Hilarity Bites Festival Special 2026
2026-07-07 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Hilarity Bites returns to Ripon Arts Hub with a special show for Ripon Theatre Festival, featuring two stars of Live at the Apollo, QI, and Have I Got News For You – Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ignacio Lopez.
Welsh comedian Kiri is a multi-award winning comedian, satirist and writer. She regularly co-hosts Loose Ends, guest hosted The News Quiz and her own Radio 4 panel show, Best Medicine. Kiri is co-creator and co-host of cult hit All Killa No Filla, a podcast about serial killers that has a huge following worldwide.
“An increasingly impressive comic, making powerhouse stand-up from the thorniest of subjects” – The Guardian

Ignacio wows audiences internationally with his individual style and high gag-rate. A crazy mixture of Welsh & Spanish he has become one of the most unique voices on the UK circuit.
“Charming, charismatic, hilarious. Will have you leaving with a smile on your face” –Deadline News

Note: Line-ups are subject to change in extreme, and unavoidable, circumstances.
Show may contain strong language and adult themes.
Doors 7.30pm, Show starts 8pm
Ticket price: £15

Pub Tales at King William IV
2026-07-08 19:00 - 20:30 | King William IV Pub, 10 Blossomgate, Ripon, HG4 2AJ, United Kingdom
Join comedy musician Chris Sainton-Clark as he takes you through his troublesome and hilarious experiences of working in British pubs. Hear stories of compulsive liars, disruptive youths, clinical over-sharers, fruit machine addicts and much more. Each of these songs has a satirical outlook on British pub culture that will leave you thinking, ‘I know that person’ or maybe… ‘I am that person’.
Armed with just a guitar, a whole lot of sarcasm, swearing and many musical stories, Pub Tales is sure to keep you entertained.
Chris is a multi award-winning actor and musician. In the couple of years since Chris started writing these songs, he has sold out his first comedy club performance as well as completely selling out his New Zealand tour.
Age Guide 14+
Tickets £12

Pub Tales at The Ripon Inn
2026-07-09 20:00 - 21:30 | The Ripon Inn, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2BU

Ye Birdz
2026-07-11 10:00 - 10:40 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
A magical walkabout act featuring stunning stilt costumes, live percussion and a soundtrack by BORG. Two beautiful birds have travelled far from a time long, long ago.
In search of song and dance and drums and a meadow where yellow flowers grow.
On their way a drummer they found who vowed to tag along and entertain the people they meet with drums and dance and song!
Presented by Chicks on Sticks
About the performers:
Chicks on Sticks provides stilt walkers, living statues, fire acts, walkabout performers, and children’s workshops. Its stilt walkers bring excitement and high visibility to festivals, wearing exuberant and colourful costumes that stand out above the crowd.
Rachel Hyde, Creative Director, previously left a career in graphic design to pursue life in the circus, where she tours extensively performing trapeze and aerial acts worldwide, as well as creating costumes and devising performances.
FREE EVENT
10-10.40am Ripon City Centre
11.45am-12.25pm Kirkgate
3.15-3.55pm Kirkgate

Big Family Weekend: Saturday
2026-07-11 10:00 - 20:00 | Ripon City Centre (Various locations), Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Walkabout acts, crazy characters, circus and clowning bring the streets and open spaces of Ripon to life throughout the day.
Spend the day in Ripon soaking up the atmosphere – the best in street theatre, circus, dance, magic and fun.
Professional acts come together with community performers.
Performances will be staged at Ripon Market Place, Minster Gardens (in front of the Courthouse Museum), on Ripon Cathedral Forecourt and on Kirkgate.
All events are FREE.
For the full programme with timings and locations visit Saturday’s schedule.

Do What Ya Mamma Told Ya!
Comedy circus and cooking from mother and daughter duo. A joyous journey of plate spinning, food juggling and fire blazing! Will clumsy assistant, Tiny T finally get to taste the food? A feast of food fusion across geography and generations. Presented by Just More Productions.

Out of the Blue
All the way from Turin! Wash away your troubles with the wonderfully subversive and interactive circus show by leading Italian female clown Fra Martó all about doing the laundry. Immerse yourself in laughter and bubbles. Never has trying to keep the house clean been so much fun. Presented by Fra Marto.

The Lost Bus to Ripon
An interactive audio show for kids, their grown ups and grown ups who still think they’re kids. Hop on board, pop on some headphones and enjoy the adventure! Gary the driver is always getting lost – where on Earth will we end up next? Don’t worry – Mike the Conductor is there to help.
Performed inside a stationary vintage bus generously supplied by The Last Stop, Bedale. Presented by Ragged Edge Productions.

Ye Birdz

A magical walkabout act featuring stunning stilt costumes, live percussion and a soundtrack by BORG. Two beautiful birds have travelled far from a time long, long ago. In search of song and dance and drums and a meadow where yellow flowers grow. On their way a drummer they found who vowed to tag along and entertain the people they meet with drums and dance and song! Presented by Chicks on Sticks.

Copyright of Mike Jarman Photography
Around the World with Phileas Fogg: Day 79
Join Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout as they attempt to circumnavigate the world in just 80 days. The year is 1872 and it’s day 79 of the journey. Our intrepid adventurers are just hours away from crossing the finish line, if they can just coerce their hot air balloons to go in the right direction they stand to win a grand prize.
Presented by Dizzy O’Dare.

The Museum of Memorable Trees
Let the curator guide you around this miniature exhibition on wheels. Discover amazing stories of great trees that have woven themselves into people’s lives and memories. Listen to evocative tales and calming soundscapes as you explore behind every door. There’s plenty of space left, have you got a fantastic tree you can add to the museum?
Presented by Harry Pizzey.

Tony and Ray Find Their Feet
Friendship, rivalry, work tools, tomfoolery and dance as a pair of workers become distracted from their tasks. Mixing slapstick, eccentric dance, silent clowning and squeak wrangling, the show reimagines vaudeville and silent film traditions for audiences today.
Unexpected, uplifting and undeniably funny.
Presented by Rudkin and Hicks

Count Ocular
A captivating, gothic vaudeville piece for the whole family like no other, featuring table-top puppetry, close-up magic and enchanting original music to transport audiences back to the bizarre delights of vaudeville and variety. Join the loveable enigma that is Count Ocular as he defies the laws of physics through laughter, skill and mystery.
Presented by Tatwood Puppets.

Frankie Magilligan
With his incredible smile and impeccable fashion sense, Frankie will leave you in stitches with his hilarious antics and incredible juggling skills. And if that wasn’t enough, he’ll be performing on the tallest unicycle in Ireland. The perfect combination of skill, humour, and style – Frankie will have you on the edge of your seat.
Presented by Tall Paul.

Hodman and Sally
Enchanting and heart-warming puppetry walkabout. Hodman and Sally have lived happily by themselves for hundreds of years, blissfully unaware of the changing world around them. Now they have ventured out in search of fame, fortune and friendship, enjoying a second youth touring the world with their possessions strapped to their backs.
Presented by The Flying Buttresses.

Kirkgate Street Party
The festival fun goes on with local musicians performing 4-8pm. Enjoy a meal nearby or an al fresco drink before taking in another show. Presented in partnership with Ripon Open Mic Night.
Sponsored by The Portly Pig.

Plus a line-up of community performers from across the region, including:

400 Roses
All for One Choir
Calle Oche
Grace Hughes
Hampsthwaite Primary School
HG33 band
Janice Hopkinson
Lily Worth
Ripon Dance Academy
Ripon Youth Theatre
Skellsiders
Slubbing Billy’s Morris
Somewhere Road
St Aelred’s Irish Dance
The Music Bank, Knaresborough
The Workhouse Walkabouts (Ripon Museums Theatre Group)
Yorkshire CREATE
Yorkshire Voices

Around the World with Phileas Fogg: Day 79
2026-07-11 10:15 - 10:45, 2026-07-11 14:30 - 15:00 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, United Kingdom
Join Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout as they attempt to circumnavigate the world in just 80 days. The year is 1872 and it’s day 79 of the journey. Our intrepid adventurers are just hours away from crossing the finish line, if they can just coerce their hot air balloons to go in the right direction they stand to win a grand prize.
From the makers of Baba Yaga’s House, The Giant Balloon Show (a hit at RTF 2024), The Tiny Travelling Tightwire Show and Falconry Dismay comes a hilarious roam-about fusing modern technology and the classic adventure novel by Jules Verne.
Presented by Dizzy O’Dare
About the performers:
From the weird to the wonderful, the silly to the sublime. The company has produced over 20 shows and walkabouts, toured extensively and delighting audiences across the globe.
Dizzy O’Dare was formed by Alana Jones and Michael Imerson. After meeting while filming one of Michael’s short films they started working together, Alana as the only female pofessional tightwire dancer in the UK at the time and Michael as her guitarist. This relationship soon led to the creation of ‘From the Inky Deep’ an ambitious circus show in 2009 for the Medway Fuse Festival and the company was born.
Alana Jones gained a degree in Dance Theatre at Laban, and then went on to gain a second degree in Circus Theatre at The Circus Space, specialising in tightwire.
FREE EVENT
10-15am 10.45am Kirkgate
12.00pm -12.30pm Market Place
2.30pm – 3.00pm Kirkgate

Frankie Magilligan
2026-07-11 10:15 - 10:50, 2026-07-11 13:30 - 14:05 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
The man, the myth…the leg end!
Hailing from the North Coast of Ireland, Frankie has packed his lunch box, filled his flask and given his teeth and extra special polish!
A show filled with comedy, juggling, music and the tallest unicycle in Ireland!
Farmers weekly – “Frankie has recently acquired the national trust endorsement as an area of outstanding natural beauty”.
Festival of Fools – “Like a piece of art he should be hung in a gallery for all to see”.
Presented by Tall Paul
FREE EVENT
10-15am – 10.50am Marketplace
1.30pm – 2.05pm Marketplace

The Lost Bus
2026-07-11 11:00 - 11:30, 2026-07-11 12:00 - 12:30, 2026-07-11 14:00 - 14:30, 2026-07-11 15:00 - 15:30 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, United Kingdom
An Audio Adventure from Ragged Edge Productions
An interactive audio show for kids, their grown ups and grown ups who still think they’re kids.
Hop on board, pop on some headphones and enjoy the adventure!
Gary the driver is always getting lost – where on Earth will we end up next? Don’t worry – Mike the Conductor is there to help.
A fun adventure in sound for everyone to join in with.
Please note: children must be accompanied by an adult.
The bus is stationary throughout – even if the story takes us elsewhere!
About the company:
Ragged Edge Productions is a Cumbrian-based theatre company dedicated to creating entertaining and engaging theatrical shows that reflect and celebrate life in its region and across the North. The company tours its productions to community venues throughout the country, reaching audiences in rural areas, towns, and cities.
About the bus:
Vintage coach and mobile bar hire from The Last Stop in Bedale.
The lovely vintage bus is a 1947 Leyland Tiger PS1 Half Cab with a Plaxton body. It was the first chassis of the production line after the second world war. It has 33 seats.
FREE EVENT
11.00am 11.30am Kirkgate
12.00pm -12.30pm Kirkgate
2.00pm – 2.30pm Kirkgate
3.00pm – 3.30pm Kirkgate

Out of the Blue
2026-07-11 11:00 - 11:45, 2026-07-11 14:15 - 15:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Out of the Blue
Fra Martó
All the way from Turin! Wash away your troubles and immerse yourself in laundry, laughter and bubbles with Italy’s leading female clown. Never has trying to keep the house clean been so much fun.
About the performer:
After studying Art History at the University of Bologna, Francesca joined the Circus World, first at Carampa Circus School in Madrid and then graduated in Circus Arts at theNational Centre for Circus Arts, London in 2007 and has been working as a performer since then.
She specialized in clowning and juggling with many maestros: Fraser Hooper, Mick Barnfather, Philippe Gaulier, Angela de Castro,…just to name a few.
FREE EVENT
11.00am 11.45am Market Place
12.30pm -1.10pm Kirkgate (walkabout version)
2.15pm – 3.00pm Market Place

Count Ocular
2026-07-11 11:15 - 11:30, 2026-07-11 13:45 - 14:00 | Minster Gardens, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
A captivating, gothic vaudeville piece for the whole family like no other, featuring table-top puppetry, close-up magic and enchanting original music to transport audiences back to the bizarre delights of vaudeville and variety. Join the loveable enigma that is Count Ocular as he defies the laws of physics through laughter, skill and mystery.
Presented by Tatwood Puppets
About the performers:
Born from a love of puppetry and music, Tatwood Puppets have been creating weird and wonderful visual theatre since 2017. specialising in marionettes, original music, table-top puppetry and stage magic. Tatwood is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK but is available for touring nationwide and internationally.
FREE EVENT
11.15am 11.30am Minister Gardens
12.00pm -12.45pm Ripon City Centre (Various)
1.45pm – 2.00pm Minster Gardens

Ye Birdz
2026-07-11 11:45 - 12:25, 2026-07-11 15:15 - 15:55 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, United Kingdom

Around the World with Phileas Fogg: Day 79
2026-07-11 12:00 - 12:30 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom

Count Ocular
2026-07-11 12:00 - 12:45 | Ripon City Centre (Various locations), Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom

Do What Ya Mamma Told Ya!
2026-07-11 12:15 - 12:45, 2026-07-11 15:00 - 15:30 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Comedy circus and cooking from mother and daughter duo. A joyous journey of plate spinning, food juggling and fire blazing! Will clumsy assistant, Tiny T finally get to taste the food? A feast of food fusion across geography and generations.
Presented by Just More Productions
About Just More Productions:
Just More Productions is a physical theatre & circus company, using food history and circus to educate and entertain, vibrant and friendly performances, bringing culture and communities together.
This is a genuine mother/daughter collaboration. The company have a close relationship having toured together in Nofitstate Circus from the early years – in 2005. Blaze was just 15 when her mum the cook ran away with the circus. Having both toured it was then time to bring the family kitchen and its recipes to life!
FREE EVENT
12.15pm -12.45pm Market Place
3.00pm – 3.30pm Market Place

Out of the Blue (Walkabout)
2026-07-11 12:30 - 13:15 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, United Kingdom
Out of the Blue (Walkabout)
Italian clown Fra Martó brings her laundry with her – laughter and bubbles on the move.
About the performer:
After studying Art History at the University of Bologna, Francesca joined the Circus World, first at Carampa Circus School in Madrid and then graduated in Circus Arts at theNational Centre for Circus Arts, London in 2007 and has been working as a performer since then.
She specialized in clowning and juggling with many maestros: Fraser Hooper, Mick Barnfather, Philippe Gaulier, Angela de Castro,…just to name a few.
Catch the full Out of the Blue show in the Market Place at 11am and 2.15pm
FREE EVENT
12.30pm -1.15pm Kirkgate

Hodman and Sally
2026-07-11 12:45 - 13:15, 2026-07-11 15:30 - 16:00 | Ripon City Centre (Various locations), Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Enchanting and heart-warming puppetry walkabout. Hodman and Sally have lived happily by themselves for hundreds of years, blissfully unaware of the changing world around them. Now they have ventured out in search of fame, fortune and friendship, enjoying a second youth touring the world with their possessions strapped to their backs.
Presented by The Flying Buttresses
About the performers:
Danielle Richards and Rupert Parry met when studying theatre and formed The Flying Buttresses in 2001. They found they shared a love of making people laugh and making rubber monsters. Their highly detailed and expertly crafted creations are brought to life by their skills in improvised comedy, puppetry performance and characterisation.
FREE EVENT
12.45pm -1.15pm Ripon City Centre
2.00pm – 2.15pm Kirkgate
3.30pm – 4.00pm Ripon City Center

Tony and Ray Find Their Feet
2026-07-11 12:45 - 13:25, 2026-07-11 15:15 - 15:55 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Friendship, rivalry, work tools, tomfoolery and dance as a pair of workers become distracted from their tasks. Slapstick, eccentric dance, clowning and squeak wrangling inspired by the golden era of silent movies and comedy double acts. Unexpected, uplifting and undeniably funny.
Presented by Rudkin and Hicks
About the performers:
Rudkin & Hicks is a physical comedy and street theatre duo consisting of Matt Rudkin and Jon Hicks. Drawing inspiration from traditional Vaudeville and Variety acts, they are known for their wordless performances that blend eccentric dance, props, and comedic storytelling.
Based in Brighton, Rudkin is a versatile theatre maker with a background in art and design. His career includes drumming, puppetry, and clown training with Philippe Gaulier.
A seasoned performer and “dynamic speed painter,” Hicks has appeared on television programmes like The Graham Norton Show. He is known for combining magic, juggling, and bizarre contraptions in his solo and collaborative work.
FREE EVENT
12.45pm -1.25pm Market Place
3.15pm – 3.55pm Market Place

Hodman and Sally
2026-07-11 14:00 - 14:15 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, United Kingdom

Astro Norma (Walkabout)
2026-07-11 14:00 - 14:30 | Ripon City Centre (Various locations), Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Meet Norma from Fladam Theatre’s intergalactic musical adventure as she explores the streets of Ripon.
FREE EVENT
2.00 -2.30pm The Arcade and City Centre
Fladam are performing Astro Norma and the Cosmic Piano in Ripon Library at 10.30am and 12 noon in Ripon Library.
