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09
Jul 2024
GALLERY: Ripon Theatre Festival brings entertainment to city streets
The curtain came down on the third Ripon Theatre Festival yesterday evening and the six-day event, proved a tremendous success.
Its packed programme offered something for people of all ages and all theatrical tastes, from Barrie Rutter's Shakespeare's Royals staged at Ripon Cathedral, to performances of Punch and Judy in Spa Gardens.
Festival director Katie Scott, told the Stray Ferret:
We have built on the success of the previous two years, with the support of business sponsors, the community and an army of volunteeers and our thanks go to them.
All has gone well, particularly the sale of tickets for our ticketed events, while family auidiences were able to enjoy the free performances given on Market Square, Spa Gardens, Minster Gardens, Kirkgate, at the cathedral and other locations around the city.
Ripon Theatre Festival director Katie Scott
Ripon City Morris Dancers performing on the cathedral forecourt
Punch and Judy proved popular with children at Spa Gardens, where the family day was held yesterday.
The bandstand in the gardens provided cover during a sudden shower for the Ripon Walled Garden Choir and their performance of the Mary Poppins favourite Let's Go Fly a Kite.
While there was singing in Spa Gardens, there was dancing on Market Square, where Sarita McDermott and her Bollywood-style dancers brought a taste of Indian culture to the festival.
The community players from Ripon's Workhouse Museum, caught the eye outside the Courthouse Museum as they waited for the re-enactment of the 1871 trial of true-life local criminal John Sinkler
Those who wanted to arrive at the festival in the style of the 17th and 18th centuries, were able to hitch a ride in a sedan chair
Meanwhile, in the less sedate setting of Market Square, the Medieval Maniax entertained crowds with their historical hysterics
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