York theatre blog: Chocolate and penguins provide tasty drama

Summer theatre is hotting up, says our man behind the scenes, Andy Curry

Hello and welcome to the monthly Theatre Diary from YorkMix. Straight into the theatrical goodness this month – here’s the pick of what York has to offer this June..

Poe from Six Lips Theatre

Having knocked it out of the park at Brighton Fringe, York’s own Six Lips Theatre return home to present their dark, exciting piece Poe to their home crowd. A celebration of one of the most revered yet slandered authors of early modern fiction, Six Lips shows are always a feast of inventive theatrical treats, imagination and humour. Get yourself to the Friargate Theatre om Friday 7th to catch the York date of their tour.
“An atmospheric triumph” – Write Right Now

• More details from the Riding Lights website or phone the Box Office on 01904 613000

Me As A Penguin – YTR Young Actors Company

York Theatre Royal Young Actors Company present Me As A Penguin in the Studio Theatre at the YTR. The Young Actors Co continue to present refreshingly unconventional work as the bring this tale of coming out, fear of change, desire to be loved, knitting, penguins…and Battenburg cake apparently. June 19-22.

• More details from the York Theatre Royal website

Clocking In – Pilot Theatre

Theatre in a chocolate shop? Sounds bloody perfect! Katie Posner directs this documentary play recounting the experiences of those who worked in York’s chocolate factories, revealing the secret stories of what used to be one of York’s biggest workforces. There are some fantastic local names in the cast and it all takes place in the salubrious setting of York Cocoa House from June 25th-29th, 7pm and 8.30pm each evening.

This event is part of the whole Blood And Chocolate project building up to a city streets filling production in October.

• Tickets can be booked at York Cocoa House, on 01904 635755, or at the Pilot Theatre website

Playboy Of The Wide World

Full disclosure here: this is a Hedgepig Theatre play so I’m hugely biased. But believe me when I tell you that our upcoming re-imagining of JM Synge’s classic play is shaping up to be rather spectacular!

We’re deep in rehearsal, working with one of the finest, funniest and most beautifully creative casts we’ve ever assembled, and the show is an organic, always changing beastie. So far it’s equal parts comedy, heart-rending drama and social satire, with elements of Kabuki theatre, slapstick just plain absurdist humour thrown in for good measure.

We open in Leeds 7 Arts Theatre on 17th July – and move to York Friargate July 19-21. You can keep up to date on rehearsal progress with regular updates as well as buy tickets online at the Hedgepig Theatre website.

 
If you want to let me know about anything coming up in July then drop me a line about your event – click here to send me an email.

• Andy Curry is a York based actor, director and a founder member of Hedgepig Theatre