Ripon Theatre Festival

Slubbing Billy's
2025-07-06 11:00 - 11:30 UTC | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
“We are The Slubbing Billy’s, a mixed Morris side dancing in the North West style. We dance in clogs , and bowler hats decorated with fresh flowers. Our large bass drum keeps us in time and our musicians play traditional folk dance tunes. In purple kit , sticks and bells we put on a colourful energetic display.”
The Slubbing Billy’s will also be dancing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt and in Ripon Market Place.
FREE EVENT
11-11.30am Ripon Market Place (Little Bird Artisan Market)
2.45-3.15pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Cricket on the Hearth
2025-07-06 11:30 - 12:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Cricket on the Hearth is an Appalachian step dancing team that meets in St. John’s Church Hall, Harrogate, HG1 3DT, on Sundays at 6.30pm to 8pm. We are a mixed side and dance mostly to American old time music played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin. New members – dancers and musicians – are welcome. If interested, please contact Stella by email, sfzealand@hotmail.co.uk
FREE EVENT
11.30-12noon Ripon Spa Gardens

Ripon Goes to Bollywood
2025-07-06 11:30 - 12:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Ripon goes to Bollywood is an inclusive dance group led by Sarita McDermott. The group started dancing together after the last lockdown and meet weekly. They perform at events and festivals in Ripon throughout the year.
This style of dancing is Indian Kathak dancing. It expresses emotions through story telling, and connects the body to the mind. Great for exercise and wellbeing. The group is very excited to perform in the festival.
FREE EVENT
11.30am-12noon Little Bird Market

Ripon Dance Academy
2025-07-06 12:00 - 12:30 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Ripon Dance Academy offers high quality dance training in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Acro. Classes are offered from pre school to 18 and pupils have the opportunity to take part in IDTA examinations, full school shows and dance festivals.
RDA will also be performing on Sunday at the Little Bird Artisan Market from 2.30-3pm and on Saturday at Minster Gardens from 1.15-1.45pm
FREE EVENT
12-12.30pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Medusa
2025-07-06 14:00 - 14:30 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Medusa Gothic Morris are a small Knaresborough-based dance team bringing elegance and Gothic mystery to the art of Morris dancing, with black kit and purple hankies, and tunes in a minor key. They would welcome new dancers (no experience necessary) and musicians. To join us, contact Sally on 01423 868753 or email spolem@hotmail.com
FREE EVENT
2-2.30pm Ripon Market Place (Little Bird Artisan Market)

Ripon Dance Academy
2025-07-06 14:30 - 15:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Ripon Dance Academy offers high quality dance training in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Acro. Classes are offered from pre school to 18 and pupils have the opportunity to take part in IDTA examinations, full school shows and dance festivals.
RDA will also be performing on Sunday at Ripon Spa Gardens from 10-10.30am and on Saturday at Minster Gardens from 1.15-1.45pm
FREE EVENT
2.30-3pm Ripon Market Place (Little Bird Artisan Market)

Slubbing Billy's
2025-07-06 14:45 - 15:15 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom

Morris Dance from 400 Roses & Slubbing Billy's
2026-07-11 09:45 - 10:15, 2026-07-11 16:00 - 16:30 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Formed in 2005, the 400 Roses are a unique dance troupe, that combine Tribal Belly Dance with UK-style Folk and Morris Dance.
The Black, Red and White themed costumes use an abundance of red and white silk roses to represent our Yorkshire and Lancashire origins.
The group is based in and practice in Shipley, West Yorkshire.
Slubbing Billy’s is a mixed Morris side dancing in the North West style. They dance in clogs and bowler hats decorated with fresh flowers. A large bass drum keeps them in time and their musicians play traditional folk dance tunes. In purple kit , sticks and bells they put on a colourful energetic display.
The Slubbing Billy’s will also be dancing on Sunday in Ripon Spa Gardens and at the Little Bird Artisan Market
FREE EVENT
9.45-10.15am Market Place
12.30-1.00pm Ripon Cathedral forecourt
2.30-3pm Ripon Cathedral forecourt
4.00-4.30pm Market Place

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

St Aelred's Irish Dance
2026-07-11 11:15, 2026-07-11 13:00 - 13:20 | Minster Gardens, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
St Aelred’s Principal Dance Teacher, Una says: “We are a traditional Irish dance group made up of 25 dancers. We go from young talent, all the way to incredibly skilled older dancers. We love performing for our local community. We regularly perform to thousands each year on St Patrick’s day in Leeds and York. Our group is eye catching in vibrant traditional dresses. We can’t wait to perform at RTF for the first time!”
FREE EVENT
11.45am-12.15pm Ripon Minster Gardens
1.00-1.20pm Ripon Minster Gardens
3.30-4.00pm Ripon Cathedral Forecourt
Una will be leading a free “Irish Dance for First-Timers” workshop for everyone aged 8+ in our Saturday Participation Zone – 2-3pm – come along and give it a try!
And the dancers will also be back on Sunday for more performances:
11.15-11.45am Little Bird Market, Ripon Market Place
12.30-1.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens
2.15-2.45pm Little Bird Market, Ripon Market Place

Ripon Youth Theatre
2026-07-11 11:45 - 12:15 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
A volunteer-run youth musical theatre group providing inclusive, affordable access to the performing arts for 8-18 year olds. Support and leadership from previous members, enthusiasts and industry experts offers a welcoming space for creativity, confidence-building and skill development. Saturday morning sessions at the Ripon Arts Hub, nurture talent, foster friendships, and inspire a love for theatre in a fun, non competitive and supportive environment. On stage or behind the scenes, every young person has the chance to shine. To join our waiting list, please email; ryt@raos.co.uk
FREE EVENT
11.45am-12.15pm Ripon Market Place

Morris Dance from 400 Roses & Slubbing Billy's
2026-07-11 12:30 - 13:00, 2026-07-11 14:30 - 15:00 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom

Irish Dance for First Timers
2026-07-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Allhallowgate Methodist Church & Halls, Victoria Grove, Ripon, HG4 1LG, United Kingdom
Come and join St Aelred’s Irish Dancers for a fun, relaxed céilí! This isn’t a structured class; it is all about getting involved and having a go.
Our dancers will be right there in the mix to guide you through the moves, making it easy to pick up the rhythm as you go.
Whether you are a complete beginner or just want to join in the fun, it is a great way for anyone aged 8 and up to experience the energy of Irish dance. No experience is needed. Just bring your trainers and plenty of enthusiasm!
Led by popular teacher Una O’Connor (pictured), St Aelred’s Irish Dancers train in Harrogate and regularly perform to thousands each year on St Patrick’s day in Leeds and York.
No previous experience necessary.
Participants must be aged 8+ & under 16s accompanied by an adult.
All Participation Zone events are Pay What You Can Events (PWYC). You can just turn up, but places are limited so advance booking is recommended. You are encouraged to choose a small amount to pay on booking your place then consider donating to the Festival at the end of the session. Thank you!

Ripon Dance Academy
2026-07-11 15:00 - 15:30 | Cathedral Forecourt, Minster Road, Ripon, HG4 1QT, United Kingdom
Ripon Dance Academy offers high quality dance training in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Acro. Classes are offered from pre school to 18 and pupils have the opportunity to take part in IDTA examinations, full school shows and dance festivals.
RDA will also be performing on Sunday in Ripon Spa Gardens from 10-10.30am.
FREE EVENT
3.00-3.30pm Ripon Cathedral Forecourt

St Aelred's Irish Dance
2026-07-11 15:30 - 16:00 | Cathedral Forecourt, Minster Road, Ripon, HG4 1QT, United Kingdom

Ripon Dance Academy
2026-07-12 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-07-12 13:45 - 14:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Ripon Dance Academy offers high quality dance training in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Acro. Classes are offered from pre school to 18 and pupils have the opportunity to take part in IDTA examinations, full school shows and dance festivals.
RDA will also be performing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt from 3.00-3.30pm.
FREE EVENT
10.00-10.30am Ripon Spa Gardens
1.45-2.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Morris Dance from Slubbing Billy's & Medusa Gothic Morris
2026-07-12 10:45 - 11:15 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Medusa Gothic Morris
This small Knaresborough based dance team brings elegance and Gothic mystery to the art of Morris dancing, with black kit and purple hankies, and tunes in a minor key.
Slubbing Billy’s
Slubbing Billy’s is a mixed Morris side dancing in the North West style. They dance in clogs and bowler hats decorated with fresh flowers. A large bass drum keeps them in time and their musicians play traditional folk dance tunes. In purple kit , sticks and bells they put on a colourful energetic display.
The Slubbing Billy’s will also be dancing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt and at the Market Place and on Sunday in the Spa Gardens at 3.30pm.
FREE EVENT
10.45-11.15am Little Bird Market
1.00-1.30pm Little Bird Market

St Aelred's Irish Dance
2026-07-12 11:15 - 11:45, 2026-07-12 12:30 - 13:00, 2026-07-12 14:15 - 14:45 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
St Aelred’s Principal Dance Teacher, Una says: “We are a traditional Irish dance group made up of 25 dancers. We go from young talent, all the way to incredibly skilled older dancers. We love performing for our local community. We regularly perform to thousands each year on St Patrick’s day in Leeds and York. Our group is eye catching in vibrant traditional dresses. We can’t wait to perform at RTF for the first time!”
FREE EVENT
11.15-11.45am Little Bird Market, Ripon Market Place
12.30-1.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens
2.15-2.45pm Little Bird Market, Ripon Market Place
Una will be leading a free “Irish Dance for First-Timers” workshop for everyone aged 8+ in our Saturday Participation Zone – 2-3pm – come along and give it a try!

Ripon Goes to Bollywood
2026-07-12 11:45 - 12:15 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Ripon goes to Bollywood is an inclusive dance group led by Sarita McDermott. The group started dancing together after the last lockdown and meet weekly. They perform at events and festivals in Ripon throughout the year.
This style of dancing is Indian Kathak dancing. It expresses emotions through story telling, and connects the body to the mind. Great for exercise and wellbeing. The group is very excited to perform in the festival.
FREE EVENT
11.45am-12.15pm Little Bird Market

Orb Community Arts
2026-07-12 12:15 - 13:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Orb is a creative health charity, working to support mental health across Knaresborough, Harrogate and North Yorkshire.
Orb Drama Group work together to devise performances, through movement, writing and comedy. The Puppetry Group work on different puppetry skills each term to create a film or performance. More information at www.orb-arts.org
FREE EVENT
12.15-1.00pm Little Bird Market

Morris Dance from Slubbing Billy's & Medusa Gothic Morris
2026-07-12 13:00 - 13:30 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Slubbing Billy’s
Slubbing Billy’s is a mixed Morris side dancing in the North West style. They dance in clogs and bowler hats decorated with fresh flowers. A large bass drum keeps them in time and their musicians play traditional folk dance tunes. In purple kit , sticks and bells they put on a colourful energetic display.
Medusa Gothic Morris
This small Knaresborough based dance team brings elegance and Gothic mystery to the art of Morris dancing, with black kit and purple hankies, and tunes in a minor key.
The Slubbing Billy’s will also be dancing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt and at the Market Place and on Sunday in the Spa Gardens at 3.30pm.
FREE EVENT
10.45-11.15am Little Bird Market
1.00-1.30pm Little Bird Market

Cricket on the Hearth
2026-07-12 14:30 - 15:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Cricket on the Hearth is an Appalachian step dancing team that meets in St. John’s Church Hall, Harrogate, HG1 3DT, on Sundays at 6.30pm to 8pm. We are a mixed side and dance mostly to American old time music played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin. New members – dancers and musicians – are welcome. If interested, please contact Stella by email, sfzealand@hotmail.co.uk
FREE EVENT
2.30-3.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Morris Dance from Slubbing Billy's
2026-07-12 15:30 - 16:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Slubbing Billy’s
Slubbing Billy’s is a mixed Morris side dancing in the North West style. They dance in clogs and bowler hats decorated with fresh flowers. A large bass drum keeps them in time and their musicians play traditional folk dance tunes. In purple kit , sticks and bells they put on a colourful energetic display.
The Slubbing Billy’s will also be dancing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt and at the Market Place.
FREE EVENT
10.45-11.15am Little Bird Market (with Medusa Gothic Morris)
1.00-1.30pm Little Bird Market (with Medusa Gothic Morris)
3.30-4.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens
