The sound of movies

York Theatre Royal’s Choir are going to the movies as conductor, broadcaster and concert presenter Gareth Hudson join them on the main stage to uncover the secrets behind some of the world’s best screen music.

At The Sound of Movies audience members will learn what makes “The Bond Sound” as well as the truth behind who’s really singing on screen along with plenty more hidden truths. The Choir will entertain the audience with music from some of the greatest film composers including John Williams, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Carly Simon, Benny and Björn, Taylor Swift, Stephen Sondheim and many more.

York Theatre Royal Choir has been performing regularly since its inception in 2016. Led by Madeleine Hudson (who has been a musical director over many decades, both on Broadway and in the West End), the choir’s committed members attend weekly rehearsals, sing in a range of styles and are a central component of the theatre’s celebrated community productions.

Gareth Hudson

All funds raised through the evening’s performance will go towards supporting York Theatre Royal’s continued work in the community including a range of year-round projects for young people, working with schools, as well as partnerships with other charities through the Pay It Forward ticket scheme.

The theatre is nationally recognised for its engagement and participation programmes, the large-scale community productions it produces every two years, and its commitment to widening access to theatre to everyone.

The Sound of Movies

York Theatre Royal Main House, 11 Jun 7:30pm

Running Time: 2 hours (including interval)

Tickets: £15

Box office 01904 623568 | yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

How to cause a scandal

Joseph Marcell, best remembered as Geoffrey the butler in six seasons of US TV comedy series The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, returns to York Theatre Royal to lead the cast of a new production of Richard Sheridan’s classic comedy The School for Scandal .

He was last seen at the theatre in Alone in Berlin in 2020.  In this fresh take on Sheridan’s The School for Scandal he plays Sir Peter Teazle who believes his young wife is sleeping with someone else. She isn’t but is starting to think that if her husband believes it, she may as well give it a go. After all, if you’re going to cause a scandal, you might as well enjoy it.

Joseph was most recently seen in Chiwetel Ejiofor’s debut feature film, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. TV credits include Mammoth and I Hate You, both for the BBC and he will soon be seen in Candice Carty-William’s Queenie on Channel 4. His prolific stage credits include Hamlet at the Young Vic with Cush Jumbo, Kathy Burke’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, extensive work with Shakespeare’s Globe including the titular role in Bill Buckhurst’s King Lear and Derek Walcott’s Omeros, as well as seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

The School For Scandal is directed by Seán Aydon who recently adapted and directed the national tours of The Picture of Dorian Gray and Frankenstein.  The show is a Tilted Wig and Malvern Theatres production in conjunction with Theatre by the Lake. It runs in York from April 23-27, tickets and details: Box office 01904 623568 | yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Strictly murder on stage

Ellie Leach – reigning champion of Strictly Come Dancing – will make her stage acting debut as Miss Scarlett in the world premiere UK tour of Cluedo 2. Ellie won the hearts of the nation as she waltzed her way to victory (with dance partner Vito) to win the Glitterball Trophy in December. She is also known to millions of viewers as Faye Windass in Coronation Street. During her 13 years on the soap, Ellie was involved in various memorable storylines and nominated for numerous acting awards.  

Based on the classic Hasbro boardgame, which celebrates its 75^th anniversary this year, the five-month UK tour marks the world premiere of Cluedo 2, which kicks off at Richmond Theatre on 29 February and visits theatres across the UK until July. 

Starring alongside Ellie will be leading West End actor and TV favourite Jason Durr, who stars as Colonel Mustard. Most recently seen as David Hide in BBC One’s Casualty, (a role he played for seven years from 2016), audiences will also recognise Jason from his numerous other roles, including the motorbike riding policeman Mike Bradley from ITV’s hugely popular series, Heartbeat.  

Ellie Leach said: “After an incredible year I’m so excited to join the cast of Cluedo 2. I am delighted to make my stage acting debut as Miss Scarlett and I can’t wait to work with Jason and the talented cast.”  

Jason Durr said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of Cluedo 2 as Colonel Mustard. I was a huge fan of the Cluedo board game as a child and the Colonel is such a great character. I am looking forward to bringing laughter and this ultimate whodunnit to audiences across the UK in its 75^th anniversary year.” 

The cast is completed by Jack Bennett (Wadsworth), Hannah Boyce (Mrs Peacock), Dawn Buckland (Mrs White), Liam Horrigan (Mr Black), Edward Howells (Professor Plum), Tiwai Muza (PC Silver) and Gabriel Paul (Reverend Green) with Kara Alberts-Turner, Audrey Anderson and Henry Lawes. Helen Flanagan has been advised to withdraw for medical reasons and the company of Cluedo 2 wish her well. 

Following the huge success of the critically acclaimed original play, Cluedo is back on stage with a brand new, original comedy mystery, set in the swinging 60’s. It’s written by one of the UK’s most successful TV and stage writing duos, BAFTA Award winning writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, (Birds of a Feather, Goodnight Sweetheart and Dreamboats and Petticoats) and will be directed by Mark Bell (The Play That Goes Wrong, A Comedy About a Bank Robbery), who will bring the action of this hilarious whodunnit to life. 

Box office 01904 623568 | yorktheatreroyal.co.uk 

These are the greatest shows!

YORK THEATRE ROYAL

SOME of the greatest shows on earth are coming to York Theatre Royal for the spring/summer season as the venue hosts a big top bonanza. Back by popular demand, the theatre will be restaging its Jules Verne inspired family show,  Around the World in 80 Days-ish (18 July – 03 August).

Join the raggle-taggle band of circus performers as they embark on their most daring feat yet – to perform the story of Phileas Fogg and his thrilling race across the globe. But wait? Who is this Nellie Bly biting at his heels? Will an actual, real-life woman win this race?

Around the World in 80 Days was performed in green spaces around the York in the summer of 2021, and was taken on a national tour by Tilted Wig in 2023, after rehearsing and opening at York Theatre Royal.

York Theatre Royal’s Creative Director, Juliet Forster, who has adapted and will direct the show, said: “I’m really looking forward to revisiting this extremely fun story and bringing the delights of the circus to families this summer. We are very proud of this show, which is why we are bringing it back. This time we have the luxury of being in one building for three weeks, so you can expect some extra theatre magic.”

Alongside the production, the theatre will be running a pre-show circus school for 5–11-year-olds and there will be circus themed performances on the recently redesigned and accessible patio.

The season will begin with the new co-production with York-based company Pilot Theatre and Northern Stage, A Song for Ella Grey (20-24 February). This is followed by Emma Rice’s Blue Beard (27 February – 09 March), another York Theatre Royal co-production, with Wise Children, Birmingham Rep, HOME Manchester and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. Expect Emma Rice’s signature brand of theatrical wonder to be brought to this most beguiling and disturbing of tales.

Paul Crewes, York Theatre Royal Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted that with Around the World in 80 Days-ish, A Song for Ella Grey and Blue Beard, the theatre continues to invest in producing. This is something we plan to build up in the months and years to come as we continue to adapt to the post-covid landscape. We’ve also got some incredible companies visiting us this season, and I look forward to giving them all a warm welcome.”

The Everyman Theatre Company are bringing Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (09-13 April) which has its own circus flavour, with legendary clown Tweedy starring as Bottom, and Jeremy Stockwell as Puck.

English Touring Opera return with two Main House productions; Stravinsky’s The Rakes Progress (19 April) and Puccini’s Manon Lescaut (20 April). They will also present an opera for kids in the Studio. The Great Stink (20 April) visits Victorian London with a fun filled show about poo!

Also returning are Tilted Wig with timeless comedy The School for Scandal (23-27 April). Joseph Marcell will lead the cast, who is probably best-known for his role as Geoffrey the Butler in the six seasons of the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. His prolific stage credits include Hamlet at the Young Vic with Cush Jumbo, Kathy Burke’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, extensive work with Shakespeare’s Globe including the titular role in King Lear, as well as seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also previously starred in Alone in Berlin, a 2020 York Theatre Royal co-production.

Ockham’s Razor are coming to York with Tess (08-11 May) a groundbreaking adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles, weaving Hardy’s words with the extreme physicality of circus performance.

Once again York Theatre Royal will be taken over by students from York St John University for a weeklong festival (13-18 May). The TakeOver programme includes a mixture of devised student work and shows from local and national companies. Highlights include Out of Character Theatre Company with Jack Thorne’s Afterlife, an evening of readings from acclaimed writer Hollie McNish, comedy in Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnint and a dance triple bill from VERVE.

Cabaret superstar Velma Celli returns for a nightof songs from the shows in Show Queen (23 May) and Rush Theatre Company return with The King of Reggae(24-25 May) a musical celebration of the life and times of Bob Marley. Olivier Award-winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is returning with two nights of improvised comedy inspired by musical theatre (29-30 May) as well as a family friendly matinee (30 May).

Moby Dick (06-08 June) is a fast and vibrant reimagining of Melville’s classic, featuring sea shanties played live on stage. The internationally acclaimed West End and Broadway hit, The Kite Runner (18-22 June), is a haunting tale of friendship spanning cultures and continents.

Renowned dance companies Phoenix Dance Theatre and Ballet Black will return this season. Phoenix Dance Theatre present Belonging: Loss. Legacy. Love. (03-04 May), a powerfully visceral triple bill exploring the nuances of human experience. Ballet Black present double bill Heroes (28 June) exploring the meaning of life and the complexity of humanity, heroism and self-acceptance.

Local company York Opera are back on the Main Stage earlier than usual, with another Gilbert and Sullivan classic, The Sorcerer (03-06 July) after the success of Verdi’s Macbeth (2023) and HMS Pinafore (2022).

Family friendly shows in the season include the previously announced There’s A Monster in Your Show (26-28 March) and Northern Ballet’s Tortoise and the Hare (02-03 April). Later in the season there’s fun to be had with Amazing Animals (01 June), a show celebrating all creatures great and small, and Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book (13-15 June) adapted from the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

The Main House will also be hosting a number of fundraising events including Dinners on Stage (19-20 March), an exclusive and unique experience with some special quests to be announced, The Sound of Movies (11 June), a night of exceptional screen music from the York Theatre Royal Choir, and Best of Brass (29 June), celebrating 20 years of the Shepherd Group Band Organisation.

Further details and booking: www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Children’s show poster for the Mermaid

York Light Opera Company are staging Disney’s The Little Mermaid, at the city’s Theatre Royal, with the help of local schoolchildren.

In collaboration with York Theatre Royal they ran a poster competition for primary school pupils in the York area. The children were invited to design a show poster for the upcoming production , with the winners being decided by the show’s very own Ariel and Prince Eric.

Helen Miller from York Light said: “We’re a company dedicated to the community, and it’s great to have the opportunity to connect with the community in fun and creative ways. This show is a firm favourite with children all over the world so it’s great to welcome local children to use their creativity to celebrate the show, and for us to celebrate their talent.”

Paul Crewes, CEO at York Theatre Royal, added: “The theatre strives to encourage creativity in the community in many forms, so it was delightful to see local primary school children take inspiration from this beloved story.”

The four winners have won tickets to the show and received a personal letter of congratulations from Ariel. Their posters will be displayed inside the Theatre Royal during the run of the show and in the programme.

Alongside this, there will be fancy dress competition opportunities for audience members during both performances on Sun 11 February, and the Wed 14 and Thu 15 matinées. If you are attending the show and would like to be entered into the fancy dress competition, please email publicity@yorklight.com with your name and the show you’re visiting.

The show opens Weds Feb 7 and runs until Sat Feb 17. Details and tickets: yorktheatreroyal.co.uk | 01904 623568

Double casting for Evita

Evita, York Theatre Royal

After the drought, the deluge. We now have four musicals to see in just 14 days, after only two in the last two years, and York Light Opera’s Evita was an excellent way to revive a lost habit.

It was also a happy return to the revamped and truly magnificent York Theatre Royal, where the cast rose to the first night occasion with panache and style. After some minor technical issues with a mic in the first couple of scenes, Alexa Chaplin grew – and matured – into the character of Eva Peron with both sassiness and dignity, dressed up to the nines and a voice that made you know “that every word is true”.

John Hall was the statesmanlike Peron in this performance, and Dale Vaughan prowled the stage as narrator Che, with a voice that charmed with menace. And perhaps the most startlingly lovely of all, Fiona Phillips as Peron’s abandoned mistress, delivering Another Suitcase in Another Hall with such sweetly poignant despair.

I say “in this performance” because the director Martyn Knight and the society have chosen to double cast the main roles – meaning that two people will alternate playing certain roles. Alexa Chaplin and Emma-Louise Dickinson share the role of Eva Peron; Dale Vaughan and Jonny Holbek play Che; Juan Peron is played by John Hall and Neil Wood; Dave Copley-Martin and Richard Weatherill are Agustin Maglidi; and Fiona Phillips and Hannah Witcomb play Peron’s Mistress.

The society says that double casting provides the best possible cover, which is needed more than ever when putting on a production during a pandemic, when individuals might still have to isolate. “But it also provides each team with sufficient rest – the main character parts are huge and it would be a colossal ‘ask’ of any understudy to learn and have to perform those roles without significant rehearsal.”

Under the musical directorship of Mike Thomson, this classic show of people, power and politics is excellently brought to life as well as stage. But the final throwaway line, that Eva Peron’s body subsequently went on a 17 year journey across the world before reaching its final resting place, might yet provide ALW with a sequel?

Evita runs until Feb 19. Tickets and details: https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/