Ripon Theatre Festival

Morris Dance from Slubbing Billy's & Medusa Gothic Morris
2026-07-12 10:45 - 11:15 UTC | 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

Ripon Trinity Singers
2026-07-12 11:15 - 11:45 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Ripon Trinity Singers is a local community chamber choir rehearsing at St. Wilfrid’s Community Hall every Thursday evening during term time.
They say: “We sing a wide range of a cappella repertoire from medieval to contemporary in many different genres: classical, folk, world music, pop….. and are happy to sing at any community event. Please contact Nicky Brierley-Woods for more information.”
FREE EVENT
11.15-11.45am Ripon Spa Gardens

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

Ripon Walled Garden & Jennyruth Workshops - The Big Red Shoes
2026-07-12 14:00 - 14:30 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
The Big Red Shoes is a playful, participant-built performance created with Ripon Walled Garden, Jennyruth Workshops, and The Art Guild CIC. Using oversized props, movement, humour, and Makaton, it reimagines The Big Red Shoes as a story about pressure, fame, rest, connection, and the joy of dancing together.
Ripon Walled Garden supports adults with learning and physical disabilities through creative activities. They say, “Our members love participating in the theatre festival and love sharing their creativity with new audiences.”
Jennyruth Workshops is a hub of creativity and skills development dedicated to providing meaningful work and opportunities for adults who have learning disabilities.
Project led by Douglas Thompson and Sharon Hockin from The Art Guild:
Douglas is an artist and workshop leader. He helps people make art, drama and creative projects together, bringing people of all ages and abilities together to have fun and learn new skills.
​Douglas teaches creative workshops and helps run local arts events and festivals. He is studying for a PhD in art and disability studies and works to make the arts open to everyone.
Sharon loves art and loves how creating art makes her feel. She loves experimenting and playing with lots of different techniques and materials. She was a teacher and now works with local charities, festivals, community groups and individuals exploring and developing work and ideas. She says “I get a huge buzz out of working with people and hearing what they want to say, that is when the magic truly happens!” Sharon believes in having a voice and knows that art enables you to shout out about what is important to you.

FREE EVENT
2.00-2.30pm Ripon Spa Gardens

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
