After a long 18 months East Riding Theatre had its first in-house production opening night since the Covid-19 pandemic.
ERT welcomed its audiences back with Harold Pinter’s classic play The Dumb Waiter.
Our Artistic Director Adrian Rawlins was interviewed by BBC Look North along with director Martin Hutson and actor Nick Figgis. The feature was broadcast on both the lunchtime and Evening news.
Click below to watch (ERT features at 22:37 onwards)
The story explored the impact of the pandemic on the theatre industry and what it was like to be reopening after a year and half of closure.
Adrian commented on the need for support from the local community:
“We have a very small paid workforce and we are supported mostly by a great number of local volunteers, so the theatre survives on goodwill and heart”
“We’ve done everything we can to encourage and support, and pray that the public will come back. If you feel you can, then come back to the theatre. We really need the audiences back because otherwise we won’t survive”
Martin Hutson said:
“Everyone is just so grateful to be back that the general atmosphere in the industry is gorgeous. We will get back to being grumpy at some point (chuckles) but at the moment everyone is just so thrilled”
Nick Figgis said:
“It was a hard period, the lockdown, for everybody in the theatre industry, whats really sort of impressive and reassuring for actors who are sort of freelancers is that theatres are putting in the work and the extra time to actually get these things off the ground because its quite a big risk”
Saturday 30th March - Thursday 25th April 2024. The Theatre Gallery features the work of Steve Upton, a local artist. His exhibition includes a small selection of paintings made in Beverley since his move here in 2004 and are a response to Hull and the East Coast seaside towns.
Thursday 25th April - Saturday 18th May 2024. Occasionally dark but always funny, ‘Confusions’ reveals the indomitable spirit of the stiff upper lip when confronted with a world where it never rains but it pours!
Saturday 27th April - Thursday 23rd May 2024. The Theatre Gallery features the work of local artists, Anne-Marie Eccles and Linda Saxby, who share a passion for experimenting with different media.
Sunday 19th May 2024. Pop along to see a collaboration of some fantastic local artists, artisans and style collectors all displaying their treasures in one place.
Saturday 25th May 2024. Set in fair Kingston upon Hull and the year is 1954. A River City Romance.
Wednesday 29th May 2024. Join us for an exciting Beer Tasting event, hosted with the Wold Top Brewery, where you will enjoy tasting a number of different styles of beer
Thuursday 30th May 2024. You think science is boring, think again; this is science like you have never seen it before. Awarded ‘Best Kid’s Show at Edinburgh Fringe’ by The Derek Awards.
Sunday 2nd June 2024. From "Billy Elliot: to "Auf Wiedersehen Pet"... from "When The Boat Comes In" to "The Likely Lads"... now be enthralled and entertained by The Pitmen Poets
Tuesday 4th June 2024. Bridge is a pitch black comedy about the fragility of men trying to survive 21st century life. Exploring the pressures and challenges they face, the detrimental effect on their mental health and the power of talking to someone.
Thursday 6th & Friday 7th June 2024. The Tempest is Shakespeare’s last, and great, play is a triumphant compilation of intrigue, magic, and humour. Performed by the Festival Players International.
Friday 14th June 2024. Patrick Monahan has performed in over a 1,000 cities, towns and countries! He has travelled more miles than total of NASA‘s Space flights! See him now before his Mars stadium tour!
Saturday 15th June 2024. Hejira: Celebrating Joni Mitchell. In particular, the band performs the masterpiece works that Mitchell captured on her live 1980 album, ‘Shadows and Light’.
Wednesday 19th - Thursday 20th June 2024. Follow Sherlock Holmes and his incomparable sidekick Dr John Watson on this riveting, until now, unpublished case…
Sunday 23rd June 2024. Black Umfolosi the world famous acappella and dance group make a long awaited return to East Riding Theatre in Beverley this Summer.
Friday 28th June 2024. Laugh and reflect at The Bench - a comedic gem where life's stories unfold with humour and heart. A must-see show that's as hilarious as it is touching!
Sunday 30th June 2024. Eilidh Patterson from Northern Ireland, is a warm, engaging performer of radiant, startling ability. Her songs cut straight to the heart, with delightfully accurate guitar playing, and crystal clear vocals
July 2024. PlayLab is a new event at East Riding Theatre, which will offer our audiences the opportunity to discover both new and established writers by engaging more people in the live theatre experience. Our aim is to profile new works from writers within the region. Unfortunatel, due to an overwhelming response, all script submissions are now closed!
Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd July 2024. Flaubert’s complex novel is given a refreshing shake up in this irreverent, irrepressible, and irresistible play.
Tuesday 16th & Wednesday 17th July 2024. The Giant Killers is the true story of football's greatest ever underdogs. The touring production of Long Lane Theatre's multiple 5 star reviewed play that has been receiving standing ovations around the country.
Saturday 20 July 2024. Birdie is a beautiful show featuring three professional actors with learning disabilities, blending intricate choreography, original music, and captivating object manipulation to tell a powerful story about climate change.
Monday 29th - Wednesday 31st July 2024. Technical Theatre Workshop. You will experience what makes professional theatre run like clockwork.
Monday 12th - Friday 16th August 2024. Musical Theatre Summer School. All students will experience an intensive week of dance training, singing and acting.
31 August 2024. Magician and comedy performer Greg Chapman presents a show based around one of his favourite subjects - DINOSAURS! Who would win if a T. Rex fought a Triceratops? Is Greg better at magic than a dinosaur?
Saturday 7th September 2024. BBC’s Bob Harris and author/music journalist Colin Hall set out upon an intimate speaking evening based around their mutual love and appreciation of The Beatles
Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September 2024 . Other Lives Productions offers you a presentation of miscellaneous readings, snippets, factoids, semi-dramatisations, and the fastest version of Jules Verne's classic novel Around the World in 80 Days that you are ever likely to behold.
Sunday 22nd September 2024. Hambledon Productions are delighted to be recreating three, ‘lost’ episodes from the original television series 'Hancock's Half Hour'
Wednesday 25th September 2024. Keith James in concert presents The Songs of Leonard Cohen These remarkable songs - stripped back, honest, naked and sensual.
Tuesday 19th November 2024. Oysterband extend their “A Long Long Goodbye” tour as they visit some of their favourite UK towns that have supported them all these years. So, don't miss out and see them at ERT!
22nd - 24th November 2024. Adapted from the classic Gothic horror novel, "Frankenstein" tells the tale of the living creation of Victor Frankenstein, a tale of one man's attempt to play God in the name of science. Will Victor's hubris be his own downfall?
