Aaron Parsons (Director and Movement) for the RSC First Encounters – The Tempest which is coming to York Theatre Royal later this month, for young people aged 7-13 and their families chats about the production. Can you tell me a little bit about your background and how you got into theatre?
The East Yorkshire venue is set to mark its milestone 25th anniversary with a series of specially curated events, including its first-ever comedy festival on 31 May. This unmissable addition to the Arts Centre’s jam-packed 2025 line-up promises comedy fun for all ages from some of the UK’s top acts.
One of Agatha Christie’s greatest literary achievements is brought to the Sheffield Lyceum stage this week and for ’whodunit’ fans everywhere, this is such a treat! First published in 1934, Murder on the Orient Express remains one of Christie's most popular novels almost 90 years later, probably because it contains everything needed for a good read or film or evening at the theatre.
Harrogate Theatre first opened its doors on 13th January 1900, with a special benefit gala supporting soldiers returning from the Boer War, followed by a production of the pantomime Dick Whittington. Now, 125 years later, the theatre is delighted to launch its spring season; an exciting lineup of shows to celebrate this extraordinary milestone.
It’s been 36 years since Jason Donovan released his first single, the No.5-charting Nothing Can Divide Us. Already a star through his role as Scott Robinson in Neighbours, he followed this hit up with a string of successful releases, including the Kylie Minogue duet Especially For You, and the chart-topping Too Many Broken Hearts and Sealed With A Kiss
Group Editor Andrew Palmer caught up with Gareth Gates at York Barbican ahead of two new shows he is bringing to the north. Twenty-three years after shooting to fame on Pop Idol, Gareth Gates is embracing a new role behind the scenes—while still commanding the spotlight.
Wisely, the Colne panto at the Muni Theatre runs during the first two weeks of the new year, and for 2025, Sleeping Beauty continues to light up the dark days of winter, bringing cheer to young and old with an enjoyable and entertaining show where the six performers—four dancers and two circus acts—give a refreshing slant on the whole panto experience.
When Castleford's Viv Nicholson won £152,319 (equivalent to £4.3 million in today's money) on the football pools in September 1961 with her husband Keith she became a famous figure. When asked by the media what she was going to do with her winnings, she replied, “Spend, spend, spend," but after the champagne stopped flowing, money didn’t always bring happiness.
Sleeping Beauty is a pantomime for all ages with a cracking cast who all appear to be having the time of their lives on stage, with the good-natured bonhomie flowing over to the audience. Pollard, now aged seventy-five and with at least fifty pantomimes under her belt, excelled as the pantomime villain.
Scarborough’s Christmas Show at the iconic SJT never fails to delight. If only we could bottle this festive fizz to bring us good cheer throughout the winter months. There is always a wonderful intimacy here, an instant bond between audience and actors performing in the round, which you couldn’t possibly hope for in a larger conventional theatre.
Ooh la la, you knew you were in for a night of cheesy jokes when the Belle of the Ball (Jennifer Caldwell) lived in France with her beloved father, Clement (David Alcock), in a village called Camembert! It was a case of out with the old and in with the new this year at the Grand Opera House, York, with a brand new writer, creative team, and cast presenting Beauty and the Beast. Appropri…
The Crucible’s Christmas musical offering of Little Shop of Horrors is fabulous in every respect. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s musical dates from the early 1980’s and is loosely based on a Roger Corman B film about an unassuming flower shop assistant who unknowingly creates a blood thirsty plant.
Another fabulous evening’s entertainment at the Sheffield Lyceum. It’s that time of year again when the traditional Christmas pantomime bursts onto stages up and down the country and this year the Lyceum is proudly presenting Snow White. Once again, this panto has been written and directed by Paul Hendy, who has clearly developed a winning formula.
Ooh, it’s that time of the year again—oh yes it is! York serves as the setting for this year's Theatre Royal production of Aladdin, a wonderful mashup of locations and cultures (some exotic, some not so exotic!) and a fabulous, fresh, and fizzing cast bursting to share their Christmas cheer with us all—a great start to the Christmas countdown.
Would you believe that native Inuits (Eskimos) have over 40 words to describe snow. Mr Snow is a snowologist who can tell different snow types by smell, look and taste.
If you are looking for a spectacular but highly traditional pantomime that dispenses pure magic, then Aladdin in The Globe at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort is for you. Once again, Stageworks World Wide Productions has created what must be one of the most spectacular pantomimes in the country.
As Aladdin opens tonight, York Theatre Royal has announced that their fun-filled Christmas pantomime for 2025/26 will be Sleeping Beauty. An enchanting tale of adventure, fun and spellbinding magic for the whole family, tickets go on sale today.
What we have here are human stories - unforgettable stories of peoples’ lives… Summer 2025 will see the world premiere of a brand-new play His Last Report, which focuses on the life and legacy of one of York’s most influential figures: Seebohm Rowntree.
Doncaster's Tommy Carmichael who trained at Bath School of Music and Performing Arts and who has a host of theatre credits is appearing in Aladdin at York Theatre Royal. Who do you play in Aladdin and how do they fit into the story? I play the role of Charlie, Aladdin’s younger brother, who’s always there to give his support with many laughs along the way.
They promised it would be “packed with sparkle and festive fun” and Harrogate’s Beauty and Beast did not disappoint. We were accompanied by over 100 very excited schoolchildren from Brackenfield for one of the first performances of the season. To say it was loud would be an understatement! There was booing and hissing and laughing and joking.
Written by Richard O’Brien way back in 1973, encompassing gender norms and subjects that were then ‘off limits’, you may be forgiven for thinking that The Rocky Horror Show would be past its sell by date but judging by the packed theatre this evening, you would be wrong.
If you take a walk up Calverley Street, which starts between Leeds Town Hall and the Central Library, you will eventually come to a large white-painted building. Now signed as a ‘Conference Auditorium’, if you step inside you will discover a plaque which states: “Leeds Playhouse. This foundation stone was laid on 25 September 1969 by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Alderman A.R. Bretherick”.
CBBC and CBeebies presenter Evie Pickerill loves her job – and that can be a bit of a problem when people ask about her ambitions. Being a children’s television presenter was her bucket list job so where does she go from there? She would like to ‘have a go’ at radio and she loves music but she’s very happy where she is.
We are not seasoned comedy enthusiasts so we were intrigued to see this show at York Theatre Royal; could one man keep a near-capacity audience entertained for a whole evening (with a little 15 minutes of help from his old schoolmate Alex Kealy)? The answer is….we are undecided.
From 28th to the 30th November, Theatre@41 in York city centre will host a brand-new production of Alice in Wonderland, performed by local repertory company Pop Yer Clogs Theatre, who are returning to Theatre@41 after their successful production of The Importance of Being Earnest, earlier this year.
Is there no end to the man’s talents?
Happiness is only a heartbeat away... So goes the opening line to attract the masses to the brand new Steps-inspired musical, Here and Now. Having just opened at The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, the Shaun Kitchener-penned comedy musical takes audience members on a journey through the epic back catalogue of 90s pop boppers Steps.
The Little Mermaid - a spectacular under-the-sea, panto adventure - is set to make waves at Newcastle Theatre Royal for a seven week run commencing Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Newcastle comedian Danny Adams and fellow comedian Clive Webb from Sunderland will return to the iconic venue - one of only nine Grade 1 listed theatres in the country - for their 19th season.
I came to see this show in having been told to expect to be shocked and offended, but who could be offended by the ten clean cut American boys who opened the show ringing all our bells and proceeded to try to sell us into their religion of Mormonism in a slickly choreographed musical number. They set the seal for the show as they are paired off to spread the word worldwide.
Writer Louise Beech’s debut novel was How To Be Brave, published in 2015, a heartfelt tribute to her grandfather Colin Armitage, telling his sea survival story during WW2, while at the same time weaving in another storyline where Natalie and her nine-year-old daughter Rose struggle to come to terms with a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis that changed both their lives forever. The book was a G…