Arts and community groups from across the city, are coming together to play a role in the new Ripon Theatre Festival

Taking place from June 23 to 26, the festival aims to brighten the open spaces and venues in the city with professional and community performances.

Plans include puppetry, dance, drama, street theatre, storytelling, children’s activities and family shows.

Festival director Ian Holloway and representatives from the organisations that make up the festival team, introduced themselves to an audience of 40 potential participants, volunteers and supporters at a meeting held in Ripon Arts Hub last week.

Festival team members, from the left: Ian Holloway, Tina Salden, Simon Hewitt, Katie Scott and Julia Whitham

The event is being made possible with funding from a growing number of businesses and organisations, including main sponsor Wolseley, which has been a leading employer in the Ripon area for more than half a century.

Family shows are planned for Ripon’s Spa Gardens

Volunteer Co-ordinator, Tina Salden, said:

“There are many roles for volunteers to help out as stewards and marshals or to serve refreshments, look after visiting artists or direct visitors and audiences.

Help is also needed ahead of the Festival with publicity around the region to ensure that the events are enjoyed by as many people as possible.” Anyone who missed the meeting, but who wants to get involved can contact info@ripontheatrefestival.org.

Ripon Amateur Operatic Society will stage its first major production since covid tomorrow when it performs Jesus Christ Superstar.

The award-winning musical will be performed at various days over the next two weeks in the newly-refurbished theatre at Ripon Arts Hub on Allhallowgate.

The 120-seater theatre underwent a major refurbishment when it was forced to shut last year.

It has a new ventilation system, new seating, improved sound and lighting and a modernised bar.

The newly-refurbished Ripon Arts Hub.

Shows will be held on selected days over two weeks  — October 7 to 9 and October 14 to 16 — with evening performances at 7.30pm and additional 2.30pm matinee shows on Saturday 9 and Saturday 16 October.

The rock opera, which follows Jesus’ last two days through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, is set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.

It includes songs such as “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”, “Superstar” and “Heaven on Their Minds”.

Ripon Arts Hub re-opened in September after 18 months of fundraising by volunteers behind the scenes,

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The upgrade of the premises, which are owned by the society, was partly funded by a £54,339 grant from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, launched to help cultural organisations and heritage sites to recover from covid.

As well as being the setting for the society’s own productions and rehearsals, the re-vamped venue provides Ripon’s first community arts space.

Tickets are available at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/riponoperatics

Two cultural organisations in Ripon have welcomed ‘lifeline’ government funding totalling more than £170,000 this week.

Ripon Museum Trust was awarded £117,500 and Ripon Amateur Operatic Society received £54,339 from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, which is administered by Arts Council England.

A total of 1,385 organisations across the country received funding.

Helen Thornton, director of the trust said it was “absolutely delighted”, adding:

“This grant is a lifeline for a small independent museum trust like ours. This investment will get us through the very challenging times ahead as what we can offer schools and groups is reduced due to the covid pandemic and the safety measures we have put in place.”

Ripon Amateur Operatic Society, which is run solely by volunteers and is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, received £54,339.

RAOS has been unable to perform any shows in 2020.

Its city centre arts space at 49 Allhallowgate, acquired by the society several years ago, has also been unable to provide facilities for other organisations, artists and performers since March.

Society chair Linda Aikman said:

“This grant will allow us to make the venue completely covid-secure so we can safely allow audiences in again in line with guidelines and legislation.

“It means that the membership, including our youth theatre, can confidently rehearse and perform again, can deliver some much needed entertainment to the local community in a safe way, and not be constrained by financial aspects.”

The Ripon Amateur Operatic Society headquarters in Allhallowgate

Linda, added:

“One of the challenges we were facing was how to bring what we do to a limited audience without making a loss. The grant now means that performances can go ahead without us having to charge extortionate ticket prices to make ends meet.”

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Hannah Ruddy, the society’s marketing and publicity manager, pointed out:

“We will be using the grant to support local artists and give them a viable platform to perform once again at the same time as providing the community with the cultural opportunities that have, unfortunately, been so adversely affected by the pandemic. We would love to hear from local artists and performers who could benefit.”

The society is also embarking on a separate project to make the building more accessible and usable to more people. Fundraising for this aspect – which cannot be funded from the CRF grant i-s ongoing.

Subject to local or national restrictions, the society will stage its first performance of the year at Allhallowgate at the end of November.

Details will be published on  www.riponoperatics.org and Facebook Page @riponamateuroperaticsociety as soon as possible.

A new drama school for children will open in Ripon this weekend.

Ripon Theatre Arts has been created by Rosie Riley, an actor and graduate of the London musical theatre school, The MTA.

The school, which is for children aged six to 12, will will take place in Ripon Amateur Operatic Society’s hall on Allhallowgate on Saturdays.

Ms Riley said recent months had been “difficult” for young people and hoped her classes would help them build confidence, have fun and make friends. She added:

“We have strictly followed the government guidelines for this. However, I believe it’s really important to help the next generation get back on their feet. It’s been so difficult for all the young people being in lockdown and if we can help with any personal development, I think we have done our job of helping them get back on track with their life.

“I have been itching for a challenging project to get my teeth into and when schools were able to open, we jumped at the opportunity. We were also aware, due to another school closing, that a lot of children now had no Saturday club. I didn’t want this to happen, so here we are!”

Ms Riley, pictured here, said the time is right to open the school.

Ms Riley has over three years of teaching experience and has also performed in several off-West End theatres, as well as appearing in the Channel 4 show The Last Leg.

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Children will have to queue to maintain social distancing when they enter the building and wear face coverings while performing. Each child will be given a 2m square space to use.

To get in touch with Ms Riley, email ripontheatrearts@hotmail.com.

Plans to create Ripon’s first community arts hub have taken a significant step forward.

During the covid-19 lockdown, members of Ripon Amateur Operatic Society (RAOS) have been working behind the scenes to develop proposals that will transform their Allhallowgate headquarters and make them fully accessible to people with limited mobility.

Other objectives are to increase the versatility of the venue and make its space more suitable for the creative arts.

The work is estimated to cost £60,000 and in its quest to raise the initial £20,000 of its target, RAOS is working on a crowdfunding initiative with help and advice from the Aviva Community Fund.

The society is aiming to crowdfund an initial £5,000 over seven days and is asking supporters of its proposals to make donations online.

Aviva has assisted a wide range of community activities and facilities across the UK by providing practical and financial assistance, with its 16,000 employees playing a role in deciding which projects will receive money from the insurance company’s fund.

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RAOS committee member Hannah Ruddy told the Stray Ferret:

“Our aim is to create the Ripon Community Arts Hub. This would be an accessible, versatile and creative space, available to all, bringing together all arts disciplines including music, theatre, comedy, dance and also visual and sensory arts, such as art and photography exhibitions.”

Part of the £60,000 plan is to create new changing and toilet facilities for young actors (Photograph courtesy of RAOS)

The society, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, has presented its proposals in a three minute video, which can be seen via the fundraising page.

Hannah added:

“Lockdown has allowed us to look into what we can do with the space and what’s required for it to reach its full potential.”

To achieve its ambitions, the society plans to install a lift for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, along with a further toilet for disabled people and improved visual and audio aids in the building.

Other planned enhancements include provision of separate dressing rooms and toilets for boys and girls to meet safeguarding requirements, along with a backstage toilet for performers with disabilities.