Richmond's famous 'Georgian' - the oldest theatre in Britain which is still running in its original form - is coming out of its post-Panto hibernation with a sparkling new season of drama, comedy, popular and classical music. Visitors can look forward to hearing the great actor-director Barrie Rutter, celebrating the launch of a new Richmond-based chamber orchestra, relishing classic drama from Shakespeare and Ibsen and unbuttoned fun from Gilbert and Sullivan, the Budapest Cafe Orchestra, foot-tapping jazz and much, much more. The season starts with a heart-warming comedy, These Things Do Happen, set in a North-Eastern farming community in the 1930s. If you're just visiting Richmond, and can't come for a show, then come for a guided tour round the auditorium and into the hidden world of the back stage, the under-stage, the dressing rooms... You can almost smell the greasepaint! Guided tours re-start on Monday 12 February. These Things Do Happen is on Friday 16th. More information, and tickets, are at georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk.
0 Comments
Jazz... Cocktails... Cocktails... Jazz... Sounds just the thing for a dismal January evening! Get over the winter blues and sashay down to The Station Cafe/Bar for a delicious two-course meal with live jazz. We guess there'll be drumsticks, one way or the other. Tickets are £25 (drinks are extra) and the evening kicks off at 19:30. There are still tickets available as we write, but don't delay! Call 01748 825967 or visit thestation.co.uk to book Elemental is a group of four Cumbria-based artists who produce contemporary abstract and semi-abstract paintings of the northern landscape and seascape. Each artist has a very different approach. The exhibition takes place in the wonderful surroundings of The Station, Richmond's restored Victorian-era railway terminus, so you can enjoy tea and cakes or a meal in the cafe/bar, or a film in one of the three cinema screens, after you've been browsing.
All the paintings are for sale - why not start the new year with a fabulous new artwork for that gap on your wall..? Entry is free, and the exhibition runs 19 - 30 January. As always, our Lucky Dip is drawn at random from Richmond What's On; published every two months, the print edition is available in 20 or so outlets around Richmond, or you can see an online version here. Many old towns have a tradition of mummers (strolling players) performing strange songs and dances on special days. The tradition in Richmond is particularly strange! On Christmas Eve the poor old hoss (or t’owd ‘oss, or poor old horse) appears in the Market Place at about mid-day. He is a hobby-horse, with a real horse-skull on a pole as his head. He is accompanied by mummers in huntsman costumes, who sing his special song and bring him back to life with a blast on a hunting horn when he 'dies', accompanied by much merriment and mayhem. The custom is recorded back to the seventeenth century, and probably has pagan origins. Seeing the poor old hoss is believed to bring good luck for the following year. It's a remarkable tradition, but one that really ought to come with a PG rating - so if you're with youngsters, be sure to have a consoling bar of chocolate handy for them. And don't let the horse pinch it... The weather's a bit yucky; there are stockings to be filled and puddings to be steamed; in short, we're not getting many takers for our guided walks at the moment, and for good reason. So our walk leaders are also taking a little break, and our guided walks won't resume until 13 January at the earliest. We'll post something here when they re-start. Meanwhile, if you'd like to book a walk after that date, or you'd like us to take a party of visitors, you can still contact us through walks@richmondinfo.net. We'll be happy to hear from you, and keen to walk off the mince pies! Cards and gifts - we've got them all in our shop in the Market Hall. Cards: the biggest selection of charity Christmas cards in town. Children's charities, animal charities, veterans' charities, medical charities, refugee support charities, homelessness charities... You're sure to find cards to suit your giving preferences. Gifts: books, of course... Our new book on Swaledale by local newsman Joe Willis is a snip at £5.99, and has been rushing out of the door. The Short History of Richmond Racecourse and its Grandstand is £10 but is still discounted to just £7.50. And we've got dozens more books for walkers, cyclists, photographers, history buffs and everyone interested in Richmond, Swaledale and North Yorkshire. 2024 calendars too, like the lovely Dalesman one pictured. Gravy bones, too! Gravy bones..? Yes, why not. Bring your dog in to visit. The Civic Society's Richmond Review is keenly awaited every year - and not just by members of the Society itself. This year's issue is now on sale here at Richmond Information Centre and at Castle Hill Books. As always, the Review is a fascinating way to catch up with the main local news of the past twelve months and plans for the future - if you want to know what happened to the proposed development at Westfields, or what may (or may not) be happening at Scotch Corner, this is the place to look. You can find pointers to the CivSoc's valuable past and planned lecture programmes, and can pick up intriguing little-known or newly discovered facts from Richmond's history and archaeology. The Review costs £10 - a snip, for a publication which you'll want to dip into again and again! We're spoilt for choice: two Christmas markets this weekend. Saturday 2 December: Handmade Christmas Fair at The Station. Free admission, 10:00 - 16:00. Talented local makers bring their wares to Richmond, including candles, cards, art prints, seaside models, jewellery, stitchware, pottery... Sunday 3 December: Little Bird Artisan Christmas Market in the Market Place. Free admission, 10:00 - 16:00 , with over 50 craft, food and drink stalls. Also, 15 craft stalls in the Town Hall. Tralalalala, lala la la! Free mulled wine and mince pies! Fairground rides! Carol singing! Christmas lights in Friary Gardens! The First of December is always a cheerful occasion, for young and not-so-young, whatever the weather. There's something about the bright lights, the crowds, the music, the dark night... 1 December will also be a chance for some after-hours Christmas shopping. Pop into the Market Hall, where all the stalls will be waiting to welcome you. Visit the Info Centre, which has a huge selection of charity Christmas cards, and a pretty good range of local-interest books and calendars (just the thing for your rellies). Did we mention mulled wine? And mince pies..? |
Welcome to Richmond Information Centre's website, the best source of information on this wonderful town. Take a look round! Archives
April 2024
|