Events and entertainment around the region chosen for you by Tony Greenway.
FESTIVALS
July 7th-15th
York Early Music Festival
You know you’re getting older when policemen start to look younger and when the York Early Music Festival announces its 40th birthday. So it’s a biggie this year with an event marking the anniversaries of Monteverdi and Telemann and performers including Robert Hollingworth and I Fagiolini; the University of York Baroque Ensemble; soloists Kati Debretzeni, Carole Cerasi and Alison McGillivray; vocal ensemble Cinquecento; The Sixteen directed by Harry Christophers and medievalists Mala Punica. Oh, and don’t forget the festival also includes the 2017 International Young Artists Competition.
Various venues 01904 658338 ncem.co.uk
July 11th-15th
Hull Jazz Festival
Names this year include New York sax-man Donny McCaslin who played on David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar and — yes! — Brit jazz superstar Courtney Pine. What’s not to like?
Various venues 01482 323638 hulltruck.co.uk/whats-on/hull-jazz-festival/
June 23rd–July 2nd
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival
The Hebden Bridge delights this year include Hardeep Singh Kohli on Indian cooking, novelist Anthony Cartwright on Brexit, comedian Sara Pascoe, Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, novelist and super-brain Will Self, North Yorkshire singer-songwriter Billie Marten and the Phoenix Dance Theatre.
Various venues hebdenbridgeartsfestival.co.uk
July 22nd-30th
Selby Arts Festival
If you’re thinking of starting up an arts festival you might want to look at how Selby has done it: i.e. rather well. Its inaugural event features some big talent including Mercury Prize-nominated Seth Lakeman, stand-up star Ed Byrne and the fun ukulele collective, The Grand Old Uke of York.
Various venues selbyartsfestival.co.uk
July 20th-23rd
Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crimewriting Festival
Big names don’t get any bigger than the ones in this year’s line-up: Lee Child, Ian Rankin, Kathy Reichs, Stuart MacBride, Peter May and Arne Dahl, Ann Cleeves, actors Brenda Blethyn and Kenny Doughty and BBC Breakfast’s economic person, Steph McGovern.
Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate 01423 562303 harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
July 21st-23rd
Underneath the Stars Festival
You’ll never guess who’s appearing at the 2017 Underneath the Stars festival. It’s only Kate Rusby! I’m only joking, of course because it’s Kate’s festival, so she appears every year but this time she’s joined by Newton Faulkner, Show of Hands, Lucy Rose, Roddy Woomble (from Idlewild) and Damien O’Kane (who is, er, married to Kate Rusby). How did the organisers manage to get him?
Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley 01226 767872 underthestarsfest.co.uk
July 22nd–23rd
Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival
Expect demos, workshops, activities for kids, live music, John Torode, James Martin — and, of course, food and drink and lots of it. Dive in.
Funkirk Farm, Skipton 01756 228399 yorkshiredalesfoodanddrinkfestival.com
June 30th-July 2nd
Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival
Now you has jazz — and blues — at the 10th Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival which takes place at the (stately) home of sax-playing Simon Cunliffe-Lister. Artists include New York Brass Band, Pat McCarthy Quartet, The Alligators, Jamie Brownfield Quartet, Lisa Mills and headliners including Claire Martin, saxophonist and singer Ray Gelato and Kaz Hawkins.
Burton Agnes Hall, 01262 490324 burtonagnes.com
June 26th–July 9th
Hull Film Festival
At the time of writing, not much was known about the specific details of this two-week festival (now in its fourth year). But you can take it as read that it includes independent and world cinema screenings, animation, cult movies and special guests.
Various venues hullindependentcinema.com/hullfilmfestival
MUSICALS
July 18th-22nd
The Wedding Singer
Are there any Hollywood hits that haven’t been turned into stage musicals? We’ve had Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Ghost, Shrek, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, The Full Monty and Groundhog Day — and Back to the Future (yes, really) is on the way. What’s next? Fast and Furious: The Musical? Rocky Balboa: Dance Explosion?
The most notable thing about The Wedding Singer — a frantic stage production based on one of Adam Sandler’s more watchable films — is that it features Lucie Jones in a supporting role. What do you mean: ‘Who is Lucie Jones?’ (How soon they forget.) She’s the X Factor runner-up who nearly (but not quite) got us onto the left-hand side of the scoreboard at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest (well done, Lucie). Remember? Lucie’s Eurovision song ditched the jaunty ding-dang-dong and boom-bang-a-bang melodies and was a big ballad about — I’m paraphrasing — holding on, not giving up and getting through ‘this’ together; which, in the face of the Brexit vote, was either hugely optimistic or ridiculously naive. In the Wedding Singer, her cast mates include Ray Quinn (another X Factor discovery), Cassie Compton (ditto) plus Ruth ‘Hi-de-Hi’ Madoc and West End star Jon Robyns from Avenue Q, Legally Blonde and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
The plot? If you’ve seen the film, you may remember it’s about a wedding singer called Robbie Hart whose life falls apart when his own fiancée dumps him at the altar. Miss it at Sheffield and you can catch it at Leeds in August; although, Eurovision fans, Lucie won’t be in the cast.
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield 0114 249 6000 sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
July 4th-8th
The Addams Family
A new stage musical from the writers of Jersey Boys, based on the adventures of the creepy, kooky, spooky and altogether ooky family, starring Samantha Womack as Morticia and Les Dennis as Uncle Fester. Seriously, I’ve just written that, and you’ve just read it. Funny old world, isn’t it?
The Alhambra, Bradford 01274 432000 bradford-theatres.co.uk
July 18th-22nd
La Cage Aux Folles
A gay man and his partner have to pretend they’re straight when his son’s prospective father-in-law — a notorious right-wing politician — pays a visit. John Partridge and Broadway leading man Adrian Zmed star in this effervescent musical.
The Alhambra, Bradford 01274 432000 bradford-theatres.co.uk
THEATRE
July 19th-22nd
What We Wished For
This is a new play from Chris Bush about the lessons that each generation learns and then passes on. Performed by Sheffield People’s Theatre.
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 0114 249 6000 sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
July 13th–October 5th
Taking Steps
A revival of a lesser-known Ayckbourn from 1979 about an awkward solicitor who has to deal with boorish (and boring) clients when he is charged with overseeing the sale of a large and crumbling house. The SJT remembers that, on its opening night 38 years ago, ‘the laughter was so loud it broke the theatre’s tannoy system’.
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 01723 370541 sjt.uk.com
July 11th and 12th
Romeo & Juliet
There’s not a lot that’s better than this: Shakespeare outdoors on a gorgeous evening (it’s Yorkshire in July, so this can’t be guaranteed, sadly) in beautiful surroundings, performed by the Oddsocks theatre company.
RHS Garden Harlow Carr 020 3176 5800 rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr
July 18th-22nd
The Baker’s Wife
A musical by Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame), based on the French movie of the same name and performed by the Hessle Theatre Company. Part of Hull City of Culture 2017.
Hull Truck Theatre 01482 323638 hulltruck.co.uk
CHILDREN
July 25th-30th
The Gruffalo
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffle’s enchanting picture book is brought vividly to life. Just right for children aged three and over.
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds 0113 213 7700 wyp.org.uk
EVENTS
July 1st-August 13th
Floating Cinema
So, as we reach the halfway mark of Hull City of Culture 2017, how’s it been for you?
It’s been varied, that’s for sure, with art installations and theatrical world premieres, lectures (I was rather hoping to see Grayson Perry this month at the University of Hull, but it’s sold out), music, exhibitions, dance, pop-up performances and everything in between. What’s more, Hull’s culture year has resonated with the rest of the UK, with 1.5million people attending events in the city in the first four months alone.
This month, as per, there is a vast amount going on (so you’ll really have to check out the hull2017.co.uk website) but a standout has to be the BBC Proms site-specific performance of music inspired by water, at Hull’s outdoor amphitheatre, Stage@TheDock (July 22nd).
If you like a bit of quirkiness, though (and who doesn’t?), you really should visit the Floating Cinema - a canal barge which is touring Yorkshire’s waterways throughout July (dates below), mooring here and there to show films on a big screen. On the programme is a series of short independent movies that have been developed and created by Leeds-based artist Harry Meadley with the participation of the people living or working at each stop-off point on the tour. When the Floating Cinema docks at Hull Marina next month, it will show all eight films from each location.
Yes, yes, you cry. That’s all very well. But what are the films about? Well, the Floating Cinema press release has this to say: ‘Through frank and personal discussions, a range of topics are covered including the relationship between central and peripheral geographical locations; the impact of rigid educational models on imagination and the complexity of positioning alternative stories in order to challenge dominant narratives.’ No, I haven’t got the first clue what all that means either, but just go with it.
The tour dates are: July 1st-3rd Sheffield, July 5th and 6th Rotherham, July 8th and 9th Swinton, July 14th-16th Doncaster, July 18th and 19th Thorne, July 22nd and 23rd Goole, July 25th and 26th South Ferriby, August 7th-13th Hull.
hull2017.co.uk
July 8th
Anne Reid: I Love to Sing
Anne Reid, now 82, loves to act. You’ll know her from Last Tango in Halifax, Ladies of Letters, Dinnerladies and The Mother. But, actually, Reid also loves to sing (as the title of this show confirms). In fact, she has a cabaret evening which she has performed in London for the last two years. Now she’s taking it on a UK tour and York is one of the stops. Between the songs, Anne has some stories for you, including memories about filming with Daniel Craig...
York Theatre Royal 01904 623568 yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
July 6th
Jay Rayner: The 10 Food Commandments
The acerbic food critic — a graduate of the University of Leeds with a masters degree in speaking his mind — returns to Yorkshire to tell us his views ‘on the very best way to eat now’, including ‘why thou shalt always eat with your hands’.
York Theatre Royal 01904 623568 yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
EXHIBITIONS
Until August 20th
Summer exhibition
The Kunsthuis Gallery in Crayke is ‘a Yorkshire gallery dedicated to innovative developments in contemporary art’ and its summer exhibition features 100 contemporary artists from 11 countries.
Kunsthuis Gallery Crayke kunsthuisgallery.com
June 30th–July 2nd
Howden Art Exhibition
Local and regional artists display their work in Howden’s Grade II listed Bishop’s Manor, just off the market place. Tie it in with a visit on Sunday and you can also visit the Howden one-day show.
Bishop’s Manor Art Show, Howden ian@screetons.co.uk
ROCK CONCERTS
July 1st
Jeff Lynne’s ELO
Some years ago, Jeff Lynne — musical genius though he plainly is — had to cancel a planned ELO tour due to poor ticket sales. Now he’s playing sold-out gigs all over the shop, has assumed national treasure status and turns up this month at the KCOM Stadium as part of the Hull 2017 celebrations.
KCOM Stadium kcomstadium.com
July 1st
Mark Ronson
The Grammy Award-winning producer who’s worked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Adele and Bruno Mars (you can’t possibly forget Uptown Funk, now can you?) takes to the stage after the racing to perform a DJ set. As you do.
Doncaster Racecourse 01302 304200 doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
July 6th
Little Mix
Girl pop from the biggest girl band in the world (so I’m told) comes to Scarborough. Also appearing beside the seaside this month is George Benson (July 1st), Sir Tom of Jones (July 2nd) and Olly Murs (July 9th).
Scarborough Open Air Theatre 01723 818111 scarboroughopenairtheatre.com
July 7th
T’Pau
Blast back to the 1980s with Carol Decker and T’pau (apparently the band is named after a character from an episode of Star Trek), best remembered for their hit, China in Your Hand.
Warehouse 23, Wakefield 01924 200162 warehouse23.co.uk
July 13th
Martha Wainwright
Her brother, Rufus, might be more commercially successful but Martha is a massive talent in her own right (and first made a name for herself with a song whose title we can’t possibly name here — but one of the words is ‘Mother’). She’s in town to promote her latest album, Goodnight City.
Sheffield Foundry 0844 477 1000 foundrysu.com
July 21st
We Are Scientists
New York indie rock comes to Wakefield, where else?
Warehouse 23 Wakefield 01924 200162 warehouse23.co.uk
