They shared news of some of the theatre companies, performers and entertainers they hope to welcome to the city over an extended festival weekend.
Arts and community groups from across the city, are coming together to play a role in the new Ripon Theatre Festival
Taking place from June 23 to 26, the festival aims to brighten the open spaces and venues in the city with professional and community performances.
Plans include puppetry, dance, drama, street theatre, storytelling, children’s activities and family shows.
Festival director Ian Holloway and representatives from the organisations that make up the festival team, introduced themselves to an audience of 40 potential participants, volunteers and supporters at a meeting held in Ripon Arts Hub last week.
Festival team members, from the left: Ian Holloway, Tina Salden, Simon Hewitt, Katie Scott and Julia Whitham
The event is being made possible with funding from a growing number of businesses and organisations, including main sponsor Wolseley, which has been a leading employer in the Ripon area for more than half a century.
Family shows are planned for Ripon’s Spa Gardens
In attendance were representatives of some of the festival’s venues and partners. These included Ripon Arts Hub, Ripon Library, Ripon Workhouse Museum and Ripon Together along with the new Ripon Business Improvement District, represented by BID board director, John Alder.
In addition to the family-focused entertainment at Spa Gardens, plans include open-air Shakespeare at Fountains Abbey, hard-hitting drama at Ripon Bowling Club, living history at the Workhouse Museum along with a community revue at Ripon Arts Hub, storytelling and children’s theatre at Ripon Library and street theatre & entertainers in Ripon City Centre
Volunteers sought
Volunteer Co-ordinator, Tina Salden, said:
“There are many roles for volunteers to help out as stewards and marshals or to serve refreshments, look after visiting artists or direct visitors and audiences.
Help is also needed ahead of the Festival with publicity around the region to ensure that the events are enjoyed by as many people as possible.” Anyone who missed the meeting, but who wants to get involved can contact info@ripontheatrefestival.org.
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Ripon’s deep clean continues
Kirkgate, one of Ripon’s prime retail and hospitality streets and gateway to the city’s iconic cathedral (pictured below) has received a deep clean.
The operation was organised by Ripon Business Improvement District in phase two of an initiative designed to attract more visitors to the city and help businesses to benefit from increased footfall.
BID assistant manager Lilla Bathurst, said:
“We cleaned the Kirkgate pavements from the Cathedral to Duck Hill. After steam cleaning, all windows were washed and sills and boards wiped down.”
The work took place on Sunday night. Kirkgate to the Market Square was due to be cleaned last night in the next part of the work.
Last month, the BID’s clean up began with work which has rejuvenated four of Ripon’s busiest alleyways, used by thousands of people each week.
The BID, which levies businesses to fund city centre improvements, came into being after 70 of the 87 traders who voted this summer, supported setting up the body.
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Following the vote, more than 280 firms within the Ripon BID area are now contributing to an annual budget of £160,000 for projects to create a safer, cleaner and better promoted city centre.
The first networking events for businesses will be held on January 17 and 24.
A Harrogate BID was created in 2019 but plans for a BID in Knaresborough were rejected in October.
Four of Ripon’s busiest alleys have been given a deep clean.
The overnight operation on Monday, was organised by Ripon Business Improvement District in one of its first initiatives to attract more visitors to the city and help businesses to benefit from increased footfall.
The clean-up focused on the thoroughfares between Oliver’s Pantry and Halls department store, M&Co and Costa Coffee, Boots and Specsavers and also Lavender Alley.
Last week, the BID’s interim manager Elizabeth Faulkner said:
“We know these alleyways are key to the way visitors and residents use the city so we want to make them as attractive as possible.”
The deep clean was carried out overnight.
“There has been lots of talk about what they could be used for, but first we will clean them up and then look at lighting.
“These are of course just a small part of Ripon and we have got a big destination to make an impact on so we will then start to move around the city for more deep cleaning.”
The alley between Oliver’s Pantry and Halls department store links the Marshall Way retail park and car park with North Street.
The BID, which levies businesses to fund city centre improvements, came into being after 70 of the 87 who voted this summer, supported setting up the body.
Read more:
Following the vote, more than 280 firms within the Ripon BID area are now contributing to an annual budget of £160,000 for projects to create a safer, cleaner and better promoted city centre.
The first networking events for businesses will be held on January 17 and 24.
A Harrogate BID was created in 2019 but plans for a BID in Knaresborough were rejected in October.