The Amazing Mr Carroll...

I never knew so many different sounds could come from a guitar. Clive Carroll's gig was an eye and ear opener for all of us. The extraordinary range of sounds was matched by the variety of the music styles played. Classical Dowland to Johnny Cash, Albeniz to Chet Atkins, and atmospheric music of his own composition.

He played everything with such apparent ease, yet with a body totally engaged in the rhythms and nuances of the music. His technique was so good, producing so many layers of sound, it was difficult to believe at times there was only one guitar.

All this presented with a friendly and self deprecating commentary, funny stories and fascinating little insights into the guitar playing world.

The audience didn't want to let him go. But go he did. We hope he'll come back and if he does, look, please don't miss the chance to see him work his magic.

At last, we're back!

It's a long time for a blog site to go quiet. Since April, for heaven's sake. But life has been a bit too full to manage blogging on top of the extra work involved in responding to the present financial ouch factor.

The last entry was about the 1812 Theatre Company's production of "The Memory of Water". I'm delighted to say - particularly so, as I was the director - it was a great success. It even made a profit. Most pleasing, though, was the high quality of ensemble acting by the cast, especially of the three sisters and their dead mother.

Even more successful was the Russian Orthodox Choir. So popular were they we had to put on an extra performance on the same day. Lucky for us they were willing to do it. And that sold out too.What a wonderful sound they made. The acoustic of our auditorium was perfect for them.

Heatseeker(theAC/DC Tribute Band) pulled in a keen crowd of fans, as, by way of complete contrast, did the Audience with Michael Mansfield, QC . He was a relaxed and fluent speaker and held his audience with ease. As ever, the Mardi Gras Jazz lunches were popular, and though "The Land Girls of Yorkshire" played to a full house, many in the audience felt it was a disappointingly flat. Maybe the Company had been touring it too long.

The 1812 Youth Theatre production of the world premiere of "Won't Be Long", by Tom Needham (of TV fame) and David Griffiths, was funny and moving and full of excellent performances from individuals in a very big cast. The story of evacuees in World War II

touched many in the audience. And for the first time in their history the company took the show to another venue - in Thornton le Dale, where their performance moved the audience to tears. We were particularly lucky in having sponsorship for this production from the Helmsley Freemasons Lodge No 7075, for which many thanks.

Disappointingly, a number of shows since then haven't done so well, for all that they were excellent entertainment and thoroughly enjoyed by those who did come. Ali Cook and the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, for example. Ali Cook's magic tricks are superbly executed and the puppets outrageously funny. Perhaps the publicity didn't make it clear that "puppets" doesn't necessarily mean "for children". It was definitely a show for adults.

Likewise the usually very popular "Ryedale Live", with its 2nd birthday celebration, brought a smaller than hoped-for audience. But they filled the studio/bar and in a relaxed and appreciative atmosphere, with french doors open to the balmy evening air, they enjoyed some first-class performers .

Actually, the scheduling did load the dice against us more than a bit, what with 10,000 attending the Simply Red concert in Dalby Forest, the Wombleton prom down the road, the World cup on the telly, not to mention the beautiful summer weather.

And I guess the latter plus Wimbledon and the local Steam Fair kept the audiences down for "The Wind in the Willows", though 40 on the first night and 60 on the second was pretty good under the circumstances. Ratatat Theatre Company were on sparkling form in a witty and inventive, high-energy version by Martin Riley, with Dominic Goodwin in his element as Toad.

And what a shame only 32 made it to "Dancing the Ramayana", a beautiful tour-de-force of Kathak(north Indian) dance and music, with the graceful and powerful dancer on the move,

non-stop for an hour and a quarter.

Now then, we hope more of you come to see that exceptionally talented young guitarist, who can play just about any sort of music, Clive Carroll, in the intimacy of the Studio/bar on Saturday 10 July at 7.30pm. Buy your tickets now.

We're very keen that as many of you as possible come to support the incredibly accomplished young players in Ryedale School's award-winning Wind and Jazz Bands on Sunday 11th July at 2.30pm. Buy your tickets now.

And then you mustn't miss the 1812 Theatre Company's latest production of "84 Charing Cross Road" 21st to 24th July at 7.30pm.Buy your tickets now.

Right now we're just putting the finishing touches to our autumn brochure and very soon the whole programme will be in our website and your online booking can start.

Don't miss "The Memory of Water"

The1812 Theatre Company presents

Shelagh Stephenson's award-winning play

"The Memory of Water"

at the Helmsley Arts Centre

from 21st to 24th April at 7.30pm.

On the eve of their mother’s funeral, three sisters meet and once again clash, as old conflicts flare up and reveal their continuing grip on the present. Events may have been shared but memories of them differ wildly. With a husband and a lover also drawn into this bewildering whirlpool, the play offers

“...a superb mix of wild humour and bruising emotion.” Daily Telegraph

“Blessedly and mercurially funny...Stephenson combines a flair for witty dialogue with a relish for the dynamics of theatre...a mistress of comic anguish.” Guardian

The play won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 2000

Buy tickets now

Whatever you do, don't miss the Sacconi Quartet!

Performing at Helmsley Arts Centre, Saturday 27th March at 7.30pm

They will play the String Quartet in D, opus 76 no. 5 by Haydn, the No 2 in D by Borodin and Dvorak’s opus 96 in F, the “American”.

"This young quartet is a revelation, playing with a mastery which is quite stunning. These three quartets are superbly performed and brilliantly recorded. They are amongst the best ever recordings of Haydn Quartets."
RECORDING OF THE MONTH - MusicWeb International

Read the full review of their Haydn CD

The Quartet is the New Generation Scheme Ensemble at the Royal College of Music and is Quartet in residence at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre. Their outreach programme takes music out of the concert hall and into the community – playing to prisoners, refugees and the physically disabled.

Listen to excerpts from their CDs

BOOK NOW

"The Wreckers" - back at Helmsley on March 6th

Tom Needham's new play, The Wreckers, played to a full house at Helmsley Arts Centre on February 20th and has held audiences in its grip at other venues before then and since.

It was a masterly bit of storytelling, as each character was laid bare and the desire to know what happens grew. This is a ghost story but we are never sure if there is really a ghost or if it is an elaborate game or simply hallucinatory. We never see one but.....

The play was well served by the actors, who conveyed the see-sawing emotions and unravelling relationships with an intense restraint.

The play was a good example of how little technical trickery one actually needs to grip the imagination. The art of suggestion, good timing and richly suggestive language. Well, that's quite a lot really.

The really, really good news is that we have another chance to see this play at Helmsley Arts Centre on Saturday March 6th at 7.30pm

Better still from our point of view, Clap Trap Productions has offered to donate all ticket receipts for that performance to the Arts Centre. An offer we accepeted with gratitude. Thanks CTP.

So do make sure you come to see it if you missed it first time round. To support them and the Centre and to have an excellent night out.

Here's what some people said about it:

"Very atmospheric, a great story and, as always, great acting"

"Absolutely riveting"

"Terrific piece of writing"

"It was like being in the same room as the four characters: almost feeling you shouldn’t be there, but not wanting to leave..."

"Everyone hurried back after the interval, we all couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen"

"It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck"

"The woman in front of me leapt out of her chair!"

"far exceeded our already high expectations"

Book now.

'The Wreckers' coming back for a second night

Following on from the hugely successful performance to a packed house on Saturday night, Clap Trap Productions will be returning with their show 'The Wreckers' on Sat. March 6th.

All proceeds will go the Helmsley Arts Centre so if you haven't seen the show do try and make it - you'll both have a great night out and support your local arts venue.

For tickets - call 01439 771 700 or buy online.

Interview with Tom Needham

Find out more about the forthcoming production of 'The Wreckers' by watching this interview with author Tom Needham talking about his new play specially commissioned by Clap Trap Productions and touring in 2010. The story, located in a cottage built from the wood of a ship lured onto the rocks by wreckers, is haunted by the ghost of a child who drowned on that night. She’s been waiting over a hundred and fifty years for her revenge. And now, finally, the time has come.

Tom's numerous television credits include Cold Blood, Silent Witness, Dalziel & Pascoe, and The Bill.

The production features the acting talents of Cal Stockbridge, Chris Laishley, Katie Turner and Simon Waley and is directed by Gareth Jenkins.

Tour dates:

Fri 19th Feb 7:30pm Kirkbymoorside Methodist Chapel 01653 669554
Sat 20th Feb 7:30pm Helmsley Arts Centre 01439 771700 or online.
Fri 5th Mar 7:30pm Kirk Theatre, Pickering 01653 669554
Sat 6th Mar 7:30pm Helmsley Arts Centre 01439 771 700 or online.
Sun 14th Mar 7:30pm Galtres Centre, Easingwold 01347 822472
Sat 20th Mar 7:30pm Georgian Theatre, Richmond 01748 825252

A Grand Auction Of Art Work

Friday 26 February 7.30pm

Ever since the Arts Centre reopened in 2001 - after the fire the previous year - we have been collecting works of art, donated by artists who have exhibited in the foyer and the Studio Bar, with the intention of auctioning them in due course to raise additional funds. We now have some 40 paintings and drawings in hand, many by well-known local artists - and we also have pressing demands to fund improvements to the Arts Centre's facilities and equipment.

So the long awaited auction will be held in the Arts Centre on Friday 26 February from 7.30pm.

Artists include Sir David Goodall, Jim Wright, June Emerson, Anne Lang, Bridget Gillespie and many more.

Admission will be by catalogue - one per person - now available. You can buy them at the Box Office, by telephone or online but will receive a catalogue instead of a ticket.

The catalogue also entitles you to canapés and your first drink at the social gathering at 7.30pm before the auction itself starts at 8.00pm.

Auctioneer: the former Director of Helmsley Arts Centre, Martin Vander Weyer

Tel: 01439 771700

www.helmsleyarts.co.uk

£5 admittance by brochure (includes canapés and first drink) .

More good news for Folk at Helmsley!

We said we'd get another Folk Weekend up and running for September, 2010, and that's what we've done - thanks to Kate Bramley.

We are delighted to welcome some wonderful artists to the folk weekend this year- SONY Radio Academy Award Winning songwriter Jez Lowe, 2008 Scots Singer of the Year Emily Smith and 2006 Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year Shona Mooney, as well as from Canada, Juno Award Winning Songwriter James Keelaghan, and BBC Young Folk Finalists 2009 The Carrivick Sisters.

Add to that the soft spoken 'Whisky Bard' songwriter Robin Laing, the delightful Edwina Hayes, the great traditional singer and song collector Steve Gardham and many more wonderful Yorkshire artists, as well as the beautiful setting of the North York Moors, and you'll find it to be an unmissable weekend.

Bring your instruments and voices, walking boots and dancing shoes and join us for a spectacular Helmsley Folk Weekend 2010!

Keep in touch with details on the Helmsley Folk Weekend website.

Ryedale Young and Live!

Helmsley Arts Centre Studio Bar - Friday 22 January 2010

Ryedale Live is launching a new series of performance evenings at Helmsley Arts Centre, specifically aimed at teenagers within the area. Called “Ryedale Young and Live!”, they are designed to give young singers, songwriters and musicians of all levels the opportunity to perform to an attentive audience, but in a relaxed and non-threatening environment.

The first of the series is scheduled for Friday 22^nd January from 7.30pm and will take place in the Studio Bar. To support the evening there will be performances by two of the region’s most talented youngsters, Amaya and Alastair James.

Commenting on this new development for Ryedale Live! Rob Davies said: “We have felt for some time that there is little or no opportunity for Ryedale’s talented youngsters to perform, other than at school or in their bedrooms! This will allow them to sing or play 2 or 3 songs amongst their peer group and thus to raise their bar a little and gain valuable performance experience. We have been using Helmsley Arts Centre for quite sometime now for our Ryedale Live! Songwriters Circle concerts and we felt that the Studio Bar is the perfect location for this exciting new series.”

If you would like to participate in this or any future evening, please send your details to mail@ryedalelive.co.uk or call Rob Davies on 01653 690503.

Good news for the Helmsley Folk Weekend

The Arts Centre Management has regular meetings to discuss how the programmes we present have been going and what we can learn from experience about what to do next.

Recently we shone the spotlight on our (for us) ambitious weekend of folk music in September. We had three nights of events and two whole days' worth of music in the Centre, the town square, the Town Hall and in various local pubs.

For those who came, the weekend was a great success. There was an exciting "buzz" in the air, they said. But, alas, not enough people came and we lost £2,200. And we had no sponsors to help us out. Not good news. So should we give up on an event we've been developing over the past three years?

The answer is a resounding "NO!"

OK, so we've been a bit over ambitious. And there's no doubt the recession is biting us and our customers harder. But the good news is that a couple of people, very experienced in the world of folk events, has offered to help us build the event more solidly in the future.

The Management of the Arts Centre voted unanimously to learn from the experience and get on with organising next year's Weekend of Folk. Which is also a firm endorsement of all the hard work our Deputy Director, Jean Kershaw, has put into organising this event for the past three years. Thank you, Jean.

And a big "thank you" for all those supportive comments we've received from people who enjoyed the weekend this year.....

From Kate Bramley : "The success of the folk weekend in previous years has proved that there is an interest in the music, and the huge amount of local support from musicians and other organisers shows their partner commitment to slowly growing an annual folk event in Helmsley The theatre and town have such a great potential as a host venue and our focus for the future is to make sure the theatre is at the hub of the action, drawing people in to the venue across the weekend for session and concerts as well as general 'bonhomie'."

From Linda Hencher:
"The ceilidh was much enjoyed by all those who attended and everyone was keen to dance. The Town Hall is a really good venue for it. The selection of dances was good and the Jellybeans band was easy to dance to and had an excellent caller. The simple pie and pea supper worked well."

From Richard Abrahall:

"I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the Folk Festival, although you must be a little disappointed at the turnout to some of the daytime events.

I went to nearly everything and it was so intimate we got to know each other quite well by the Sunday evening concert.

I do hope that you can do it again next year, but thanks for doing so this autumn."

From Ray Padgett:

"Very many thanks for all your work at Helmsley this year. as organiser. It is not easy getting these things up and running. I wouldn’t bother too much about the ‘fringe’ pub events – use the Arts Centre and use the café bar all to maximum to create revenue and as a stage for musicians and a singaround area………lots of potential here."

From Christine Bishop – Acorn Morris Dancers:

"I would like to say what a good dance spot you gave us as part of the folk weekend (courtesy of RDC!) This spot allowed us to dance properly and safely and also gave the spectators a better view."

A special evening of music

Susan Allen from Cawton sent us this:

I am writing to say how much I enjoyed the violin and piano recital on 17th October at the Helmsley Arts Centre (see picture left). It was a very special evening and I think many in the audience felt as I did, that we were privileged to be there.

Once again I drove home thinking how extremely fortunate we are to have music of such quality on our doorstep. It helps to make Helmsley and the wider area such a very special place to live in.

I am looking forward to the Cello and Piano Recital in November and to Michael Lunts as Rachmaninov (see picture right) in A Meeting of Minds. Many thanks to the Arts Centre for providing so many wonderful evenings.