The Wakeman Mummers
2024-07-06 13:15 - 13:30 UTC | 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
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

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

Third Class - A Titanic Story
2025-07-02 20:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
“The White Star Line merged itself out of existence. Those clever little educated boys.” A one-man theatre show based on the life of Titanic survivor, Edward Dorking.
Edward was gay. Openly gay, and on Wednesday, April 10th, 1912, he set sail for NYC on a ticket bought for him by his parents in the hope his American family could put him ‘right’.
THIRD CLASS charts Edward’s journey from boarding the Titanic to swimming for 30 minutes towards an already full collapsible lifeboat and how he, upon arriving in New York, would tour the Vaudeville circuit, recreating the stories for a fact-hungry public.
But Edward didn’t want fame; he wanted revenge. When everyone was talking about the deaths of millionaires and society figures, few were discussing the people who took the lion’s share of the losses that night: the third class.
Edward was coming for the upper classes.
Using music, movement, projection, and historical facts, THIRD CLASS tells the story of an unknown hero from a well-known story.
Written and performed by Russell Lucas
Age guide 12+
Tickets £14

Walking and Writing City and Country
2025-07-03 11:00 - 15:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
‘Ripon…has not only an agreeable situation on a rising ground between two rivers, but the marketplace is the finest and most beautiful square that is to be seen of its kind in England’ Daniel Defoe 1724-6
Wetlands and rivers, canals and monasteries, monuments and follies; the city of Ripon is an inspirational landscape that has attracted creatives such as Daniel Defoe, poet Wilfred Owen and produced writers such as the suffragette, Naomi Jacobs.
Join acclaimed writer Mary-Jane Holmes on this four-hour walk-and-create writing workshop in and around Ripon. As we stroll its snickets and paths, we will reflect on how our experience of environments shapes us and how by harnessing our powers of deep observation in relation to our surroundings, we can develop a more active way of seeing the world we inhabit.
This workshop will combine ‘attentive’ walking, a performance of poetic works and fun writing exercises. It is open to everyone whether you are a seasoned writer of any genre be that playwriting or poetry, fiction or memoir or simply curious about the creative writing process.
Mary-Jane Holmes has garnered many awards including winning the Bridport Poetry prize, the Writer’s Digest poetry competition, the Live Canon Pamphlet Prize, Bath Novella-in-Flash Prize, Mslexia Flash prize.
This walk will be repeated on Saturday 4 October as part of Ripon Poetry Festival
Walk begins at the obelisk in Ripon Market Place.
Notepads and pencils are provided but do bring a pack lunch and dress appropriately for the weather!
Dogs are NOT allowed at this activity.
Age guide 14+
Tickets: £20

Mrs Churchill - My Life with Winston
2025-07-03 19:30 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Winston Churchill is arguably one of the most famous Englishmen that has ever lived. His inspirational leadership helped win the Second World War, and his parliamentary career of 62 years ensured he was responsible for many momentous decisions. What of Clementine, his wife for 56 years?
They say that behind every great man, there is a great woman. Was this true in Churchill’s case? Did he bully her like he did so many other people? Was he as grumpy and irascible at home as he often was in the House of Commons? Given his strength and conviction, did Clem have any influence on him at all? Or was she ‘the little lady at home’? Winston himself said, “my most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.”
Liz Grand, whose portrayal of Agatha Christie wowed RTF audiences in 2023, returns with her latest superb, sensitive and informative portrayal.
“Her finest hour.” Showtime
Event sponsored by Specsavers, Ripon
Tickets £14

Anansi & the Lost Sun
2025-07-04 11:30 - 12:30, 2025-07-04 13:30 - 14:30 | Holy Trinity Church, Kirkby Road, Ripon, HG4 2EY, United Kingdom
An inspiring and entertaining West African tale mixing puppetry and traditional music.
One day darkness covers the face of the land. Lion appeals for someone to bring back the light and save the world. Who will succeed? The powerful Eagle? The clever Monkey? Or Anansi the Spider and his mates?
Presented by Swallows Wing Puppetry.
“Carolene is a captivating storyteller. Our Year 2s were gripped and older students fascinated by the use of materials to tell stories”
Presented with school groups in mind, but all welcome.
​Group tickets for schools’ groups also available. Contact tina@ripontheatrefestival.org if you ​would like to bring a school group.
The show with introduction lasts approximately 60 minutes.
Ticket Price: £5

Spy Movie: The Play!
2025-07-04 20:00 - 22:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Agent Blonde has 24 hours to save the world. The only things standing in her way are dastardly villains, an outrageous plot, and… a lack of funding. When Hollywood rejects her script, a frustrated screenwriter invites you, an audience of producers, to a one-night-only presentation of The Greatest Spy Movie (n)Ever Made! From two of the minds behind The New Musketeers (Trinity Theatre) and stars of The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Spy Movie: The Play! is a new hilarious homage to Bond movies and fringe theatre suitable for the whole family.
“Rollickingly funny.. our faces were aching with how much we were smiling.”
Presented by Norwich Theatre and Albert Cabbage
Age guide 12+
Running time: Approximately two hours including an interval.
Friday 4 July, 8pm.
Tickets £14

Short and Sweet Yorkshire Showcase
2025-07-05 17:00 - 18:20 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Get ready for an electrifying showcase of Yorkshire’s finest up-and-coming talent as the Short and Sweet Yorkshire Festival Finalists take to the stage at Ripon Festival 2025! This special event celebrates the very best in local new writing, with a diverse line up spanning theatre, spoken word, and music.
Short and Sweet Yorkshire is an annual festival of 10 minute new writing with previous finalists showcased here for you. Expect a thrilling mix of 10 minute genres and styles, from thought-provoking drama to laugh-out-loud comedy, and from heartfelt storytelling to bold, boundary-pushing performances.
Featuring homegrown talent from across Yorkshire, this is a chance to see fresh, original work from the region’s most exciting emerging artists.
Don’t miss the new wave of creative voices bringing their passion and talent to Ripon Festival, 10 minutes at a time!
Age guide 16+
Ticket Price: £7

The Wind in the Willows
2025-07-05 17:30 | Ripon Races
Mole yearns to explore the wide world. Gruff old Badger enjoys peace and quiet. And Rat likes picnics and just messing about in boats. Their idyllic lives on the Riverbank are turned upside down when Toad, bewitched by the roar of an engine and the screech of burning tyres, pursues his latest in a long line of extravagant obsessions: a fast, red motor-car. Multiple award-winning Illyria celebrates Kenneth Grahame’s timeless tale of friendship, laughter, the longing for home and the lure of adventure. Enjoy it all summer across the UK where the story is set: in the great British outdoors.
By Kenneth Grahame. Adapted by Oliver Grey. Presented by Illyria.
Running time: 100-minutes (approximately), including a 20-minute interval.
Suitable for: Ages 5+ (younger children also welcome)Sponsored by Elstob Auctioneers
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 5 July, 5.30pm
Tickets £11.00 – £17.00

Almost Austen
2025-07-05 20:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Catherine is a modern girl in love with Jane Austen’s world. She can’t believe her luck when she meets her very own Mr Tilney.
Through passages from Northanger Abbey, songs from musicals and operatic classics, singer Louise Geller relates Catherine’s romantic ups and downs as real life and fantasy collide.
Following a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday festival-style. ‘A must for any Janeite’
Age guide 12+
Saturday 5 July, 8pm.
Tickets £14

A Midsummer Night's Dream
2025-07-06 19:00 - 21:30 | The Old Deanery, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
It’s Midsummer’s eve and deep in an enchanted forest mischief is stirring. The Fairy King and Queen are feuding, four runaway lovers are tying themselves in knots, and a troupe of quite appalling actors are preparing a theatrical extravaganza destined to impress. With shapeshifting trouble-maker Puck at the helm, the course of true love never did run smooth.
One of the UK’s leading open-air touring companies, Three Inch Fools, bring their fresh and lively style of music, history, and hilarity to Shakespeare’s most iconic comedy.
Staged in the gardens of Ripon’s most exclusive venue, The Old Deanery – this finale event is a guaranteed highlight of the 2025 festival.
Suitable for ages 7+
Gates open 6.15pm
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.
Running time approx 120 mins including 20 minute interval
Sunday 6 July, 7pm
Tickets: £20

Walking and Writing City and Country
2025-10-04 11:00 - 15:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
‘Ripon…has not only an agreeable situation on a rising ground between two rivers, but the marketplace is the finest and most beautiful square that is to be seen of its kind in England’ Daniel Defoe 1724-6
Wetlands and rivers, canals and monasteries, monuments and follies; the city of Ripon is an inspirational landscape that has attracted creatives such as Daniel Defoe, poet Wilfred Owen and produced writers such as the suffragette, Naomi Jacobs.
Join acclaimed writer Mary-Jane Holmes on this four-hour walk-and-create writing workshop in and around Ripon. As we stroll its snickets and paths, we will reflect on how our experience of environments shapes us and how by harnessing our powers of deep observation in relation to our surroundings, we can develop a more active way of seeing the world we inhabit.
This workshop will combine ‘attentive’ walking, a performance of poetic works and fun writing exercises. It is open to everyone whether you are a seasoned writer of any genre be that playwriting or poetry, fiction or memoir or simply curious about the creative writing process.
Mary-Jane Holmes has garnered many awards including winning the Bridport Poetry prize, the Writer’s Digest poetry competition, the Live Canon Pamphlet Prize, Bath Novella-in-Flash Prize, Mslexia Flash prize.
A Ripon Poetry Festival event.
Walk begins at the obelisk in Ripon Market Place
Notepads and pencils are provided but do bring a pack lunch and dress appropriately for the weather!
Dogs are NOT allowed at this activity.
Age guide 14+
Tickets: £20
