Ripon Theatre Festival has announced full details of this year’s ever-growing summer event. Looking forward to a third year of events and activities, the Festival now stretches to 6 nights and 5 days packed with professional touring shows alongside colourful community performances. Taking place from Tuesday 2 – Sunday 7 July, the Festival promises an extensive and varied programme of drama, family entertainment, dance, circus, comedy, cabaret and spoken word events.
Theatre and fun will be popping up in unexpected places and making the most of the city’s attractive venues and open-air spaces. Outdoor theatre fans can enjoy shows at both the stunning Newby Hall and in the lovely gardens of The Old Deanery or spend a leisurely Sunday in Ripon at the Family Day where puppet shows, street entertainment, music and dance run alongside visits from Wrongsemble and Rhubarb Theatre companies. Festival Saturday (6 July) will see another whole day of pop-up shows, walkabout acts and street performers, kicking off with story-telling for breakfast, Morris dancing and fire-juggling. Visiting acts will arrive in the city from across the UK to join regionally-based theatre companies and performers.
The extended programme for 2024 includes a daytime Julie Andrews’ musical tribute, A Spoonful of Julie, a stand-up comedy-meets-storytelling event in the Storehouse Bar, an Opera Brunch at Valentino’s Ristorante and a digital theatre experience from Pilot Theatre Company taking place daily in Ripon Cathedral. RTF 2024 also boasts its first Storyteller-in-Residence with Ilaria Passeri spending time in the city performing and running creative workshops for both adults and children.
As part of its developing outreach programme, Ripon Theatre Festival will also be taking theatre and music into care settings. Older people and those living with dementia will be able to enjoy non-verbal puppet theatre and mini concerts from specialist companies and practitioners.
Festival Director Katie Scott says, “We believe that theatre should be for everyone. Our varied and accessible programme of events provides real theatrical treats for seasoned theatre-goes, but also lively and low-cost opportunities for first-timers and families. We love bringing events to non-theatre spaces and working with local businesses and other partner organisations to create a buzz in the city which all can enjoy.”
Tickets are already selling fast for the hottest shows – Red Ladder Theatre’s touching musical We’re Not Going Back which remembers the miners’ strike 40 years on, Barrie Rutter’s Shakespeare’s Royals in Ripon Cathedral and the music of Victoria Wood celebrated cabaret-style in Looking for Me Friend.
All ticketed events are now on sale and full details of the free shows and outdoor programme can be found at www.ripontheatrefestival.org.
Stagey Lady 