The Mix Six: Six things to do in York

14 Sep 2012 @ 3.59 pm
| Entertainment

New take on a classic story: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner at York Theatre Royal
Are you a bookish sort? Or someone who loves sport? Well, there’s something for both this weekend. And if you’re a theatre-loving, page-turning, movie-going sports player, then you’re in for a busy week.


Be a sport

Inspired by the Olympics? Or by that most joyful of British sporting stars, Andy Murray? Then get along to the Just 30 Fair. Here you can try a new sport on for size as more than 30 stalls from local sports and activity clubs and family fitness classes offer advice and demonstrations. You can try everything from volleyball to yoga. But make some room for the mascot race – you don’t want to be run down by Snappy The Crocodile, Lenny The Bear of Mr Hearty…


Shelf life

Old books are worth big bucks. And nowhere is that more clear than at Britain’s largest antiquarian book fair which is on at Knavesmire for a couple of days. The book pictured right is worth *sharp intake of breath* £850. And it’s by Enid Blyton! Who knew? Organised by Tony Fothergill of Ken Spelman Rare Books on Micklegate, the York 2012 Antiquarian, Rare and Out of Print Book Fair will see more than 200 dealers selling books ranging in prices from a few pounds to tens of thousands.

 

Talking books

Readers are spoiled for choice, as it’s also the Local Writers Speak! event on Saturday. Friends of York Cemetery have gathered together a showcase of writers from in and around York to celebrate the recent renovation of the classical Grade-ll listed chapel. Writers will talk about their work on the hour: 10am Julian Cole (pictured right), 11am Andy Seed, 12 noon Paul Chrystal, 1pm David Pierce, 2pm Frances Brody, 3pm Ben Hardy, 4pm Michael and Eileen Scott. Oral historian Van Wilson, whose book on the Olympics was featured on YorkMix, will also be there.

 

South Bank’s silver screen

South Bank Cinema York 800 is another celebration of the city’s coming of age, this time on celluloid. The organisers have chosen movies with a York theme, whether it’s trains – Buster Keaton’s mad railroad stunts in The General – chocolate, with the original Willy Wonka film, or the music of our own John Barry, in Madagascar. For a full run down, check out organiser Linda Speidel’s YorkMix preview.

 

A runaway hit

Alan Silltoe’s remarkable book The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner has been influencing each new generation since it was published in 1959. Now it has been brought bang up to date by Roy Williams and Pilot Theatre, with the new production premiering at York Theatre Royal this week. To read our interview with star Jack McMullen, click here. You can also see the 1962 film at City Screen on Sunday lunchtime.

 

Making a splash

Di-di-dee-di-di-dee, di-di-dee-di-di-dee, I’m singing in the rain… What a classic, and they’ll be jumping into puddles of joy again as York Stage Musicals bring Singin’ In The Rain to the Grand Opera House. Set in Hollywood as the silent screen era ended, it focuses on romantic lead Don Lockwood, his sidekick Cosmo Brown, aspiring actress Kathy Selden, and Lockwood’s leading lady Lina Lamont, whose less-than-dulcet vocal tones make her an unlikely candidate for stardom in talking pictures.


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