2010 Events

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From Flanders & Swann to Cider with Rosie, this is a sparkling musical anthology in celebration of the British countryside.

This delightfully funny show is presented by five of the most famous voices in the land – actors from the cast of Radio 4ʼs The Archers.

The company includes Sara Coward (Caroline Stirling), Brian Hewlett (Neil Carter), Terry Molloy (Mike Tucker) and Sunny Ormonde who plays the outrageous Lilian Bellamy.

A special performance for the York Minster Appeal.

Book by Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus

Music and Lyrics by Kath Gotts

A fresh, funny and original British musical, based on characters from the award winning and hugely popular ITV drama.

Featuring music from musical theatre between 1935 and 1950 in the first of our special Music Night celebrations of music over the 75 years since the theatre opened.

The Musical Director is Don Pears with guests Jo Pears, Steph Crossley, Juliet Waters, Elaine Pears, Graham Kay, Richard Kay, George Horne and Ken Humphreys

Flying Ducks prove time and time again that they enjoy a challenge and this year is no exception. This comical love story, made famous by the British musical film of 1967, starring Tommy Steele, has recently enjoyed a successful professional tour starring Gary Wilmot in the lead role of Arthur Kipps. It is really quite something that our very own Flying Ducks Youth Theatre will perform the first amateur production of this famous musical with Sam Whyte playing the lead at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

The story of orphan Arthur Kipps, who lives and works with other apprentices for the cruel draper, Mr. Shalford, is quite endearing. Kipps learns that he inherits a fortune and tries to join the upper classes, getting engaged to the wealthy Helen Walsingham. Soon, he realises that his true love is his childhood sweetheart, Ann, and that money really cannot buy love. Thank goodness the story has a happy ending!

Don't miss the Flying Ducks production of one of the world's best-loved hit musicals, featuring favourite songs such as Flash Bang Wallop, If the Rains Got to Fall and of course Half A Sixpence. It will be a show for all the family to enjoy.

Two unemployed musicians — bass player Jerry and saxophone player Joe — witness the St Valentines Day massacre in Chicago. In order to escape gangster Spats Palazzo and his henchmen, they dress as women and join Sweet Sue and Her Society Syncopaters, an all-female band about to leave town for an engagement in Florida.

Complications arise when Joe, now known as Josephine, falls in love with beautiful band singer Sugar Kane, who has a slight drinking problem that tends to interfere with her ability to choose a romantic partner wisely. More than anything, Sugar wants to marry a millionaire, prompting Joe to disguise himself as the man of her dreams.

Meanwhile, wealthy and elderly Osgood Fielding, Jr. is pursuing Daphne, unaware she really is Jerry in drag. As much as he knows he needs to reveal his true gender to his over-amorous paramour, Jerry is beginning to enjoy all the expensive gifts bestowed upon him on a regular basis. Total chaos erupts when Spatz and his gang descend upon the hotel and realise who Josephine and Daphne really are.

With upbeat music, great songs, and plenty of comedy throughout, this show will have you laughing and tapping your feet all the way.

After a sell-out production of this world class top selling musical of all time, in York 4 years ago, we are once again delighted to be able to stage this huge spectacular, courtesy of JW Weinberger, the licence holders in London.

Working within the restrictions imposed by Cameron Mackintosh, who insists upon first class standards throughout, this full-scale production, with full orchestra and Les Miserables set, offers talented young performers aged 19 years and under, a platform to showcase their talent, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in this memorable, dramatic, and emotional epic piece of musical theatre.

Drawn from the very best talent from all over North Yorkshire, this fantastic production, under the helm of Yorks' most prestigious Musical Theatre Director, Bev Jones, will take you through every emotion, from the dismal depths of Look Down sung by the prisoners on the chain-gang, to the raunchy Lovely Ladies, to the romantic A Heart Full of Love sung by Marius and Cosette, the comedy that simply pours from Master of The House with its catchy song and dance routine, to the heart rendering Bring Him Home guaranteed to touch the heart of everyone in the audience, to the magnificent, rousing full company numbers of Do You Hear The People Sing and the roof raising One Day More.

If you have never been to see a musical, or you have never been to the theatre, then a visit to Les Miserables SE is a time for change !

There are matinees and price concessions to suit everyone. Parties welcome.

Dido and Aeneas by Purcell

The Choral Dances from Gloriana by Britten

Excerpts from Merrie England by German

The characters are three suburban couples who are linked by the work of the husbands. Fiona and Frank are the top couple, Bob and Teresa are attractive and up and coming, despite the fact she is a utter slob and he is a boor. The third pair are socially hopeless, but earnest.

The action takes place at two dinner parties given on consecutive nights. The set in itself represents two living/dining rooms at once. The furniture and often the people of the two places are intermingled, most notably in the scene that closes the first act, when one hapless couple is having Thursday night dinner with one pair and Friday night dinner with the other couple at the same time! Their lives and friendships are intertwined in more ways than one, add some hilarious and emotional misunderstandings, some comings and goings and the dinner party!

What on earth could go wrong?

A concert by all three Bands featuring themes from everyone's favourite film scores

The fabulous score includes songs such as Thank Heavens For Little Girls, The Night They Invented Champagne, Yes, I Remember It Well, and of course Gigi.

A new musical written by Dennis Westgate and directed by Charlotte Gray.

The show begins with Grace as a young girl, playing on the rocks in the village of Bamburgh in the year 1826 and follows her through her life, with her love interest, Joseph Swann and the rest of her family at the Lighthouse, where she lives. The show features the life-boat rescue that made Grace famous and what happened in the aftermath. Concluding in 1842, when Grace was 26.

The show has a variety of musical numbers, including Keeper of the Light which Mr Darlings sings, revealing all about his life as a Lighthouse keeper, I care nothing for fame which appears late on in the show with Grace expressing how she doesn't like the attention the rescue has given her and the haunting In your Shadow sung by her love interest, Joe.

This musical is suitable for all ages, whether they have previous knowledge about Grace Darling or not. It offers an insight into this amazing woman's life and portrays what life was like in the 1800's. It's a show with outstanding music, a fantastic cast and is sure to stay with people long after they leave the theatre.

Featuring songs from 1951 to 1980 as part of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre's 75th anniversary celebration.

Featuring the Steve Cassidy Band accompanying Jo Pears, Stephanie Crossley, Arnold Durham and George Horne

The songs included are listed on the anniversary concert page.

Musical Director: Don Pears

Sunday Night is Music Night

Featuring The Tuesday Singers and Guest Soloists

A variety evening of the best young talented singers, dancers and musicians coming together to raise money for disabled children in York through S.N.A.P.P.Y.

Featuring songs from 1981 to 2010 in the third of our special Music Night celebrations of music over the 75 years of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

Musical Director: Don Pears

Sunday Night is Music Night

After the Emperor of Japan, The Mikado, decrees that flirting is punishable by death, the town of Titipu appoints Ko-Ko, a cheap tailor already condemned to death, as the Lord High Executioner, so that no executions can happen until after he has executed himself. Nanki-Poo, a wandering minstrel arrives, looking for Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko's ward, with whom he fell in love with a year ago. Discovering Yum-Yum is to wed Ko-Ko that day, Nanki-Poo decides to kill himself. The plot continues with a series of deceptions and misunderstandings, will everyone escape death?

Reflecting an 1880s British craze for "all things Japanese", The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's ninth collaboration features songs such as A Wand'ring Minstrel I and Three Little Maids From School are we, has become one of the most frequently performed pieces of musical theatre of all time and remains a firm favourite with performers and audiences alike.

Remember your school days? The dreaded detentions, snogging behind the bike sheds and breaktime bust-ups?! Well prepare to be catapulted back to the classroom and take a raw and riotous look at life in a typical British school, in this classic comedy from BAFTA winner John Godber.

Meet the staff; the trendy young Drama teacher making his shaky debut; the Deputy Head who rules the school with an iron rod; the gentle Humanities teacher who is desperate for a quiet life; Doug, the grumpy old Caretaker, and the Headmistress - a boisterous battleaxe and some-time Amateur Dramatics star! And prepare yourselves for the pupils; a wayward mob of disruptive delinquents - determined to wreck havoc, hormones and horror throughout the school!

Nostalgia, mischief and mayhem reign supreme in this classic classroom drama!

Great Music from Then and Now

All proceeds go to the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society

Enjoy an evening of songs and music from one of the greatest writing partnerships in musical theatre history, Rodgers and Hammerstein.

With careers spanning decades of musical theatre, come and enjoy much loved songs from some of their most popular shows including South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Oklahoma! and The King and I. Soloists, ensemble and younger members of York Musical Theatre Company will be joined on stage for this magical evening of music by Paul Laidlaw, at the piano. Along with these popular favourites from the duo, the company will also be featuring some of their lesser known work such as State Fair, Allegro and Flower Drum Song.

Don’t miss this delightful evening’s entertainment and lose yourself in some of the most wonderful melodies ever written.

Join us as we celebrate Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday with performances of his brilliant music and lyrics, including rarely heard material.

Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22, 1930) is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (eight, more than any other composer) including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize. He has been described as "the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theatre."He was president of the Dramatists Guild from 1973 to 1981.

The programme includes Sweeney Todd, Company, A Little Night Music, Into The Woods, Passion, West Side Story, Gypsy, Assassins, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday In The Park With George, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Dick Tracy, Saturday Night, Anyone Can Whistle and Follies – Happy 80th Birthday!

Little Orphan Annie, the strip cartoon character started out as Little Orphan Otto; but Harold Gray, the cartoonist was persuaded to change the boy into a girl and the first strip cartoon of Little Orphan Annie was published in the New York Daily News on 5 August 1924. Gray created a fiercely independent 11-year old with a mind of her own and the ingenuity to get her through the many scrapes which she experienced in the 44 years that the strip cartoon ran. Her dog Sandy accompanied her on all her adventures. During the Great Depression Harold Gray used Annie to reflect his ultra conservative beliefs.

We follow Annie from the orphanage to the mansion of millionaire Oliver Warbucks. On the way she finds herself in a Hooverville, a shanty town built by the victims of the Great Depression. These Hoovervilles were named after President Hoover the man the down-and-outs blamed for their condition; although it is difficult to see how he could have prevented the Great Depression. Throughout the musical we are impressed by Annie’s constant optimism and her unremitting efforts to find her parents. Despite the plots of Miss Hannigan, the mean orphanage director, we follow Annie to a happy ending at a Christmas party where everybody, including President Roosevelt, looks forward to a rosy future.

Music by Charles Strouse; Lyrics by Martin Charnin; Book by Thomas Meehan

A special Music Night for the 75th Anniversary of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre with the music provided by The Royal Signals Northern Band.

The soloists are George Horne, Graham Kay and Jo Pears.

York Scout and Guide Gang Show is a biennial show directed, produced and performed by members of the Scout and Girlguiding movements from the York and Selby area. Each show features an entertaining selection of songs, dances and sketches and preparations are already underway for the next show at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre in November 2010.

Gang Show is based on the original idea of Ralph Reader CBE, a producer of Broadway shows and West End revues who staged the first ever Gang Show in London in 1932. During his lifetime Ralph wrote over three hundred sketches and four hundred songs. On his retirement he generously donated this vast collection of material for use by the Scouts of the world. Ralph died in 1982 but his songs and sketches continue to form a major part of Gang Shows today, bringing music, song, spectacle and happiness to millions the world over.

York Scout and Guide Gang Show has consistently achieved a high standard over the last 50 years and in 1991 was awarded National Recognition by the Scout Association. It is the aim of York Scout and Guide Gang Show to produce the best possible Show using the talents of members of the Scout and Girlguiding movements in the area. We also believe that the opportunity to benefit from taking part in the Show should be available to all so individuals do not have to pass an audition to become a member of the Gang. As long as they are 8 years old or above on 1 September of the show year, any member of the Brownies, Beavers, Cubs, Guides, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Network or leaders from the Scout Association or Girlguiding are welcome to take part.

Will Baron Tightwad ever get his rent from Gertie? Will Houston ever pluck up enough courage to ask Tilly out? Why is Lord Moldevart so interested in Priscilla and will Fairy Floella be able to keep him under control?

The answer to all these questions and more can be found at this years Rowntree Players pantomime Mother Goose with another brand new script, jokes old and new, laughs in abundance, hilarious slapstick rousing songs and dazzling dancing, it really promises to be another rollocking romp of a panto.

Directed once again by the inimitable Howard Ella and this year ably assisted by choreographer Claire Horsley. The part of the Dame will again be played by Barry Benson (who co-wrote the panto with Howard). Together with another superb chorus of all ages and sizes you’re sure to be entertained.

Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Following a triumphant West End run and a high profile TV appearance on Country House Rescue Oddsocks is touring a riotous production of Hamlet – the Comedy from November 2010 to February 2011 with a special celebrity guest video performance and music by Rob Harris, lead guitarist with Jamiroquai!

Oddsocks’ Hamlet finds the young student prince returning home for Christmas to discover there’s something rotten in the state of Denmark and it’s not just his dirty washing! Mum’s married Uncle Claudius and his dead Dad only puts in a ghost appearance – it’s enough to make a teenager mad. Things will never be the same again in the Hamlet household but as this is Oddsocks it’ll all be sorted out with lots of jolly singing, laughing and audience participation.

Every year audiences are delighted with our madcap approach to Shakespeare’s plays and our trademark rip roaring pantomime style. We perform Shakespeare as it was meant to be – entertaining! – easy to follow, full of belly laughs and accessible to a wide audience.

A Celebration Of The Popular Song

Musical Director: Don Pears