York theatre blog: King Arthur and the playboy
A king, the prince of Denmark and Charles Dickens star in July. Oh, and you might spot a small plug for Andy Curry‘s new show…
Playboy Of The Wide World
I’ll kick straight into this packed out month of July by saying this. Playboy Of The Wide World from Hedgepig Theatre: sell your grandmother to get a ticket.
Now, the more cynical amongst you might say that I’m slightly abusing my position as columnist, what with me being the adaptor/director of this particular show. But theatre’s a tough old game so I’m taking my opportunities where I can.
Besides – take a look through a cast that includes Roxanna Klimiscewska and Anna Rose James of Six Lips Theatre, Jamie McKellar of I Am Tim fame, Settlement legend Beryl Nairn to name but a few of our outstanding ensemble.
Add to that a completely deranged collection of wild characters, livestock, casual violence and completely unnacceptable behaviour and you’ve got one hell of a show.
Playboy Of The Wide World is an adaptation of JM Synge’s similarly titled tale of a sleepy rural village shaken up by the arrival of a dangerous charasmatic young man. Then all hell breaks loose.
Bold as brass, big and brash; Hedgepig’s Playboy is a dark, wildly comic tale of rural folk and rural ways, heroes and villains, patricide and love. And goats.
Find out more on the Hedgepig Theatre website
- Playboy Of The Wide World is at the Friargate Theatre, York, from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21
- Performances start at 7.30pm and there’s a 2pm Saturday matinee
The Legend of King Arthur
York Theatre Royal’s previous main house summer shows The Wind in The Willows and Peter Pan were absolutely beautiful experiences – far more than the usual family summer fare. So another in the form of The Legend of King Arthur is only to be looked forward to.
Kids or not – get yourself over to the Theatre Royal for some Arthurian fun.
- The Legend Of King Arthur is at York Theatre Royal from July 24 to August 31
- Performance times: Tue – Sat, 2:30pm and 7pm
Hamlet
The venerable York Shakespeare Project are well into their campaign to perform all of Shakespeare’s works in York in 20 years. And now they’ve got to THE BIG ONE.
Hamlet – I’m not going to tell you what it’s about. Suffice to say they’ve got a cracking cast, a lovely atmospheric church to perform in and some high expectations from recent productions to live up to. And I’ve no doubt they’ll more than live up to them.
- Hamlet will be performed at St Martin-cum-Gregory Church, Micklegate, York
- Performances take place from July 18-21, July 25-28, and July 31-Aug 3 at 7.30pm with 2pm matinees on July 20, 27 and August 3
- For tickets go to the York Theatre Royal website
A Dickens Picnic
Nightshade Productions are a York company with a great reputation for promenade street theatre. They’re also a philanthropic bunch and on Sunday, July 7 will be running a Dickens Picnic raising funds for their Christmas Carol show in aid of the NSPCC.
They promise live music, stalls and performance pieces whilst you enjoy your packed picnic lunch. Find out more on their Facebook event page.
- Andy Curry is a York based actor, director and a founder member of Hedgepig Theatre
- If you want to let me know about anything coming up in August then email him a line about your event