A play exploring the life of one of Harrogate’s most famous citizens premieres at the Royal Hall tomorrow — a theatre he helped to build.

Samson Fox, who died in 1903, was an inventor, philanthropist and Harrogate mayor, whose legacy is evident throughout the town.

The Man Who Captured Sunlight explores Samson’s life and controversial legal battle with author Jerome K Jerome.

Yorkshire actor Joe Standerline stars as the inventor, whose ideas had a major impact around the world.

His greatest creation, the corrugated boiler flue, saved thousands of lives and revolutionised engine construction.

His philanthropic legacy to the arts includes the creation of the Royal Hall and the Royal College of Music in London.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret at the dress rehearsal, Mr Standerline said:

“He takes interesting to another level. I feel a bit boring in comparison. There is definitely pressure to become one of the most uber human beings that has ever walked the planet. The guy was simply amazing.

“I think the people of Harrogate are definitely in for a treat. We’ve put the work in and we now get to play in this astounding theatre. Samson paid for a fair dollop of the place. We are ready now to project this piece.

“It’s part biopic, part period drama. The language in it is absolutely delicious and it’s surprisingly funny.”

As the great grandfather to actors Edward and James Fox, Samson also helped to create the UK’s most famed theatrical acting dynasty.

His grandchildren and great-grandchildren have starred in major TV shows and movies, from Edward Fox in the Day of the Jackal, to Emilia Fox in Silent Witness, and Freddie Fox in The Crown.

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Freddie Fox will attend the matinee performance and take part in an audience Q&A. The actor Joanna David, Freddie’s mother, will also attend.

Freddie Fox (photo by Tavistock Wood) and Samson Fox.

Mr Standerline, who has appeared in TV series such as ITV’s Victoria, joked:

“I’ll just say I’m perfectly fine with it. There’s no pressure at all performing in front of one of the greatest acting dynasties in the whole history of cinema and the theatre.”

Mr Standerline said the people of Harrogate had been extremely welcoming. He added:

“It’s been great spending the last few weeks here, integrating ourselves into the community that we are representing. It is a responsibility and we are taking it seriously and we can’t wait to get people in these seats.”

Born into poverty

Samson was born into poverty in Bradford in 1838 and worked in the mills from the age of nine. An impresario of his day, he famously ‘bottled the sun’ as Harrogate’s streets became the first thoroughfares in the world to be lit with his Fox Water-Gas.

Samson Fox and his family.

The play, written by Doctor Who writer Gavin Collinson, charts Samson’s meteoric rise, followed by the 19th century libel trial involving the author and editor, Jerome K Jerome.

Mr Collinson told the Stray Ferret:

“What I wanted to do is show his human side, show his family, show his heart. I wanted to show everything he risked, which was his considerable fortune, to clear his name. I also wanted to look into his ambiguities. Was he a good man? Hopefully that’s something the play explores.

“When the opportunity came up to tell his story, it was something I couldn’t refuse.

“The Fox family have read the script and they were incredibly kind. I hope they enjoy it tomorrow.

“I’m in awe of all the cast. I just sit there and write the lines but they bring it to life.

“I hope the people in Harrogate will enjoy the play. It’s a cast of Northern voices. There’s a reality and celebration of where we are from and I hope people embrace that.”

Cause UK, the Harrogate-based creative agency, has produced and sponsored  the play.

The Man Who Captured Sunlight premieres in Harrogate’s Royal Hall tomorrow, with the matinee at 2.30pm and evening performance at 7pm. Buy tickets here.

Sponsored by the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Audiences can double their fun at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate this year with a special buy one ticket, get one free FESTIVAL TASTER offer.

The 28th festival will open at the stunning Royal Hall on Wednesday, August 10, where it will be for 12 days of outstanding entertainment.

There will be 20 performances at the Royal Hall alongside a memorabilia fair with a programme of lectures, concerts and more.

During the festival you can enjoy shows from the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company.

The company will bring all-time favourite The Pirates of Penzance, an enchanting production of Iolanthe and a lavish, rarely performed production of Utopia Limited.

An incredible crowd in the Royal Hall for the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Opera della Luna, Charles Court Opera and Forbear! Theatre will also bring HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, Patience and an all-singing and dancing production of The Gondoliers.

So, if you have never seen Gilbert & Sullivan before, or your memories flash back to The Play That Goes Wrong in a draughty village hall, then the festival organisers would like you to join in the fun this year and see just how well it can be done.

There’s never been a better time to get involved with a rare buy one ticket, get one free offer. All you need to do is use code TASTER22 on the Gilbert & Sullivan website or by calling 01422 323252. This offer expires on Friday, August 9, 2022.

It’s Greased Lightning! Young actors from Boroughbridge are taking to the stage tonight to put on Grease the musical.

The youth group of The Hightimers, an amateur theatre company, are putting on the musical two years later than originally planned.

The show was casted in 2020 but due to the pandemic it had to be delayed. After a few cast stages and new members, the kids can finally take to the stage.

The ‘Pink Ladies’

The first show is this evening at 7.30pm in the Coronation Hall. It will be performed at the same time on Friday and Saturday evening as well as a 1.30pm Saturday matinee show.

Director, Marlo Lomas, said:

“The kids have worked so hard and so have the crew to ensure that we put on a cracking show for the audience. So, for all you Greasers Pink Ladies out there let’s go back in time together and support these kids. You will not be disappointed.”

Tickets can be bought online, here, Boroughbridge Post Office, cafe Chez Nous and Ripon’s Realitea.

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The “T-Birds” 

On Valentine’s Day, Harrogate Theatre is asking people to share their theatre love stories to form the base for its next community performance.

Last year the theatre got local people involved in its Our Gate production and now it wants to do so again.

It is looking for 122 love stories linked to Harrogate Theatre, to match it being open for 122 years.

It could be a story about meeting a best friend in the stalls, or locking eyes with your sweetheart across the stage, or even a production that made you fall in love with the theatre. The stories will then serve as a backdrop for performances in August.

The project was inspired by a photograph, seen by chief executive David Bown, of a wedding reception held at the theatre in 1961. He said:

“It prompted me to contemplate how many love stories does this amazing building have to tell. Harrogate Theatre has been at the centre of our community for over a century, it has many poignant tales to share.”

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The community show will be put on by local playwright and community producer Rachael Halliwell and director Amie Burns-Walker.

Ms Halliwell said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been commissioned by Harrogate Theatre to return with Amie Burns-Walker to make our biggest and boldest community play to date, but we cannot do it without you. 

“We need local participants of all ages to join us on this production – not just actors but anyone who is up for being creative and telling stories with us.”

To share you story or get involved on or back stage email love@harrogatetheatre.co.uk.

Workshops start in March with performances taking place in early August. Participation is open to everyone aged 13 and above and no experience is necessary.

Harrogate Theatre cancelled a performance of Kinky Boots at late notice last night due to another leak at the venue.

Harrogate Operatic Players was due to give its final performance of the musical, which has won six Tony Awards.

The show has taken place nightly in the town since Tuesday and had a matinee and evening performance lined up yesterday.

But the theatre cancelled the evening event at late notice, disappointing theatre goers, after a day of heavy rain.

The cast did come out to perform the finale to a standing ovation.

Harrogate Operatic Players posted on its Facebook page:

Second recent leak

The theatre said on social media a leak on stage had made the venue unsafe and apologised to customers.

“Unfortunately an onstage leak has made it unsafe to continue despite the company and the theatre’s best efforts.”

We’d like to extend our apologies to the audience, cast and crew of Kinky Boots for the late cancellation of the performance this evening. We know the huge effort, dedication and passion that goes into community performances and decisions to cancel are not taken lightly.

1/2

— Harrogate Theatre (@HGtheatre) February 5, 2022

It isn’t the first time the Victorian theatre, which is undergoing roof repairs, has called off a show due to a leak.

The recent pantomime season was also affected.

Work to replace the 121-year old theatre roof has been taking place since May. It was due to finish in September but this was put back to March.

Comments on the theatre’s Facebook page included:

“So gutted but also sad for the cast, safety comes first. You could tell they were devastated.”

And:

“I really feel for everyone involved as I know how much the last night is looked forward to and enjoyed by all.”

A new theatre company is to give its first performances this month with an all-female cast.

Actor Tony Kirkland set up HG1 Productions last year after he moved to the area and wanted to get involved with the local arts community.

The company aims to produce lesser-known plays about topical issues.

The first shows, called Doris Day and Fatal Light, are two short plays performed by an eight-person cast depicting the realities women face in the criminal justice system.

Doris Day, written by E V Crowe and directed by company member Fiona Hunt, follows the lives of two new female police officers as they negotiate the subtle misogyny they encounter every day.

Fatal Light, written by Chloe Moss and directed by Tony Kirkland, looks at the life of a struggling single mother who falls through the cracks of social services and the justice system.

Both plays last around 45 minutes and will be performed at St Wilfrid’s Church in Harrogate on January 21 and 22.

Ms Hunt said:

“The aim was to create something unique and I think we’ve done that. It’s really exciting for me — similar to Tony I moved to Harrogate last year and wanted to get involved in the arts community.

“I’ve found HG1 Productions to be a really good way to do that, there’s already a lot of great arts groups here but we’re hoping to do something a little different.”

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The female cast ranges in age from 12 to 50s. It is hoped the company’s debut performances will generate an eagerness for further productions.

Mr Kirkland said he is always looking for more people to get involved in future shows, both backstage and on stage. He can be contacted at kirklandanthony@hotmail.com.

To find out more about the forthcoming shows, click here.

The much-loved actor, Tim Stedman, returns for his 21st pantomime at Harrogate Theatre this year as Buttons and promises an evening of laughter and a little bit of magic.

The cast and crew are busy at Harrogate Theatre preparing to return to the stage later this month with a pantomime classic, Cinderella.

Regular panto goers will be delighted to see Tim Stedman return. He has performed at Harrogate Theatre every festive season since 2000 – only missing last year due to covid.

He said the love from the audience and the hard work of the production team keep him coming back:

“I think Harrogate [theatre] does it properly with magic, with a twinkle in its eye, and the story is king. You could come and watch it and not hear the gags or see my comedic dancing and still leave saying that’s a lovely story.

People think of Harrogate as a chocolate box of a town, wonderful and idyllic, and they’re very good at the theatre of thinking that’s how the pantomime should be.. it’s magical here.”

Mr Stedman said returning after taking a break last year has made him more eager than ever to take to the stage.

He promised plenty of comedy sketches, romance and even a whoopee cushion or two!

Some of the panto cast during rehearsals this week.

Over the years, Mr Stedman has performed in Jack and the Beanstalk and Aladdin but says with audiences falling in love with his characters brings added pressure:

“I still enjoy it as much as I did 20 years ago, but coming back each year does mean I feel the pressure a little bit.

I have to be funny and everything the audience expects and especially after being hidden away for two years really we need to make sure we do it right.”

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Mr Stedman kept tight-lipped about all the surprises and twists and turns in this year’s production but promised audiences the family-friendly, hilarious pantomime they have come to expect in Harrogate.

“It’s very funny; the ugly sisters are very funny, the prince is drop-dead gorgeous, our Cinderella looks fab. I think it’s going to be great, everyone loves Cinderella!”

Mr Stedman may say that the audience needs to love the story – but to many he is the main attraction and his talent guarantees a great panto every year.

Get ready to boo, hiss, shout and sing this November as the pantomime gets underway from November 26.

If you want to get in the mood ahead of the panto, check out our Panto Stories performed by Tim Stedman.

To find out what other events like this are on in the Harrogate district, check out our What’s On page. 

In the run-up to her appearance at Harrogate’s Royal Hall next weekend, Miriam Margolyes spoke to the Stray Ferret about her love of the town — and recalled some hilarious tales spanning 80 years.

Miriam is coming to Harrogate on October 17 to promote her memoir This Much is True. She will take to the stage at the Royal Hall for a conversation with BBC journalist Anna Wallace.

After over a year away from the stage, the actor is thrilled at the prospect of being in front of an audience again.

Our interview, which was held over Zoom whilst Miriam takes a break at her Italian home, was full of Miriam’s wonderful and wacky tales from growing up in Oxford to playing parts in huge productions like Harry Potter.

Talking about her book, which she wrote over five months in lockdown, she said:

“It is me talking, it’s all about me so if you don’t like me I would say don’t buy it!

“I’ve had a very interesting life because I’ve been to so many places and met so many different people so I think it makes for a good read.”

The BAFTA-award winning actress said the book had been a long time coming but lockdown gave her the chance to get stuck into writing.

It includes some of her favourite stories and also delves into the experiences that shaped her.

Dropping into her father’s strong Glaswegian accent, Miriam spoke of growing up in Oxford and going to “posh” school and her early career.

She recounts taking a phone call on the day of her mother’s funeral and finding out she was getting taken on by one of the top voice agents.

Not a huge Harry Potter fan

Since then Miriam has performed voiceovers in James and the Giant Peach, Babe and Cadbury’s adverts.

One of her most recognisable roles is Professor Sprout in Harry Potter. But she isn’t actually a huge Harry Potter fan. She said:

“It was a great part because it opened so many doors but I’m not really a particular fan of Harry Potter. I think they’re very good stories but it’s not the type of thing I read.”

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As well as acting on stage and screen, people know Miriam from numerous programmes tracking her travels across the globe, and her book recalls some of the more memorable moments.

‘Harrogate people know they have a jewel’

Speaking about what people can expect from the book, she added:

“I don’t think I need egging up: me as I am and the things that have happened to me are exciting enough.

“There are lots of funny things in it but there are also the serious parts of my life, it’s a fairly rounded portrait of a rather rounded woman!”

Harrogate will be the first stop of her tour. She said she was excited at the prospect of visiting the town once again:

“I love it and it’s a very attractive place. It’s very conscious of itself and it knows what it is and it likes what it is. They’re very confident, Harrogate people, they know they have a jewel.

“I know if people come to the Harrogate talk they will be entertained and have a good time.”

For information on the performance at the Royal Hall, click here.

Frazer Theatre in Knaresborough is getting ready to lift the curtain after a £50,000 refurbishment during its forced covid closure.

The theatre, behind Tesco Express on the High Street, has been under the ownership of the Knaresborough Players for over 50 years but it was only during covid that the dramatic society had the time to do the necessary works on it.

Starting last May, the society completely refurbished the stage with new foundations and flooring, painted the entire theatre and foyer, put in new carpets and re-upholstered the seats.

Vice-chairman John Pearce, said it was important for the character of the theatre to be maintained but added the new refurbishment will mean it’s fit for future performances.

“It’s not completely different but if you add it all up it is quite different. We had a lot of debate about how far to go, because we needed to keep the character of the Frazer.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s all been worth it because the theatre looks great.”

From this (left) to this (right: The Frazer Theatre renovation

The society has been planning these works for years but needed time to complete them without disruption its performance calendar.

As well as using its own savings, the society received a £30,000 donation after the death of a local man which was put towards the project.

The society’s pantomime is a big event in its calendar. But Mr Pearce said the society is still “working on options” after some members raised concerns about coming together to rehearse and perform together early next year.

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The 127-seat theatre is reopening for its first performance next week, Saturday 16, after almost 18 months.

In previous years, the theatre has held over 180 performances in a year including plays, pantomimes and comedy performances.

Tony Kirkland has been acting for over 30 years and now wants to set up a community-based group in Harrogate to put on shows.

Mr Kirkland has featured in the BAFTA-winning film Fish Tank and Rocks which is currently on Netflix.

After acting and teaching English in London for much of his adult-life he has now moved to Bilton with his young family.

He says he’s not ready to give up on his passions in theatre and hopes other like-minded people will get involved. His aim is to  put on “low-budget but high quality performances” in the district.

Mr Kirkland says he doesn’t know many local people yet after only moving in January this year. He’s now putting a call-out for drama enthusiasts and theatre lovers to get in touch.

He has already set up Interact Harrogate and is now looking for his cast and backstage crew:

“It’s quite a task because I don’t know anyone but I’m hoping to get a group together. I’m looking for actors, they don’t have to have huge experience just share my passion and energy.”

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He hopes to put on around three to four shows a year with the first before the end of this year.

Mr Kirkland says he has a few ideas for his first show including Trafford Tanzi by Clare Luckham or Bouncers by John Godber.

As well as people Mr Kirkland is also on the hunt for a performance space and welcomes ideas.

Anyone interested in getting involved can message @interactharrogate on instagram or email kirklandanthony@hotmail.com.