Ripon Theatre Festival

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

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

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

Frankie Magilligan
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

Count Ocular
2026-07-11 13:45 - 14:00 | Minster Gardens, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom

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

The Lost Bus
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

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.

Out of the Blue
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

Around the World with Phileas Fogg: Day 79
2026-07-11 14:30 - 15:00 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, United Kingdom

Ye Birdz
2026-07-11 15:15 - 15:55 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, 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

Frankie Magilligan
2026-07-12 10:00 - 10:35 | 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
10.00am – 10.35am Little Bird Market
11.45am – 12.20pm Ripon Spa Gardens

The Rubbish Shakespeare Company: Romeo & Juliet
2026-07-12 11:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Romeo and Juliet
Rubbish Shakespeare Company
Enemies. Balconies. Kissing… SAUSAGE ROLLS!!??
Three hapless idiots perform Shakespeare’s famous tragedy using nothing but tatty wigs and a burst airbed they found by the bins. This frenetic 60 mins of fourth-wall-breaking, ludicrous action features clowning, slapstick, and mischievous storytelling, ensuring everyone from 5 to 105 knows what’s going on!
This isn’t boring Shakespeare – it’s bonkers!
Suitable for ALL AGES!
Described as ‘like Horrible Histories but funnier’ (Primary Times), the ‘delightfully wacky’ Rubbish Shakespeare Company present an anarchically joyous, family-friendly treat.
Featuring clowning, slapstick and mischievously interactive storytelling, this ‘side-splittingly funny’ (The List) tragedy is the perfect introduction to Shakespeare – or even theatre itself!
‘A genius way to bring the Bard to fresh audiences’ West End Best Friend
‘It’s pure rubbish… and you’ll love every minute’ Wee Review
About the performers:
The Rubbish Shakespeare Company (or RubSC, if you’re in a hurry) is a family-friendly theatre company with a passion for Theatre and Creative Education. Their mission is to prove that Shakespeare isn’t rubbish – he’s brilliant, bold, and a bit bonkers – just like them!
It all started in 2007, when three drama graduates from Liverpool John Moores University decided that Shakespeare needed a shake-up. Since then, they’ve toured the UK (and beyond!), turning classrooms and community halls into raucous arenas of rhyme, rhythm, and ridiculousness. What began as a passion project is now a full-blown mission: to make Shakespeare fun, fearless, and fantastically accessible for all.
FREE EVENT
11.15am-12.15pm Ripon Spa Gardens
2.00-3.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Frankie Magilligan
2026-07-12 11:45 - 12:20 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom

The Soapsud Sisters
2026-07-12 13:15 - 13:45, 2026-07-12 15:00 - 15:30 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
‘Here come the girls!’
Pair up your socks, dig out your delicates, separate your silks, it’s laundry time with the magnificent SOAPSUD SISTERS, Rhubarb Theatre’s latest festival show for 2025.
Join our bubbly beauties as they take you for a spin through a washing cycle like no other.
Presented by Rhubarb Theatre Company
About the performers:
Rhubarb Theatre have been RTF regulars since 2023.
Kirsty’s professional acting career began with Pimlico Opera, performing in prisons, schools and on the London Fringe. She trained in the performing arts at Middlesex University and toured to Edinburgh Festival, performing with companies such as Great Eastern Stage.
Returning to Lincolnshire, Kirsty set up Rhubarb Theatre with Philip in 2000, and has since been involved in a huge variety of roles for Rhubarb’s shows and projects – creating, directing, acting, prop & mask making, storytelling, making audio recordings and even writing children’s story books.
Artistic Director, Philip has been treading the boards ever since he can remember, touring with numerous theatre companies and creating Rhubarb Theatre with his partner and fellow performer Kirsty.
As a professional performer, his skills include mask, physical comedy and improvisation. His personal highlights with Rhubarb include becoming the first ever Lincolnshire-based theatre company to be accepted onto the professional Rural Touring Scheme, and travelling to Australia to devise with, and direct, the award-winning theatre company KUSH CABARET which culminated in performances at the prestigious National Museum of Art in Sydney.
FREE EVENT
1.15am-1.45pm Ripon Spa Gardens
3.00-3.30pm Ripon Spa Gardens

No Strings Attached - A Puppet Cabaret
2026-07-12 20:00 - 21:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
An evening of song and sketches and some surprises, all performed by talented puppets with help from local community performers and Puppet Power North.

Join the Festival Team, friends and volunteers for a fun finish to Festival week.

Puppet Power North (PPN) is led by Mark Edwards who has honed his puppetry skills over the last decade working with amateur societies, schools and youth groups. Mark has been in education for over 35 years and has used puppets throughout his time as an educator. After being inspired through a Noda summer school course he has for the last 10 years developed puppet workshops for young people and adults. For the last 20 years he has directed musicals for a number of local amateur operatic societies. 2024 saw him direct a production of Avenue Q.

Age Guide 10+

Tickets £10
