DON’T FORGET THESE AMAZING SHOWS IN DECEMBER & JANUARY.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!
THE PANTOMIME ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN
6 – 13 Dec | Rowntree Players | £20 – £22
A rollicking romp of a traditional family pantomime
A CHRISTMAS SELECTION BOX: A MUSIC NIGHT PRODUCTION
14 Dec | Joseph Rowntree Theatre | £12 – £15
Unwrap the magic of the season
CHOIRS AT CHRISTMAS
16 – 18 Dec | Joseph Rowntree Theatre | £4 – £12
Festive favourites, joyful harmonies and the spirit of togetherness
GALA CHRISTMAS CONCERT
19 – 20 Dec | Shepherd Group Brass Band | £15
Seasonal favourites with brass arrangements from the Shepherd Group Brass Band family
STAR WARS: MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU
23 - 24 Jan | Deadpan Players | £10 - £15
The Dark Web threatens Galactic freedom – but what’s the password?
WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ – THE SHAKIN’ STEVENS STORY
25 Jan | RDL Productions | £20 - £27
Award winning tribute to the UK’s biggest selling singles artist of the 1980s.
A VIBRANT COMMUNITY FACILITY OPEN TO ALL
WELCOME
from Dan Shrimpton, Chair of Trustees
Jump into spring with our new programme of shows. There really is something for everyone as we introduce another season of quality, engaging performances.
Aiming to entertain, educate and inspire, the theatre welcomes individuals and groups both professional and amateur from local communities and touring national shows. As a charity (registered: 1098329) run by volunteers, each show contributes to the theatre’s future.
Opening the new season is a true classic, Calamity Jane. This lively musical is filled with humour and heart. It tells the story of love, friendship, and finding where you truly belong. Produced and performed by the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Company, it’s a fundraising event for the theatre.
We have a bumper season of showstopping musicals, including Jesus Christ Superstar, The Addams Family Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s Newsies Jr, Parade, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Grease, and Calendar Girls, plus a Gilbert and Sullivan light opera, The Yeomen of the Guard. These fabulous productions promise fun for all ages.
Our much-loved annual Community Choir Festival returns, with forty-three different choirs performing over nine concerts, making this our largest festival to date. We also welcome back the Steve Cassidy Band, performing again in their favourite venue!
There’s also music to keep your toes tapping with Sing While You Swing, The Upbeat Beatles, and Keep Calm and Sing On, a theatre fundraising Music Night Production.
And last but not least, Oscar Wilde’s much-loved farcical comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest is being brought to our stage by the Rowntree Players.
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience live theatre, discover what’s on and more inside.
SCAN the QR CODES with your mobile device, to visit the What’s On page on our website and to book tickets!
RDL Productions
WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ – THE SHAKIN’ STEVENS STORY
Sun 25 Jan: 19:30
This award winning tribute to the UK’s biggest selling singles artist of the 1980’s is a nostalgic celebration, jam-packed with feel-good Rock ‘n’ Roll! Performing as Shakin’ Stevens, West End star Rebel Dean will guide you through a full audio-visual spectacular with his live band, including rare footage and images, which tell the story of the rockin’ Welsh boy and his rise to chart-topping superstardom. Dust off the double denim, slick back your hair and get ready to sing-along, dance-along and join in with the biggest and best ‘Shaky’ party.
CALAMITY JANE
Wed 4 Feb – Sat 7 Feb: 19:30 | Sat 7 Feb Matinee: 14:30
Saddle up and head on down to Deadwood City, as the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Company captures the spirit of the Western Frontier with this production of Calamity Jane! Filled with humour, heart and classic tunes, this beloved musical tells the story of love, friendship, and finding where you truly belong. With a talented cast, lively choreography and a majestic orchestra, the Joseph Rowntree Theatre will be transformed into the Wild West for an unforgettable night that’ll be sure to have you toe-tappin’ away in your cowboy boots.
♥ A fundraising event for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Joseph Rowntree Theatre Company
Inspired By Theatre
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Wed 11 Feb – Sat 14 Feb: 19:30 | Sat 14 Feb Matinee: 14:30
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s legendary rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar explodes onto stage in a bold new staging. Featuring songs ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and ‘Superstar’, this production captures the final days of Jesus as loyalties fracture, followers demand revolution and rulers fear rebellion. Set in a shifting space, part temple, part battleground, the story unfolds through visceral movement, haunting imagery and a pulsating live score. Expect a world where belief spirals into chaos, power corrupts and humanity collides with the divine, all leading to one of theatre’s most electrifying climaxes.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL
Thu 19 Feb – Sat 21 Feb: 19:00 | Sat 21 Feb Matinee: 14:00
Flying Ducks Youth Theatre is back to bring you a whimsical, spooky adventure in the delightfully dark world of the Addams family! This musical adaptation brings to life this hauntingly eccentric family through a night of unexpected revelations. When Wednesday Addams falls in love with a “normal” boy, chaos ensues. As the two families converge over dinner, secrets are revealed and the true meaning of family is put to the test. With catchy songs and a hilarious script, this fun, fast paced musical promises to entertain audiences of all ages.
TICKETS:
Flying Ducks Youth Theatre
Central Hall Musical Society
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Thu 26 Feb – Sat 28 Feb: 19:30 | Sat 28 Feb Matinee: 14:00
CHMS proudly presents Beauty and the Beast, a classic family tale full of friendship, love and nostalgia. Experience the magic of Disney, with an array of enchanted objects and the beautiful ballroom waltz in the Beast’s castle, brought to you by the University of York’s Central Hall Musical Society following last year’s successful run of the hit musical Grease. Enter a quaint provincial town, with lovable characters, romance, adventure and showstopping songs including ‘Belle’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Gaston’ and ‘Be Our Guest’. Will the curse be broken before the last petal falls?
TICKETS:
FUNDRAISING THIS SEASON
FEBCALAMITY JANE
See p
Saddle up and head on down to Deadwood City as the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Company capture the spirit of the Western Frontier
MARCOMMUNITY CHOIR FESTIVAL
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Our annual festival features choirs of all ages with a wide variety of singing styles coming together in a unique concert each night
MAR LADIES NIGHT FASHION SHOW
Join the Complete Clothing Company for a social evening of style fun and a chance to update your spring wardrobe
APR BINGO
Grab your lucky dabbers and get ready to shout “BINGO!” as you enjoy a night packed with exciting prizes and a few surprises along the way
APR KEEP CALM AND SING ON
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Pack your umbrellas polish your tea cups and get ready for a musical romp across the isles!
MAY TEDDY BEAR ZIP WIRE CHALLENGE
Bring your teddy bear or other cuddly toy and let it fly across the auditorium on our special zip wire with side stalls games and a cafe serving goodies
♥ All proceeds from these events will be donated to the theatre
Joseph Rowntree Theatre
COMMUNITY CHOIR FESTIVAL 2026
Sun 1 Mar – Sat 7 Mar: 19:30 | Sun 1 Mar & Sat 7 Mar Matinee: 14:30
Our 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, a total of forty-three different choirs will perform over nine concerts, making this our largest festival to date. Concerts will feature well-known classical and modern popular songs with some show tunes, world music, folk song, gospel, jazz and soul all thrown into the mix.
♥ A fundraising event for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
University of York Gilbert & Sullivan Society
THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD
Thu 12 Mar – Sat 14 Mar: 19:30 | Sat 14 Mar Matinee: 14:30
After their popular production of Iolanthe last February, The University of York Gilbert & Sullivan Society proudly presents a classic production of The Yeomen of the Guard. One of Gilbert and Sullivan’s lesser performed shows, this production is set back in the 16th century in the historic Tower of London during the reign of Henry VIII, a tumultuous, bloody and painful period in history. Tackling themes of unrequited love, alienation and tragedy, this darkly comic show has both a heartbreaking narrative and one of the finest scores to come out of this composing duo. £2 OFF each ticket when you buy
Rowntree Players
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Thu 19 Mar – Sat 21 Mar: 19:30 | Sat 21 Mar Matinee: 14:00
Rowntree Players brings this much-loved farcical comedy from Oscar Wilde to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre’s stage. In this quick-witted, farcical comedy, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff both lead double lives under the false name of “Ernest” to escape social obligations, leading to romantic entanglements and comedic misunderstandings.
OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Be Amazing Arts
DISNEY’S NEWSIES JR
Thu 26 Mar – Sat 28 Mar: 19:30 | Sat 28 Mar Matinee: 14:30
Join Be Amazing Arts for an unforgettable performance of Disney’s Newsies Jr – a high-energy, heartwarming musical packed with powerful singing, dazzling dance numbers and inspiring storytelling. Based on the hit Broadway show, Newsies Jr follows a spirited band of newsboys as they rally together to fight for what’s right against the powerful newspaper publishers of New York City. Filled with catchy songs and uplifting messages of courage and friendship, this amily friendly production will leave you cheering, dancing and believing in the power of standing strong together!
TICKETS: BOOK NOW! Standard £18 18 & Under £18
PARADE
Wed 1 Apr – Sat 4 Apr: 19:30 | Sat 4 Apr Matinee: 14:30
The tragic, true story of the trial and lynching of a man wrongly accused of murder is brought to theatrical life. Amid religious intolerance, political injustice and racial tension, the stirring Tony award-winning Parade explores the endurance of love and hope against all the odds. In 1913, Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jew living in Georgia, is put on trial for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan, a factory worker under his employ. Already guilty in the eyes of everyone around him, his only defenders are a governor with a conscience and his assimilated wife who finds the strength and love to become his greatest champion.
Black Sheep Theatre
Steve Coates Music Productions
SWING WHILE YOU SING
Sun 12 Apr: 19:30
Sun 12 Apr Matinee: 14:30
Be transported into a world of sophisticated glamour set in the decadence of the cocktail clubs and the party scene of a long gone, but not forgotten era. Let us take you back to a period of style and sophistication with music from Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra and musicals such as Anything Goes, filling the theatre with syncopated rhythms and instrumental melodies. Let your body swing to the beat of the music.
DOWNLOAD THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATRE APP
Get easy access to information about all of our shows and book tickets via our new app. Available to download on Apple and Android devices.
Patricia Veale School of Dance
SHOW DANCE
Fri 17 Apr – Sat 18 Apr: 19:30 | Sat 18 Apr Matinee: 14:30
An exciting celebration of dance, the Patricia Veale School of Dance showcase brings our talented dancers together on stage for an unforgettable performance! This year marks our very first Show Dance, featuring a variation on classic musicals from film to broadway complete with top hats, flair, and plenty of razzle dazzle. With a vibrant mix of ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, and so much more. Join us as we step into the spotlight with our sparkling musical inspired showcase.
TICKETS:
Joseph Rowntree Theatre
KEEP CALM AND SING ON: A MUSIC NIGHT PRODUCTION
Sun 19 Apr: 19:00
Pack your umbrellas, polish your tea cups and get ready for a musical romp across the isles! Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the rich and diverse legacy of British music. From timeless classics to contemporary favourites, this concert showcases the enduring charm that has made our music a global treasure. Whether steeped in tradition or bursting with innovation, each song captures the spirit of a nation whose melodies continue to inspire the world.
♥ A fundraising event for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
AROUND THE WORLD
Fri 24 Apr: 19:30 | Sat 25 Apr: 18:30 Sat 25 Apr Matinee: 13:30
Journey across the globe as every class brings their own unique performance to life through ballet, jazz, contemporary, acro, tap, musical theatre and street dance, all woven together with elements of acting, stagecraft and storytelling. Each piece captures emotion, character, and narrative entirely through dance, transforming the stage into a vibrant world of movement and imagination. Pack your bags and get ready to travel Around the World.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more! Standard £15 18 & Under £12
FAMILY TICKETS
Look out for shows listed with a FAMILY ticket (2 adults and 2 children) to get your discounted tickets. GROUP
Look for the green flashes on individual shows to take advantage of the fantastic groups discounts.
SHOW
Book ANY 3 SHOWS in the season together and SAVE 10%
simple… Just add the tickets to your basket and the offer will automatically be applied.
NETheatre York
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Tue 28 Apr – Sat 2 May: 19:30 | Sat 2 May Matinee: 14:30
The award-winning NETheatre York is back by public demand with the iconic musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Known for its iconic soundtrack, laugh out loud moments and its heartfelt story, which follows three friends on a road trip across the Australian desert in a broken-down bus as they chase a dream and discover the power of love, identity and friendship. Featuring songs ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’, ‘I Will Survive’, ‘I Love The Nightlife’, plus many more, this is one night at the theatre you will never forget.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Steve Cassidy Band
STEVE CASSIDY BAND IN CONCERT
Sun 3 May: 19:30
With a great blend of rock and country music chosen to appeal to all age groups, the band’s carefully selected guests are sure to delight and entertain. A three time winner on New Faces, Steve has performed with many legends of the music industry, including John Barry. He is joined by John Lewis (guitar), George Hall (keyboard), Mick Hull (bass/guitar and ukulele) and Brian Thomson (percussion) for a memorable evening.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Standard £15 18 & Under £12 65 & Over £12
Charlie’s School of Dance TIME
TO DANCE
Fri 8 May – Sat 9 May: 19:30
Please join us to enjoy a wonderful variety of dance. We bring all styles and ages to the stage, happy to impress upon yourselves what we have learnt over this past year. We will keep those toes tapping with extremely happy feet, soothe you with beautiful ballet and have some extra surprises for you all. All our students young and older have been working hard and looking forward to putting on the best show. Enjoy.
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
Standard £15 18 & Under £12
VOLUNTEER WITH US
If you’re interested in being a part of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, get in touch and join the team. From stage crew to box office and more, we’d love to have you on board. Find out more online: josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/volunteer
York St. John Musical Production Society
GREASE: THE MUSICAL
Thu 14 May – Sat 16 May: 19:30 | Sat 16 May Matinee: 14:30
The year is 1959 at Rydell High School. The too-cool-for-school “Burger Palace Boys” are being the usual act tough, hub-cap stealing rebels and the women in bobby sox and pedal pushers chain smoking and snapping gum is the “Pink Ladies”. This musical is a homage to the idealism seen in the fifties where the desire to be rebellious and provocative is ripe among high-schoolers. The story focuses on the romance between Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl. They had a secret romance in summer, but now back in the context of school, peer-pressure and cliques make their love a bit more complicated. Danny wishes to keep his cool man persona and make demure Sandy his girl.
York Musical Theatre Company CALENDAR
GIRLS: THE MUSICAL
Wed 20 May – Sat 23 May: 19:30 | Sat 23 May Matinee: 14:30
The death of a much-loved husband prompts a group of ordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women’s Institute to do an extraordinary thing. Blasting away all preconceptions of what it is to be in a Women’s Institute, they decide to do an artistic nude calendar to raise money for charity. Upturning preconceptions is a dangerous business and none of them expect the emotional and personal ramifications, but gradually the making of the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into flower. The true story of the Calendar Girls launched a global phenomenon, a million copycat calendars, a record breaking movie, stage play and musical written by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow.
OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
THE UPBEAT BEATLES
Sun 24 May: 19:30
With sheer joy and energy The Upbeat Beatles will take you on a journey through the earthshattering sounds of the FAB 4! The show takes you through the long and winding road from the early Cavern days through Beatlemania, America, Sergeant Pepper to Abbey Road, with narrative and full multi-media presentation. Throw away all your inhibitions! No band does it better than The Upbeat Beatles
£2 OFF each ticket when you buy 5 or more!
John Wilson Productions Ltd
En Pointe Dance School
RHYTHM OF EARTH
Sat 30 May – Sun 31 May: 19:00 Sat 30 May – Sun 31 May Matinee: 14:00
Step into a world where movement and nature unite. Rhythm of Earth celebrates our planet through the power of dance, as the talented dancers of En Pointe bring the wild to life across the stage, journeying through the elements with breathtaking performances in ballet, contemporary, tap and more. Our dancers invite you to feel the pulse of the planet and witness the beauty, energy and rhythm of the Earth.
Standard £17 18 & Under £11
Become part of the fabric of our beautiful building with an engraved seat plaque bearing a personalised inscription. For a donation of £200 you can sponsor a seat for five years.
Select your seat online: josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/support-us
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS
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 terms and conditions of sale for more information.
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
