Helmsley Arts Centre

the arts for everyone in Ryedale

February 2010

This second newsletter has been rather a long time coming, I’m afraid, for which we apologise. We do still intend to produce at least one a month in future.

Meanwhile, as you can see in this website,  a new programme of events has been booked and you can book your tickets now.

In the wide-ranging mix of music, theatre,comedy, film and talks, you have come to expect, look out for some exciting new events. For example,  Hull Truck come in April with a new play by Nick Lane, Me and Me Dad, while in May we have  The Russian Orthodox Choir.   We’re particularly pleased to have two dance events:  African/Caribbean with ACE Dance & Music in March, who also offer a workshop afternoon, and Dancing the Ramayana brought to us by South Asian Arts in July.

There is more emphasis this time on the work of young people. Don’t miss the excellent Vacation Chamber Orchestra in April and support the work of Ryedale Live in June, featuring local songwriters and musicians already making a name for themselves nationally. We are delighted that Ryedale Live has made our Arts Centre a base for their regular Friday evening gatherings of young local talent.Talking of which we urge you to see the musicians of Ryedale School in action in July,  when their Wind Band and Jazz Band play for us.

Then in March there is a special film show, Britain at Bay, which links nicely with a performance of Land Girls in June.

Finally, back to the familiar, with three offerings from our resident 1812 Theatre Company in March, April and July, and the world premiere of Won’t Be Long by Tom Needham and David J. Griffiths and performed by our 1812 Youth Theatre in June.

For those of you who might be interested in what happens behind the scenes at the Helmsley Arts Centre and aren’t yet Friends or Volunteers, there’s been a lot happening of late. There have been quite a few changes. Peter Small has been Chairman of the Trustees for nine years, though involved with the Centre for much longer, and has handed over to another very active but more recent member, Margot Cairncross. Peter will be passing on another very important baton in April: Manager of the Bar.

Malcolm Kitchin was Secretary for the Trustees for 13 years and is succeeded by a more recent member, Martin Trent. In addition, Ann Burnell is reluctantly giving up managing the catering team, also after 13 years. Peter, Malcolm and Ann have worked for the Centre for years in all sorts of ways and, Iʼm relieved to say, will not be leaving us altogether.

All their work for us was and still is as volunteers, unpaid.

Claire Lishman, our marketing and theatre manager, has  left us for a full-time job with the Birmingham Royal Ballet and  was one of our paid members of staff, working four days a week. In addition she worked with Alison Priestley as co-leader of our 1812 Youth Theatre.

So January and February saw us looking for people to take on her work. As we were anyway examining how best to reorganise ourselves in the light of our growth and changing circumstances in recent years, we have decided not to refill the existing post until  that examination is complete. Meanwhile we have made a number of temporary appointments.

So: David Goodwin is back with us on a part-time basis until the middle of April, keeping up with marketing and publicity and booking events for the Autumn. If you need to contact him, ring 01439 771700 and key option 4 - or email him.

Natasha Jones will take over Claire’s role with the Youth Theatre until mid-July and will look after the YT’s admin. You can reach her on 07540625646 or by email.

When David Goodwin leaves, his marketing/publicity role will be filled by Umay Jones (no relation to the above) for a further six months.

Another change over the last couple of months has been to our brochure. It has been redesigned by Umay Jones. You can download a copy if you haven’t got one, or pick one up from the Arts Centre. And she will be designing the next one, too. Last year we decided to reduce our brochures from three to two, to save money. This we did without increasing its size and we did save money. But it created difficulties with booking performers, as many of them couldn’t commit themselves so far in advance, so we are reverting to three a year, starting in September 2010.

If you would like to be a friend and/or volunteer do let us know but whether you do or not we hope to see you here as audience.

Past Newsletters

November 2009
Welcome to the first of our monthly newsletters. If you'd like to receive these and regular updates by email and are not already on our emailing list then please sign up here.

Welcome also to our new website. We hope you like the look of it and find it easy to use. Do let us know what you think. One way of doing that, and otherwise getting involved in discussion, is to enter our blog site and share your thoughts.

However, though up and running, the web site is still being developed, so look out for new pages, video content and links.

One feature in particular is up and running and we'd very much like you to use it. That is the Helmsley Arts Centre Shop. Its link appears on the top of the right hand column. Just click to enter the shop.  The thing is, anything you buy through our shop brings us a percentage fee and at no extra cost to you. We shall feature items associated with our programme and activities but you have the whole of the on-line Amazon shop at your disposal. So do please help us by buying through our shop.

This development of our website and blog has only been possible because of Gareth Jenkins, who has long been active in the Arts Centre, and has given so much time and energy to it, free of charge and Andrew Paul, the Cinemas-Online web designer. For which, many thanks.They have between them  taken your director on a steep learning hike.

In case you don't know, Cinemas-Online is the organisation which set up our original website and which provides all the cinema information that appears on it.

Gareth has in the past acted  in  number of plays and directed for the 1812 Theatre Company. Then he and Cal Stockbridge turned professional and set up  Clap Trap Productions, with which they have toured a number of plays. They have all been performed at the Arts Centre (for example, Duet for One and Not About Heroes). 

However, the company has also  been working in schools in Ryedale and has recently developed a project through the Ryedale Theatre Association called Inspired. This has received Leader Funding  and also funding from Extended Schools to enable groups of pupils from Ryedale schools to meet and travel together to various theatrical venues for performances or workshops.

A visit has already been made to the Theatre Royal in York for a performance of Moliere's Tartuffe and they are planning visits to Hull University Drama Department and to Helmsley Arts Centre for workshops.

The project goes a long way to overcoming the perennial disadvantage of living in a scattered rural community and we are delighted to be a partner in their project and to  be a centre for their work. 

The relationship is further enhanced by both Cal and Gareth being part of our new Arts Award team. Helmsley Arts Centre has become a new centre for the Arts Award, having trained a team of advisers who can help young people from 11 to 25 years old gain their awards. The awards themselves are graded a bit like Duke of Edinburgh Awards, with bronze, silver and gold standards. For further information about the scheme visit the 
Arts Award website.

Our team includes Cal Stockbridge, Jonathan Lewis, Sue Elm, Rachel Davidson, Sally Fitton, Claire Lishman and Gareth Jenkins. 

Meanwhile, our events programme continues to unfold, so we hope to see you at Helmsley Arts Centre sometime soon.

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