Ghost Stories for Christmas returns to York

Wrap up warm and ring up your rellies because it’s time for a festive treat for the whole family. In just a few nights’ time, York Medical Society will again open its doors to James Swanton – past winner of Outstanding Performing Artist in the York Culture Awards – and … Continue reading

John Shuttleworth’s Back!: comedy preview

When John Shuttleworth last toured in 2017, he was on the brink of retirement. 2016 had wreaked its deathly toll on major celebrities (Rickman, Bowie, Wogan et al.) and Shuttleworth was feeling grimly vulnerable to the reaper’s scythe. We all thought he was packing it all in, that the superstardom he’d always imagined was tantalisingly just out of reach would never be his. Continue reading

Cinderella the Physicist: theatre preview

“They’re my new friends, Buttons! My Ugly – on the inside – Step – not that that’s relevant – sister said I couldn’t go to the Royal Twins’ party and they used physics to help me. We should lure sister into the wardrobe with sweets? That’s mean! Let’s do it though.” Continue reading

Irving Undead: Resurrecting the strangest actor who ever lived

This October, deep in the chambers of York Medical Society, a meeting of two minds. Unlikely for its reach across many centuries, and yet inevitable for the kindred nature of the characters in question. If you have ever, or never, hungered to hear from the restless spirit of the father of horror, your time is come. Continue reading

Bronzehead Theatre launches York International Shakespeare Festival with The Alchemist

Hijacking York International Shakespeare Festival (10-19 May) with a contraband classic Ben Jonson farce, Bronzehead Theatre present rambunctious conman romp The Alchemist. Continue reading

Preview: York Shakespeare Project present Cymbeline

Just shy of four hundred years since its first performance, York Shakespeare Project turn their hands to Cymbeline, one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known works, for their thirty-fifth production since their formation twenty years ago. Director Ben Prusiner takes us back to Shakespearean roots with full Renaissance costume, live music and duelling rapiers while challenging Original Production values with gender-blind casting. Continue reading

The Flanagan Collective presents A Christmas Carol

Known for producing unique, intimate theatrical experiences in non-traditional venues, York-founded company The Flanagan Collective are teaming up with two local charities this month to make its immersive dining adaptation of A Christmas Carol extra special. The company has commissioned St Mary’s Church in Sheffield and York Nurturing Community to provide the two-course meal which takes centre-stage during its rousing rendition of the timeless classic. Continue reading

Preview: The Castaways by White Tree Theatre

York-based company White Tree Theatre bring their powerful one-woman show to York Theatre Royal Studio. The dystopian near-future storytelling piece forms a part of Studio Discoveries, a week of exciting new theatre curated by community programming team Visionari, a new initiative giving voice to the local community. Continue reading

Yorkshire Scandals: Art Reporting Life

It is a bittersweet time for the arts and the news in York, what with the only paid local arts critic role being threatened with redundancy. The city’s independent art scene thrives as ever, and we strive to document the full, rich programme of events taking place in our city. Inevitably, where the money dries up, other resources follow, and we are looking at a future with decidedly less coverage. So what happens to the art that’s doing its own reporting? Continue reading