On Being Seventyfive

listen to ‘On Being Seventyfive written and read by Brian Shackleton’ on Audioboo

Brian is a member of  Ryedale Writers at Helmsley Arts Centre.

Adult acting classes in Pickering

A new adult acting class is starting at The Friends Meeting House in Pickering and students will have the opportunity to learn from professional actor and director Mark Stratton. Mark is a graduate of the Mountview Theatre School in London and has vast experience across many areas of theatre and television, playing many diverse roles. He has toured China in ‘The Tempest’ for Northern Broadsides, and toured the UK with them in ‘Vacuum’ and ‘Wars of the Roses’ the latter of which started life at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. Appearing in many regional theatres, he is equally at home in serious drama, comedy and musical theatre. He has worked on many television dramas and appeared opposite Anthony Hopkins in the film ‘Across The Lake’. “Living in the North York Moors has made me realise that there is little opportunity for adults to engage with certain arts, especially the craft of acting”, said Mark. “That’s why I co-founded Esk Valley Theatre with my wife, choreographer Sheila Carter. These classes are an extension of my dream to demystify theatre and make it relevant and accessible to rural communities. I believe many people have little idea how the craft of acting can help them in many areas of life”.

A new poem from Ryedale Writers at Helmsley Arts Centre

Read by David Powley

listen to ‘Keep in Touch by David Smith’ on Audioboo

Local authour Ian Johnson talks about his first novel 'The Witcher Keys'

In the wonderful Lion Inn atop the North York Moors local author Ian Johnson describes the remarkable background to his first novel 'The Witcher Keys'.

Ian, who is also a construction manager, was working on an old house that tenants had repeatedly quit complaining the house made them feel ill. Looking into what the problem might be led Ian to uncover ..... well.... let's let Ian tell the story:

The novel is published by The Book Guild on October 25th and, as Ian says in the film, there will be a launch at the Lion Inn next month. To order the book from Amazon just click the link below:

Helmsley Open Mic workshop invitation

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Open mic workshops are great fun and provide readers with 5 mins or so to read a few poems (or one long one), a dramatic monologue, or a short story of your choice to an appreciative audience. If you just want to listen that's fine too.

Just come along to Helmsley Arts Centre on October 5th, from 7.30pm to share your work or that of a favourite author.

Tickets just £2 on the door and children are free.

This event is part of the buiild up to the first ever Ryedale Book Festival taking place on October 20th - find out more here.

Listen to our new poem

listen to ‘Remembering the Cats by David Powley’ on Audioboo

Life Models required

People of all shapes and sizes are required for life drawing classes starting September 12th at Helmsley Arts Centre.

Classes are on Tuesday afternoons 2-4pm. Nude or partially clothed.

Phone tutor John Creighton on 01751 417 888 for further details.

Who's to Blame for the Financial Crisis?

Listen to our new poem, by Martin Vander Weyer, who, appropriately enough, also happens to be the Arts Centre's Treasurer.

National Theatre Live comes to Helmsley !

Thursday 6th of September  7.00pm

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time


Join us for the first screening of our brand new National Theatre Live series where Mark Haddon’s multi-award-winning novel is beautifully adapted into a stage play for the first time. In the intimate setting of the Cottesloe Theatre, NT Live will transport us to front row seats for this imaginative in-the-round production. Christopher is under suspicion of killing Mrs Shears dog. With an extraordinary brain, he’s exceptional at maths but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, but his detective work takes Christopher on a journey that upturns his world.
Starring Matthew Barker and Niamh Cusack.
Adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel by Simon Stephens.
Directed by Marianne Elliott.
Running time: approx. 2 1/2 hours including 20-minute interval

£12 / Concs: £10 (OFFER: All 3 NT Live shows: £30 / Concs £24)  Buy tickets now

The other two shows are : 11 October - The Last of the Haussmans with Julie Waters and Rory Kinnear,  directed by Howard Davies.

                                          1 November - Timon of Athens with Simon Russel Beale, directed by Nicholas Hytner

Three poems about power

Two poems entered earlier this year in our poetry competition's 9 - 12 year olds category:
The Volcano by George Leeming, read by Louise Fitton
Engine Power by Marcus Allen, read by Martin Vander Weyer

And one poem entered in the 5-8 category:
Vicious Sea by Teagan Jones, read by Louise Fitton

The Sunne Rising at Helmsley Arts Centre

The Sunne Rising by John Donne, chosen and read by David Powley because way back in the mid 1960s it was for him such an exciting discovery : the combination of caressive intimacy with the poet’s delight in playing intellectual games as he builds up his argument against the sun. The sentiment is so relaxed and everyday (for lovers, anyway) yet contained and conveyed in a poem so tightly controlled in its rhythms, phrasing, shape, sound and argument.
John Donne, born in 1572 but still very much alive.
Do you have a favourite poem? Let us know and why you choose it.
And don't forget to send us your own poems to read and display at the Arts Centre.

Don't miss two fabulous plays performed by our Youth Theatre

Starting tomorrow!!!

The Blues Sisters is a lively and inventive comedy with music. When Madame Chantelle's School of Dance and Deportment is threatened with closure by evil property developer Barnaby Sludge, Maddy, Becky and Annie are transformed into 'The Blues Sisters'. They take on the crooks, but will they save the day?

Rain on Me, Mark Rees' award-winning drama for teenagers, won the Quidi Vidi trophy at the Scottish Youth Finals in Dundee in June 2001. This is a modern Romeo and Juliet with overtones of West Side Story and Roxanne. While the drama is serious in parts, it is hugely entertaining and contains realistic and sometimes hilarious dialogue.

Thursday 28 to Saturday 30 June, 7.30pm
£6 / Concs £5 Students & Under 25s £3

buy tickets now