2012 Events

Dance and Drama spectacular featuring many different forms of dance, including ballet, tap, contemporary and street.

Adapted from children's author Peter Ward's Viking Trilogy with an eclectic mix of music composed by Early Music specialist Michael Fields this Viking musical promises to be an exciting addition to the 27^th Annual Jorvik Viking Festival

Charles Dickens said of all his heroes: "I have in my heart of hearts a favourite and his name is David Copperfield" Featuring many of Dickens' most beloved characters - Mr Micawber, Peggotty, Uriah Heep, Betsy Trotwood, Mr Dick and Steerforth.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice tells the story of a shy, reclusive girl, Little Voice, and her larger than life out of control mother Mari.

Desperately missing her dead father, Little Voice spends her time locked in her bedroom listening to his old record collection and perfecting astonishing impersonations of favourite divas including Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland and Marylin Monroe.

When Mari starts dating small time club agent Ray Say, she thinks he's her last chance for a better life. When Ray Say hears Little Voice sing, he thinks she's his ticket to the big time. Little Voice just wants a normal life and to be loved. Not everyone is going to get what they want.

An evening full of laughs and tears, when the worlds collide sparks are going to fly...

With music from Don Pears with the Steve Cassidy Band

Featuring songs from Jo Pears, Marie Louise Scott, George Horne and Martin Lettin

The night will be compered by Ken Humphries

Sunday Night is Music Night

Whether it's the Lord High Executioner reciting his Little List, the Mikado devising punishments to fit the most heinous of crimes or the giggly girls in Three Little Maids from School there can't be many people who haven't heard and loved a song from Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. A hit with audiences since it's premiere 127 years ago, this tale of love, deceptions and misunderstandings, set in Japan, where flirting is punishable by death, is returning to York this March with a twist.

Following our very well received Sing-a-long-a-Pirates of Penzance in 2011 we're delighted to be returning to The Joseph Rowntree Theatre with Singalong The Mikado, which will provide an evening of entertainment for everyone. Performed by Jorvik Gilbert and Sullivan Company, this semi staged production, with narration encourages audience participation with all the choruses. Song sheets will be provided but if you have your own score you are welcome to bring it along. An excellent way to enjoy this popular production, suitable for all ages.

YSJSU MPS present an evening of West End Musical Numbers including extracts from Footloose and much much more.

This is a change from the original programme due to cast injury

In an age when ten bob was a small fortune, cream soda a favourite tipple and a first kiss sent you into raptures, this musical comedy will have you wanting to dance in the aisles.

Summer Holiday follows a group of teenage pals on an adventure which takes them from grey London to sunnier climes, all aboard a big red bus.

Broadway to Chelsea is a fun filled floral art show using Broadway musicals as the inspiration for the designs which will be created on stage by five of Yorkshire’s top floral designers hosted by Tony Cleaver.

The event is to raise funds to send a team from the North East Area (Yorkshire) of the National Association of Flower Arrangers to this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show where they will complete a massive floral design 20’ by 20’ in size – a whole lot of flowers!!

Following on from their first musical success of Oklahoma!, Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s second musical collaboration of Carousel opened on Broadway in 1945, to great acclaim.

The story revolves around a carousel barker, Billy Bigelow (Stephen Tearle), who has a reputation for romancing the girls who visit the carousel. An encounter on the carousel with mill worker, Julie Jordan (Jo Pears), who Billy finds particularly beguiling, leads both of them to lose their jobs. They marry but it is a difficult union, with love seemingly only travelling in one direction

Meanwhile, Julie’s work colleague and friend, Carrie (Perri Barley) is keen to confide in Julie of her blossoming romance with new beau, Mr Enoch Snow (Andy Stone), whom she plans to marry (When I Marry Mr Snow). He provides a total character contrast to Billy and is somewhat comedic, being upright and proper with standing in the community.

Penniless and jobless with a wife to support and a baby on the way, Billy allows himself to be persuaded by the no good Jigger (Tim Richardson) to take part in a robbery. To escape arrest, Billy kills himself.

After spending 15 years in Purgatory for being unrepentant for his actions on earth, Billy is given the chance to redeem himself by the Starkeeper in Heaven (Colin Dearlove). He discovers he has a daughter, Louise (Gaby Richardson), and is permitted to return to earth for a single day to help her. Through his new found understanding and tenderness, Billy is able to lift his daughter out of her misery and make her understand that, as long as she has hope in her heart, she will Never walk alone.

The show is packed with musical favourites including, June is Bustin’ Out All Over, If I Loved You, What’s the Use in Wond’rin’, the well-loved Soliloquy and now anthem song You’ll Never Walk Alone. These, alongside the colourful storyline, packed with both humour and depth of emotion, a great evening’s entertainment is guaranteed.

A concert of the very best of the band's music from TV, film and stage productions to celebrate 10 years of Generation Groove and blast the big band into a new decade of its life

Musical Director: Ewa Salecka
Pianist: Greg Birch

Following on from their last sell out show, Prima Vocal Ensemble return to the stage in even greater style with the ultimate in Rock, Jazz & Broadway classics.

From David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Queen & Clapton to Jackson 5, Sinatra, The Beatles and more - thrilling NEW arrangements of modern anthems presented by this powerful and expressive 100 voice York choir.

An unmissable show for all generations.

Hosted by Neil Foster from BBC Radio York.

Proceeds from programme sale in support of York Against Cancer.

When two musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon

To add to the feeling of nostalgia, we will be selling buckets of popcorn, and will have a pick ’n’ mix stand!

At the evening performance, we are hoping to have a fashion parade of vintage fashion by one of York’s leading vintage clothes stores.

Rebecca is returning to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre following the tremendous success of her concert last year. This time she will be joined by the fabulous award-winning choir Spirit of Harmony and professional ballet dancer, Laura White. She will be singing some old favourites, like Time to Say Goodbye and Love Never Dies, but she will also be debuting some new songs she has never before sung in public ahead of her next classical album, due out in 2013. There will even be a little 'nod' to the Olympics...

Rebecca has sold over 10,000 albums and has been featured on TV and radio across the UK. A cheque presentation for the fundraising Rebecca has achieved so far will be made to Childline (part of the NSPCC) on the night.

Not to be missed!

Set in a church hall in Acton, London, this is the funny but moving story of a group of agoraphobic women who, as part of a self help group, decide to break through their troubled and insular lives for one day at least by bravely staging a bazaar and rummage sale. Sue Townsend, author of the very popular Adrian Mole books, has crafted a very entertaining, witty and poignant play of ordinary people striving to overcome all obstacles in an effort to rejoin society.

Gwenda, an ex-agoraphobic, leads a self-help group of three women, Katrina, Bell Bell and Margaret who have been unable to leave their homes for a variety of reasons. She forces them to help at a local bazaar, enlisting the support of Fliss, a trainee social-worker. While sorting through the rummage their individual fears erupt but calm is restored by the ever-sensible Fliss. As they leave the hall it is apparent their agoraphobia is not cured but they have made the effort.

Stepping Out, which enjoyed a hugely successful West End run and won Evening Standard Best Comedy Award for 1984, is a warm and very funny play about the lives of a group of women (and one man) attending a weekly tap-dance class in a dingy church hall. As the play progresses the dancing improves to such an extent that by the climax, (a grand charity show performance), they have been transformed into triumphant tappers, worthy of any chorus line. The musical version lifts the story to a new dimension.

Opening Night is a show containing songs from many favourite West End shows, including Les Miserables, Hairspray, Annie, Wicked, Sister Act, The Sound of Music and many more, all performed by members of the Sing @ Selby Music Centre's choirs. Comprising members aged from 4 to 18, these talented youngsters not only sing amazingly but move and dance, too, for a full "Glee-style" showchoir experience!

Come join Just Dance, school of Freestyle Dance and watch girls and boys of all ages perform a spectacular show!

They will be dancing through the decades to some well known songs. It is a show for everyone!

Join the Tuesday Singers in a fundraising evening for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre. The evening will feature songs from favourite musicals by Rodgers & Hammerstein and Gilbert & Sullivan. There will also be music from West Side Story, as well as some of the best-loved songs of Perry Como, John Denver and The Carpenters.

Featuring The Tuesday Singers

With soloists Yvonne Garside, Jo Pears, George Horne and Ken Humphries

Musical Director: Don Pears

A Celebration of the Popular Song

With performances from Jo Pears, Steph Crossley, Rebecca Newman, Elaine Pears, George Horne, Graham Kay and Richard Kay.

Following Rebecca's incredibly well-received concert here on the Jubilee weekend, this is a second chance to catch her live before she heads off across the UK for her first tour. Rebecca is touring the UK to raise funds for the RNLI and to coincide with her debut single release that she is currently working on with top music industry producers.

To launch the tour she will be returning to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre for one night only, showcasing songs from across her current albums from opera to pop, including Time to Say Goodbye, Love Never Dies, I Dreamed a Dream and Fields of Gold.

Rebecca has some brand new repertoire to showcase as well as some old favourites. Expect a night filled with spine-tingling vocals and show-stopping outfits!

Rebecca has been featured on ITV1, BBC1 and BBC radio.

This event will be filmed.

Easily one of the best voices around - Adam Tomlinson, BBC Radio
An amazing voice - Harry Gration, BBC Television
Fantastic - The Evening Press

For more information go to rebeccanewman.net

An opportunity for any past members of the Rowntree Players to drop in, meet up and bring any photgraphs or other memorabilia.

For details contact info@rowntreeplayers.co.uk

Set on board the H.M.S. Pinafore, Josephine, the Captain's daughter, bemoans her love of a lowly sailor while awaiting the arrival of her well-to-do suitor, Sir Joseph Porter. In traditional Gilbert and Sullivan fashion, chaos ensues before resulting in unbridled joy.

This production of H.M.S. Pinafore will see the ship sail into the Roaring 1920's - combining something of the style of Noel Coward with the post-war attitude of 'seizing the day' to create a colourful and energetic show that any Englishman (or woman) would be proud to watch!

The band - Steve Flanagan, Terry Herbert and Ray Stevens fronted by Steve Cassidy - return to The Joseph Rowntree Theatre for another evening of music

All monies taken to buy equipment for York Hospital Neurological & Respiratory Departments, to help people with most kinds of neurological & respiratory illnesses.

Featuring Phillip McCann on cornet and Dr Simon Lindley on piano

The Wizard of Oz, tells the story of a young girl called Dorothy Gale (Jessica Bannister) from Kansas, and her pet dog Toto. Dorothy dreams of a wonderful land way up high (Over the Rainbow) but then she and Toto are caught in a terrifying storm, lifting their home and carrying them to the magical land of Oz.

Dorothy finds herself in Munchkinland, and hailed a heroine by the Munchkins, after her house fell upon the Wicked Witch of the East (Ding Dong the Witch is Dead). The dead Witch has a sister the Wicked Witch of the West (Perri Barley) who wants revenge on Dorothy.

Dorothy is comforted by the good Sorceress of The North (Stephanie Crossley) who urges her to the Emerald City to visit the powerful Wizard of Oz (Geoff Walker). Dorothy and Toto are joined by the Scarecrow (Paul Blenkiron), Tin Man (Richard Rodgers) and the Cowardly Lion (Stephen Tearle). At the Emerald City they are welcomed by Gloria (Amy Fletcher) who happily gives them a tour of her home (Merry old Land of Oz)

We’re off to see the Wizard why don’t you!

The York Scout & Guide Gang Show is a variety show filled with songs, dances and sketches which is staged once every two years at Joseph Rowntree Theatre in York. The cast is made up of Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Network and leaders from the York Scout Districts of Minster and Ebor, as well as Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Senior Section and Leaders from the Girlguiding County of North Yorkshire South.

Millegro returns to Joseph Rowntree Theatre for a spectacular concert event celebrating their 3rd Anniversary.

An impressive showcase of York vocal talent well known for their unique & imaginative choral repertoire and powerful performances.

Hosted by Neil Foster from BBC Radio York, under the direction of Ewa Salecka, with pianist Greg Birch and guest musicians, the concert will support local charity Jessie's Fund

Hold on to your seats as the Stoneybroke Express steams into Stoneybroke station with some very important passengers on board.

Prince Charming and his faithful man-servant Dandini, back from their foreign travels, are now in the serious business of finding the prince a beautiful princess to share the throne.

Baron Hardup is returning from Spain with his ready-made family and is keen to get back to Frownton Abbey to see his beautiful daughter Cinderella. How will she react to her two new step-sisters, Juanita and Elvira? One thing’s for sure it’s double the trouble this year as they are definitely not all they seem.

But fear not, with Buttons and the Fairy Godmother to watch over Cinders, you’re guaranteed fun, songs, dancing, laughter and a happy ever after.

Get your tickets early for this years “rollicking romp of a panto”

A selection of spiritual and secular Christmas music, from composers including Beethoven, Rutter and Meredith Wilson

Introducing three new pieces written by Don and Jo Pears as well as favourite carols from around the world

Featuring the Tuesday Singers with soloists Jo Pears, Elaine Pears, George Horne and Yvonne Garside