Ripon Theatre Festival

Ripon Heritage Ghost Walk
2023-06-09 19:15 - 21:00 UTC | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Explore the darker side on Ripon’s history from the macabre to the mysterious. Discover ancient burial sites, curious bone finds and characters who lived and died hundreds of years ago, but who some say still linger…
Led by Ripon Museum Trust Guides.
All proceeds to Ripon Museum Trust
Ticket Price: £4 – £6

The Bluebird - A Quest for Happiness
2023-06-09 17:30 | Ripon Library, The Arcade, Ripon, HG4 1AG, United Kingdom
Join Mirtel, a Seer, and her tree spirit Micky, on their journey to find the elusive bluebird and help unlock its mystery.
What is the bluebird’s secret power and where could it be hiding? In the Land of Memory or Future? Is it trapped in the Land of Luxury or lost in the Land of Night?
This beautiful and thoughtful show combines theatre, puppetry, philosophy and shadow play to create a perfect twilight event.
What are you doing, sitting here in the darkness? It’s time to let in a little light!
Age guide 6+
Pay What You Can (PWYC)

Mike and Millie Go to the Seaside
2023-06-09 15:00 | Holy Trinity Church, Kirkby Road, Ripon, HG4 2EY, United Kingdom
Specially created for those living with later-stage dementia, this charming show takes the audience on a day trip to the 1960s. Using music, dance, mime and rhyme, the performers from Smashing Mirrors Theatre Company provoke memories and stimulate interaction in a safe and comfortable setting. There’s even sand, seaweed and shells to touch and take you straight to the beach. And of course, there will be a cup of tea at the end!
Presented in partnership with Dementia Forward, the show will also be performed at 11am at George Armitage House in Burton Leonard.

Booking enquiries boxoffice@ripontheatrefestival.org. Places limited.
A FREE event.

Bread is Life
2023-06-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Holy Trinity Church, Kirkby Road, Ripon, HG4 2EY, United Kingdom
Let’s make bread – the Syrian way. We’ll mix the dry ingredients, in a bowl bought in a souk from Idlib, then we add water… and wait for it to rise.
And when it is ready, and the room is filled with the smell of freshly-baked bread, we will share it with our friends and neighbours – and enjoy it with Syrian meze.
When he was in Turkey, writer Kevin Dyer was told by a Syrian refugee, ‘Do not forget Syria’.
In a thrilling piece of interactive storytelling, Storm in the North attempt to keep the proud people of that country in all our minds – with food and a story of hope.
Presented in partnership with Ripon City of Sanctuary

Age guide 13+
Ticket Price: £10, includes meze.

Sense and Sensibility
2023-06-08 19:00 | The Old Deanery, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
The social season is upon us! You are cordially invited to the Sense and Sensibility Matchmaker’s Ball.
Ladies Elinor and Marianne Dashwood each seek to meet an honourable man of good fortune (and handsome countenance if possible) by whatever means necessary.
As you mingle amongst the beau monde, revelry and romance will ensue and together we shall witness these two sisters’ sense and sensibility. Rumours abound that royalty may even be amongst our number…
If you’re eager to partake in the ups and downs of Regency romance, don your finery and join Heartbreak Productions for their open-air adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.
Jane Austen’s biting social satire about sisters in straitened circumstances is sure to satiate your summer romance requirement. Pack a picnic, grab your chaise longue (or blanket), and settle in for this literary classic with a Heartbreak twist.
Suitable for ages 10+
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.
Thursday 8th June, 7pm
Tickets: £18 adults, £10 children

Once Upon a Fairytale
2023-06-08 13:30 - 16:30 | Ripon Library, The Arcade, Ripon, HG4 1AG, United Kingdom
Goldilocks is missing and we need your help to find her!
A fun-packed, interactive show for little folk. There’ll be games, music, puppets and so much more!
Fairytales have been around for centuries. Passing from generation to generation and taking on different twists and turns there are usually lessons to be learnt and characters to love . . . as well as those to watch out for.
Travel with Story Craft Theatre through a whole host of favourite stories and meet familiar faces along the way: Little Red Riding Hood, The Gingerbread Man and some hungry Bears to name a few!
Age guide 2-7 yrs
Pay What You Can (PWYC)
1:30pm & 4pm

Songs from Shakespeare
2023-06-08 13:00 - 13:50 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
A recital of Shakespeare songs and arias including works by Verdi, Gounod and Cole Porter, finishing with Brush Up Your Shakespeare! Performed by soprano Louise Wayman, accompanied by Tim Harper.
Louise, originally from Dorset, studied at the Wales International Academy of Voice with Dennis O’Neill and Nuccia Focile. Previously she studied at Birmingham Conservatoire with Christine Cairns winning prizes for Oratorio, English Song, Lieder, Opera and Recitals. She has many solo opera credits with Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham Opera, Midland Opera, Northern Opera Group and Manchester Opera Ensemble as well as singing with the choruses of Wexford Festival Opera and Opera North. She has sung across Europe with ensembles such as Polyphony, Ex Cathedra, Collegium Vocale Gent and the BBC Singers.
Solo engagements have included Handel’s Messiah and Alexander’s Feast, Mozart’s C Minor Mass and Exsultate Jubilate, Haydn’s Creation and Nelson Mass, Bach’s Passions, Cantatas including 199 ‘Mein Herz Schwimmt im Blut’ and 51 ‘Jachzet Gott in Allen Landen’ and Mass in B Minor, Poulenc’s Gloria, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony and modern works including the recent London premiere of Rick Birley’s Advent Carol Succession.
A Thursday Concerts event presented by Ripon Cathedral.
Refreshments provided from 12.30
A FREE event (retiring collection)

Tales from the Scriptorium
2023-06-08 11:00 - 12:30 | Ripon Library, The Arcade, Ripon, HG4 1AG, United Kingdom
A morning of heritage crafts, history and storytelling.
Join Brother Aidan of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne as he creates an Anglo Saxon book whilst weaving talks of his life as a monk.
To do this he will have on hand a huge range of replica artefacts and the audience members will experience parchment making, leatherwork, Coptic bookbinding, quill pen and oak gall ink making and calligraphy.
The audience will read and translate some Old English and create their own piece of calligraphy in Insular Majuscule script and also a stamped leather bracelet. They will take these away with them along with a printed page of beautiful calligraphy by Linda Richardson and a copy of the Lord’s Prayer in Old English.
Presented by Andrew Bates from Hazelsong Theatre
A hands-on event for adults.

Happy Place
2023-06-07 19:30 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
‘Weight of the world getting you down? Get down to your nearest Happy Place and leave your worries at the door. With over seven thousand locations nationwide, we create personalised realities at affordable prices.’
In a near dystopian future, corporations have commodified happiness into virtual reality booths, costing just the price of a coffee for limitless experiences.
With comedy, puppetry, physical theatre and live music, follow four strangers on an extraordinary journey as they find themselves locked inside their own Happy Place.
Join critically acclaimed Forget About The Dog in what has been described as a Black Mirror meets Monty Python meets Jumanji adventure, exploring happiness, friendship and the role technology plays in our world.
Presented in partnership with Ripon YMCA Young Leaders

Age guide 12+
Ticket price: £5-£12

Happy Place Drama Workshop
2023-05-10 18:30 - 20:30 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
A chance for young people with an interest in theatre and performance to attend an exclusive workshop with actors from Forget About The Dog theatre company. Their acclaimed production of Happy Place opens the festival on 7 June but those aged 12-18 are invited to attend a fun two-hour session using drama games and theatre techniques to explore the themes of the show.
The play, which explores happiness, friendship and the role technology plays in our world is particularly relevant to young people.
Participants will also receive a discount code to attend Happy Place in June.
Workshop places are FREE, but must be booked in advance.
Funded by the LOCAL FUND for the Harrogate District, administered by Two Ridings Community Foundation.

… and this is my friend Mr Laurel
2023-03-30 19:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Jeffrey Holland (Hi-de-Hi, You Rang M’Lord) stars in this one-man show about friendship, memories and a couple of remarkable lives. Set in Oliver Hardy’s bedroom, the action takes place as Laurel pays a visit to his sick friend, recounting their past success as one of the greatest cinematic partnerships of the century and providing an in depth, humorous and touching account of the comedian’s life.
Presented to launch the 2023 Ripon Theatre Festival, tickets include refreshments, information about forthcoming festival events and a Q&A after the show with Jeffrey Holland.
Presented by KPS Productions and The Finishing Touch Company
Written by Gail Louw and Jeffrey Holland
Thursday 30 March, 7pm
Tickets £15 (£13 with Subscriber’s code)
