THIS SEASON
Welcome to our first season of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre’s 90th Anniversary year.
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre was created as a concept by Seebohm Rowntree and the Joseph Rowntree Village Trustees in May 1934. From February 1935 to April 1935 the Village Trustees moved their idea forward and in April 1935 they accepted a quote to build the theatre. Building started and seven months later, on 18 November 1935, the theatre staged its opening performance. The total build cost is reported as £12,000. The theatre they built so quickly in 1935 is still going strong, and welcomes over 34,000 people a year to enjoy the productions staged by hundreds of people from York and beyond.
As Chair of the Charity which is the custodian of this fantastic venue, I want to thank everyone who has supported the theatre and enabled this nonagenarian to thrive.
Please look out for our celebration events including a black tie ball on 21 June 2025.
17-25 MEMBERSHIP
Did you know we offer a free membership scheme to anyone between the ages of 17 and 25? Joining the scheme gives you access to up to two tickets for £10 on selected productions. See inside the brochure for more details.
INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING?
The continued operation of the theatre relies on our willing and keen volunteers. If you have some spare time and are interested in supporting your local community theatre, then please visit our website josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/volunteer to find out more. We have opportunities in all aspects of the charity so there may be something to suit your available time, skills or interests.
Dan Shrimpton, Chair of Trustees
SPECIAL OFFERS!
It’s great to come to the theatre together with your family and friends, so here’s another excellent reason to get a group together.
• FAMILY TICKETS
Look out for shows listed with a Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) to get your discounted tickets.
• GROUP OFFERS
Look for the green flashes on individual shows to take advantage of the fantastic group discounts.
It’s simple. Just add the tickets to your basket and the offer will automatically be applied. josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk
Or call the box office: 01904 50 1935
SCAN the QR CODES with your mobile device, to visit the What’s On page on our website and to book tickets!
Joseph
Rowntree Theatre Company
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Tue 4 Feb – Sat 8 Feb: 19:30 | Sat 8 Feb Matinee: 14:30
The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. This “tale as old as time” is filled with the classic songs that you know and love, so please “be our guest” and join us for this family favourite.
♥ A fundraising event for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Central Hall Musical Society
GREASE
Thu 13 Feb – Sat 15 Feb: 19:30 | Sat 15 Feb Matinee: 14:00
Experience the friendships, romances and adventures of a group of high school kids in the 1950s. Welcome to the singing and dancing world of Grease, the most successful movie musical of all time, brought to you by the University of York’s Central Hall Musical Society. Enter the world of Rydell High – poodle skirts, good old-fashioned hand jiving, and the Queens and Kings of the school we all know and love: the iconic T-Birds and the Pink Ladies. So don your leather jackets and slick back your hair as the Greasers take over the Joseph Rowntree Theatre!
THE MUSICAL
Thu 20 Feb – Sat 22 Feb: 19:00 | Sat 22 Feb Matinee: 14:00
Don’t miss the unforgettable adventure of Shrek: The Musical. Dive into a world where love knows no boundaries, friendships are forged in the most unexpected places, and laughter is guaranteed! With catchy songs, quirky characters and a story that turns fairytales upside down, this show is a roaring good time for all ages. Join Shrek, Fiona and Donkey on their hilarious journey to find true happiness. It’s a fairytale like no other that will leave you smiling long after the curtain falls! Grab your tickets and let’s get this Ogre party started!
TICKETS:
Flying Ducks Youth Theatre SHREK:
University of York Gilbert & Sullivan Society
IOLANTHE
Thu 27 Feb – Sat 1 Mar: 19:30 | Sat 1 Mar Matinee: 14:30
Coming off the back of their award-winning show Princess Ida, the University of York Gilbert & Sullivan Society now presents Iolanthe! This classic G&S opera, set for this production in the 1960s, centres around the story of Strephon, child of the banished fairy Iolanthe, who wishes to marry their love Phyllis, but the Lord Chancellor of the House of Lords has forbidden it! Will Strephon manage to win the hand of their love, even with the help of the Queen of the Fairies? With a hilarious and heartfelt plot, and beautiful and iconic music, this show is fun for all!
TICKETS:
YORK COMMUNITY CHOIR FESTIVAL 2025
Sun 2 Mar: 18:00 | Mon 3 Mar – Sat 8 Mar: 19:30 | Sat 8 Mar Matinee: 14:30
Celebrating its tenth year, the Joseph Rowntree Theatre’s annual festival features choirs of all ages, with a wide variety of singing styles coming together in a unique concert each night. Across the week, at least four different choirs will sing in concert each night, performing well-known classical and modern popular songs with some show tunes, world music, folk song, gospel, jazz and soul all thrown into the mix. Listen out for songs linked to the theatre’s 90th birthday later this year!
♥ A fundraising event for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
TICKETS:
Joseph Rowntree Theatre
Rowntree Players GLORIOUS!
Thu 13 Mar – Sat 15 Mar: 19:30 | Sat 15 Mar Matinee: 14:30
Written by Peter Quilter and directed by Martyn Hunter, Glorious! is a stage comedy based on the true story of the later life of Florence Foster Jenkins and her close, devoted friends. Considered by many to be “the worst singer in the world” and “the First Lady of the sliding scale”, she gave private recitals to fans, including Cole Porter, made bizarre recordings and gave a legendary sold out performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall at the age of 76.
MUSIC NIGHT WITH DON PEARS
Sun 23 Mar: 19:00
Legendary York Musician Don Pears performs “A Musical Alphabet” with songs for each letter of the alphabet. A great supporter of the theatre, Don will be joined by York Choir Singphonia and a host of soloists performing a varied evening of music.
♥ A fundraising event for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
Joseph Rowntree Theatre
Steve Coates Productions Ltd
ONE NIGHT OF CLASSIC ROCK
Sat 22 Mar: 19:30
The night of classic rock is back again after last year’s sell-out success. This time, a larger cast of performers bring you all your favourites, plus new numbers that will blow you away with hardcore rock rhythms and an amazing visual experience. So enjoy a pint or a glass of wine, have a boogie in the aisles, and be assured… ‘We Will Rock You’.
Charlie’s School of Dance
JUST DANCE
Fri 28 Mar – Sat 29 Mar: 19:30
Showcasing all styles and ages there is something to entertain everyone, from tiny snapping crocodiles, and fabulous cheerleaders to tapping adults that will wow you all. Some students old, others new but everyone is welcome through our open doors and they are ready to put on a performance of a lifetime. Take a seat and enjoy a wonderful, colourful and enchanting evening of dance variety.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Standard £18 18 & Under £18
Standard £12 18 & Under £10
Our Star Theatre Company Ltd
HANNAY STANDS FAST
Thu 3 Apr – Fri 4 Apr: 19:30
A thrilling sequel to The 39 Steps, Hannay Stands Fast sees our dashing hero, Richard Hannay, back in the fray on a mission to thwart a new and deadly threat to his beloved England. Engaged on this top-secret case by MI5, Hannay makes his way down to Cornwall to infiltrate a secretive organisation and learn their dastardly plans. Can he save the day to keep the nation safe for another day? Hannay Stands Fast, like its predecessor, is taken on by four actors playing dozens of characters – 53 to be precise! – set in various locations created through quick and innovative uses of trunks, crates, suitcases, ladders, you name it! A rip-roaring comedy for the whole family to enjoy, this is another of John Buchan’s classic Hannay stories, re-told for the stage through laughs, daring-do and utter chaos!
TICKETS: BOOK NOW!
The Manfreds Ltd
THE MANFREDS – KEEPING IT LIVE IN ‘25
Sun 6 Apr: 19:30
Featuring original Manfred Mann members Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness, The Manfreds are excited to be heading to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre for the very first time! They are considered one of the finest and most respected bands of the 1960s era. Their numerous hits were not just pop songs. Many were R&B based with an undercurrent of Jazz – a very unusual but winning combination of playing style and substance. As a result, their records have a timeless quality and, some 60 years on, The Manfreds will be performing many of their well known hits including ‘5-4-3-2-1’, ‘Pretty Flamingo’, ‘The Mighty Quinn’ and of course ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’, one of the most popular and instantly recognised songs of the ‘60s and still the biggest audience pleaser, along with a mix of Jazz and Blues covers from their many solo albums.
TICKETS:
Inspired By Theatre
RENT
Thu 10 Apr – Sat 12 Apr: 19:30 | Sat 12 Apr Matinee: 14:30
The iconic rock musical that has inspired audiences for decades with its portrayal of love, loss, and survival in New York City’s East Village during the AIDS epidemic. Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking score blends rock, pop, and musical theatre in an unforgettable story about a group of young artists grappling with friendship, passion, and identity. With songs like ‘Seasons of Love’ and ‘La Vie Bohème’, RENT is a timeless celebration of life, even in the face of adversity. Brought to you by Inspired By Theatre – the company that brought last year’s Green Day’s American Idiot to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
Counterfeit Group Ltd
THE COUNTERFEIT SIXTIES SHOW
Sat 19 Apr: 19:30
Relive the sounds of the swinging sixties, as Britain’s No. 1 tribute show brings alive the magic with their tribute to over twenty five bands of the era. The fantastic music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Dave Clark Five, The Kinks and The Monkees – to name but a few – are all recreated in this stunning show that encompasses everything from the period, from the clothes they wore, to flashbacks from television history and even clips from the original bands, to create that authentic sixties setting. Members of the band have worked with notable sixties’ artists such as The Searchers, The Fortunes, The Tremeloes and many more and have performed all over the UK and abroad. So book now for a night of sixties nostalgia!
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Down for the Count
SWING THAT MUSIC
Thu 24 Apr: 19:30
Join the Down for the Count All-Stars, the UK’s hardest swinging band, as they recreate the music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and more – but this is no mere nostalgia trip, as the band perform each song in their own unmistakable style of irresistible humour and joie de vivre, with top class instrumental solos and sublime vocal performances, breathing new life into the best vintage music.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS WITH 17-25 MEMBERSHIP!
FREE to join!
Discounted tickets for you and a friend.
Two tickets for £20,
Wyrley Music & Promotions Ltd
ROCK BALLADS
Sat 26 Apr: 19:30
Rock Ballads pays tribute to one of the greatest periods in the history of music. Get ready to be taken back in time to when big hair and denim jackets were hot. Journey down memory lane with songs by singers and bands such as Bon Jovi, Rainbow, Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Meatloaf and Europe. Featuring some of the UK’s finest musicians and vocalists, having previously worked with some of the UK’s finest tribute shows and performing all over the UK and Europe, Rock Ballads is just what you need to reminisce and have a great night, singing all the way through.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
NETheatre York
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Tue 29 Apr – Sat 3 May: 19:30 | Sat 3 May Matinee: 14:30
Award Winning NETheatre York brings the world’s most loved musical to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre. This tuneful, heartwarming story, is based on the real life story of the Von Trapp family of singers, one of the world’s best known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II. Maria, is a tomboyish postulant at an Austrian Abbey who becomes governess in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children, bringing a new love of life and music into the home. With amazing songs like ‘My Favourite Things’, ‘Climb Every Mountain’, ‘Do Re Mi’, ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’, ‘Edelweiss’ and the unforgettable ‘Sound of Music’, this is one must see musical.
The
STEVE CASSIDY
BAND & FRIENDS
Sun 4 May: 19:30
The Steve Cassidy Band returns to their favourite venue with special guests sure to delight and entertain. John Lewis plays lead guitar, Mick Hull plays bass guitar, and also sings along with a ukulele and guitar. Brian Thomson on percussion and George Hall on keyboard completes the band. You will hear an eclectic mix of popular rock and country songs as well as instrumental pieces selected especially for this evening. Steve Cassidy recorded with John Barry as well as Joe Meek, both legends of the music world. He was a three time winner of ITV’s New Faces and has written music for a variety of stage musical productions.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Steve Cassidy Band
The
George Harrison Project
THE GEORGE HARRISON PROJECT
Sat 10 May: 19:30
Here comes the perfect tribute to a Beatles legend! Enjoy an evening of timeless classics and unforgettable melodies as this show celebrates the legendary George Harrison. From the heart of The Beatles to his soul-stirring solo work and supergroup, The Traveling Wilburys, experience a live music journey like no other. During this hit-packed show, these talented musicians authentically recreate some of George Harrison’s best known and loved tracks, including ‘My Sweet Lord’, ‘Here Comes The Sun’, ‘Something’, ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, ‘Got My Mind Set On You’, ‘All Things Must Pass’, ‘Handle With Care’, ‘Taxman’, ‘Give Me Love’, ‘I Need You’, ‘What Is Life’, ‘If I Needed Someone’, and many more!
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more! TICKETS:
York St John University Musical Production Society
FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL
Thu 15 May – Sat 17 May: 19:30 | Sat 17 May Matinee: 14:30
After moving from Chicago to the small town of Beaumont, Ren is shocked to discover the rigorous local laws, including that dance is illegal. While struggling to fit in, he fights to change things, with the help of his new friend, Willard, and the rebellious preacher’s daughter. Directed and performed by students from York St John University. Stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. Music by Tom Snow. Lyrics by Dean Pitchford.
York Musical Theatre Company
SISTER ACT: THE MUSICAL
Wed 21 May – Sat 24 May: 19:30 | Sat 24 May Matinee: 14:30
When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood. Featuring original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted) and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this heavenly musical is joyous and uplifting in equal measures.
JOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATRE BOX OFFICE
All tickets for shows at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre are sold online through our website, josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk, or through our box office at the theatre on Haxby Road.
However you buy your tickets, there are no booking fees – the price on the ticket is the price you pay to enjoy the show!
• Each listing gives ticket prices for that show. All shows have a standard ticket price and one for those 18 and under. Some shows will also offer a 65 and over ticket option.
• Many shows offer family or group discounts, which will be applied automatically when you add the appropriate tickets to your basket.
• Children aged 4 and over need their own ticket and seat. Children under 4 sitting on an adult’s lap don’t need a ticket.
• To purchase tickets for our wheelchair spaces please call our box office.
• Tickets are non-refundable. Tickets can be exchanged for another show at the theatre or the money transferred to theatre credit for you to spend on tickets for another show in the future – there is no charge for this.*
• Gift vouchers are available online from josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/gift‑vouchers or call the box office.
• All of our seats have an unrestricted view of the stage. The balcony is reached by 26 steps. There is no lift.
*Please see
BOX OFFICE
Open for visitors to the theatre and for telephone bookings: Mon – Sat, 10am – 2pm and 1 hr before any performance
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre Ltd. Haxby Road, York YO31 8TA 01904 50 1935 boxoffice@jrtheatre.co.uk
HOW TO GET HERE FACILITIES & ACCESS
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre is a mile to the north of York city centre on Haxby Road, next to the Nuffield Hospital. If you are travelling from outside York, follow the brown signs from the York North outer ring road (A1237). The theatre’s postcode is YO31 8TA.
First York bus routes 1 and 5/5A stop outside the theatre. Free car parking is available during performances in the Nestlé car park behind the Yearsley swimming pool.
Neither the theatre nor Nestlé can accept liability for loss by theft or damage to cars or their contents while using the car park.
The theatre auditorium has a seating capacity of 365 on two levels. All seats have an unobstructed view of the stage and generous leg room. A large number of children’s booster seats are available free of charge, on a first come, first served basis.
The theatre is fully licenced and sells a large range of alcoholic and soft drinks, ice cream and confectionery, available to purchase before the show and during the interval.
The theatre is accessible to patrons with disabilities. There are two dedicated wheelchair spaces at the rear of the stalls with seats for accompanying carers. Please advise at the time of booking if a wheelchair space is required. Step-free access to the auditorium is available. The front of house stewards will be pleased to provide guidance and assistance where necessary. An induction loop for the hard of hearing is provided, covering the stalls seating. This is accessed by setting hearing aids into the “T” position. josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk
