City Guides
York
Theatres
York is blessed with two permanent theatres, a large concert and music venue seating just less than two thousand people, as well as a number of other temporary performance spaces and theatrical events.
The Grand Opera House, on Cumberland Street, stages drama, dance, music and comedy productions, and is currently working with the Council to create an education policy.
Built as the Corn Exchange in 1868, the building has changed hands and functions many times since; but it was bought, renovated and turned back into a theatre in 1987. Many of its original features has been restored or reproduced, and its interior is now in elegant nineteenth-century style. The theatre is said to be the largest in the county.
For current listings information and to book tickets, call the box office on 0870 606 3595.
The York Theatre Royal is a large, purpose-built theatre, seating just less than a thousand people. A variety of productions are staged there, including drama, comedy, musicals and comedy, and even live music performances and stand-up comedians.
The building is constantly being renovated and modernised, and in the last eight years, a meeting room and studio space have been built. An on-site café serves meals and refreshments. For listings and prices, call 01904 623 568.
Friargate Theatre is an intimate venue in the centre of York, home to the Christian theatre company, Riding Lights. Productions include those of the owner’s theatre company, as well as those by small-scale touring groups. The theatre is situated on Lower Friargate, just off Clifford Street, and can be contacted by calling the box office on 0845 961 3000.
York’s Shakespeare Project is also worth a mention. A large-scale plan to stage all of Shakespeare’s plays in various locations around the city centre, the project is estimated to take approximately twenty years. The first of the thirty-seven productions took place in 2002, and was Richard III. Since then, The Taming of the Shrew, Comedy of Errors, Titus Andronicus, Love’s Labour’s Lost and A Midsummer Night’s Dream have all been performed. Tickets can be booked by contacting the York Visitor Information Centre or by calling 01904 638 865.
The Grand Opera House, on Cumberland Street, stages drama, dance, music and comedy productions, and is currently working with the Council to create an education policy.
Built as the Corn Exchange in 1868, the building has changed hands and functions many times since; but it was bought, renovated and turned back into a theatre in 1987. Many of its original features has been restored or reproduced, and its interior is now in elegant nineteenth-century style. The theatre is said to be the largest in the county.
For current listings information and to book tickets, call the box office on 0870 606 3595.
The York Theatre Royal is a large, purpose-built theatre, seating just less than a thousand people. A variety of productions are staged there, including drama, comedy, musicals and comedy, and even live music performances and stand-up comedians.
The building is constantly being renovated and modernised, and in the last eight years, a meeting room and studio space have been built. An on-site café serves meals and refreshments. For listings and prices, call 01904 623 568.
Friargate Theatre is an intimate venue in the centre of York, home to the Christian theatre company, Riding Lights. Productions include those of the owner’s theatre company, as well as those by small-scale touring groups. The theatre is situated on Lower Friargate, just off Clifford Street, and can be contacted by calling the box office on 0845 961 3000.
York’s Shakespeare Project is also worth a mention. A large-scale plan to stage all of Shakespeare’s plays in various locations around the city centre, the project is estimated to take approximately twenty years. The first of the thirty-seven productions took place in 2002, and was Richard III. Since then, The Taming of the Shrew, Comedy of Errors, Titus Andronicus, Love’s Labour’s Lost and A Midsummer Night’s Dream have all been performed. Tickets can be booked by contacting the York Visitor Information Centre or by calling 01904 638 865.
Entertainment