Monoliths - Tuesday
2024-07-02 13:30 - 15:30 UTC | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
Three women. Three voices. Three stories.
An immersive, digital theatre experience, which interweaves three northern UK landscapes – a moor, a city and a coast – with sweeping soundscapes and poetic monologues. Written by Hannah Davies, Carmen Marcus and Asma Elbadawi, the stories are an arresting testament to the inextricable link between person and place.
Three stories open the world of the English northern landscape in virtual reality, what it means to come from it, live in it and belong to it.
Monoliths has been shown at several international film festivals including Melbourne International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and Sheffield Doc Fest.
Directed by Lucy Hammond.
Four screenings per hour between 1.30 and 3.30pm.
Each performance lasts 11 minutes and can be experienced by 3 visitors at a time, wearing XR headsets.
Age guide 11+
Presented by Pilot Theatre and One to One Development Trust
Tickets £5

Tales from the Scriptorium
2024-07-02 14:00 - 15:30 | Swanley Grange at National Trust Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, Fountains Abbey, Fountains Lane, Ripon, HG4 3DY, United Kingdom
Brother Aidan returns to the Festival, bringing heritage crafts, history and storytelling to his new home at Fountains Abbey. Witness the process of creating an Anglo Saxon book whilst he weaves talks of his life as a monk. On hand – a huge range of replica artefacts. Demonstration includes parchment and ink making, leatherwork, bookbinding and calligraphy. An interactive event for adults.
Presented by Andrew Bates from Hazelsong Theatre.
Duration 90 minutes
We are no longer taking bookings for this event: Please book for the 11am show instead.

Monoliths - Wednesday
2024-07-03 13:30 - 15:30 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
Three women. Three voices. Three stories.
An immersive, digital theatre experience, which interweaves three northern UK landscapes – a moor, a city and a coast – with sweeping soundscapes and poetic monologues. Written by Hannah Davies, Carmen Marcus and Asma Elbadawi, the stories are an arresting testament to the inextricable link between person and place.
Three stories open the world of the English northern landscape in virtual reality, what it means to come from it, live in it and belong to it.
Monoliths has been shown at several international film festivals including Melbourne International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and Sheffield Doc Fest.
https://www.ripontheatrefestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/monoliths_trailer_draft-1080p-new-logos.mp4

Directed by Lucy Hammond.
Four screenings per hour between 1.30 and 3.30pm.
Each performance lasts 11 minutes and can be experienced by 3 visitors at a time, wearing XR headsets.
Age guide 11+
Presented by Pilot Theatre and One to One Development Trust
Tickets £5

Look After Your Knees
2024-07-03 20:00 - 21:30 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Look After Your Knees is a new solo work by theatre maker, performer and physical comedian Natalie Bellingham. It is about the pain and beauty of growing older, of connecting and unravelling, of taking hold and letting go. This new solo performance uses comedy, storytelling, movement and interaction to uncover some of the things in life that can be hard to talk about. It’s a celebration of being human in all its banality, sprinkled with joy and ridiculousness. It’s a visual and physical collage performed by a clown delving into the space inside us left behind by time.
This is a show about facing change when you didn’t see it coming. It’s about what comes next.
“Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone” Baz Lurhman, 1999
“Great comic timing, fantastic physicality and delivers emotional moments exceptionally well… clearly (an) exceptional talent.”
Jacob Bush, The Reviews Hub Yorkshire
“Honest, raw and emotionally open on the stage, it makes for a performer who is utterly compelling.” Nick Ahad, Writer and Broadcaster
Natalie was a 2021 Funny Women finalist and co-founder of Uncanny Theatre with whom she toured original work for a decade throughout the UK. She has recently been touring The Polar Bear (Is Dead), a creative collaboration with Daniele Pennati from Milan, and has been working with acclaimed art clown Jamie Wood to create this new solo show Look After Your Knees.
Wednesday 3 July, 8pm
Presented in memory of Ripon Theatre Festival founder, Ian Holloway. There will be a collection after the show for St Michael’s Hospice.
You may also make a donation to the charity directly via Ian’s Just Giving page. Thank you for your support.
Tickets £12 (£10)

Monoliths - Thursday
2024-07-04 13:30 - 15:30 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom

Shakespeare's Royals
2024-07-04 19:30 - 22:00 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
Join Barrie Rutter OBE, plus special guest, to celebrate the Bard’s Kings & Queens – their achievements, conquests and foibles – with anecdotes and memories from a career of playing and directing Shakespeare’s Royals, with Northern Broadsides and beyond, all over the world.
“A formidable, inspiring frontman, never afraid to be outspoken, the irrepressible Yorkshireman has lost none of his fervour to have a good time with audiences.” Charles Hutch Press
Tickets £18 (£16)

Monoliths - Friday
2024-07-05 13:30 - 15:30 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom

Mr Owen's Pocketbook
2024-07-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
*SOLD OUT*
Wilfred Owen lived his last summer in Ripon. He spent his last birthday in the Cathedral which now provides a fitting backdrop for Rupert Mason’s one-man performance.An officer travels from Allied HQ to the Western Front one week before the Armistice and discovers the pocket book of a young lieutenant killed that day.
The show movingly explores Wilfred Owen’s experience of war through his own and the poetry of his contemporaries.
Written and directed by award-winning writer Justin Butcher.
Age guide 14+
Running time 55mins
Tickets £10 (£8)

Monoliths - Saturday morning
2024-07-06 10:30 - 13:30 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
Three women. Three voices. Three stories.
An immersive, digital theatre experience, which interweaves three northern UK landscapes – a moor, a city and a coast – with sweeping soundscapes and poetic monologues. Written by Hannah Davies, Carmen Marcus and Asma Elbadawi, the stories are an arresting testament to the inextricable link between person and place.
Three stories open the world of the English northern landscape in virtual reality, what it means to come from it, live in it and belong to it.
Monoliths has been shown at several international film festivals including Melbourne International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and Sheffield Doc Fest.
https://www.ripontheatrefestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/monoliths_trailer_draft-1080p-new-logos.mp4

Directed by Lucy Hammond.
Four screenings per hour between 10.30 and 1.30pm.
Each performance lasts 11 minutes and can be experienced by 3 visitors at a time, wearing XR headsets.
Age guide 11+
Presented by Pilot Theatre and One to One Development Trust
Tickets £5

Theatre for One
2024-07-06 10:45 - 11:30 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
Street theatre with a difference. 3 short performances lasting 3 minutes.
Each performed to only one person at a time, (plus curious onlookers!)
A most intriguing, and then exclusive, theatre experience!
“A simple idea, the best ones often are, created with such loving care and attention to detail that you just have to smile. Sometimes three minutes is all that’s needed!” Dorothy Max Prior, Animations Online (UK)
Join Lempen Puppet Theatre for The Belly Bug and Dr Frankenstein.
Have a look down the “Belescope” and see the habitat and habits of the belly bug. Enjoy the dance of life!
Come and join Dr Frankenstein at his work table and watch him at work. Unsurprisingly he’s creating a new life!
FREE EVENT – just turn up!
Theatre for One is also running from 1.30 – 2.30pm and from 3-4pm on Kirkgate.

The Wakeman Mummers
2024-07-06 11:15 - 11:30, 2024-07-06 13:15 - 13:30 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
FREE EVENT
11.15-11.30am Ripon Cathedral forecourt
1.15-1.30pm Ripon Cathedral forecourt

Stone Soup
2024-07-06 13:30 - 14:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
A wandering stranger holds the secret to making delicious soup, fit for the finest folk in the land. But can they really make soup with just a stone?
Performed from a travelling cart and including elements of storytelling, music and comical puppet characters.
Eye of Newt’s re-telling of this traditional folk tale invites audiences young and old to help a stranger in need. With the power of community, kindness and more than a little imagination, everyone in town will enjoy a taste of delicious Stone Soup.
FREE EVENT
Market Place 1.30 – 2pm
Minster Gardens 3 – 3.30pm

Theatre for One
2024-07-06 13:30 - 14:30 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, United Kingdom
Street theatre with a difference. 3 short performances lasting 3 minutes.
Each performed to only one person at a time, (plus curious onlookers!)
A most intriguing, and then exclusive, theatre experience!
“A simple idea, the best ones often are, created with such loving care and attention to detail that you just have to smile. Sometimes three minutes is all that’s needed!” Dorothy Max Prior, Animations Online (UK)
Join Lempen Puppet Theatre for The Belly Bug and Dr Frankenstein.
Have a look down the “Belescope” and see the habitat and habits of the belly bug. Enjoy the dance of life!
Come and join Dr Frankenstein at his work table and watch him at work. Unsurprisingly he’s creating a new life!
FREE EVENT – just turn up!
Theatre for One is also running at Ripon Cathedral from 10.45- 11.15am and from 3-4pm on Kirkgate.

Monoliths - Saturday afternoon
2024-07-06 13:30 - 15:30 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom

The Trial of John Sinkler
2024-07-06 14:00 - 15:00 | Courthouse Museum, Minster Road, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
Step inside a Magistrates Court room virtually unchanged since first being built and experience justice 1871 style in Ripon Courthouse as members of the Workhouse Theatre group invite you to the trial of John Sinkler for Poaching and Threatening to shoot a watcher. Ensure Justice is seen to be done as audience members or perhaps take a more active part as Magistrate (and don a gown) or even stand as Witness in our scripted re-enactment. Learn of the amazing story of the Sinkler brothers and after the Court session, hear how, in 2025, we aim to develop it into a fully-fledged Community play and promenade performance utilizing all three museum venues.
Led by Mark Cronfield of Fell Foss Theatre.

Stone Soup
2024-07-06 15:00 - 15:30 | Minster Gardens, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom

Theatre for One
2024-07-06 15:00 - 16:00 | Kirkgate, Kirkgate, Ripon, HG4 1PB, United Kingdom
Street theatre with a difference. 3 short performances lasting 3 minutes.
Each performed to only one person at a time, (plus curious onlookers!)
A most intriguing, and then exclusive, theatre experience!
“A simple idea, the best ones often are, created with such loving care and attention to detail that you just have to smile. Sometimes three minutes is all that’s needed!” Dorothy Max Prior, Animations Online (UK)
Join Lempen Puppet Theatre for The Belly Bug and Dr Frankenstein.
Have a look down the “Belescope” and see the habitat and habits of the belly bug. Enjoy the dance of life!
Come and join Dr Frankenstein at his work table and watch him at work. Unsurprisingly he’s creating a new life!
FREE EVENT – just turn up!
Theatre for One is also running at Ripon Cathedral from 10.45 – 11.15am and from 1.30 -2.30pm on Kirkgate.

The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle
2024-07-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Newby Hall and Gardens, Skelton-on-Ure, Ripon, HG4 5AE, United Kingdom
Doctor Dolittle leads a simple life as the village doctor in sleepy Puddleby-On-The-Marsh. He often undercharges his patients, or even treats them for free, so he is terribly poor. But one day, with the help of his wise old parrot Polynesia, he makes an extraordinary discovery: that he can talk to animals.
As news of his talent as an animal doctor spreads, animals across the world send messages asking for his help. So he borrows a leaky old ship and embarks on a thrilling quest to cure illness, spread kindness, and better understand animals everywhere. He is joined on his adventures by a loyal animal crew: Jip (a dog), Chee-Chee (a monkey), Dab Dab (a duck), and Gub Gub (an ever-hungry, cake-loving pig) –who together may even help him fix his money problems once and for all!
Hugh Lofting’s timeless classic celebrates the power of empathy and inspires audiences young and old to see the world through the eyes of animals. This funny, exciting new family musical is performed with flair and wit by Illyria in the great outdoors.
Adapted by Oliver Grey. Presented by Illyria.
Running time (approx): 1hr 50mins (including 20 minute interval). Suitable for ages 5+
Sponsored by Elstob Auctioneers
*Tickets include access to Newby’s award-winning gardens from 1pm on the day of the performance*
Please bring your own rug or folding chairs (but no umbrellas!), picnics welcome.
Dogs are NOT allowed at the performance.
Performance continues regardless of weather.
Saturday 6 July, 5.30pm
Tickets £11.00 – £17.00

We're Not Going Back
2024-07-06 19:30 - 22:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
75 Mines. 3 Sisters. 1 Cause. (And a six-pack of Babycham)
2024 is the fortieth anniversary of the 1984/85 miners’ strike, a dispute that still resonates today. But the strike wasn’t just about pickets vs police – in this thought-provoking musical comedy, there are no miners and no cops. Instead, we follow the fortunes of three sisters in a pit village, hit hard by the Government’s war against the miners and determined to set up a branch of ‘Women Against Pit Closures’.
It’s early 1984, and Olive, Mary, and Isabel are sisters whose everyday squabbles collide with a strike that forces them to question their lives, their relationships, and their family ties.
https://www.ripontheatrefestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WNGB-trailer-captioned.mp4

This strike wasn’t just a war fought on the battlegrounds of a picket line, Parliament, and public opinion; it was as much a battle in the homes and families of those fighting for their communities.
We’re Not Going Back tackles the resilience of working communities, the make-and-mend fabric of family, and the power of sticking two fingers up to a government hell-bent on destruction… and all with humour, song and a six-pack of Babycham.
Presented by Red Ladder Theatre Company and Unite the Union
Written by Boff Whalley
Ticket price: £14 (£12)

The Not So Big Bad Wolf
2024-07-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
“Welcome back Listeners – Little Red Riding Hood here! Stay tuned as I go undercover to reveal the truth behind fairytales’ most infamous villain – The Big Bad Wolf”
Meet Little Red; adventurer, heroine and world-renowned “True Grimm” podcaster. She’s on a mission to debunk the myths around her so called nemesis, with the help of a few storybook favourites, her red cloak, and a basket full of music, mayhem and magic tricks! But the truth is no Fairytale… Behold as your favourite tales are re-spun and woven together in an epic new adventure from Wrongsemble.
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/fc2b2d_55be174c14ad4bf1ab27dec1e0e6ab90/720p/mp4/file.mp4
Age guide 4+
FREE EVENT
10.30 – 11.30am Ripon Spa Gardens
3 – 4pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Fate and the Warrior
2024-07-07 15:00 - 16:30 | Workhouse Museum, Sharow View, Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LE, United Kingdom
In the atmospheric surroundings of the Guardians’ Room at Ripon Workhouse, Fell-Foss Theatre presents the first read through of a new play detailing the last years of Edgar Mittelholzer, credited as the first English speaking novelist from the Caribbean. He had a prolific output, gaining much success, though his work took an increasingly darker tone over time ostracizing many former publishers.‘Here we go gathering blood and bones!
Blood and Bones! Blood and Bones!
Here We go gathering blood and bones
This dark and foggy morning’
A Pay What You Can Event – recommended price £6

As You Like It
2024-07-07 19:00 - 21:30 | The Old Deanery, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
Shakespeare’s leafy tale of banishment, love and disguise is given a light-hearted and musical treatment by Folksy Theatre.
Rosalind, the daughter of a banished duke, falls in love with Orlando. Banished from the court by her usurping uncle, Rosalind takes on the appearance of a boy, calling herself Ganymede. She, her cousin Celia and jester Touchstone, travel to the Forest of Arden, where her father and his friends live in exile. Meeting Orlando again in the forest, she devises an elaborate scheme to test his love and capture his heart, through the witty and mischievous façade of her disguise.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players…”
This popular Shakespearian comedy about life and love, faith and death is filled with Folksy’s touch of live music, bold characters, audience interaction and plenty of laughs. Bring along friends and family to enjoy this fun-filled production!
Sponsored by Specsavers, Ripon
Suitable for ages 7+
Please bring your own rug or folding chairs (but no umbrellas!).
Picnics welcome but please respect our hosts by purchasing all drinks at the bar.
Dogs are NOT allowed at the performance.
Performance continues regardless of weather.
Sunday 7 July, 7pm
Tickets: £18 adults, £11 children

Bomb Happy
2025-05-11 14:30 - 16:00 | Lister House, Southgate, Ripon, HG4 1PG, United Kingdom
“Bomb Happy is a slang phrase we use for being under fire for many days at a time… it does describe the condition you become.” D Day Veteran, Ken “Smudger” Smith
Two new works telling the stories of Yorkshire Normandy Veterans in their own words. This poignant and lyrical double-bill includes:
A Walk in the Park – a short film in the footsteps of Hank Haydock. Filmed on location at former WWII training camp in Duncombe Park, it tells the story of Coldstream Guardsman Dennis Haydock. Beautifully shot, it captures the hidden remains of nissen huts, tank standings and tank maintenance pits amongst the now peaceful woodland.
Sleep/Re-Live/Wake/Repeat – writer Helena Fox and vocalist Natasha Jones bring to life the first-hand experiences of D-Day Veteran, Ken “Smudger” Smith and the lifelong impact of PTSD and sleep trauma through spoken first hand accounts and haunting acapella vocals. With never been seen before black and white images from Ken’s personal photo collection following his traumatic journey in the Middle East following victory in Europe.
Two stories of two ordinary Yorkshire lads who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. At times humorous, at times harrowing, both film and spoken word performance allow a close up insight into life on the frontline and give a rare glimpse into life for someone beset by memories of war.
Presented as part of Ripon’s VE Day 80th Anniversary Commemorations in partnership with Ripon Community Poppy Project.
Sunday 11 May, 2.30pm Doors open 2pm.
Refreshments will be served after the event with donations to Lister House.
Tickets £10

Peelers, Poachers & Paupers
2025-06-28 13:30 - 16:30, 2025-06-28 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-06-29 13:30 - 16:30, 2025-06-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Workhouse Museum, Sharow View, Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LE, United Kingdom
A tale of resistance, survival and defiance in Victorian Yorkshire
Experience an unmissable theatrical journey across Ripon’s historic museums. Ripon Workhouse Theatre Ensemble and Fell Foss Theatre join forces to present a brand-new production staged across all three sites: the Workhouse Museum, the Police and Prison Museum, and the Courthouse.
Step into the gripping true story of Elisha and John Sinkler, Yorkshire brothers born into a gamekeeping family who turned to poaching and paid the ultimate price. Follow their journey across the moors of Nidderdale, their clashes with the law, and their brutal punishment: transportation to Australia. Witness their desperate fight to return home not once, but twice.
This powerful performance also brings to light the struggles of those left behind the women who endured hardship and a fight for survival in their absence. This immersive promenade theatre experience breathes life into the forgotten voices of 19th-century Yorkshire.
Don’t miss this extraordinary story told in extraordinary spaces.
Due to the nature of the venues, ticketing will be used to manage numbers at each stage of the story.
All ticket purchasers end up at the Workhouse Museum for refreshments after the show.

1.30-4.30pm – Rotation #1 – Prison & Police Museum, Courthouse, Workhouse Museum Book Now
2-4.30pm – Rotation #2 – Courthouse, Prison & Police Museum, Workhouse Museum Book Now
5-8pm – Rotation #3 – Prison & Police Museum, Courthouse, Workhouse Museum Book Now
5.30-8pm – Rotation #4 – Prison & Police Museum, Courthouse, Workhouse Museum Book Now

Age guide 10+

The Beloved Son
2025-07-01 19:30 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
A moving solo performance by Andrew Harrison, exploring hope and longing, family dynamics, sexual and emotional crisis, and the profound insights of a man who became one of the greatest spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen (1932 – 1996) was a Dutch, Catholic priest, psychologist, and professor who reached the heights of academic success before abandoning everything to join the community of L’Arche, in Toronto. He became part of a life-sharing movement, seeking to make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, exploring their unique talents and creating a welcoming home of friendship and belonging. To some Henri Nouwen put his brilliant career into reverse, risking the loss of reputation, to others his life was a prophetic challenge to church and society.
Age guide 14+
Performed by Andrew Harrison
Written by Murray Watts
Presented in partnership with Ripon Cathedral
Tuesday 1st July
Tickets £14

In preparation for the Festival performance of The Beloved Son, Ripon Cathedral will be hosting two evening discussion groups to explore the life, core themes and writings of Henri Nouwen. The discussions will be led by Rev Dr Rod and Mrs Jan Allon-Smith. Both discussions groups will take place at Thorpe Prebend House. All welcome.
Discovering Nouwen 1: The Return of the Prodigal Son
Tuesday 13 May, 7.30-9pm
Discovering Nouwen 2: Life of the Beloved
Thursday 12 June, 7.30-9pm
To register your interest & book places for the discussions, please contact the Cathedral Office on CathedralAdmin@riponcathedral.org.uk or phone 01765 603462

Mangoes on the Beach
2025-07-02 15:00 - 16:10 | St Mary Magdalen’s (Leper Chapel), Magdalen's Road, Ripon, HG4 1HT, United Kingdom
Love.. Loss.. Separation.. and the ties that bind a family.
1937. India is still under British rule, and in a small village in the north a ten year old boy dreams of a better life. A life free from the shackles of the caste system which has imprisoned his family for as long as anyone can remember.
RTF Storyteller in Residence, Peter Chand, takes the story of his parents’ journey from the Punjab to England in the 1950s and weaves it with traditional Indian folk talks. A moving, witty and thoughtful tribute to a generation, delivered by one of Europe’s most accomplished storytellers.
“He’s a bridge between two cultures and two generations… I was spellbound” Kim Normanton, Loftus ​Productions for BBC Radio 4
Age guide 14+
Tickets £12 include Flavours of India bun and tea from Realitea, Ripon’s own Indian tearoom.
Supported by Ripon Rotary Club
Wednesday 2nd July, 3pm
Tickets: £14
