Ripon Theatre Festival

Tributaries
2026-07-04 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-07-04 19:30 - 20:30 UTC | Workhouse Museum, Sharow View, Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LE, United Kingdom
A celebration of one of Yorkshire’s Rivers: the River Yore as told by Fell-Foss Theatre and the people of Ripon and Wensleydale, with the Dales Countryside Museum and Ripon Workhouse Museum.
The culmination of a project along the river’s watercourse, creating theatre from the head of the dales to its cathedral city. Discover the spirit of the river and its importance to those who have lived along its banks through the ages. Explore history, folklore and the current challenges facing the health of our rivers.
Tributaries promises to be a rich theatrical event, with music, poetry, Greek choruses, a giant and a kelpie!
Outdoor seating (chairs provided). Come dressed for the weather (no umbrellas or dogs please).
A collaboration with the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust’s Rivers4Life project, supported by Dales Countryside Museum & Ripon Workhouse Museum. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.
Performances at 4.30pm & 7.30pm
Running time 60 mins
Age Guide 8+
Tickets £5

Outcast
2026-07-05 13:30 - 16:00 | Starts Leper Chapel, ends Ripon Arts Hub, Magdalen's Road, Ripon, HG4 1HT
Please note – this theatre experience starts at The Leper Chapel and ends at Ripon Arts Hub – details below.
Join writers Paul Mills and Andy Croft in the atmospheric surroundings of the Leper Chapel to tune in to a little-known period of the Middle Ages – The Anarchy. They will share the context and history underpinning their new play examining the lives of individuals living with leprosy. Set in Medieval Ripon, Outcast explores a range of political and social themes that still resonate in the present including poverty, control and environmental collapse.
Following the writers’ introduction, selected scenes will brought to life in a workshop performance at the Arts Hub. A small group of professional actors will have been working intensively with Director Kate Veysey for just a few hours on selected scenes from the play.
Staging will be minimal; the emotions and issues raised will not! Your response and reflections will help the writers to shape the future direction of the piece.
Writers, Andy and Paul were instrumental in the establishment and development of Ripon Poetry Festival. Both are well known for their poetry and work in the theatre.
Out of Character Theatre Company, an innovative York-based charity and theatre ensemble comprised of artists and performers who have lived experience of mental ill health, will provide the cast for the workshop performance. Founded in 2009, the company uses theatre to challenge mental health stigma, promote social inclusion, and provide creative pathways for recovery.
Read more about this exciting project in our News Post.
Age Guide 12+
Tickets £10

Comb
2026-07-05 15:00 - 16:15, 2026-07-05 18:00 - 19:15 | St Mary Magdalen’s (Leper Chapel), Magdalen's Road, Ripon, HG4 1HT, United Kingdom
When Charlotte was a child her Grandad told her the beginning of a story but refused to tell the full tale. Years later a chance encounter led her to find the rest of his story buried deep within an archive gathered from families in Ireland. Not only did she discover this unbelievable link to her past but also the more startling realisation that she might actually be cursed.
At times chilling, hilarious and moving Comb is a lament for the stories and people we have lost. Through a tangled ride into Celtic, Slavic and Siberian folklore, it is a clarion call for understanding just how interwoven we all are.

Charlotte tells stories in theatres, clubs, on the street and around campfires. She is drawn to the place where mythology, folklore, history, science and the everyday meet. Also a circus performer and Artistic Director of leading contemporary circus company Ockham’s Razor, Charlotte has developed a unique, highly physical style. She disentangles tales of power and transformation and asks how do we make sense of the stories we have.
Performances at 3pm & 6pm
Age Guide 12+
Tickets £10

Jord
2026-07-05 15:00 - 19:00 | St Mary Magdalen’s (Leper Chapel), Magdalen's Road, Ripon, HG4 1HT, United Kingdom
Jord explores our fascination and obsession with women staying young and delaying ageing. What happens if we ask for eternal youth? Our bodies and minds turned to stone, preserved in that moment in time?
Jord visits Mother Shipton to request her petrifying abilities to turn her age into stone and preserve her youth. Jord will use live music, poetry and storytelling to question and challenge this obsession. This show has been developed through extensive research into Knaresborough’s own Mother Shipton and has looked at her story through a modern lens.
Jord will use live music, poetry and storytelling to question and challenge this obsession.
Presented as a Work in Progress with a fascinating post-show discussion opportunity, the audience will help feed the development of this show.
Imogen is an actor-musician and theatre-maker originally from North Yorkshire. Her style of work uses folk music and folk stories to talk about female experience in the modern day. Imogen’s work is rooted in co-creation and community engagement, especially with rural or disadvantaged communities.
Age Guide 12+
This is a Pay What You Can Event (PWYC). Suggested price £8. Donations to the Festival will also be welcomed. Thank you.
Tickets – PWYC

Service Please
2026-07-06 18:30 - 20:00 | The Water Rat Restaurant and Bar, 24 Bondgate Green, Ripon, HG4 1QW, United Kingdom
Lara, a hopeful but insecure creative writing graduate, is trying to write the next best-selling fantasy romance novel. There’s only one thing standing in her way: her casual waitressing job that keeps the money coming in.
Unprepared for the stressful and chaotic reality of working in the service industry, can Lara keep her sanity and get her big writing break, or will she crumble under the pressure of under-staffed shifts, creepy comments and customers who say their only food allergies are women…?
A sharp and pacy monologue served up with humour and honesty.
Service Please is the debut play from North Yorkshire-based actor and director Connie Peel. Connie champions female voices and diverse working-class stories in her written work. She has worked as an assistant director for York-based companies Badapple Theatre and Next Door But One.
“Heart-breaking and unflinchingly relatable” The Nerd Party
The Water Rat’s famous Yorkshire Sharing Platters will be served after the performance – pre-book your platter when booking your ticket.
Vegetarian option available.
Age Guide 14+ – Strong language used
Tickets £12
*Show & Supper deal for 2 available*

The Essence of Audrey - Cancelled
2026-07-07 14:30 - 15:30 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
We regret that this performance has been cancelled. We hope to reschedule the event at a future time.
Audrey Hepburn. All she really wanted was to be loved and to find love. She was, and continues to be, an inspiration. A beautiful, modest actress, and Ambassador of UNICEF living a seemingly idyllic life.
Audrey proved to be one of those rare people who truly deserved ‘fashion icon’ status, but what made her into the star we think we know?
Writer and performer Helen Anker shares Audrey’s successes and failures, her triumphs and disappointments, confronting her anxieties and fears and finding the truth she’s never been able to voice before.
Helen Anker has been treading the boards since the age of 9, playing roles in West End productions, on Broadway, and in numerous regional productions. She has recently toured internationally as Tanya in Mamma Mia! and as Cynthia Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen.
“Fascinating, interesting, wonderful. Don’t miss it!” Maureen Lipman
Sponsored by Ripon Rowels Rotary Club

Incidents in the Life of an Anglican Slave
2026-07-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
Incidents is inspired by a letter written in 1723 from an anonymous enslaved Virginian to the archbishop of London, asking the archbishop, and vicariously King George, to “releese us out of this cruell bondegg”. It is thought to be the earliest written plea for freedom from slavery in the British Empire.
The extraordinary 1723 letter is housed at Lambeth Palace Library. Three centuries on, the play brings the enslaved Virginian to life, to address, finally, the likely intended recipient of the letter: the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Written and performed by London-based writer and researcher, Desirée Baptiste, this play has been performed at Chester Cathedral, Jesus College Cambridge, Lambeth Palace Library, the Edinburgh Fringe, All Souls, Oxford, and other venues in the UK and overseas, including in Barbados.
Q & A with Desiree following the performance.
Presented in partnership with Ripon Cathedral.
Age Guide 14+
Tickets £15
*Evening multi-buy deal available*

Hilarity Bites Festival Special 2026
2026-07-07 20:00 - 22:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Hilarity Bites returns to Ripon Arts Hub with a special show for Ripon Theatre Festival, featuring two stars of Live at the Apollo, QI, and Have I Got News For You – Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ignacio Lopez.
Welsh comedian Kiri is a multi-award winning comedian, satirist and writer. She regularly co-hosts Loose Ends, guest hosted The News Quiz and her own Radio 4 panel show, Best Medicine. Kiri is co-creator and co-host of cult hit All Killa No Filla, a podcast about serial killers that has a huge following worldwide.
“An increasingly impressive comic, making powerhouse stand-up from the thorniest of subjects” – The Guardian

Ignacio wows audiences internationally with his individual style and high gag-rate. A crazy mixture of Welsh & Spanish he has become one of the most unique voices on the UK circuit.
“Charming, charismatic, hilarious. Will have you leaving with a smile on your face” –Deadline News

Note: Line-ups are subject to change in extreme, and unavoidable, circumstances.
Show may contain strong language and adult themes.
Doors 7.30pm, Show starts 8pm
Ticket price: £15

Cosmic Storytime
2026-07-08 11:00 - 11:45 | The Ripon Inn, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2BU
Launch into space from the teepee at The Ripon Inn, with a space-themed storytelling session for pre-schoolers and their grown-ups. Explore the story with hands-on sensory activities that spark the imagination and engage the senses. Get ready for a bit of cosmic creativity…
For thirsty and hungry explorers, there’s the chance to refuel at The Ripon Inn after you come back to earth!
Storytime led by artists from Yorkshire CREATE.
Age Guide 0-5
Tickets £6
*Grown-ups go FREE*

Pub Tales at King William IV
2026-07-08 19:00 - 20:30 | King William IV Pub, 10 Blossomgate, Ripon, HG4 2AJ, United Kingdom
Join comedy musician Chris Sainton-Clark as he takes you through his troublesome and hilarious experiences of working in British pubs. Hear stories of compulsive liars, disruptive youths, clinical over-sharers, fruit machine addicts and much more. Each of these songs has a satirical outlook on British pub culture that will leave you thinking, ‘I know that person’ or maybe… ‘I am that person’.
Armed with just a guitar, a whole lot of sarcasm, swearing and many musical stories, Pub Tales is sure to keep you entertained.
Chris is a multi award-winning actor and musician. In the couple of years since Chris started writing these songs, he has sold out his first comedy club performance as well as completely selling out his New Zealand tour.
Age Guide 14+
Tickets £12

Red
2026-07-08 19:30 - 21:10 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
International cabaret siren Amber Topaz brings you a brand new, classy, sassy, fabulous musical revue, celebrating redheaded musical theatre stars of stage and screen. A delicious cocktail of Old Hollywood glamour, West End and Broadway classics.
Full to the brim with iconic show-stopping numbers, honouring these formidable flame-haired trailblazers that have shaped musical theatre herstory.
From the golden era of Hollywood to the bright lights of Vegas. Embodying legendary artists such as Rita Hayworth, Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters, Shirley MacLaine, Gwen Verdon and many more.
Amber has worked her unique magic across the globe, delivering a triple treat of song, dance, and comedy. As a teenager, she left her Yorkshire roots behind to move to London and enter the world of cabaret and burlesque. Whether frivolous or thought-provoking, Amber is always, unmistakably, fabulous.
“Amber Topaz is an explosion of charisma and stage presence unmatched between music and song, comedy and seduction.” GQ
“Cabaret Icon” The List
Age Guide 10+
Tickets £15
*Evening multi-buy deal available*

Dancing with Colours
2026-07-09 17:00 - 18:00 | Harrogate Road Methodist Hall, Harewood Road, Ripon, HG4 1TG, United Kingdom
Co-created with learning-disabled people and their families in Bradford, Dancing with Colours is a participatory performance that blends movement, music, and most importantly, colour! The audience are just as important as the performers; challenging ideas of who gets to make art and how. Expect a joyful, sensory, (and very messy!), colourful experience as artist JoAnne Harris invites you to dance with pastels and paint, bringing the space to life.
Whether you prefer to watch or jump right in, JoAnne hopes you’ll leave feeling inspired to find moments of creativity in your own lives. This performance is relaxed and lets audiences engage in whatever way is comfortable for them. The age range is 4+ but all are welcome.
The performance is messy and although we try to facilitate as best we can, some of the materials used can stain clothes. As such, please wear clothes that you don’t mind getting stained.
Lead Artist and Performer – JoAnne Haines
Director – Rachel Dean
Musician/Improviser – Zoe Katsilerou
Producer – Mind the Gap
Mind the Gap is an internationally recognised theatre company and arts organisation based in Bradford. Founded in 1988, the company is dedicated to creating bold, innovative theatre while championing the voices and talents of learning disabled and neurodivergent artists.
Refreshments served from 4.30pm.
Age Guide 4+
Tickets £6

Ripon Ghost Walk
2026-07-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Explore our hauntingly beautiful city after dark and delve into its eerie past. Wander the ancient streets and places of Ripon with our expert and knowledgeable guides. Expect tales and history of characters long gone but thought to have left something behind. Discover frightening events in the most unlikely places.
All timed to enable you to see and hear the Ripon Hornblower at 9pm in the Market Square.
Proceeds from this walk generously donated to Ripon Theatre Festival.
Ticket Price: £6 (£4)

Pub Tales at The Ripon Inn
2026-07-09 20:00 - 21:30 | The Ripon Inn, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2BU

Batty!
2026-07-09 20:00 - 21:35 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Have you got a wild side?
Batty has, she dreams of running barefoot, wild swimming, of talking trees, strange animals and the scent of the seasons turning.
In fact she’s starting to wonder if she might be a witch…

Join Batty and her companion Wildthing for gossip, gay abandon, exquisite tenderness and raucous stories (with a side order of ranting), as they explore the magic and power of ageing.
This new production from Victoria Firth & Company explores the wildness – as opposed to madness – of women, and how our feral side can reconnect us to ourselves and our environment.
The show will be followed by an audience Q&A with the company.
Victoria Firth & Company is a contemporary dance theatre company led by choreographer and director Victoria Firth. Based in the UK, the company creates visually striking and emotionally resonant performance work that blends contemporary dance, physical theatre, and storytelling.
“Sincere, frequently funny and a reminder that there is much more to mid-life than hot flushes.” The Scotsman
THIS PERFORMANCE WILL BE BSL INTERPRETED
Sponsored by Dr Frances Cole & Dr Judith Hooper
Age Guide 14+
Tickets £15
*Evening multi-buy deal available*

Writing a 10 Minute Drama
2026-07-10 10:30 - 12:30 | Ripon Library, The Arcade, Ripon, HG4 1AG, United Kingdom
A practical, confidence-building workshop designed for people who are new to writing for the stage. The session guides participants through the fundamentals of writing a 10-minute stage play, the standard format for festivals such as Short + Sweet Festival.
Participants will be supported to develop an idea, understand the constraints of a 10-minute structure, and begin writing a piece that could be developed further for submission to short play festival or anywhere else.
The workshop focuses on clarity, simplicity, and momentum, helping new writers realise that theatre writing is both accessible and achievable.
By the end of the workshop, participants will:

Understand how a 10-minute stage play works
Understand the stagecraft and technical constraints of short form
Learn the core elements needed for short-form theatre
Develop an idea that fits festival requirements
Draft a 10-minute stage piece
Gain confidence to continue developing the work

Who the workshop is for:

People curious about theatre writing but unsure where to start
Writers from other forms exploring stage work
Anyone interested in submitting to short play festivals

No prior writing or theatre experience is required – total beginners welcome.
Fiona Georgiou Hunt is a scriptwriter, director and story mentor who works across theatre and film, helping writers shape stories for the stage and screen. With a background in both performance and script development, she has collaborated with theatres, production companies and screen organisations across the UK, supporting projects from early idea through to production.
Tickets £10

Stitch in Time
2026-07-10 14:30 - 15:30 | Allhallowgate Methodist Church & Halls, Victoria Grove, Ripon, HG4 1LG, United Kingdom
Excitement! Drama! Romance! And… knitting?
An award-winning cabaret of the “lost” knitting songs of WWI and WWII from Canada, Britain, America, and France. Feel free to bring your knitting (or crochet) and stitch along to these funny, poignant, toe-tapping, needle-clicking tunes. Come out and have a ball!
During the two World Wars, millions of women knit for the soldiers. Popular music often reflected the trends of the time, and mere days after the first bullet was fired, dozens of knitting-themed songs started to appear. These songs ranged from heartfelt, sentimental ballads, to brisk marches, to novelty tunes that offered a humorous, tongue-in-cheek look at the wartime knitting craze).
After the wars these songs were essentially lost, and this concert is the first time that many of them have been performed in 100 years. Some of the songs were very close to disappearing forever, and with Stitch in Time, this music — a clever, sweet and entertaining footnote in history — has been preserved, and given a chance to live again.
Presented by Canadian soprano Melanie Gall, a writer, theatre historian, and internationally-acclaimed vocalist, whose solo performance career has spanned from Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York to Royal Albert Hall in London.
Refreshments served after the show – donations to Ripon Community Poppy Project
Age Guide 10+
Tickets £12
*Matinee multi-buy deal available*

Little Listeners: Mini Magic Flute
2026-07-10 17:00 - 17:45 | Allhallowgate Methodist Church & Halls, Victoria Grove, Ripon, HG4 1LG, United Kingdom
The perfect opportunity for all the family to experience and share the charm of opera as a relaxed and welcoming tea-time treat.
Come with us on a fun, enchanting musical adventure inspired by Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute. Led by a trio of opera singers and an accordionist, Mini Magic Flute follows a Prince’s search for a Princess, but nothing is quite as it first appears… Join a host of fantastical characters – from a bird-catcher to a dragon! – on this magical adventure.
Enchanting for all ages but especially designed for those aged 4–7, with young people invited to a craft activity beforehand to create something to compliment the performance.
Opera North is a national opera company based in Leeds, and leading UK arts organisation. Rooted in the North of England, international in outlook, they create extraordinary experiences, every day. Opera North believes opera and music is for everyone, and champions diversity in artists, repertoire and audiences. They aim to create extraordinary experiences through participative arts and family performances.
Refreshments served from 4pm with opportunity for young people to get ‘crafty’ – donations to Ripon Community Poppy Project
Age Guide 4-7
Tickets £6

One Man Poe
2026-07-10 20:00 - 22:15 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
Renowned as the ‘Godfather of Gothic Horror’, Edgar Allan Poe was a pioneer in establishing the horror genre. Although his works are nearly 200 years old, Poe’s stories have stood the test of time and have inspired a countless number of horror writers. Using Poe’s original text from the 1840s, award-winning storyteller Stephen Smith faithfully brings to life four timeless tales live on stage:
The Tell-Tale Heart is an insight into the mind of a madman, convincing us he is sane.
The Pit and the Pendulum follows a prisoner of the dreaded Spanish Inquisition, undergoing various mental and physical tortures.
The Black Cat documents an alcoholic confessing his heinous crimes on the eve of his death.
The Raven is the poem that made Poe famous – a mysterious midnight visit from an ominous talking raven.
Winner of The Derek Award for ‘Best Overall Show’ at Edinburgh Fringe 2025, One Man Poe is produced by four-time OFFIE Award-winning theatre company Threedumb Theatre, bringing Poe’s work to life as never before.
Praise for this production:
“Captivating… I could not have been more wowed by this ‘marathon of the macabre’” ★★★★★ The National Scot
“Powerfully moving… This show quite literally took my breath away… Unmissable!” ★★★★★ Everything Theatre
“A compelling and repelling experience” ★★★★★ MyTheatreMates
“Edgar Allan Poe himself would love this powerful performance” ★★★★★ The Derek Awards
“Awe-inspiring… An incredibly gripping and enthralling evening” ★★★★★ North West End
“The definitive Fringe interpretation of these already much-loved works” ★★★★★ The Wee Review
“A captivating night of terror, guilt, grief and murder most foul… A must-see” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby
Age Guide 12+
Tickets £15
*Evening multi-buy deal available*

Singing with Flo - Morning Chorus for Early Birds
2026-07-11 09:30 - 10:30 | Allhallowgate Methodist Church & Halls, Victoria Grove, Ripon, HG4 1LG, United Kingdom
Start your day the feelgood way with a jolly good sing! Led by dynamic Rock Choir conductor, Florence Glen.
Rock Choir is the nation’s most popular, local and award-winning contemporary choir experience.
Florence Glen is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and teacher.
In 2015 Florence completed a Masters degree in Music Production at Leeds Beckett University and went on to record her first studio EP after winning the ‘Soundtrack your Roadtrip’ songwriting competition. Florence has since produced and recorded her own studio album which has been played on BBC Radio 6 Music.
In 2021 Florence founded Beats by Girlz UK CIC to teach women and other under-represented groups music production and digital skills.
Florence now fills her time writing and performing music, teaching music at a special school, leading Rock Choirs and playing drums and singing in a latin jazz band!
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!

Astro Norma and the Cosmic Piano
2026-07-11 10:30 - 11:15, 2026-07-11 12:00 - 12:45 | Ripon Library, The Arcade, Ripon, HG4 1AG, United Kingdom
A musical comedy that’s out of this world!
Blast off with ASTRO NORMA on a madcap, musical quest to find Grandpa’s lost star. But beware! The sneaky Silencer is hot on her trail, ready to silence the tunes! Packed with awesome aliens, rib-tickling robots, and interplanetary puppets, this joyful space odyssey will have kids reaching for the stars…
Astro Norma is the brand-new show from BBC Popcorn New Writing Award nominated FLADAM (Flo Poskitt and Adam Sowter) best known for their hit shows GREEN FINGERS and HALLOWBEAN. Following a successful UK tour and a joyous run at Glastonbury Festival, the duo can’t wait to touch down in Ripon this summer!
“…the most amazing, hilarious musical comedy duo” BBC Radio
“Imagination, catchy songs and big personality” The Scotsman
Performances at 10.30am & 12 noon, running time approximately 45 mins
Age Guide 3-10
Tickets £6

Puppetry for Beginners
2026-07-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Allhallowgate Methodist Church & Halls, Victoria Grove, Ripon, HG4 1LG, United Kingdom
Meet some puppets and learn some basic techniques with Mark Edwards from Puppet Power North. Create a simple puppet and learn how to make it move.
Mark Edwards has honed his puppetry skills over the last decade working with amateur societies, schools and youth groups. Mark frequently directs productions for RAOS Musical Theatre Company, including their recent 9 to 5 at Harrogate Theatre and Avenue Q at Ripon Arts Hub in 2023 when his puppetry skills came to the fore. He is directing No Strings Attached- a Puppet Cabaret specially for Ripon Theatre Festival on Sunday 12 July.
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!

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!

The Three Musketeers
2026-07-11 17:30 - 19:45 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
All for One – and One for All! Alexandre Dumas wrote five Musketeers novels, the first appearing in 1844. They have enjoyed enormous popularity worldwide and are not just textbook examples of the Historical Romance but also hilarious pastiches of that genre. This one, the first, remains the greatest.
Young D’Artagnan is desperate to join Athos, Porthos and Aramis as an elite Musketeer of the King’s Guard. To prove himself he plunges headlong into a thrilling adventure to retrieve the Queen’s jewels, race the clock to restore Her Majesty’s honour, survive the machinations of scheming Cardinal Richelieu, and cross swords with the deadly Milady de Winter. Set against a sweeping panorama of 17th century France at war, it’s a whirlwind of excitement, comedy and ingenious storytelling. Romance! Intrigue! Murder! Betrayal! Revenge…! It’s got the lot!
With a reputation for staging some of the finest swordplay in the business Illyria’s The Three Musketeers promises to be more dazzling than ever!
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, adapted by Oliver Gray
Age Guide 8+ (younger children also welcome)
Play contains scenes of peril, politics and passion! Younger children welcome, if they’re brave enough…
Please bring fold up garden chairs, camping chairs or blankets. People on blankets will be advised to sit in the first 5 metres in front of the stage.
You are welcome to bring a picnic to the event. Refreshments will also be available from The Cafe in the Park. Pick up a gorgeous takeaway couscous salad (pre-orders encouraged – email cafeinthepark@gmail.com)
Dogs are NOT allowed at the performance.
Performance continues regardless of weather, please come dressed for the weather, but no umbrellas please.
Performance begins at 5.30pm, gates open at 4.45pm.
Sponsored by Elstob Auctioneers
Tickets £11-18

Down to Chance
2026-07-11 20:00 - 21:10 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
One woman, a radio, and the largest earthquake in US History.
Anchorage, Alaska. 1964. A part-time radio reporter, her teenage intern, a general on leave, and a local hobbyist find themselves at the centre of a remarkable relief effort. Genie Chance, live on air, must take unimaginable risks to save her community and family from chaos.
Based on the incredible true story of the Great Alaskan Earthquake, Down to Chance is a heart-warming portrait of a community in crisis with the whole world listening in.

Straight from selling out the Edinburgh Fringe, this 5-star, ‘deftly staged thriller’ (The Stage) lands in Ripon this Summer.
Maybe You Like It’s madcap new show promises frenetic action, frantic multi-roling, and immersive live sound in this ‘love letter to the golden age of radio’ (The Scotsman).
Down to Chance was developed with support from Theatre Royal Plymouth and The Pleasance for The Edinburgh National Partnerships Programme.
“Simply the best show I’ve seen this year.” UK Theatre Web
“Deftly staged thriller” (The Stage)
Age Guide 12+
Tickets £15
*Evening multi-buy deal available*

The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuiness
2026-07-12 14:30 - 16:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
How will history remember you? As the person you are, or as the person you want to be?
A funny and poignant story of an Irish nurse and poet, based on the true stories from World War II.

It’s 1939 and Philomena McGuinness, an Irish nurse and poet, has been newly recruited for the British war effort. But can one live a life true to the poetry inside them when they are constantly being defined by their role in the war?
Moon Rabbit is an innovative, two-person theatre company specialising in historical one-woman plays. Based in Edinburgh, they have performed their historical one-person shows all across the UK, and onboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne. The company was founded by Joshua King (playwright and fiction writer) and performer and voice actor, Jasmin Gleeson. Joshua is also co-founder of and writer for theatre company Say It Again, Sorry?
“If you leave this play feeling anything other than touched and inspired, then you are probably not breathing.” Broadway Baby
Sponsored by Specsavers Ripon
Age Guide 12+
Tickets £12
*Matinee multi-buy deal available*

No Strings Attached - A Puppet Cabaret
2026-07-12 20:00 - 21:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
An evening of song and sketches and some surprises, all performed by talented puppets with help from local community performers and Puppet Power North.

Join the Festival Team, friends and volunteers for a fun finish to Festival week.

Puppet Power North (PPN) is led by Mark Edwards who has honed his puppetry skills over the last decade working with amateur societies, schools and youth groups. Mark has been in education for over 35 years and has used puppets throughout his time as an educator. After being inspired through a Noda summer school course he has for the last 10 years developed puppet workshops for young people and adults. For the last 20 years he has directed musicals for a number of local amateur operatic societies. 2024 saw him direct a production of Avenue Q.

Age Guide 10+

Tickets £10
