, Melvyn Tan and Madeleine Easton, Wesley Centre, Malton, Sunday, 7pm

THIS theatrical retelling of Pride And Prejudice by novelist and Austen biographer Gill Hornby marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Star of stage and screen Dame Harriet Walter brings the romance of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy to life in an intimate drawing-room setting, in much the same way that Jane herself first read the story aloud to family and friends.

Carl David’s score for the 1995 BBC television adaptation will be performed by pianist Melvyn Tan and violinist Madeleine Easton. The festival runs until July 27; full details and tickets at ryedalefestival.com. Box office: 01751 475777.

The Wedding Present’s David Gedge, left, and Reception writer-director Matt Aston, pictured walking through Leeds, will be teaming up for a chat at Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, on Sunday

Gig and chat show the week: An Evening of Conversation and Music with David Gedge from The Wedding Present, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb Road, Acomb, York, Sunday, 8pm, doors 7pm

DAVID Gedge, long-time leader of The Wedding Present, discusses his “semi-legendary” Leeds indie band’s 40-year-career and his life in the music industry, in conversation with Amanda Cook. York writer/director Matt Aston joins him too on the eve of rehearsals for Reception – The Wedding Present Musical, ahead of its premiere at Slung Low, The Warehouse, Holbeck, Leeds, from August 22 to September 6.  

Sunday’s event concludes with Gedge’s 20-minute acoustic set drawn from The Wedding Present’s cornucopia of arch, romantic yet perennially disappointed songs of love, life’s high hopes and woes, chance and no chance. Box office: eventbrite.com.

Listen to David Gedge discuss 40 years Of The Wedding Present, the Reception musical and his Rise@Bluebird Bakery show with Two Big Egos In A Small Car podcasters Charles Hutchinson and Graham Chalmers at:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1187561/episodes/17507606-episode-233-interview-special-with-david-gedge-from-the-wedding-present

Out with the old, in with New: Harvey Stevens’ Jamie, front left, with his Sheffield school classmates in Pick Me Up Theatre’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Musical of the week: Pick Me Up Theatre in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, July 22 to 26, 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee

AT 16, Sheffield schoolboy Jamie New is terrified of  the future and has no interest in pursuing a traditional career. He wants to be a drag queen. He knows he can be a sensation. Supported by his loving mum and encouraged by friends, can Jamie overcome prejudice, beat the bullies and step out of the darkness, into the spotlight?

Written by Tom MacRae and The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells, this joyous underdog story is staged by York company Pick Me Up Theatre with Harvey Stevens, 15, and Gemma McDonald leading the cast. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

The poster for Steve Steinman’s Love Hurts, Power Ballads & Anthems!, on tour at the Grand Opera House, York

Jukebox show of the week: Steve Steinman’s Love Hurts, Power Ballads & Anthems!, Grand Opera House, York, July 24, 7.30pm

FROM the producers of Anything For Love and Vampires Rock comes the latest Steve Steinman venture, this one built around power ballads and anthems performed by a powerhouse cast of singers and a seven-piece band.

Love Hurts embraces Fleetwood Mac, Heart, Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Aerosmith, Tina Turner, Cutting Crew, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Rainbow, Van Halen, Europe, Air Supply and more. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: On course for Knavesmire

Dancefloor double bill of the week: Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Natasha Bedingfield, York Racecourse Music Showcase Weekend, July 25.Gates, 4pm; first race, 5.30pm; last race, 8.23pm

AT the only evening meeting of the Knavesmire racing calendar, kitchen disco queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor and fellow Londoner Natasha Bedingfield each play a set after the seven-race sporting action.

Ellis-Bextor, 46, will draw on her five top ten albums and eight top ten singles, such as Murder On The Dancefloor and Take Me Home, from a pop career now stretching beyond 25 years. Bedingfield , 43, has the hits Unwritten, Single, These Words, I Wanna Have Your Babies and Soulmate to her name. For race-day tickets, go to: yorkracecourse.co.uk. 

In Focus: The Floating Fringe, Arts Barge, York, July 24 to 26

The launch poster for The Floating Fringe

ALL aboard for The Floating Fringe, a celebration of grassroots, home-grown performances on the Arts Barge, moored at Foss Basin Moorings, off Tower Street, York.

This bold new arts festival is taking over the Selby Tony former cargo barge for three jam-packed days of comedy, theatre and family entertainment, offering a long-overdue space for the city’s vibrant and emerging Fringe scene.

“Led by a new generation of creatives, The Floating Fringe is here to shake things up,” says lead organiser Kai West, the York artist, printmaker and Bull band member. “It’s a spirited response to past commercial Fringe attempts that failed to take root, replacing polished formulas with passion, playfulness and local and up-and-coming talent.

“This is about more than just putting on a show.  It’s about building a community. With its intimate setting and grassroots ethos, The Floating Fringe aims to be the artistic home for Fringe arts, acts and audiences alike: a long-awaited space for expression where alternative, up-and-coming and independent voices can truly thrive.”

Kai continues: “York has always had the talent, the audiences and the appetite for Fringe. What it’s been missing is a space that actually belongs to the community. After seeing other commercial attempts come and go, we wanted to create something independent, accessible and genuinely rooted in York’s creative scene. The Arts Barge has always been about building something meaningful for York, by York. The Fringe is just another part of that.”

The Arts Barge itself is part of that story. A passion project years in the making, it was crowd-funded and community-built by the Arts Barge Project to bring an accessible floating arts space to York. Now fully operational and moored in the centre of the city, the barge is more than a venue. “It’s a symbol of what’s possible when local creatives are given the freedom to build something of their own,” says Kai.

From comedy to original theatre and family-friendly daytime shows, The Floating Fringe promises a weekend packed with performances, connection and grassroots energy. “Whether you’re a Fringe fanatic or just curious to see what York’s creative underground has to offer, everyone is welcome aboard,” says Kai.

Box office: https://wegottickets.com/thefloatingfringe/

The Floating Fringe programme

Theo Mason Wood

Thursday

5pm to 6pm, Robocop vs The Terminator vs Gabriel Featherstone. Three titans of entertainment face off in a bloody, mind-mangling, no-holds-barred battle to the death. 

6.30pm to 7.30pm, Richard Brown: Nauseatingly Woke Full-Grown Jellyfish. Underground Fringe favourite known for thoughtful, intelligent and dark alternative comedy.

8pm to 9pm, Seymour Mace Does Things With Stuff. “It’s better than watching people do things,” says Seymour. “It’s better than paying to watch people do things. I was doped up on watching other people do things. I forgot how to do things I’ve just remembered. Look what I done!”

9.30pm to 10.30pm, Theo Mason Wood: Legalise Kissing. York-raised Netflix writer and award-winning comedian delivers a punk-clown manifesto on love, identity and modern chaos in a genre-defying mix of stand-up, surreal storytelling and live techno anthems. “This is comedy like you’ve never seen before,” says Mason Wood.

Bobby Cockles

Friday

5pm to 6pm, Clown: Bobby Cockles Goes To Hell!  The Good Room presents a dark stand-up journey through the terrible adventure of a cursed Cockney clown. Being in love can be absolute hell!

6.30pm to 7.30pm, Eryn Tett Is Sponsored By The Global Megacorp Institute of Manchester, work in progress. Multi award-winner is developing her next show: an immersive comedy packed with her trademark offbeat (mostly “yo mama”) jokes, top-secret ceremonies and a non-stop handshake.

8pm to 9pm, York The Plank: A Bunch of Local Legends. Fast, furious and gloriously chaotic stand-up comedy showcase helmed by Chris Booker, comedian, aspiring sci-fi writer and charmingly under-qualified sea captain for the night.

9.30pm to 10.30pm, Thor Odin Stenhaug, One Night Stand Baby. A show about love, life (drawings) and being not only a son to your parents but more like a mutual friend.

Sir Dickie Benson

Saturday

2pm to 3pm, Moon Rabbit Theatre presents Shirley: A Ghost Story. Why do people write ghost stories? Is it to explain away the fear? To spread it? Or do they write to reveal the ghosts inside them?

3.30pm to 4.30pm, Caroline McEvoy: Train Man. Tale of sibling rivalry in post-Troubles Northern Ireland, told with gut-punch gags and emotional blows as McEvoy reckons with her lifelong battle with her younger brother, who loves trains and getting his way.

5pm to 6pm, Alfie Packham: My Apologies To The Chef.  Voilà! Alfie serves up new jokes in his fresh show about friends, family, loneliness, enemies – and  which of these he prefers. Bon appétit.

6.30pm to 7.30pm, Jain Edwards, She-Devil. Jain isn’t like other girls. She’s worse. But she’s finally ready to lean in (and receive a little forehead kiss from hubby). Expect silly, subversive comedy in a show about conspiracy theories, autism and men turning on you.

9.30pm to 10.30pm, Sir Dickie Benson Interacts With The Audience Whether They Like It Or Not. Encounter the last Hollywood hell-raiser; an octogenarian, thespian barbarian with a pint of vodka and a smouldering hash pipe whose capacity for drink is matched only by his boundless charm and mercurial temper.

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Vandals At Work take over disused Low Ousegate office block for street art “intervention” VandalFest in aid of SASH

Take a seat: Al Murphy puts himself in his Naughty Corner installation at VandalFest at 2 Low Ousegate, York

VANDALS At Work – the new name for York street artist collective Bombsquad – are reuniting with youth homelessness charity Safe and Sound Homes(SASH) for VandalFest 2025, the free summer street art takeover of a disused office block at 2 Low Ousegate, York.

Now in its third year, VandalFest builds on the impact of Educated Vandals in 2023 and Rise Of The Vandals in 2024, once again transforming one of York’s tallest riverside buildings into an immersive street art experience, with live installations, on July 11 to 13, July 18 to 20 and July 25 to 27, from 11am to 6pm each Friday to Sunday, when SASH will be supported through donation points on site.

The stripped-out interior provides four floors of blank canvas for bold, site-specific interventions that cover walls, floors and ceilings, where “visitors aren’t just spectators, but part of the art”, to the soundtrack of a roster of live DJ sets.

Putting it in black and white: Chu’s optical illusion at VandalFest

More than 30 artists from across Great Britain and beyond are taking part, from scene-shaping legends to rising stars and home-grown talent. Headliner Inkie, a pioneer of the Bristol graffiti movement and early influence on Banksy, is joined by subversive stencilist Dotmasters, inflatable prankster Filthy Luker, master of optical illusions Chu and rooftop renegade Rowdy.

Contributing too are Toasters, Nol from the Netherlands, KMG, SledOne, Static and Al Murphy with Naughty Corner. York’s own Sharon McDonagh, Lincoln Lightfoot and Boxxhead feature too, showcasing the city’s vibrant and growing street art scene.

“This year’s theme celebrates the playful side of street art: cheeky, witty and designed to make you smile,” says Vandals At Work member Sharon. “VandalFest puts the mischief back in ‘muralism’, offering surprise, wonder, laughter and levity when it’s needed most. It’s bigger, bolder and more creative than ever.”

Spam, by Sharon McDonagh. “My work is strongly influenced by personal experiences, the bloody Menopause and anything that I deem worthy of a mention,” she says. “Funny, dark and a bit angry on occasion”

Make sure to step into In Their Shoes, a bedroom designed by young people supported by SASH staff: an installation that seeks to  reinforce how not every child has their own bedroom. Statistics are displayed on the walls, starkly drawing attention to 118,000 young people facing homelessness in 2023-2024, many as young as 16, and to SASH’s provision of  67,174 beds in the past five years in North and East Yorkshire.

A statement on the wall reads: “Welcome…Imagine not having your own safe space? That’s the position our young people are in when they come to SASH.

“This installation replicates a young person’s room in SASH but, with the addition of some shocking statistics and harsh realities that our young people have faced.

The SASH bedroom at VandalFest. Picture: James Drury

“This doesn’t make for the nicest of bed time reading does it? That’s why we need your help so we can help more young people, because everyone deserves the right to stay somewhere safe. So take a look around and put yourself ‘In Their Shoes’.”

Pieces of furniture, donated by York Community Furniture Store and given a fresh look by SASH youngsters, are available to buy via the VandalFest store with all proceeds going to SASH.

The entire top floor plays host to a pop-up shop featuring editioned prints, books and merchandise, alongside a curated selection of original artworks for collectors.

Bean there, done that: Lincoln Lightfoot takes a spray can to York’s iconic Bile Beans advert mural at VandalFest. Picture: James Drury

In addition, Vandals At Work are partnering once again with Tennants Auctioneers for the VandalFest online auction to support SASH, featuring exclusive works donated by participating artists.

Vandals At Work, formerly Bombsquad, is a non-profit York community arts organisation with a passion for street art and a belief that art should do more than merely hang on wall. “It should inform, provoke and inspire change,” says Sharon. “We see street art as a powerful force for good in the community.

“Our mission is to enrich York’s cultural landscape by organising exhibitions, auctions and events that raise funds for York charities while supporting the artists we work with. To date, we’ve collaborated with more than 60 artists and donated more than £55,000 to three charities: York Food Bank, York Mind and SASH.

Sod The Rich, by Chu, up for auction at VandalFest

“We’re proudly grassroots, with a strong DIY ethic and decades of combined experience in the art world among our core team. Born from a shared love of street art and its transformative potential, Vandals At Work is powered by a growing network of committed individuals in York and beyond.”

Safe and Sound Homes (SASH) is a registered charity that works to prevent homelessness in young people aged 16 to 25 across North and East Yorkshire. When a young person is facing homelessness, SASH provides a safe place to stay in the home of a trained volunteer, along with practical, emotional and ongoing support to help them move forward.

SASH’s core services include:

Nightstop, offering emergency accommodation with volunteer hosts for up to two weeks.
Supported Lodgings, longer-term placements for young people who cannot return home and are not yet ready to live independently.

Adjoining VandalFest 2025 artworks by Nicolas Dixson, left, and Bristol street art pioneer Inkie

All hosts are everyday people who care about making a difference. They are fully vetted, DBS checked, trained and supported by SASH Placement Coordinators.

The young people SASH works with are often vulnerable and face complex challenges, including poor mental health, trauma or social isolation. Beyond providing a roof, SASH works intensively with each young person, their host families and external agencies to address root causes and break the cycle of homelessness.

All referrals come through councils and partner organisations after a young person presents as homeless. 

Four storeys and plenty of stories in street art: VandalFest at the disused office block at 2, Low Ousegate, York

Bananas, inflatable installation, by Filthy Luker at VandalFest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What first drew you to wizardry, Dan?

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

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

Dan Wood in his magical Easter bonnet circa 1992

When did you first do a magic/wizard show?

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

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

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

Who inspired your love of wizardry?

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

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

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

What makes York such a magical city?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which WizardFest events have sold out?

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

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

York artist Lincoln Lightfoot with his Wizard of York print

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

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

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

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

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

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

What a wizard idea for a festival

What plans are in place for the 2026 festival?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wizard Of York ice creams at Loopy Scoops

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lego workshops with The Brick Box at York Medical Society

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

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

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

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

The logo for WizardFest

Summary of events at Wizard Fest, May 24 to 26

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Wizard Activity Area – Parliament Street.

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

 Owl Trail – Shambles Market.

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

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

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

 Wizard Afternoon Teas at Plush Café.

 Phoenix cocktails and mocktails – Ate O’ Clock.

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

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

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

 Chocolate Shots at Monk Bar Chocolatiers.

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

 Exclusive Wizard of York art print by Lincoln Lightfoot.

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More Things To SEE in York and beyond as dazzling Christmas delights galore open. Hutch’s List No 48, from The Press

Alice becomes Queen Alice in the climax to Alice’s Christmas Wonderland at Castle Howard. Picture: Charlotte Graham

CHRISTMAS Day is still more than a month away but the season of festive exhibitions, installations and trails is up and running, as Charles Hutchinson reports.

30,000 baubles and counting: Alice’s Christmas Wonderland, Castle Howard, near Malton, until January 5 2025

FALL down the rabbit hall into “an experience like no other”: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in her Christmas Wonderland at Castle Howard, where the CLW Event Design creative team, headed by Charlotte Lloyd Webber and Adrian Lillie, has worked on the spectacular project since January.

After a two-week installation, the stately home has been transformed into an immersive Christmas experience, dressed in set pieces, decorations and floristry, coupled with projections, lighting and sound by Leeds theatre company imitating the dog. Box office: castlehoward.co.uk.    

The Nunnington Hall staircase decorated for Christmas. Picture: Rebecca Hughes

Christmas Through The Ages:  Nunnington Hall, Nunnington, near York, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, November 22 to December 15, 10.30am to 4pm, last admission at 3.15pm

OGLE at a Tudor feast fit for a King, step into the opulence of the Georgian era, savour  the splendour of the Victorian golden age or relive the exuberant parties of the 1980s. Envision Christmas as it might have been celebrated by the families who once called Nunnington Hall their home.

On Sundays, Ryedale choirs will sing Christmas carols in the Oak Hall. Normal admission applies, with free entry for National Trust members and under-fives. To book tickets, go to: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/nunnington-hall/christmas-at-nunnington-hall.

York artist MarcoLooks working on one of his Nutcrackers for the Christmas Around The World Nutcracker Trail

Christmas Around The World Nutcracker Trail with York artist MarcoLooks, York city centre, until January 1 2025

PRESENTED by York BID, this season’s Nutcracker Trail takes a festive journey with a global twist, created in collaboration with MarcoLooks, alias York illustrator, printmaker and erstwhile CBeebies animator Marc Godfrey-Murphy.

Christmas Around the World brings ten beautifully designed Nutcracker sculptures to life, each representing a different country with colours from the national flag and landmarks that reflect York’s diverse, vibrant communities.

To start this festive adventure, pick up a map at the Visit York Visitor Information Centre on Parliament Street. Use clues on each Nutcracker to match it to the correct country, recording answers on the map. Completed entries can be submitted at the Visitor Information Centre or Santa’s Post Box in Museum Gardens for a chance to win a £250 York Gift Card.

Green Father Christmas and Ebenezer Scrooge: Tales to tell on the Kirkgate street at York Castle Museum. Picture: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions

Father Christmas goes back to green: Christmas At York Castle Museum, Eye of York, York, until January 5 2025

THE cobbles of York Castle Museum’s Victorian street, Kirkgate, are covered in snow to herald the festive season featuring a traditional Green Father Christmas; Ebenezer Scrooge’s account of A Christmas Carol; Victorian carol singers; roving musical miscreants The Ran Tanners; Storycraft Theatre’s Christmas stories; Tales From The Trail’s fun stories and family drop-in Christmas decorations. Lino-printing Christmas card, Christmas wreath making and lino-printing Christmas wrapping paper workshops for adults carry an extra charge. Full details, including dates of events, can be found at yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk.

In addition to these immersive experiences, Kirkgate’s shops are wreathed in festive greenery, displaying seasonal objects from the museum’s collection.

Part of the display in Princess Victoria’s Room, inspired by recently unearthed love letters penned by a valet at Treasurer’s House

Green Christmas celebrations: An Inspired Christmas, Treasurer’s House, Minster Yard, York, open Saturday to Wednesday, until December 18

AN Inspired Christmas shares stories of Mr Frank Green, the last private owner of Treasurer’s House, and the people around him. As Christmas returns to the National Trust property, staff and volunteers have given rooms merry makeovers, with many of the decorations handcrafted by volunteers.

Look out for artist Megan Barnett’s bespoke glass ornaments in the Blue Drawing Room, inspired by ecclesiastical architect Temple Lushington Moore; an unusual tree in the Court Room, inspired by the changing fortunes of house maid Ivy Cliff, and  a display in Princess Victoria’s Room, inspired by recently unearthed love letters penned by a valet. To plan a visit, go to: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/treasurers-house-york.

Daylight robbery: The Highwayman mouse in the Fairfax House exhibition with a detective challenge, A Christmas Mousetery

It’s Christmouse time: A Christmas Mousetery, The Case Of The Missing Ruby, Fairfax House, York, until January 5 2025

THE Fairfax Townmice are back and this time a crime must be solved in a festive family caper. These are the Fairfax facts: On Christmas morning, the family has awoken to discover the famous Fairfax Ruby has been stolen by the dastardly Highway Mouse, but he did not act alone.

Visitors must play detective to recover this precious jewel and work out who the accomplice was. Throughout the Georgian house they will meet myriad mousey suspects, whose dubious alibis will need forensic examination to nail the inside mouse. En route, they will encounter 400 whiskered guests, causing Christmas chaos as they swing from ceilings, burst out of drawers, even smoke a long pipe. Pre-booking is advised but walk-ins are welcome. Tickets: fairfaxhouse.co.uk/whats-on/a-christmas-mousetery; free admission for age 16 and under.

Wrapping up for the York chill: A Winter Wonderland at Jorvik Viking Centre. Picture: Charlotte Graham

First snowfall in 40 years for Viking-age Coppergate: A Winter Adventure, Jorvik Viking Centre, York, until February 22 2025

WINTER has set in at Jorvik Viking Centre for a new experience that explores what conditions 10th century York might have faced during the cold, dark months. Since opening in 1984, Jorvik has presented Coppergate as a moment frozen in time in the spring, but an archaeological find – ice skates made of bone – has inspired the deep mid-winter make-over with residents now  wrapped up in hats, woollens and furs.

The Time Sleigh ride takes visitors on a trip to a winter morning in York in AD 96 and a Viking Skald tells winter-themed tales of gods and monsters and discusses the kit needed to counter elements. Pre-booking is essential as no tickets are available on the door.  Timeslots can be booked at jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk. 

A cornucopia of animals and birds by York printmaker Gerard Hobson

Nature’s gifts: Gerard Hobson Christmas Exhibition, 51 Water Lane, York, YO30 6PW, Friday and Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday, 2pm to 5pm

YORK printmaker Gerard Hobson has been busy in his garden studio preparing for his annual Open House Christmas Show.  “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” says the York Open Studios regular participant. “Can’t wait to see you there!”

Gerard, who specialises in animals, birds and latterly toadstools, will be exhibiting limited-edition hand-painted lino prints, cut-outs and one-off collages, all for sale along with festive cards.

Lincoln Lightfoot’s poster for An Appetite For Destruction at 32 Stonegate, York

In Focus: An Appetite For Destruction, A Lincoln Lightfoot Exhibition, 32 Stonegate, York, running scared until December 1

IF you have spotted stirrings of life in the dormant former Cath Kidston store in Stonegate, be afraid. Something terrifying this way comes: the latest pop-up show of B-movie paranoia re-writ large in York by retro-futurist artist Lincoln Lightfoot in his depiction of ridiculous and surreal encounters with beasts, aliens and UFOs in landmark locations.

 “An Appetite For Destruction is a deep dive into my art practice with new and old pieces brought to life on a scale never seen before,” he forewarns before adding cryptically: “Warning: Sensationalism may be used to promote a hidden agenda.”

Age Of Dinosaurs, by Lincoln Lightfoot

How did this space invasion emerge? “This incredible opportunity was presented to me a couple of weeks ago,” says Lincoln. “I’m part of an amazing shop located on Coney Street called Fabrication that supports local artists and makers in selling their creations.

“They’ll be moving to the former Cath Kidston shop and the former home of the parents of Guy Fawkes 1570! However, the move won’t take place till January 2025 as it’s such a busy time of year with the run-up to Christmas.

Monkgate Monster, spray paint, by Lincoln Lightfoot

“I’m the first to take up the gauntlet in what will be a variety of different events taking place in the former store. Upon first inspection from the outside, you don’t realise how large the shops footprint actually is.”  

How will you use the space and your time there, Lincoln? “An Appetite For Destruction will exhibit everything I have in my studio and artwork that’s been on loan. I’ll be adorning the space with all the artwork I can lay my hands on” he says.

Birds Of Pray, Rowntree and Terry, by Lincoln Lightfoot

“I’ll be filling the ground floor with large oil paintings, big street art-style paste-ups, illustrations, brand-new limited-edition prints and skateboard deck art. I’ll be debuting the completed illustration series of The Four Gates, depicting the four main gatehouses, or ‘Bars’ of York.”

Look out too for projected video footage from Lincoln’s collaboration with Mike from SkyShift. “He’s merged his incredible drone footage into a brand-new illustration of mine,” says Lincoln. Birds Of Pray, Rowntree and Terry, by L:incoln Lightfoot

Don’t Look Up, SkyShift piece, by Lincoln Lightfoot

“There’ll be limited-edition prints from this available with 20 per cent of the proceeds going toward the Menfulness charity, while a free limited-edition print will be available for the first 20 guests of the exclusive preview event on November 21 from 6pm to 8pm. Tickets are free on an Eventbrite.”

Throughout the exhibition, Lincoln will be doing several live paintings to give visitors a glimpse into his painting process. “The collection of work should increase and change throughout the event from the preview night to the end of play on December 1,” he says.

Lincoln Lightfoot, second from right, on the preview night for An Appetite For Destruction at 32, Stonegate, York
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Lincoln Lightfoot spooked by uncanny timing of his Sycamore Gap tree abduction painting. What happened the next night…

Foretales of the unexpected: York artist Lincoln Lightfoot’s spookily prescient A Sycamore Gap Abduction

TUESDAY night, York sci-fi surrealist artist Lincoln Lightfoot had just finished his latest piece…depicting the abduction of the sycamore tree on Hadrian’s Wall. The very next night, the tree was felled, a new gap cut into the Sycamore Gap landscape. Not so much Unidentified Flying Object as Unidentified Felling Object.

“As text messages flooded my phone to inform me of the news, I felt great sadness but was also a little spooked by the coincidence,” says Lincoln, 31. “I don’t think I would have drawn it if I’d known what was about to happen!” he commented on Facebook.

Although his Fifties’ B-movie poster-inspired artwork – full of dinosaurs, aliens, spacemen, King Kong and creatures from the deep – had begun with encounters of the unexpected at landmark buildings and locations in his adopted city of York, it had since branched out into his native North East.

“I have a great love for the north of England and was brought up and studied there,” says Lincoln. “I take part in many art events at the Baltic, Gateshead, sell art at the Crafter Roadshow and Tynemouth Markets and recently completed a mural in HMV in the MetroCentre.

HMV store manager Steve Mason, who collects Lincoln’s work, suggested his next subject matter. “He informed me that a ‘must-see’ is Sycamore Gap and that I NEED to create some work featuring the lonely sycamore tree ‘up there’,” recalls Lincoln.

“My partner went as far as to think I may be considered a suspect,” says Lincoln Lightgfoot after the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree

He duly spent two weeks researching the place. “As it was such an iconic landmark [featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves], I decided to do two pieces instead of one,” he says.

“The first featured two Brachiosaurus dinosaurs grazing in the gap with a cheeky one munching on a sycamore branch in the foreground. The second, an alien abduction of the tree, using symmetry and the renowned U-shape view.

“Upon completion, I posted a reel of my process on Instagram entitled it ‘No More Sycamore’ and sat back to embrace the dopamine from a job well done.”

The next day Lincoln posted the final image online. “Little did I know, that very night the tree would be felled. As I began my next piece ‘IT Came from Beneath the Wear!’, I received the first of many messages,” he says.

“It was from Steve. It read, ‘last night’ and below was a news article. I just couldn’t believe it! As the day went on, more messages piled in. ‘Have you seen the news?’. ‘Reminds me of your latest piece’, etc.

Day Of The Dinosaurs – Sycamore Gap: Artist Lincoln Lightfoot’s first Hadrian’s Wall tree encounter, premiered online ahead of his fateful yet innocent Sycamore No More abduction post on Instagram, the day before the chainsaw came…

“Comments on my social media posts too: ‘Could you post the lottery numbers next?’. ‘Suspicious’. ‘You work fast’, etc.”

Initially saddened and angered by the news, the weird timing had Lincoln over-thinking. “Do I change the title of my post to something more respectful? Do I go as far as to take the post down? Has it lost its well-intended humour?” he asked himself. “My partner went as far as to think I may be considered a suspect!

“Geordie friends flooded social media with heartfelt messages and stories. I decided that like my many prior works, the artwork may remind people of the place and fond memories there.

“I would hope that it may even help people deal with the loss of the tree in a comical and uplifting way.”

Meanwhile, police investigations into the Sycamore Gap “chainsaw massacre” are on-going. Watch that space.

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Educated Vandals graffiti artists take over Low Ousegate building to create fund-raising installation for York Mind

York artist Lincoln Lightfoot’s poster for the Educated Vandals installation project in aid of York Mind

ACE graffiti artists from across Britain will be gathering in York for the next three weekends to make Educated Vandals at one of the city’s tallest buildings, 2 Low Ousegate.

In a fusion of art and community, not-for-profit York arts organisation Bombsquad will bring together diverse artists to create a live street installation to raise funds and awareness for mental health charity York Mind while “pushing the boundaries of creativity to elevate your senses”.

Unleashing a whirlwind of colour, imagination, storytelling and urban magic from July 15, the event will showcase the talents of internationally acclaimed artists RoWdY, Mighty Mo, Listen04, James Jessop, Mul, Prefab and Dan Cimmermann.

They will be complemented by York artists Sharon McDonagh, Lincoln Lightfoot, BOXXHEAD, Steve Bottrill, SOLA and Michael Dawson plus special guests.

Last year, a Bombsquad Urban and Contemporary Art Timed Auction raised £20,000 for York Food Bank. Now, at this month’s Educated Vandals event, visitors will experience the transformation of the top two floors of the Low Ousegate building ahead of their redevelopment. Both floors will come alive with vibrant street art at this rare creative union of influential artists in the graffiti world.

“Watch them transform an iconic yet unloved and abandoned space into a living, breathing art gallery that reflects the power of street art in creating positive change,” says York artist Sharon McDonagh, one of the organisers.

York artist Sharon McDonagh

“With permission, we’ve taken over two floors of this big empty office block, where some of the top street artists in the country have given their time to create amazing wall pieces and roof art, collaborating with my crew of York artists.

“We open to the public on Saturday from 10am to 6pm and will be open for three weekends. There’ll be some stunning art on the walls, a gallery, a shop and live DJ for the event too.  I don’t think there’s ever been anything like this in York before, not on this scale anyway, with this many headliners.

“York businesses have been so supportive, giving their time and money to ensure that the event is a success. It’s been an amazing experience so far, and we’ve not even opened yet!”

Some of the art installation may be retained by the new developer to enhance the new apartments planned for both floors.

“We believe that art has the power to unite and transform lives,” says Sharon. “The Educated Vandals event is a powerful creative platform to raise awareness about mental health while providing an opportunity for artists to share their talent with the world.

“By harnessing the positive energy of street art, we hope to raise funds and awareness for York Mind to provide a new art space that will help improve mental health in our community. York Mind have been at the forefront of mental health locally since 2011 and their tireless local support makes a real difference to people’s lives.

York artist and Educated Vandals poster designer Lincoln Lightfoot

“By coming together to support York Mind, we can create a lasting impact in the lives of those affected by mental health challenges.”

Educated Vandals will run on July 15 and 16, 21 to 23 and 28 to 30, allowing ample opportunity for art enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the installation.

“The event will provide an interactive and engaging experience with opportunities for visitors to engage with artists, participate in a raffle and explore a wide selection of street art merchandise in our shop with proceeds going to York Mind,” says Sharon. Entry is free but a donation will be encouraged.

To maximise fundraising efforts for York’s mental health resources, an auction of paintings after the event will be held by Tennants Auctioneers. Limited-edition posters signed by all the artists will raise more funds for the charity.

“Join us in this unique experiential event featuring some of the best street artists in the world to create a more promising future for mental health in York,” says Sharon. “To contribute to our fundraising campaign, kindly make a donation on our JustGiving page.”

James Shipley, York Mind’s community and events fundraiser, says: “All of us at York Mind are delighted to have such amazing art work being created in aid of us and for theservices we operate. It’s fantastic to see such inspiring talent and creativity being utilised towards supporting people in York.

“We’d like to thank those at Bombsquad for organising this exhibition, and we can’t wait to see it in person.”

The Bombsquad logo

Bombsquad: the back story

THIS not-for-profit York community arts organisation focuses on street art and enhancing the city’s cultural landscape while raising funds for York charities.

Applying a “grassroots and authentic approach”, its core members bring decades of experience in the art world.

Its inaugural family-friendly outdoor arts event, the free Tempting Fete in June 2021, raised £1,600 in eight hours for York Food Bank. Despite the pandemic, it had a dystopian theme with black bunting, vandalised oil paintings and balloons.

Renowned street artists were invited to create artworks on the venue walls, engaging the local community. In addition, a charity art raffle featured prizes from Banksy, Phlegm, and Sweet Toof. The event included food, music, a bar, a children’s art competition and art for sale too.

Last October, Bombsquad organised Totally Hammered, a charity art auction held in collaboration with Tennants Auctioneers. Thirty-seven artists contributed artworks, and a ticketed fundraising party, where the art was on display, raised more than £20,000 for York Food Bank.

BombSquad comprises five artists and art collectors based in and beyond York.

What is York Mind?

IN 2011, the merger of Our Celebration and York District Mind gave rise to York Mind.

These two organisations had made a significant impact over a combined 84 years by assisting thousands of individuals on their journey towards mental well-being.

As an independent York charity dedicated to mental health, its primary objective is to empower those facing mental illness to embark on a path to recovery.

York Mind believes in the principle that a person should not be defined by their condition. Its recovery model encompasses every facet of a client’s life, encompassing personal, social and professional spheres.

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More Things To Do in York and beyond in the virtual and real world. Here’s Hutch’s List No. 18 for 2023, from The Press, York

Flying Scotsman VR: The virtual reality experience at the National Railway Museum to mark the steam locomotive’s 100th birthday

AS Flying Scotsman meets virtual reality, Charles Hutchinson goes full speed ahead to keep you on the right track for entertainment by rail, on land or indoors.

New attraction of the week: Flying Scotsman VR, National Railway Museum, York

THE new virtual reality experience at the NRM celebrates Flying Scotsman in the iconic steam locomotive’s centenary year, taking visitors on a journey back in time and around the world, bringing the golden age of rail travel to life.

Commissioned by the Science Museum Group and developed in collaboration with Figment Productions and Sarner International, the experience uses free-roaming VR headsets to provide a multi-sensory experience that includes an understanding of how steam locomotion works from inside the boiler. Admission to the NRM is free but a charge does apply for Flying Scotman VR. Booking is advised at railwaymuseum.org.uk.

Steve Cassidy: Back among friends at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre

York stalwart of the week: Steve Cassidy Band, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, Sunday, 7.30pm

THE Steve Cassidy Band and friends perform a selection of rock, country music and ballads, combining something old with something new.

York singer, guitarist and songwriter – and former headmaster – Steve recorded in the 1960s with York-born composer John Barry and pioneering producer Joe Meek. Tomorrow night he is joined by his band members and guests at his favourite theatre. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.

Midge Ure: Synths in synch in Band Electronica concert of two Ultravox albums in full

Retro gig of the week:  Midge Ure & Band Electronica, The Voice And Visions Tour, Grand Opera House, York, Sunday, 7.30pm

ON 2019’s The 1980 Tour, Midge Ure & Band Electronica revisited Ultravox’s Vienna album and Visage’s debut LP. Now, on his twice-rearranged follow-up tour, Voice And Visions, Ure marks the 40th anniversary of Ultravox’s synth-driven, experimental Rage In Eden and Quartet albums. Box office: atgtickets.com.york.

Space exploration: A spaceman lands in York in Lincoln Ligthfoot’s playfully surreal art at the Grand Opera House

Art talk of the week: Lincoln Lightfoot, Grand Opera House, York, Thursday, 6pm

YORK Open Studios 2023 artist Lincoln Lightfoot presents a 90-minute Grand Opera House Creative Learning artist talk and workshop to complement his ongoing exhibition in the Cumberland Street theatre’s box office.

In his retro art, Lincoln explores surrealist concepts reminiscent of the absurdist poster art that captured  the Fifties and Sixties’ B-movie fixation with comical science-fiction disasters, but now played out on the 21st century streets and landmark buildings of York. Tickets:  atgtickets.com/york.

Gary Meikle: Expressing his loathing of stupid questions in 2.5 comedy show at York Barbican

Likely to cause a stir: Gary Meikle, 2.5, York Barbican, Friday, 8pm

SCOTTISH comedian Gary Meikle returns to York Barbican with his third live show, or 2.5 as he calls it. Top professionals and industry people may have advised him not to be so crude or edgy, but “as a kid growing up in the care system, I was told that I’d be either dead or in jail by the time I was 30, so I tend not to listen to others and do things my way,” he says.

In a “continued celebration of me being me” in defiance of cancel culture, Meikle discusses equality between the sexes, medication side effects, his loathing of stupid questions  and “how our ancestors were idiots”. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.

Guy Masterson: One actor, 69 roles in Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood at Theatre@41

Tour de force of the week: Guy Masterson, Under Milk Wood, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, Friday, 7.30pm

CELEBRATING the 70th anniversary of Under Milk Wood, Olivier Award winner Guy Masterson portrays one day in the life of Llareggub, a fictional town by the sea somewhere in Wales, as he assiduously conjures up all 69 of Dylan Thomas’s ebullient inhabitants in a feat of memory and physical virtuosity.

Complemented by Matt Clifford’s soundscape, Under Milk Wood is bawdy and beautiful, sad and sensual and, through the music of language, leaves indelible, unforgettable images of humanity. Masterson, Richard Burton’s nephew by the way, has clocked up more than  2,000 performances, from Swansea to the West End, Trinidad to New Zealand, over 30 years. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Jessica Steel: Showcasing debut album Higher Frequencies at The Crescent

Made of Steel: Jessica Steel, The Crescent, York, May 7, 7.30pm

YORK powerhouse singer Jessica Steel performs her October 2022 debut album, Higher Frequencies, in full for the first time.

A fixture at Big Ian Donaghy’s A Night To Remember charity concerts at York Barbican, hairdressing salon boss Jessica made the album with songwriter-producer Andy Firth, late of the Britpop band The Dandys. “There’s an interesting contrast between uplifting music and sad lyrics throughout the album, as well as a recurring theme of finding hope through adversity,” she says. Box office: thecrescentyork.com.

Lloyd Cole: First York gig in 23 years

Commotion incoming: Lloyd Cole, York Barbican, October 17

LLOYD Cole will team up with former Commotions compadres Blair Cowan and Neil Clark at York Barbican for the only Yorkshire gig of his 17-date autumn tour to showcase his 12th solo album, On Pain, set for release on June 23.

On his first York appearance since a solo show at Fibbers in May 2000, Cole will play two sets, the first acoustic, the second, electric with the band. Box office: lloydcole.com/live or yorkbarbican.co.uk.

In Focus: Tim Crouch, Truth’s A Dog Must To Kennel, York International Shakespeare Festival, York St John University Creative Centre, tonight, 8pm

Tim Crouch: King Lear and a virtual reality head set combine in Truth’s A Dog Must To Kennel at York International Shakespeare Festival. Picture: Stuart Armitt

TIM Crouch’s 2022 Edinburgh Fringe First winner plays the York International Shakespeare Festival after visiting New York and playing a London season.

Taking on the character of The Fool, Shakespeare’s King Lear meets stand-up comedy meets the metaverse as Crouch dons a virtual reality headset to explore Lear in a post-pandemic world and interrogate theatrical form and the essence of live performance.

“It’s reductive to say I have a favourite Shakespeare play: King Lear. They’re all great but I have a relationship with this play that goes a little deeper,” says the Bognor Regis-born experimental theatre maker, actor, playwright and director, whose work rejects theatrical convention, especially realism, and invites audiences to participate in each performance’s creation.

“I played Lear at university [Bristol] at a King Lear Symposium at Ferrara in northern Italy, at the age of 20, which is a little young! I then directed a 90-minute production for the Royal Shakespeare Company ten years ago.”

The play contains everything, he contends. “Complex relationships. Love. Madness. Families.  Obscene wealth and the hypocrisy of wealth. Towards the end, Lear becomes a socialist champion. He has this moment of enlightenment, realising that everything on top of that is superfluous,” says Tim.

“This egotistical figure has his power removed, his ego removed, discovering compassion in the truest sense.”

Tim then refracted King Lear through the Covid shroud of the past three years. “I also saw Lear in Trump and in some degree in Boris Johnson, seeing the world governed by egomaniacs, of which Lear is an example,” he says.

“Or like Succession [the television series about a wealthy family at war], where Brian Cox plays this grotesque maniacal figure. It’s Rupert Murdoch really!”

Tim views King Lear through the eyes of The Fool. “He doesn’t have a name; he’s slightly mysterious, he’s depressed and he leaves before the end of the play, before anyone has been killed,” he notes.

“He just disappears, and I’m fascinated by people leaving, just getting up and going, so I dramatise his moment of departure in this show.”

“What would a contemporary Shakespearean Fool be? I think it would be Stewart Lee,” says Tim Crouch

Tim exposes King Lear through a modern lens. “I don’t know what’s gone wrong with the world. Maybe it was always this way, but there are these deep schisms that are dividing the world. Men like Trump,” he says. “Playing this show in New York was extraordinary! Over here, there is civil war in Brexit, just as there is civil war in Lear’s family.”

Experiencing theatre only digitally during the pandemic has had an impact on his show too. “As a theatre maker, my passion for live theatre was exacerbated by lockdown when you could only watch theatre online,” says Tim.

“’Live theatre’ is tautological because, to me, theatre is only live, whereas in the pandemic, we had an image of theatre that was only on a screen, so that prompted me to put on a virtual reality headset at times in this play.”

What happens then? “The conceit of this piece is that I take The Fool back to the point of his departure, and now he will witness his exit, the blinding of Gloucester and what I think is the most powerful scene in theatre ever: the Dover cliffs scene where the blinded Gloucester’s imagination is brought into play through his son’s act of imagination, saving his father,” says Tim.

“Theatre is an adult form of imagination, taking us to a different place and learning from that journey, but keeping us safe while doing that. Shakespeare’s lines are very precise; they are an invitation to see what I see through language, to then narrate The Fool’s return through this middle-aged bald guy [Tim is 59] in a headset, that people will experience through their ears.”

Stand-up comedy features in Tim’s performance too. “That’s partly a nod to The Fool, wondering wondering ‘what would a contemporary Fool be’? I think it would be Stewart Lee, a comedian who doesn’t have an agent and does no social media,” he says.

“I don’t claim to be a stand-up but use the form to say things about the experience of being together in a room. When we’re in the same place at the same time, just look at how brilliant and transformative we can be through using our mind, our body, our imagination.

“But theatre is increasingly becoming the preserve of the wealthy, though the imagination dematerialises that, not succumbing to any socio-economic structure. Children have the greatest imagination, but sadly that then gets replaced with wanting to be TV stars and wanting to make money.”

Assessing the “international” in the York International Shakespeare Festival, Tim says: “The thing that I’m endlessly inspired by is that Shakespeare does and yet doesn’t exist in his plays when there’s now a thirst for autobiographical and biographical plays, which limits them.

“Whereas there’s a quality to his work and to the work of many playwrights of that time who didn’t nail their colours to one mast and can be interpreted by each age, nationality and culture. There’s an objectivity to these plays that requires whoever does a production to find themselves in them – which should be the case with every play, I think.”

Box office: yorkshakes.co.uk.

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Drama at Grand Opera House as aliens take over box office. Lincoln Lightfoot is at large

Creature From The Bottom Of The Ouse, by Lincoln Lightfoot

ALIENS, dinosaurs and King Kong invade the Grand Opera House box office as York artist Lincoln Lightfoot explores surrealist concepts reminiscent of the absurdist poster art for the Fifties and Sixties’ B-movie fixation with comical science-fiction disasters.

Depicting unusual happenings with large beasts, staged in familiar settings and on iconic architecture, from York Minster to the Angel of the North, Lightfoot’s artwork escapes from everyday problems to tap into the fears perpetuated by the news media and politicians alike in a post Covid-19 world.

Lightfoot’s paintings parody religious apocalyptic scenes circa 1800, such as the work of John Martin, while his storybook illustrations explore detailed pen work and bright block colour.

Lightfoot’s journey into the fantastical began while studying Fine Art at York St John University. After achieving a PGCE in art, craft and design and leading an art & design department in a north-eastern school, he is pursuing his love for art and the surreal full time, showcasing his work in such York exhibitions as Under Siege and Revelation. Now his paintings are just the ticket for theatregoers in Cumberland Street.

York artist LIncoln Lightfoot with his alien artwork at his 2022 exhibition, Revelation, at Micklegate Social, York. Now his creatures from beyond are moving into the theatre world

As past and future collide in Lincoln Lightfoot’s art for today, CharlesHutchPress heads out into the maelstrom to track down the visionary artist among the marauding T-Rex

What inspired such nightmare visions of York and the north in your paintings, Lincoln?

“During the late B-Movie era, the Cold War kept us in perpetual fear of extinction from nuclear Armageddon until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet bloc.

“Today we have growing similarities re-emerging due to the conflict in the Ukraine, which threatens to spill over into the wider world.  Through engagement with art, we can deal with these nightmares.

“Children confront and make sense of a dangerous world through stories and rhymes and are taught of danger through the safe spaces of literature and illustration, which deal with anecdote and myth.”

How does your art respond to that world?

“My artworks attempt to highlight these fears through a safe and comical lens. Juxtaposed with scenes of our storybook city, it’s not hard to imagine incredible things happening in this part of the world because they already have. 

“Walking through York’s streets and passageways, our past heritage resonates in the present. Popular with shoppers and scholars alike, high art co-exists with popular culture.”

How did this Grand Opera House exhibition come about?

“I was fortunate enough to be approached by Allie Long, who works for the Opera House. She invited me to exhibit. She has a collection of my work at home, and when the opportunity arose to fill the box office with artwork, she thought my work would be a good fit. On show is a collection of three large oil paintings from my Revelation exhibition that showed at Micklegate Social last May.”

Close Encounters, by Lincoln Lightfoot

Do you go to the theatre…or are you more of a movie man, given that your images have a cinematic quality?

“As a child I attended a lot of theatre productions. My dad was heavily involved in theatrical groups and my brother and I attended Stagecoach, where we would have drama, dance and singing lessons.

“It opened many doors for me and I had the opportunity to perform as one of the Snow Children in Carousel at the Darlington Hippodrome Theatre and did some smaller production too.

“Unfortunately, it failed to make any sort of long-term impact, but I do still enjoy going to the theatre. I would say that I’m probably more of a movie man, but this may be down to the accessibility and what can be achieved in film. I still really enjoy the theatre and intend to attend more.”

What exhibitions are coming up for you in 2023?  York Open Studios, perhaps?

“Yes, I’ll be taking part in York Open Studios 2023! This should be an opportunity for visitors to my studio, in Brunswick Street, to engage with some new large paintings!

“I’m hoping to have a large solo exhibition in the summer, which will debut a new series, alongside some old favourites and potentially some 3D pieces. I’m toying with a couple of venues but need a large space. Any one of the empty buildings in town would be amazing, so if anyone has any venue ideas, please get in touch via lincoln.lightfoot@hotmail.co.uk.

“I also have work exhibiting alongside two more York artists in The Arthouse [fellow artist Sharon McDonagh’s holiday let in a Victorian terraced house in Railway Terrace, Holgate, York].”

You are developing a new series of works created in oil on circular boards. What do you like about this design shape?  

“I’ve chosen to pursue creating circular pieces as initially this was something new and exciting that I haven’t attempted before. I feel that the circle has certain biblical connotations and hope that it will lend itself to a heightened sense of mystery.

Land Of The Lost, by Lincoln Lightfoot

“I’m even toying with the idea of incorporating gold leaf into those sickly yellow skies but am yet to experiment with this. A lot of these pieces will involve writhing tentacles and the circular shape should complement the rhythm created within.

“I initially came up with the idea when studying Caravaggio’s Medusa’. I’m hoping to replicate some of the style without the violence. Any violence would merely be suggested. I’m still hoping to suggest science-fiction comedy.

“I’ve fallen in love with the 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea poster and now have the French version hanging in my bathroom. I’m sure this will inspire some of the imagery.”

How does the circular differ in impact from the rectangular? 

“The use of circular boards breaks away from the expected. You’re immediately dealing with different rules of composition. What is aesthetically pleasing in a rectangle may not be in a circle and vice versa, for example.”

Will the design influence the subject matter too?

“I’m intending to return to and improve a successful line of illustrations, which I’ve informally entitled the ‘It Came From…’ series. So, there’ll be some familiar ideas and imagery but hopefully executed in a more compelling way. There’ll also be some new ideas too.”

Under what title will you exhibit these new works?

“I’m hoping to show them under the title ‘Encircled’ (inspired, I know!) this summer. I do have a number of venues in mind. I love the space in the Den at Micklegate Social and feel it fits the vibe of my work extremely well.

“It may be that these circular pieces make their debuts as Encircled and that my entire collection is exhibited in a large gallery setting alongside illustration, large murals and 3D pieces.”

Lincoln Lightfoot is exhibiting in the Grand Opera House box office, in Cumberland Street, York, until May 31. The box office is open 90 minutes before each show.

NEWSFLASH: 20/4/2023

LINCOLN Lightfoot will present a 90-minute Grand Opera House Creative Learning artist talk and workshop on May 4 at 6pm. Tickets can be booked at: atgtickets.com/shows/artist-talk-and-workshop-with-lincoln-lightfoot/grand-opera-house-york/.