The Milton Rooms is counting down the days until it can reopen its doors and has four events lined up to kick things off in May.
The Malton venue also has a new patron, the award-winning actor, singer and theatrical producer Scott Garnham, a local lad who first appeared at the Milton Rooms in 1995 in a Ryedale Youth Theatre production of The Boyfriend aged just 10.
Under the Government’s roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown, indoor entertainment venues are expected to be allowed to reopen after May 17 with Covid restrictions in place.
The Milton Rooms has the following events lined up:
May 21 – Multi-talented musician Martin Gough returns with his ‘One Man Rock Show’.
May 23 – Dickens and the Language of Flowers, a fascinating talk from the Dickens Society looking at the meaning of flowers and how the Victorians loved sending secret messages in a well-chosen bouquet.
May 27 – Ryedale Blues Club returns with District Blues, a mix of Americana and Rockabilly.
May 29 – Mandy Muden, the Britain’s Got Talent star who wowed the judges and the public alike in 2018.
Tickets for all four events can now be booked by visiting www.themiltonrooms.com/events/
All about Scott
As well as many annual Ryedale Youth Theatre productions, Scott Garnham appeared in many pantomimes at the Milton Rooms.
He started in Little Red Riding Hood, then played Baby Bear in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In his teens he was either the comedy double act or village idiot in Dick Whittington, Aladdin, Goody Two Shoes and Jack and the Beanstalk and played Buttons in Cinderella.
After graduating from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he has carved out a successful career in the West End and notable credits include Billy Elliot The Musical, Les Misérables, Made in Dagenham directed by Rupert Goold and Pompidou by Matt Lucas for the BBC. He also created the successful international vocal group ‘The Barricade Boys’.
Scott said of the Milton Rooms: ‘’I will forever owe a huge debt to the Milton Rooms and the people who work so tirelessly to ensure this wonderful community building is still a key part of Malton and the surrounding area.
‘’It was my first experience of ‘theatre’. being lucky enough to perform with a diverse group of ages, cultures and life experiences. I enjoyed dancing with friends at their many discos and found gifts attending art and craft fairs.
‘’I feel lucky to have grown up where a community building, such as the Milton Rooms, played such a vital and important role in mine and many other people’s lives. Long may it continue.’’
Milton Rooms venue manager Lisa Rich said: ‘’We are delighted to have someone like Scott on board and we a really excited at the prospect of being able to open again in a limited way in May and hopefully fully reopening if all restrictions are removed in June.’’