Why Tess?

Charlotte Moony and Alex Harvey, artistic directors of Ockham’s Razor talk about bringing the classic Thomas Hardy novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles to the stage in a ground-breaking circus adaptation at York Theatre Royal from 8-11 May. “Since we started telling people that our next show would be an adaption of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel Tess of the D’Urbervi…

Bread And Roses: Jennie Lee At Bingley Little Theatre

Lindsay Rodden’s vibrantly entertaining and biographically literate reading of the life of Jennie Lee once again gives notice of Mikron Theatre Company’s commitment to voicing the voiceless - especially women. If the socialist firebrand and daughter of a Scots miner has been consigned to the historical margins it might be because she languishes in the shadow of her husband, Aneurin Bevan.

Call-Out For Volunteers To Help Shape York’s Next Large-scale Community Theatre Production

York Theatre Royal has announced that a new large-scale community production will take place during the summer of 2025. Focusing on the life of York social reformer and philanthropist Seebohm Rowntree, research volunteers are being sought to delve into the fascinating history of the period and the life of this famous York figure to shape the theme of the production.

Joseph Marcell Q&A – The School For Scandal

Joseph Marcell 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 is soon be seen in Candice Carty-William’s Queenie on Channel 4.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Once again, the Lyceum theatre has welcomed Jamie back to his home city and what a joy it is for all Sheffield theatre goers. The show is based upon the genuine story of Jamie Campbell, a Sheffield teenager who dreams of becoming a drag queen and of attending his forthcoming school prom in a glamourous dress.

Edward Scissorhands - A Cut Above

Sir Matthew Bourne’s ballet, based on Tim Burton’s film, has enchanted audiences across the world since it opened nearly 20 years ago. Presented by Bourne’s own New Adventures company, it perfectly captures the innocence of Edward as he navigates through the prejudices and fears of a small town that, while seemingly embracing diversity, can never fully accept true differences.

Shakespeare You Don't Want To Miss

This was a delightfully written version of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. In the programme, Director Paul Milton said he hoped it would be “a joyous experience” and it really was. There were no visible first night hiccups and everything was slick from start to finish.

Paulus - Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood

Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood, the celebration of the music of the late comedy genius and national treasure is written and performed by Paulus (‘The Cabaret Geek’, from BBC1’s All Together Now.

Romeo and Juliet - A Wonderful Half Term Treat

Shakespeare’s greatest love story returns to the Lyceum stage with Northern Ballet’s wonderful production of Romeo and Juliet adapted by Christopher Gable and Italian choreographer, Massimo Moricone. This ballet must be one of Northern Ballet’s most well-known and critically acclaimed productions.

Stage @Thedock Showcases Best Of Outdoor Arts

Regeneration specialist Wykeland Group is working with arts organisations to bring unforgettable performances to Hull’s distinctive Stage @TheDock outdoor venue. The waterfront amphitheatre provides a striking setting for open-air theatre, arts, music, cinema and comedy performances. Stage @TheDock opened in summer 2016, in time for Hull’s year as UK City of Culture 2017.

High Energy Northanger Abbey

I read Zoe Cooper’s programme notes with increasing dismay. If there was evidence of a chip on the shoulder in the first sentence, it had become a sack of spuds by the last. At university, she did not like people who knew ‘which cutlery to use at a formal dinner’. She has a memory of some vindictive lecturer disparaging Northanger Abbey as a'satire on (silly female) gothic novel(s)’.

Q&A: Tweedy The Clown

Tweedy the clown is well-known for his 15-year tenure at Giffords Circus and renowned for his physical comedy and slapstick prowess. He has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to circus and the community. He plays Bottom and is comedy advisor for a new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at York Theatre Royal from April 9-13.

Farce, Pantomime, And Puzzling Plots Cluedo 2

Graveny Manor 1968: “Who did it? In which room did they do it, and with what weapon?” We’ve all played the game, and we already felt familiar with the characters that were brought to life in this cleverly written stage production of Cleudo 2.

Blue Beard - Theatre At Its Best

With her most recent production, Blue Beard, a Charles Perrault-penned French folk tale from 1697, Emma Rice has infused it with her unique brand of theatrical wonder. Haunted by the "regular and painful chime of murdered women in the news" (just this week, Lady Elish Angiolini and her team’s inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard has been in the news.

Belly Laughs With Barely A Dull Moment: The Full Monty

A mile long queue outside the Theatre Royal packed with high spirited lasses cracking Geordie jokes set the tone for this gritty, classic production which strikes a chord in every heart. The iconic storyline portrays the endless hardships for the men who lost their jobs and struggle daily to make ends meet following the demise of the traditional steel industry in the 1980s.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Following a remarkable rise to international success, the multi award winning Mischief Theatre company return to the Lyceum with Peter Pan Goes Wrong and if you have been lucky enough to see any of their other productions and liked them then this is definitely one to add to your ‘must see’ list. You’ll know what to expect and you certainly won’t be disappointed.

Opera North: Cavalleria Rusticana And Aleko

Cavalleria rusticana and Aleko, two notionally different operas, have been intimately linked in Opera North's excellent new production.

Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter

Cluedo has been a stalwart of family life since the Hasbro board game -which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2024 - was launched at the end of the 40s. Then, in 1985, Clue, The Movie, directed and written by Jonathan Lynn, was a big hit when it was released. Fast forward to 2022 and a stage production of the film, based on Lynn’s original script, toured the UK.

Drop The Dead Donkey: The Reawakening

Thirty years since the launch of the unprecedented, comedy smash-hit Channel 4 TV series, the Globelink News team are back for the first time bursting onto the stage with their original and razor-sharp wit, classic British humour and of course, their unique and topical comments on the news items of the day.

Crewes Control

It makes sense to ask Paul Crewes exactly what his title as York Theatre Royal’s new Chief Executive means. After all, times are changing behind the scenes in the theatre world. The role of Artistic Director is an endangered species as theatres adopt new management structures and titles like chief executive to adapt in a post-covid, financially-precarious, inflationary world.

Feel-Good Cinderella in Huddersfield

An opera, ballet, film, musical, or even a cartoon of Cinderella is one of the most loved-to-riches tales. Andrew Pollard’s excellent script is pure traditional pantomime, played as it should be, with some lovely Yorkshire touches.

Percy Hedley Students Get In On The Act At Live Theatre

Young people and children from The Percy Hedley Foundation are realising their dreams after getting a chance to create a live performance at Live Theatre in Newcastle.

Galleons Of Laughter With Robinson Crusoe

There was a tidal wave of warm emotion as we all stepped aboard to enjoy Berwick Kaler and the Gang’s panto “Rubbish” at Grand Opera House, York, on December 14th, and it felt like a family reunion. There was a wonderful build-up of anticipation about seeing York’s best-loved dame.

White Christmas

I don’t know whether folk do ever dream of a white Christmas but in the world of Irving Berlin at Christmas time, reality can be temporarily suspended for us all to dream and hope for better things and this wonderful musical certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to making everyone feel happy and positive about life.

A Fe-Fi-Fun Extravaganza At York

Writer Paul Hendy from Evolution has teamed up once again with Director Juliet Forster from York Theatre Royal to produce their third pantomime together, Jack and the Beanstalk, which promised to be a Fe-Fi-Fun extravaganza for all the family.

Beauty and The Beast

It’s back and it’s been well worth waiting for, I am of course talking about the traditional Christmas pantomime at the Sheffield Lyceum, which this year is Beauty and the Beast. Once again, written, directed and produced by Paul Hendy, it doesn’t disappoint as there is something to please all ages, even the grumpiest of Christmas scrooges won’t be able to resist a sneaky smile or a gigg…

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet: One-Night-Only Live Event Celebrating 40 Years Of AWP!

The team behind the 'Official Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Fan Site' is pleased to announce their largest-ever live event in celebration of 40 years of television’s premier award-winning comedy drama series.

From Eastenders To York Nina Wadia Talks About Her Pantomime Role

Growing up in India and Hong Kong, EastEnders and Goodness Gracious Me star Nina Wadia didn’t have the chance to see that peculiarly British form of Christmas theatre called pantomime. No wonder she was taken aback when she auditioned for what became her first job after drama school – a pantomime version of Robin Hood at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Pantomime? Beauty And The Beast

When is a pantomime not a pantomime? Perhaps, before trying to answer this, I should try to define what a pantomime is. It seems to be a form of family entertainment peculiar to the English-speaking world and consisting of a story line, usually based on a folk tale or myth, with song, dance, topical jokes, slapstick, and audience participation.

Reviewing The Situation – Oliver!

Every production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! will forever live in the shadow of 1968 when Carol Reed’s movie of the same name won a clutch of Oscars and, in doing so, embedded the likes of Ron Moody and Oliver Reed into our psyches for ever.