From fireworks to funny - Tony Greenway spells out some of October's cultural thrills and spills.


October 1&2
Pocklington Area Open Studios
A small but rapidly growing art trail with a band of East Yorkshire creatives opening their doors to the public (this year it involves 27 artists in 13 locations). Visitors can meet makers, painters, ceramicists and photographers — among others — talk to them about their processes and see previews of their latest work.
Various venues
Facebook: pockareaopenstudios
Instagram: @pocklingtonareaopenstudios

October 3
An Evening with Graham Norton
Graham has branched out from hob-nobbing with the stars on his Friday night chat show to become an award-winning author of several bestsellers. His latest, Forever Home, is out now, so naturally he's on a book tour to promote it (most authors turn up at branches of Waterstones to do this, so it's a measure of Norton's popularity and celebrity that he is selling out entire theatres). The audience will get the chance to ask Graham questions, too. How the tables have turned...
York Theatre Royal 01904 623568 yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

October 4th - 8th
The Mirror Crack'd
There's been a horrible murder (is there any other kind?) at a genteel English country house recently bought by a famous and glamorous Hollywood movie star. Luckily, sweet old detective Miss Marple — don't let that tweed outfit fool you — is on hand to solve the mystery and catch the killer. A dark and twisty Agatha Christie tale, with the brilliant Susie Blake as Marple, and co-starring Sophie Ward and Joe McFadden (who we are almost contractually obliged to say is a former Strictly winner).
York Theatre Royal 01904 623568 yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

October 7
A Bit of a Carry On
One for comedy fans of a certain generation, who enjoy the golden period of Carry On movies. The evening is presented by Tyler Butterworth, whose late mother was impressionist Janet Brown and whose late father was Carry On actor Peter Butterworth (among others, Peter played Carry On Camping's camp site owner who had gone for a 'P'. Remember?). Tyler recalls their lives and careers in a show that's both funny and moving.
Harrogate Studio Theatre 01423 502116 harrogatetheatre.co.uk

October 7&8
Rush
October is Black History Month, and this is a key part of the event: a fabulous national tour described as a 'fun, fact-filled joyous Jamaican journey' about the sounds and culture of the Windrush generation. Narrated by John Simmit and featuring ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel, lovers' rock, dancehall and reggae, all played live by the JA Reggae Band. When the music starts, we defy you to sit still. Also at the Bridlington Spa on October 22.
Sheffield Lyceum 0114 249 6000 sheffieldtheatres.co.uk www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk

October 7&8
EastEndless
Tim Fountain's one-man comedy play starring James Holmes as an obsessive EastEnders fan/actor who manages to land a bit-part on his favourite show. It's only a walk-on role — “I'm not running the car lot or getting 'the duff, duff',” he admits — but, needless to say, it all goes horribly wrong anyway. 'Gerroutamypub!' as Pat Butcher, might say.
Hull Truck 01482 323638 hulltruck.co.uk

October 9
Vonda Shepherd: The Greatest Hits Tour
Do you remember Ally McBeal? Of course you do. It was, for a short time in the late 1990s, the hottest thing on TV — and Vonda Shepard, who provided the music (including the title theme, Searching My Soul) shot to mainstream success as a result. Shepard has enjoyed touring the UK in recent years (including a joint tour with Sharon Corr, no less, in 2019); and now she's back again, playing old McBeal favourites and songs from a new album, Red Light, Green Light.
City Varieties Leeds 0113 243 0808 leedsheritagetheatres.com

October 11&12
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
This all-male comedy ballet company (affectionately known by fans as 'The Trocks') aren't from Monte Carlo at all. They're originally from New York. But don't let that, their fake eyelashes or their brilliant comedy timing fool you: their dancing is always en pointe. The programme includes Swan Lake Act II.
Hull New Theatre 01482 300306 hulltheatres.co.uk

October 12-15
Macbeth
It's Shakespeare, Jim, but not as we know it. Award-winning theatre ensemble The Faction bring their trademark style to create “a dazzling distillation of Shakespeare's fast-paced tragedy” for two performers. A 90-minute exploration of the carnage that Mr and Mrs M perpetrate over the course of the play.
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 01723 370541 sjt.uk.com

October 11 - 16
Six
A short but sweet rock/pop musical (it's about 75 minutes long with no interval) which reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as pop princesses, singing about the trials and tribulations of being married to (let's be honest) a right royal Tudor psychopath. A massive hit, thanks to great performances and tunes. Playing next month in Bradford.
Grand Opera House, York 0844 871 7615 atgtickets/york

October 14, 15, 18, 20, 22
Orpheus
When it premiered in 1607, Monteverdi's opera was hailed as a new narrative art form and it's now generally thought of as the first operatic masterpiece. This new production is 'Monteverdi reimagined' and has been created in association with South Asian Arts-uk, featuring a fusion of Indian classical and western early music. Part of Opera North's Orpheus season.
Leeds Grand Theatre leedsheritagetheatres.com operanorth.co.uk

October 18
An Evening with Richard E Grant
How about this for a quirky CV? Richard E Grant sprang to fame as the drunken, flamboyant Withnail (in Withnail and I), and went on to star in (among other things) Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones and Star Wars. He's in Harrogate to talk about his new memoir, A Pocketful of Happiness, inspired by his late wife, Joan.
Royal Hall, Harrogate. 01423 502116 harrogatetheatre.co.uk

October 20
Joanne McNally: The Prosecco Express
The brilliantly blunt-speaking Irish stand-up star, who plays to packed houses and enjoys sold out Edinburgh runs, has already had vast amounts of success with this show, told in self-confessional style, about what it's like to be a single woman in “mid-to-early-late thirties”. Now she's taking it on the road again. Coming to Leeds in December.
Sheffield City Hall sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

October 20–April 30 2023
Hannah Starkey
The first major survey of the work of Belfast-born photographer Hannah Starkey, whose focus (no pun intended) is on the way women are represented in contemporary culture. Best known for her images that feature actors in staged settings, the exhibition will include photographs from Starkey’s graduation show in 1997 that brought her widespread attention and acclaim, through to a new commission created with young women in Wakefield. Arresting and thought-provoking in equal measure.
Hepworth Wakefield 01924 247360 hepworthwakefield.org

October 21&22
Shock Horror
This should get you in the mood for Halloween: a jump/scare play from Thunder Road about a horror fan filmmaker who gets his jollies from scaring his viewers. But then the tables turn... A show that will 'excite, unsettle and thrill those brave enough to book' and 'where iconic horror cinema unravels live on stage.' You have been warned.
Viaduct Theatre, Dean Clough, Halifax 01422 849227 theviaducttheatre.co.uk

October 28–November 12
Constellations
Nick Payne was the youngster ever winner of the Evening Standard's Best Play Award for this two-hander about 'quantum multiverse theory, love and honey.' If you liked Sliding Doors and Kate Atkinson's Life After Life, chances are you'll love this. The i newspaper called it 'a tender, funny, piercing play, which twinkles with tantalising might-have-beens.'
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, 01723 370541 sjt.uk.com

October 28
Quiet Rebels
To coincide with Black History Month, here's a new play written and directed by Julie McNamara and Hassan Mahamdallie, which dramatises stories of white working class women who married black men from the Windrush generation. Set in a future England — where these women are seen as 'race-traitors' — this powerful production uses film, movement and soundscapes to get its messages across.
0114 249 6000 sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

October 28 – November 12
Guy Fawkes
This 'explosive' new comedy about York-born Guy Fawkes, has been written by York-born David Reed (one-third of multi-award winning comedy trio The Penny Dreadfuls). Described as part Blackadder, part Horrible Histories, it tells the story of an inept bunch of misfits who concoct a plan to blow up parliament — but then quickly start to lose the (gunpowder) plot.
York Theatre Royal 01904 623568 yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

October 29
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Recently, Kate Rusby was gushing to us about Ladysmith Black Mambazo and how fabulous it was to have them singing with her on the opening track of her latest album. 'They are sunshine in a bottle!' was how Kate described them. And now here they are — South Africa's most successful singing group — in Yorkshire. Don't miss.
Grand Opera House, York 0844 871 7615 atgtickets/yor