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05

Mar 2023

Last Updated: 05/03/2023
Community
Community

Ripon Theatre Festival looks to build on success of inaugural year

by Tim Flanagan

| 05 Mar, 2023
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ripon-28th-feb-2023-winnie-warwick-ripon-theatre-festival-2022

The Ripon Theatre festival is set to return in 2023 after a successful first year.

The event will run for five nights and  four days between June 7 and 11 and will feature both indoor and outdoor performances at venues across the city.

Festival director Katie Scott, told the Stray Ferret:

"We are aiming to build on the incredible first year response, which saw audiences of more than 2,500 people across four days.
"Another key aim is to make the festival as affordable and accessible as possible with a wide range of free entertainment popping up at locations across the city centre. Pop-up venues include the Market Place, Cathedral, Little Ripon Bookshop and Curzon Cinema as well as walkabout acts touring the streets of the city."


Ripon street performance at Ripon Theatre Festival

Street performances proved popular at the 2022 festival



New this year is a dedicated family day in Ripon Spa Gardens on Sunday June 11, where everything will be free to watch. Events will include puppet shows, open-air theatre, community performances and hands-on activities.

Ms Scott, pointed out:

"As well as the weekend of pop up theatre and street entertainment, there will be a host of ticketed events at the wonderful studio space at Ripon Arts Hub, and a swashbuckling Robin Hood coming to Fountains Abbey with his merry men, courtesy of Illyria.


Fountains Abbey

Fountains Abbey will provide a dramatic setting for Illyria's performance of Robin Hood.


"The opening night, Wednesday June 7, will see young people leading the way as the festival works with the YMCA in promoting up-and-coming local theatre company Forget about the Dog with their intriguing show Happy Place."


She added:

"The festival is also working with charity Ripon Dementia Forward to provide a sensory theatre show brought directly to two local and friendly community spaces."
"Community performers are key to the weekend once again. Rehearsals start soon for the community cabaret event and Festival organisers also encourage any theatre groups, dance troupes, comedy acts or storytellers to get in touch if they'd like to take part in the pop-up events across the weekend."


The festival is being supported by  businesses who are sponsoring and helping keep the it affordable. The main sponsor is Wolseley UK and other corporate sponsors include Specsavers, Elstob & Elstob, Econ Engineering, Valentino's Ristorante and The Arcade Ripon.

Event details are available at www.ripontheatrefestival.org or follow on Facebook @ripontheatrefestival



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