Ooh la la, and sacre bleu. Zose crazy English folk at ze Riding Lights Theatre ’ave gone all Française pour un celebration magnifique!
In other words, Riding Lights Theatre Company is celebrating Yorkshire’s starring role in the Tour de France 2014 with FRENCH FRIes, a series of themed events on Fridays at Friargate Theatre.
The events, which begin on Friday, May 2, will lead up to the day of Le Grand Départ itself when Riding Lights will be performing around the city as part of the York: Be part of it festivities on Sunday, July 6.
“We are delighted that Stage Two of Le Grand Départ is coming right past our doors at Friargate Theatre,” said Paul Burbridge, Riding Lights artistic director.
“For this brilliant FRENCH FRIes season we are transforming our theatre into a wonderfully atmospheric French café, where we hope to welcome lots of people who might not yet have discovered the delights of such an adaptable venue – great for theatre, comedy, music, mine, poetry and more.”
Ze line-up
The fun kicks off this Friday night, May 2, with King Courgette a home-grown old-time vegetable band well known for delighting audiences with Americana and folk music.
Right Ici, Right Maintenant – Friargate’s regular improv comedy night, will come with a continental twist on Friday, May 16 as the regular troupe of comedians will be performing the evening in French – or more likely “franglais”.
On Friday, June 20 you can escape all the French palaver at (Le) Yorkshire Puddin’ Night, a fund-raising evening for Acting Up! – Riding Lights’ Youth Theatre for young people with additional needs.
Flossie Malavialle, a talented singer from Nîmes via Darlington, will play on Friday, June 27.
And through the run, Friargate will host photography exhibition of French landscapes and cyclescapes by Paul Telford.
York council’s leisure supremo Councillor Sonja Crisp will certainly be joining in.
“FRENCH FRIes is a Friday night feast of music and mayhem, comedy, mime and poetry,” she said, “all served up with a glass of Bordeaux from our neighbours across the channel, and mouth-watering chips from Plonkers, the company’s neighbours round the corner.”
- All FRENCH FRIes events are held at 7.30pm on Fridays at Friargate Theatre, Lower Friargate, York, YO1 9SL
- Full details here