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News January 25 2012 Five musical explorers in the guise of The Carnival Band will be bringing more 25 instruments and more than double that amount of musical styles to Ropery Hall on Friday, February 3.
The band, which started life 25 years ago as an offshoot of The Medieval Players theatre company, have been called “Henry VIII’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Band, but at Ropery Hall will be going “around the world in 80 tunes” and promise great music from every continent as well as fun audience participation. “The Carnival Band really do play strictly for fun,” said Liz Bennet of The Ropewalk. “They are far from serious, but that doesn’t mean they don’t play brilliantly and like all very talented performers who look as though they are enjoying themselves on stage, they always get a rapturous response.” Most members of the band are classically trained musicians and play in renowned orchestras and early music groups- but The Carnival Band is strictly for fun! Amongst other things they’ve invented Macedonian Reggae, turned a renaissance chanson into a Piaf-inspired drag act, paired Noel Coward with James Brown and flavoured a traditional English carol with Cajun spice. The group also has a long-standing partnership with one of the pioneers of British folk-rock and a leading singer of English traditional music, Maddy Prior. “Everyone who comes is guaranteed a Carnival Band performance with a kaleidoscope of instrumental colours, musical influences and moods, sustained by superb musical skill and enlivened with humour,” continued Liz. Tickets, which cost £13 in advance or £15 on the door, can be obtained via www.roperyhall.co.uk by calling 01652 660380 or at The Ropewalk Craft Gallery. January 11 2012 Josh Widdicombe makes first appearance at Ropery Hall One of the rising stars on the comedy circuit, Josh Widdicombe, is making his first appearance at Barton’s Ropery Hall at the beginning of February.
Josh, who only began performing live in 2008, has had a remarkable impact on the comedy circuit. In just three years he has been named FHM Stand Up Hero 2010 (ITV4), Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2010, and Chortle Best Breakthrough Act Nominee 2011. During the first year of performing live, Josh made it to the final of “So You Think You’re Funny” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he has performed every year since. At last year’s Fringe Festival, Josh performed his debut solo show "If this show saves one life...", and was subsequently nominated for Best Newcomer by the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards] and for the Malcolm Hardee “Act Most Likely to Win a Million Quid” Award. Josh has also been heard on radio including BBC Radio 4's Arthur Smith's Balham Bash and Absolute Radio's The Frank Skinner Show and written for TV comedy panel shows Mock the Week, 8 out of 10 Cats and BBC Radio 4's Look Away Now and supported stand-up comedians Kevin Bridges, Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr, Stephen Merchant and Shappi Khorsandi on their respective live tours. “With such a CV it is not surprising that Josh is now regarded as one of the best up-and-coming acts on the UK circuit and in constant demand at clubs and theatres across Britain,” said Liz Bennet of Ropery Hall. Tickets for the show which takes place on Saturday, February 4, starting at 8pm, cost £12 in advance or £14 on the door. More details can be found on www.roperyhall.co.uk December 6 2011 A glittering mix of music, comedy, theatre and film is guaranteed to banish the winter blues as the 2012 programme at Ropery Hall gets underway in mid-January. And The Ropewalk’s Managing Director Liz Bennet believes that the first three months of the year offer an eclectic mix of folk, blues, jazz, classical and quirky. “I’m delighted that Paul Jones and Dave Kelly are returning to Ropery Hall to open up the 2012 programme,” she said. “From then on we welcome a mix of new talent and some old favourites which combined with a variety of carefully chosen films will hopefully mean that the support we enjoyed in 2011 continues into 2012. Highlights of the programme which continues until the end of March include the return of Martin Carthy and Martin Taylor, this time alongside Alan Barnes, and Aynsley Lister who returns with his band after a solo performance in the autumn.
“I think what a lot of people are really looking forward to is the performance of Snake Strings on March 2. “The band was only formed recently and has only played on a few occasions so I expect demand for tickets to be high.” Newcomers to the Maltkiln Road venue includes Mad Jack and the Hatters, The Carnival Band and Chris Wood along with up and coming comedian Josh Widdicombe who is a regular on Stand Up For The Week. Returning are three comedians, the self-styled German Comedy Ambassador to the UK, Henning Wehn, Bennett Arron who returns following his sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival and Boothby Graffoe, who along with Nick Pynn, is having a jolly trip up and down the country to promote their new studio album, “Is This Your Vehicle Sir?” Alongside details of all the Ropery Hall events, the Ropewalk Magazine also includes details of exhibitions at The Ropewalk galleries for the first three months, workshops and makers. The magazine can be picked up at The Ropewalk and outlets throughout northern Lincolnshire. Full details of all the Ropery Hall events can also be found on www.roperyhall.co.uk December 1 2011 Snake Davis fans living in and around Barton upon Humber have every reason to be happy as the saxophone maestro will be playing at Ropery Hall twice within a couple of months.
Snake, recently seen on BBC One’s The One Show, will be appearing with two of his bands at the Maltkiln Road venue – the first on December 30 with The Suspicions to ensure a rousing end to 2011 and the second on March 2 next year with Snake Strings, creating an altogether different sound. Snake Davis and The Suspicions return to lead the New Year revelries after bringing the house down when they appeared at Ropery Hall for the first time last year. Back by popular demand, the storming eight piece band with searing sax, soulful vocals and bold brass is guaranteed to get people on the dance floor in this standing only gig. “Snake really has a strong following in this area and we are always delighted to welcome him here,” said The Ropewalk’s managing director, Liz Bennet. “Not many tickets are left for this end of year show as they started being snapped up as soon as they became available and there has been a surge since his One Show appearance.” She added that Snake has, until recently, been known for
Winter Season at Ropery Hall November 23 2011 Familiar faces who have previously played to full houses at Ropery Hall are returning to the Barton upon Humber venue for its winter programme.
Gigs by Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, Martin Carthy and Chris Wood are sure to sell out quickly as will those for Martin Taylor, this time appearing with Alan Barnes, and Aynsley Lister who after his solo sell-out concert early in the Autumn programme returns with his band. “The programme has not been publicised widely yet but even so tickets for Paul Jones and Dave Kelly who launch our winter programme on January 13 are selling so quickly we expect it to be sold out early in the near year,” said The Ropewalk’s Liz Bennet. New to Ropery Hall will be Snake Strings, a ground-breaking collaboration between sax maestro Snake Davis and an outstanding British string quartet, the Carnival Band and KAN. In the comedy field making much anticipated return visits will be Henning Wehn, Bennett Arron, Boothby Graffoe and Nick Pynn along with newcomer to the venue, Josh Widdicombe. Film buffs will not be disappointed with screenings hit movies such as Jane Eyre, Senna, and We Need To Talk About Kevin along with an old favourite dating back to the early 1940s, The Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart. “Following a successful poetry evening in October, the Grimsby based Driftnet Poets and Friends will be presenting an evening of poetry, music and song to raise money for WaterAid which co-incidentally is the charity that The Ropewalk supports throughout the year, Liz added. November 14 2011 Snake Davis and The Suspicions will once again bring the year’s programme of events at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall to a close.
The storming eight piece band with searing sax, soulful vocals and bold brass is back by popular demand following their sell-out gig at the Maltkiln Road venue last year. “Once again this is guaranteed to get people onto the dance floor in the show which pays homage to the days of Atlanta, Motown and Northern Soul,” said Liz Bennet of Ropery Hall. “Tickets for Snake Davis in all his guises never fail to sell out here and with his recent appearance on the BBC’s The One Show there has been a surge in sales and there are still weeks to go before his appearance on Friday, December 30,” she said. “He really has a strong following in this area and we are always delighted to welcome him here,” she went on. “In March next year we will be welcoming Snake Strings to Ropery Hall for the first time when Snake will be bringing an outstanding British string quartet whose members will be featuring peerless sax melody and classical strings in a fresh and innovative crossover of classical, pop, soul and jazz, all with a Snakey twist.” The Suspicions were formed more than 20 years ago in the student bar of Leeds Polytechnic as Snake Davis and his Alligator Shoes played sax versions of Stax, Motown and Atlantic classics and then went on to embrace the Northern Soul scene playing to some of the most passionate and committed music-loving crowds around. Over the years individual band members scattered to various parts of the world but the nucleus of Snake, bass man Dave Bowie and guitarist Mark Cresswell came together every year or so to back visiting American soul stars so a couple of years ago the three decided to reform the Suspicions and take to the road doing their own show again for the first time in years! November 9 2011 Iain Matthews is returning to his roots once again in Barton upon Humber and will be playing Ropery Hall on Thursday, December 1, as part of a tour with the new Matthews Southern Comfort.
Iain, who played a solo gig at the Maltkiln Road venue in September last year, is appearing in his childhood home-town as part of a tour of the United Kingdom as well as Italy and Holland. “It's an acoustic quartet and In some ways, very different to the original sound, but in other ways, quite similar,” explained Iain, who also spent part of his formative years in Scunthorpe. “The fat harmonies are still there and the great songs. It will feature acoustic guitar, keyboard, electric guitar & mandolin and we plan to make the live show half older Matthews Southern Comfort material and half songs from the new album, Kind of New,” he went on. “There are not many people you can call legends but I think Iain Matthews is one,” said the Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet. “I’m sure there aren’t many people who cannot remember the British folk rock band, Fairport Convention, of which Iain was a founder member and then his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort and particularly their massive hit, Woodstock,” she went on. “We had such amazing feedback from his solo gig here last September that we absolutely delighted to welcome his return in the run up to Christmas,” Liz continued. “If you're looking for an evening of pure, unadulterated, sonic bliss, then this gig is for you.” “This spectacular band, represents both the past and the present, as Iain cleverly reinvents some of the classic Matthews Southern Comfort songs, to accompany the new originals.” Supporting Iain Matthews Southern Comfort on the night will be folk’s up and coming singer song writer, Kilburn based Sean Taylor. Earlier this year he appeared in Beverley as well as Glastonbury Festival and Cambridge Folk Festival. Tickets for the show which starts at 8pm cost £15 in advance of £17 on the door. For full details and on-line tickets go to www.roperyhall.co.uk or call in at the Craft Gallery or telephone 01652 660380. November 8 2011 Nick Harper, one of the best singer-songwriters and musicians of his generation, is returning to Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall later this month.
Often described as “the guitarists’ guitarist”, what Nick can’t do with an acoustic guitar isn’t worth knowing. “His live shows can contain everything from personal introspection to biting political satire through a charmingly caustic wit. A virtuoso performance can be guaranteed for Ropery Hall,” said Mark Keable of mtm promotions. He has been called many things – from the “acoustic Hendrix” and “English Jeff Buckley” to “Dylan for the iPod generation” and “Betjeman with a guitar”, there is no doubt that he is not only a superlative singer/songwriter but also a highly praised guitar player. For more than a decade he has been dazzling audiences with a heady mix of virtuosity, boyish charm, showmanship and sheer bravado. Last year saw the release of Nick’s 10th CD, The Last Guitar, an eclectic mix of 12 songs showing off Nick’s unabashed individuality and bold choices allied to a new maturity. Included are a gumshoe detective story called Pop Fiction; One of the 38, a dedication to the trekkers on the Everest trail and Silly Daddy, which sees the recording debut of his daughter Lily. Son of the legendary Roy Harper, it is not surprising that music was a way of life for Nick from an early age and it was inevitable that he would begin touring and recording in his own right. Tickets cost £12 in advance or £14 on the door and the performance, on November 19, starts at 8pm. For more information or to book tickets go online at www.roperyhall.co..uk or call 01652 660380 November 1 2011 Music and monologues by the late actress and entertainer Joyce Grenfell will be brought to life at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall in mid-November.
The show, Turn Back the Clock, was first written and performed last year by West End actress Cheryl Knight in honour of the 100th anniversary of Grenfell’s birth and this gem of nostalgia from the golden age of revue is a treat for everyone. “This is all about Joyce Grenfell’s greatest hits as well as some of her more unusual pieces which have not been heard for a long time,” said Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet. “Once again we can delight in the truthful, funny and moving characters and revel in the evocation of one of the greatest female entertainers of the twentieth century.” "The show appeals to older people who remember her comedy and also younger people, who are surprised about how funny and relevant it still is today," Liz went on. Like Grenfell’s own stage show’s Cheryl uses the bare minimum of props – a chair, table, a piano and coat stand. And true to Grenfell’s memory, Cheryl promises to wear hats in the style of that era. "In this show, there’s quite a bit about her musical collaborations. It’s a very gentle, feel-good show but there’s a couple of poignant numbers people don’t expect that change the mood and often the audience say those are their favourite songs, said Cheryl" She added: "The wonderful thing about Joyce was she was able to get under people’s skins. She really loved people, and was a great observer of humanity and its quirks. In her monologues, she creates characters from completely different backgrounds to her own posh background and in such a warm way.” Written entirely in Joyce's own words, sourced from her numerous broadcasts and letters, the evening promises to be a little gem of nostalgia with sharp observation combined with gentle wit. Directed by Paul Knight the evening also features accompanist Alice Farnham at the piano. Tickets for the show on Saturday, November 12, which starts at 7.30pm, cost £10 or £12 on the door. They can be booked in person at The Ropewalk, online at www.roperyhall.co.uk or by telephoning 01652 660380. November 1 2011 Paul Foot – Still Life One of this country’s most creative comedians, Paul Foot, is appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall with his Edinburgh Fringe show, Still Life.
Paul is a BBC New Comedy Award and Daily Telegraph Open Mike winner and has appeared on BBC2’s Never Mind The Buzzcocks as well as being a finalist in Series 7 of the NBC network’s Last Comic Standing on American television. Still Life is the latest in his run of critically acclaimed Edinburgh shows and, according to Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet “marks the arduous, painstaking and ultimately pointless continuity of life itself.” Anyone aware of his career so far will already know that his gigs are never likely to follow any of the ‘rules’ that govern stand-up. Even if you’re not familiar with his work, his appearance is a good indicator of the eccentricity to come –the kipper tie and pale slacks of the Seventies comedian and a most entertaining mullet, almost shaved at the top with shoulder-length waves beneath. However, this does prove a most practical style when it comes to wearing the collection of hats he models on picture postcards handed out at the end of the gig. Foot’s a daring comedian, never concerned about bamboozling his crowds and accepting that he frequently splits an unsuspecting room. Still Life is inspired, surreal and incomprehensibly funny. Don’t question it, just go with it. The show is on Friday. November 18 and starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £10 or £12 on the door. Bookings in advance can be made at The Ropewalk in person, online at www.roperyhall.co.uk or by calling 01652 660380. October 26 2011 Threads Orchestra at Ropery Hall The award winning Threads Orchestra will be bringing a stellar line-up to Ropery Hall next month.
Combining some of the most dynamic jazz and classical musicians in the UK, including young guitar virtuoso Chris Montague, Mercury Prize nominee and piano genius Kit Downes and BBC Philharmonic violinist Julian Gregory, this unconventional string-led ensemble has already been acclaimed by American composer Trey Spruance. Since their debut in Bradford in 2008, the Threads Orchestra has evolved into an intriguing and imaginative seven-piece outfit encompassing sweeping orchestral textures, heavy groove and monster improvisations. The Threads Orchestra has managed to develop their own language and rules, gaining them a reputation as one of the most exciting bands to emerge in the UK in recent years. “Threads Orchestra are taking their music down different routes and it is clear to see and hear the excitement and connection these players have,” said Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet. “It has its own personality and can’t be shoe-horned into any one category.” “Using jazz, classical, rock, world, Americana, and tango styles, this alternative, string-led outfit have the versatility to play anything from their own intriguing compositions to innovative arrangements of Zappa, Zorn and Piazzolla,” she added. “They promise a compelling performance and strikingly original brand of music.” The band recently recorded their debut album in Leeds, with Yorkshire based producer Phil Gregory and mastering engineer Robert which was released earlier this year exclusively through the band’s website – www.threadsorchestra.com. It has been lauded as a rare example of how to blend perfectly structured composition with the spontaneous abandonment of raw improvisation, a testament to the quality of musicianship honed by many performances together as a cutting edge ensemble. Tickets to see Threads Orchestra on Friday, November 11, cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door. To book tickets contact The Ropewalk on 01652 660380 or go online to www.roperyhall.co.uk October 19 2011 Riotous close to October at Ropery Hall October at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall comes to a riotous close with the Maltkiln Road venue welcoming the return of the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets and the first appearance of comic Jo Caulfield. The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre gets the last two events for October underway with a show that has to be seen to be believed on Friday, October 28.
This comedy double act, which has attracted rave reviews from appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe. BBC’s The One Show, Comedy Shuffle and Upstaged, MTV, GMTV, and The Culture Show, and the darlings of YouTube bring songs, sketches, socks and violence to Ropery Hall. “In a show of solidarity with The Ropewalk which is taking part in Breast Cancer’s Wear It Pink day on the same day the Socks have promised to wear pink at some point during their show which is absolutely brilliant,” said Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet. Those who have seen the Puppets at Ropery Hall at one of their appearances in the past two and a half years will know that at first glance they come across as a couple of sweet, innocent little chaps. “But don’t be fooled: they’re filthy wee tykes at heart,” laughed Liz. The following evening comic Jo Caulfield is welcomed to Ropery Hall for the first time as part of her Cruel To Be Kind (The tour of towns I’ve heard of but never been to).
Jo, who was nominated last year for Chortle Awards’ Best Female Stand-Up is one of the most popular and successful female stand-up comedians in the country. “I’m sure many people will already know Jo from her critically acclaimed Radio 4 show ‘It’s That Jo Caulfield Again’ and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Best of The Comedy Store and The Apprentice, You’re Fired,” Liz went on. “I think that anyone who comes can expect razor-sharp observations and scandalous one-liners as Jo discusses irritating girlfriends, negotiating with terrorists, celebrity perfumes and bespoke kitchens.” And the celebration of anger continues with acerbic stories about dating, relationships, drunken friends, bad service and wrestling with the self-scanner in a Tesco Supermarket. Tickets to see the Sock Puppets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door while tickets to see Jo cost £10 or £12 on the door. To book tickets for either evening contact The Ropewalk on 01652 660380 or online at www.roperyhall.co.uk September 27 2011 Comedy night not to be missed at Ropery Hall
A double-headed night of the very best in comedy is being served up at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Friday, October 7 when one of the most precocious of English young talent, Seann Walsh, takes to the stage with Canadian Mike Wilmot. Stand Up fans can treat themselves to an hilarious double header with Canadian stand-up comedian Mike Wilmot and young English comedian Seann Walsh. A natural motor-mouth, Seann is the most frighteningly precocious talent to emerge from the UK comedy circuit in ages. His assured delivery and self deprecating silliness has been seen already on BBC1′s Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and BBC2′s Mock The Week and now he is listed as one of DAVE’s top 10 stand-ups to catch in 2011. “Seann is one of comedy’s most acclaimed rising stars,” said Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet. “Although relatively new to the scene he is picking up awards and TV appearances like they're going out of fashion.” “Mike's effortlessly funny style is a fast-paced, hard-hitting comedic look at everyday life. His comedy targets very widely, from diets, kids and sex - to American-Canadian backbiting and his fondness for beer,” Liz went on. “This is an evening of comedy not to be missed.” Within two years of his first comedy performance in 2007, Seann became the winner of the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year with other accolades including Chortle Best Breakthrough Act Nominee 2010 and Chortle Best Compere Nominee 2011 following. His total sell-out debut solo Edinburgh Fringe Show, I Would Happily Punch Myself In The Face, received rave reviews. Mike Wilmot was already an established comedian in his home country Canada when he started working in the UK in 1995. Since then he has built up a reputation as one of the unsung heroes of the UK comedy scene achieving rave reviews throughout the country for his unique stand-up. In 2003 he won the coveted Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. His TV work includes; Live At The Apollo (BBC1), Rich Hall’s Fishing Show/Cattle Drive (BBC4), several appearances on Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC2), the host of Comedy Blue on Paramount plus team captain on Shoot the Messenger (Paramount Comedy Channel). Tickets for the show, which starts at 8pm, cost £12 in advance or £14 on the door and can be booked in person at The Ropewalk’s Craft Gallery, by phoning 01652 660380 or online at www.roperyhall.co.uk September 26 2011 The Rocking Horse Winner at Ropery Hall
A chilling film version of a DH Lawrence short story, seen by Nobby Dimon of North Country Theatre, as a young boy made such a lasting impression on him that he has adapted it for the stage. Now North Country Theatre audiences will be able to experience the same scary thrills as the company’s latest touring production The Rocking Horse Winner gallops to Ropery Hall on Friday. (Sept 30) “On the face of it the story is a satire on gambling and the obsession with money” said writer and director Dimon. “However there is an oddity for what Lawrence causes to happen in the story is absolutely supernatural and cannot be rationalised away.” Young Paul is a boy in search of two things, the approval of his mother and the place where Luck is. But how far will his sinister old rocking horse take him? Set against a vivid background of colourful race meetings, jockeys, touts and bookies, audiences will find themselves plunged into a dark psychological thriller that is laced with satire as North Country Theatre tells the tale in their highly visual and popular style. The Rocking Horse Winner company is made up of a number of North Country Theatre regulars. Paul is played by Mark Cronfield, who was Leonardo in last year’s A Blood Wedding in Wensleydale. Victoria Brazier, who delighted audiences as the resourceful Heidi in The Prisoner of Zenda plays his mother, a women struggling to both maintain a certain lifestyle and to love her children. Tom Frere was in the company’s first production of The 39 Steps whilst Simon Kirk was in the 10th anniversary tour. Both of them were seen earlier this year wielding swords and oars in the Nordic saga Egil Skallagrimson Keeps His Head. “We get a lot of positive feedback from audiences who appreciate the opportunity to see actors playing a number of different roles over the years” said Nobby Dimon “and it’s great for me to have such a talented and inventive group of people helping to create the piece.” The performance of The Rocking Horse Winner begins at 7.30pm and tickets cost £10 or £12 on the door. September 7 2011 Welcome return for Robin Ince
Robin Ince is welcomed back to Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall later this month with his new show, direct from this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Following on from his sell-out national tour of Uncaged Monkeys with Professor Brian Cox and co-presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Sony Gold Award winning series, The Infinite Monkey Cage, Robin returns to the Maltkiln Road venue with his show, Happiness Through Science (Star Corpse Apple Child). “We’re delighted that once again Robin is stopping off at Ropery Hall in his latest nationwide tour,” said Liz Bennet of Ropery Hall. “From his first appearance here in 2008 at the first a residency of four performances where he honed his latest material he became a firm favourite with our audiences,” she continued. “So much so that he has returned to Barton every year since then.” In his latest show Robin continues his comic exploration of the human condition and asks if can you be happy and rational at the same time. Join him in a world of Schrodinger cats, multiverses and evolutionary conundrums and spend an entertaining evening in Robin’s company as he orienteers through the craggy landscape of evolution whilst plumbing the depths of his own murky consciousness - all without the aid of a safety net. Robin will be appearing on Friday, September 23, and tickets cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door. Tickets can be bought in person at the Craft Gallery, by phone on 10652 660380 or online at www.roperyhall.co.uk where details of all of the venue’s autumn programme can be found. September 7 2011 Start of Barton Film Season
Barton Film Group is beginning its autumn season with the remake of the John Wayne classic, True Grit. The group’s chairman, Pete Mitchell, believes that the programme, which concludes just before Christmas with the classic It’s A Wonderful Life has films which will appeal to most film buffs. “Not only have we got the most up-to-date films available to us but we have chosen films which people might have missed first time round such as Oranges and Sunshine, the feature length documentary Life in a Day but we also have the comedy, Bridesmaids, and two films based on true stories, 127 hours and Water for Elephants.” “Ropery Hall is a very intimate venue for films and is within walking distance of all areas of the town. Admission is only £4, there is also a bar and ice-cream on-sale at the interval – what else could any filmgoer wish for?” he asked. Full details of the entire film programme can be found on www.roperyhall.co.uk August 30 2011
Stunning fiddle playing and deft accordion finger work – accompanied by some brilliant clog dancing - will be entertaining the audience at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall later this month when Hannah James and Sam Sweeney appear. Although still only in their early 20s, Hannah and Sam need little introduction to the folk scene as they have been regulars at festivals for many years. Although probably best known for their work in Kerfuffle, and in more recent years for their respective appearances with The Demon Barber Roadshow and Bellowhead, they formed officially as a duo in 2008. Their first album, Catches & Glees, was released in 2009 to critical acclaim and they were nominated for the Horizon Award at the 2010 BBC Folk Awards. Since the release of that album, the duo have toured nationally, played festivals across the UK and received radio play internationally. They play predominantly English songs and tunes on Accordion and Fiddle, and the live show naturally includes Hannah's renowned high-energy clog dancing. “Hannah and Sam are playing at Ropery Hall thanks to Mad Dog Folk, a new folk promoter for us, that bring the best established and upcoming folk artists live on stage” said Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet. Supporting the duo is Yorkshire based Jessica Lawson who sings and accompanies herself on autoharp and acoustic guitar. Over the past year Jessica has supported Eddi Reader as well as appearing on bills alongside Cara Dillon and Barbara Dickson. She has just released her debut EP, Molly of the Tyne, her appearance at Ropery Hall is just one of a number of festivals and shows lined up for the rest of the year. August 24 2011 Solo gig by Aynsley Lister gets autumn Ropery Hall programme underway
A rare solo gig by blues man Aynsley Lister, one of this country’s finest and most popular blues performers, kicks off the autumn programme at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall. The show, on Friday, September 9, will see him “close up and personal” in a stripped down, intimate set up. “Don’t be fooled into thinking solo means ‘limited and plodding’, his solo performances are the perfect platform to witness his amazing ability to sync rhythmical chords, bass lines, and stinging lead guitar whilst singing and accompanying it all with his custom built stomp box!” said Mark Keable of mtm promotions “ Expect an electric range of material from blues to folk and everything in between,” Mark went on. For many, Aynsley Lister is the blues man with the ‘boy-next-door’ looks, the dextrous guitar fingers and the silky voice. He plays contemporary blues as if it’s the most natural and most commercial thing you can do. “Lister brings a new lightness, fresh optimism to an old form with his wonderfully intelligent take on the blues,” he added. Described by Kite Club as one of the most exciting guitarists since Eric Clapton at his peak, tickets to see Aynsley cost £12 in advance or £14 on the door. The gig starts at 8pm. For more information on this and the rest of the Ropery Hall programme go to www.roperyhall.co.uk August 16 2011 Autumn Programme to get underway at Ropery Hall The new autumn programme at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall gets underway next month with a sparkling mix of music, comedy, theatre and film. Highlights of September’s programme include a not-to-be-missed opportunity to see The Hamsters on their final, farewell tour; a rare solo opportunity by Aynsley Lister and the return of comedian and broadcaster Robin Ince. The Ropewalk’s Managing Director Liz Bennet said: “The new autumn programme has been chosen to give as wide an appeal as possible.” “We welcome back some old favourites such as Robin Ince and North Country Theatre in September and Snake Davis’s The Suspicions at the end of the year. “We also look forward to welcoming some new faces such as Jo Caulfield, Jeremy Hardy and Beverley Craven in the months in between,” she continued. The programme gets under way at the Maltkiln Road venue on Friday, September 9, with a rate opportunity to see Aynsley Lister perform solo followed a week later by a farewell performance by The Hamsters who are retiring after 25 years. “There are only a handful of tickets to see The Hamsters left – tickets to see them were selling even before we advertised their appearance,” Liz said. The evening after The Hamsters a new folk promoter to Ropery Hall, Mad Dog Folk, brings Hannah James and Sam Sweeney to the Maltkiln Road venue while the following Saturday sees Christine Collister, Dave Kelly and Pete Filleul perform as a trio for the first time in three years. To end September’s programme North Country Theatre perform D H Lawrence’s The Rocking Horse Winner on Friday, September 30. This latest production by the Richmond based theatre company lends itself to the highly visual theatrical style which North Country Theatre is noted for. Full details of all September’s events, along with those for the rest of the autumn, can be found on www.roperyhall.co.uk July 15 2011
After two years of intense touring with the now disbanded Chloe Hall Trio, Aussie Chloe Hall has teamed up with Brisbane fiddle legend Silas Palmer and is appearing at Ropery Hall next month as part of a very short UK tour. Chloe, who first brought a touch of Australian sunshine to Ropery Hall last November will once again be bringing her blend of uplifting harmonies, great songs and exciting playing to the Barton upon Humber venue on August 5. Chloe and Silas have toured independently in Australia, Canada, Europe and the UK and have now combined their talents. Two voices, guitar and fiddle guarantee music that will make you feel good! “Silas has played all over the world, as either a fiddle player or on piano, with lots of different bands including Women in Docs, Spot the Dog and the Deep Blue Orchestra,” said Chloe. “Between us, we’ve got over 30 years performance experience – and, somehow, we both still love following the road, wherever the music takes us.” Those who saw Chloe at Ropery Hall last year already know what an engaging, intriguing and charismatic performer she is – the simple, undeniable quality of her songs leave the listener with such an overwhelming emotion. Tickets cost £8 in advance and can be booked on www.roperyhall.co.uk or £10 on the door. June 28 2011 Farewell Tour for The Hamsters
The Hamsters, described by the legendary Bob Harris as one of Britain’s very best live bands, have chosen Ropery Hall as one of the venues for their 25th Year and Farewell tour. The trio, known affectionately as Snail’s-Pace Slim, the Rev Otis Elevator and Ms Zsa Zsa Poltergeist to protect their anonymity, began their farewell tour on April 1 this year – exactly 25 years to the day of the band’s first rehearsal in 1987. “This is The Hamsters first and final appearance at Ropery Hall and with just under two months to go before the gig, tickets are being snapped up,” said Managing Director Liz Bennet. “We have made sales from all over the region and beyond as the group is doing only a limited number of gigs.” “If Hamster fans want to be sure of seeing them for the very last time I would suggest that they get their tickets soon,” she went on. The group, which has been voted the UK's best blues-rock band, believe that now is the time to devote to other projects but have never had the time before. The Hamsters are noted for playing their own brand of Rock, Blues and Americana and are also widely regarded as one of this country’s leading interpreters of the music of Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top. During their two-hour performance at Ropery Hall they are also expected to include a few acoustic songs as well. The Hamsters will be at Ropery Hall on Friday September 16 starting at 8pm. Tickets cost £15 in advance or £17 on the door. June 22 2011 Chloe & Silas
Award winning Melbourne singer-songwriter Chloe Hall makes a swift return to Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall in August when she appears alongside fiddle player Silas Palmer. This special appearance of Chloe and Silas comes after the Chloe Hall Trio, who appeared at Ropery Hall last November, parted ways and the duo promise to bring their blend of folk and blues with uplifting harmonies, great songs and exciting playing to Barton in August. Previously Chloe and Brisband fiddle legend Silas Palmer have toured in Australia, Canada, Europe and this country independently but now they have joined forces and are enjoying life on the road. “We know from her appearance last year that Chloe is an engaging, intriguing and charismatic performer – the simple, undeniable quality of her songs leave the listener with such an overwhelming emotion. Don’t miss her performance in August with Silas,” said Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet. “Fans of Chloe will be delighted that she is to make a special appearance here in August alongside singing fiddle player Silas Palmer,” she went on. And Chloe added: “Artists we’re inspired by include Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Simon & Garfunkel, the Avett Brothers and Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson.” “Silas has played all over the world, as either a fiddle player or on piano, with lots of different bands including Women in Docs, Spot the Dog and the Deep Blue Orchestra,” added Chloe. “Between us, we’ve got more than 30 years performance experience – and, somehow, we both still love following the road, wherever the music takes us.” Tickets for the Friday, August 5 show, which starts at 8pm, cost £8 in advance of £10 on the door. For more details go to www.roperyhall.co.uk May 25 2011 Spoilt for choice at The Ropewalk's Guitar Festival
Two up and coming stars and one with years of live performance behind him are part of next week’s first ever Ropewalk Guitar Festival. Played out at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall from Thursday, June 2, to Saturday, June 4, the Festival promises something for everyone – from the dizzying heights of Martin Taylor on the first evening to folk legend Dave Swarbrick on Friday and Chantel McGregor on the final evening. “I think that for the first Guitar Festival staged at The Ropewalk we have been very lucky to attract such a diversity of guitar talent,” said promoter Mark Keable of mtm promotions. “One band I am particularly looking forward to is the Marcus Bonfanti Trio who spent last year playing his own brand of blues up and down the country,” Mark went on. “He is fast building a reputation as one of the most exciting acts on the live circuit.” Bradford born Chantel McGregor is making a rare solo appearance at the Maltkiln Road venue. Chantel has been playing guitar – a half-size acoustic - since the ripe old age of three and in her early teens developed rapidly into an incredible rock and blues musician. Realising at an early age that if you picked up a guitar you got attention, especially from her dad whose guitar it usually was, it was inevitable that she would get one of her own. So at the ripe old age of three, she got her first guitar, a half size acoustic. After studying at the Leeds College of Music where she achieved a First Class Honours degree in Popular Music in July 2009 she has quickly built up a following playing both solo and with her band throughout the UK and in Europe. He may not be a guitar player but Dave Swarbrick can certainly play those strings. Described as “the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none” his style has been copied or developed by almost every British and many world folk violin players. One of the most highly regarded musicians produced by the second British folk revival, his work for the group Fairport Convention from 1969 is usually credited with leading them to produce their seminal album Liege and Lief (1969) which initiated the electric folk movement. He guided the band through a series of important albums until its disbandment in 1979 and since then he has played in a series of smaller, acoustic units and engaged in solo projects. “Dave was last at Ropery Hall nearly two years ago with his band Lazarus so we are delighted to welcome him back,” Mark continued. Tickets for Dave’s appearance on Friday evening alongside the Steve Tilston and Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley cost £20; to listen to Marcus Bonfanti alongside the Steve Skaith Band and Paul Lidell on the Saturday afternoon costs £18 while Chantel McGregor will be appearing in the final session alongside Walter Strauss and Ezio with tickets costing £20. The Ropery Coffee shop will be open until 7.30pm on the Saturday evening and will be serving food until 7pm for those who will be at both afternoon and evening sessions or arriving early for the evening session. May 23 2011 Return dates for two comedians
Two of Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall’s favourite comedians can’t wait to return and one, Henning Wehn, who has just made this third appearance at the Maltkiln Road venue, has already got the date for his next gig confirmed. “It took us quite some time to persuade Henning to come to Ropery Hall but once he came it seems as if he cannot stop away,” said The Ropewalk’s managing director Liz Bennet. “His appearance earlier this week was sold out a couple of week’s beforehand and previously when he appeared with his fellow compatriot Otto Kuhlne they played to packed houses,” she went on. “ Barton audiences have now enjoyed Abracadabra – German Humour Goes Global, Henning and Otto’s German Christmas Do and Henning’s My Struggle – we can’t wait to see what Henning shares with us when he comes back to Ropery Hall on February 11 next year.” Also making a return next year will be comedian Patrick Monahan who has had the audience in uproar at his two previous appearances. “I am sure when we get a date for Pat’s return it will sell out very quickly too,” said Liz May 17 2011 Bob Dylan 70th birthday celebrations at Ropery Hall
Legendary folk singer Bob Dylan celebrates his 70th birthday next week. Sadly his North Lincolnshire fans won’t be there in person to wish him many happy returns but they can do the next best thing and come along to Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall’s own tribute to this major musical figure-head. Three days before Dylan reaches three score years and ten, the five piece tribute band Blonde on Bob will be paying homage to the American singer-songwriter, painter and poet. An evening of Dylan compositions ranging from material recorded in his early folk music days, through the contributions he’s made to rock, country, blues and gospel music, right up to and including songs featured on his more recent albums will be looked forward to at the gig which takes place at the Maltkiln Road venue on Saturday, May 21, starting at 8pm. At this special tribute night to one of the greatest musical icons of modern times the band are joined by Rory Motion who will present his own inimitable comedic take on the Dylan legend. The evening also features the launch of ‘Younger Than That Now,’ a double CD compilation of new interpretations of Dylan songs from various artists, recorded especially to mark Dylan’s 70th year. As well as Blonde on Bob other Ropery Hall favourites on the CD include Clive Gregson, The Burden Of Paradise, Martin Simpson, Craig & Willoughby and Edwina Hayes. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door and can be booked by contacting 01652 660380 or by visiting www.roperyhall.co.uk May 13 2011 Ropewalk Guitar Festival Three evenings and one afternoon of total guitar enjoyment are being played out in Barton at the beginning of June.
The Ropewalk’s first ever Guitar Festival takes place from Thursday June 2 until Saturday June 4 and has been put together by the festival’s musical director Mark Keable of mtm promotions with a little help from Liz Bennet of The Ropewalk. The Festival starts on a high on June 2 with the appearance of guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor. Award winning Martin has established a unique musical career as an internationally acclaimed musician, and his inimitable style has seen him recognised as the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz guitar playing. Although completely self taught, he has enjoyed a remarkable musical career spanning across five decades, and during that time has invented and developed a way of playing the guitar that is admired, and often imitated, by guitarists all over the world. As well as being a true guitar innovator, he is also a master concert performer, dazzling audiences with his solo shows, which combine virtuosity, emotion, humour, with a strong stage presence. The standard on the second and final day of the Festival does not falter with such accomplished players such as Dave Swarbrick, formerly of Fairport Convention, Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley, Paul Lidell, guitar wizard Walter Strauss and Ezio playing on the second and third days. “This really is a feast of the finest quality guitar music – from jazz great Martin Taylor as the opener to an old Ropewalk favourite EZIO bringing the Festival to a close,” said Mark. Numerous ticket options are available for the Festival including tickets for the individual sessions, Friday and Saturday sessions and Saturday sessions. Tickets to see Martin Taylor cost £15. For full details of the Festival and ticket prices go to www.roperyhall.co.uk May 12 2011 Sell-out for Phill Jupitus
Tickets for the appearance of TV star and acclaimed stand up comic Phill Jupitus at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Friday, July 1, have been snapped up within a week of going on general sale. “We haven’t had a response like this since Rich Hall appeared here three years ago,” said The Ropewalk’s Liz Bennet. “Ever since his gig here was advertised we have been inundated with requests for tickets – 50 tickets were sold in the first few hours,” she said. Also a sell out at Ropery Hall is Barton’s favourite German Henning Wehn who is making his third appearance, on Thursday, May 19, within a year at the Maltkiln Road venue.
“This time Henning is appearing without his fellow compatriot Otto Kuhnle and has promised us exactly one hour of meticulously planned and perfectly executed Teutonic jolliness, covering topics as diverse as football and the war,” Liz went on.. If you’ve missed out on Jupitus and Wehn there’s still time to grab a seat for a performance by one of our up-and-coming stars, Pat Monahan, who returns to make his second appearance in nine months on Saturday. (May 14)
“This is a brand new stand up show with a new game-show twist - an evening of stand up and fun and even a chance to win a date!” Liz said. Tickets for this show cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door and can be booked by going to www.roperyhall.co.uk or by calling 01652 660380. May 11 2011 Chloe & Silas - Friday August 5 8pm £8/£10otd
After two years of intense touring (including a gig at Ropery Hall in November last year), the Chloe Hall Trio has parted ways. No award-winning Melbourne singer-songwriter Chloe has teamed up with Brisbane fiddle legend Silas Palmer to bring their blend of uplifting harmonies, great songs and exciting playing to Ropery Hall on August 5. But fans of Chloe will be delighted that she is to make a special appearance here in August alongside singing fiddle player Silas Palmer. Chloe and Silas have toured independently in Australia, Canada, Europe and the UK. Two voices, guitar and fiddle – this is music that will make you feel good! “He’s played all over the world, as either a fiddle player or on piano, with lots of different bands including Women in Docs, Spot the Dog and the Deep Blue Orchestra,” said Chloe. “Between us, we’ve got over 30 years performance experience – and, somehow, we both still love following the road, wherever the music takes us.” We know from her appearance last year that Chloe is an engaging, intriguing and charismatic performer – the simple, undeniable quality of her songs leave the listener with such an overwhelming emotion. Don’t miss her performance in August with Silas. “Sheer joy. A Sixties vibe with a true modern day slant” Dirk Maggs, BBC Producer (UK) “A breath of sweet, fresh air” Gonzo Magazine ( Canada) May 4 2011
Comedian, broadcaster, performance poet, TV panellist and presenter, actor and DJ – Phill Jupitus has done it all. But so far there has been one glaring omission in his stellar CV which on Friday July 1 he will be putting right when he appears on Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall stage in a preview of his Edinburgh Festival show. “We’re absolutely delighted that Phill has agreed to come to Ropery Hall as he prepares for the Edinburgh Festival,” said The Ropewalk’s Managing Director, Liz Bennet. “I think that anyone who has seen him in the BBC 2 pop quiz Mind The Buzzcocks can testify to the chemistry of the irreverent Jupitus. It's no wonder that someone with such an unpredictable, refreshing blend has earned a loyal following from day one.” As a stand up comedian, he's brandished his rapier wit on both the national and London comedy circuits for eleven years, as well as touring the UK twice. At the moment his acting skills are to the fore as he tours the country as King Arthur in the new musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot, based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail. “Phill is only undertaking a very short pre-Edinburgh tour and Ropery Hall is the only venue he can be seen at in our area,” Liz continued. “This is Phill returning to what he does best – stand up,” she went on. “If you’ve only ever seen him on TV or heard him on the radio this is an opportunity not to be missed.” Perhaps best known for his TV work Phill has been a team captain on Never Mind The Buzzcocks since it first aired in 1996 and is a QI regular and has also worked on several other comedy panel games as well as Holby City and Doctors and the feature film Mike Bassett England Manager where he played an embittered sports journalist. Former civil servant began his career in the spotlight when he started performing punk poetry as Porky the Poet, supporting bands such as The Style Council, Hull’s The Housemartins and Billy Bragg followed by a spell working for indie label Go! Discs - whose artists included Billy Bragg - where he eventually became press officer to The Housemartins. From there his passion for music saw him presenting his own show on BBC GLR (Greater London Radio) from 1995 to 2000 and also directing videos for Billy Bragg and the late Kirsty McColl. A five year spell on 6Music to front its breakfast show followed but he has also supported Madness on a national tour and played with The Who at a Royal Albert Hall date in London. And on occasions he has joined Ian Dury's band, The Blockheads as guest vocalist as well as covering the Glastonbury festival for the BBC. And it was Phill who publicly criticised the BBC's announcement that it was to discontinue the station, describing the decision as "not only an act of cultural vandalism, it's also an affront to the memory of John Peel and a slap in the face to thousands of licence-payers.” Listeners to BBC Radio 4 will know him as a regular contributor to Loose Ends, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, presenter of Best Sellers, a series of the life and work of Peter Sellers, and Disneyfied, a documentary on the work of Walt Disney. He has also talked to the creators of some of his favourite comic strips in a programme, Phill Jupitus' Strips, for BBC Radio 4. Since making his stage debut in 1996 Phill has appeared in various tours such as “Jedi, Steady Go” and “Quadrophobia” and made his West End debut in the title role of Nick Reed’s critically acclaimed play Lifecoach followed by a part in Hairspray. “Tickets for his show cost £12 and I’m sure they will be snapped up very quickly,” Liz added. To book please call 01652 660380 or go to www.roperyhall.co.uk April 20 2011
If you thought Chekhov was all doom and gloom – think again! And on Wednesday, May 18, actors from the European Arts Company will be on stage at Ropery Hall in Barton upon Humber to perform one of their most popular shows. “The evening proves that Chekhov did have a sense of humour as European Arts present five short pieces the Russian playwright wrote before the full length plays we are all familiar with,” explained The Ropewalk’s Liz Bennet. The quite delightful The Evils of Tobacco, The Dimwit, The Bear, Swansong and The Proposal combine all of the tragi-comic elements of Chekhov’s longer plays with the silliness of a sketch show. “If you’ve ever thought Chekhov was too dull, miserable and Russian to endure, come and see this hilariously bittersweet evening and we’re sure you’ll think again,” she said. Do many people know that Chekhov is the second most popular playwright in the world after Shakespeare and is on the national curriculum for GCSE and A Level Drama? The evening is bound to appeal to young people and schools and this show has been described as “a perfect introduction to the wonderful world of Chekhov.” This is Chekhov at his comic best, before Uncle Vanya started shooting, The Seagull got stuffed, The Three Sisters started moaning and The Cherry Orchard was “car-parked!” Tickets cost £8 in advance and £10 on the door. For more details go to www.roperyhall.co.uk or call 01652 660380. April 20 2011 May sees Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall welcoming back two of its favourite comedians to provide a dash of post-election laughter. Patrick Monahan and Henning Wehn are appearing at the Maltkiln Road venue within days of one another and The Ropewalk’s Liz Bennet cannot wait for the return of two of comedy’s rising stars.
“Patrick first appeared at Ropery Hall last September and proved to be so popular with the audience that just had to invite him back for an encore. He is very much a star in the making,” said Liz. “He has such an infectious personality which quickly won over our audience – particularly when he revelled in the audience-led banter. In fact, he really does not need much encouragement to perform at all.” Last year his stand-up show I Walked, I Danced, Iran was a huge success and received five star reviews at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival and The Sun featured him in their “Top 10 Comedians to look out for 2010.” Henning Wehn is making his third trip to Barton upon Humber in a year – the first two being with his compatriot, Otto Kuhnle. This time Henning will reveal how life as the German Comedy Ambassador to the United Kingdom is far from glamorous. In fact, he says, it is a right old struggle but he makes it look easy. “Henning enters into areas of comedy only he can get away with – and still keep his audience on side,” Liz added. Join him for exactly one hour of meticulously planned and perfectly executed Teutonic jolliness, covering topics as diverse as football and the war. Come along. Or else. Deutschland über alles! (Or for those not too familiar with the lingo, Germany above all.) Patrick will be playing Ropery Hall on Saturday, May 14, and tickets £8 in advance and £10 on the door while Henning will be following on Thursday, May 19, with tickets for his show costing £10 in advance and £12 on the door. Both shows start at 8pm and tickets can be purchased online at www.roperyhall.co.uk, by calling in at The Ropewalk or phoning 01652 660380. April 13 2011
Scotland’s first lady of jazz, Carol Kidd, will be making Easter a happy one for all jazz lovers in our area when she plays Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Saturday, April 23. Carol, who can count Tony Bennett, Sir Michael Parkinson and Prince Charles among her admirers is widely acknowledged in jazz circles as Britain's finest ballads jazz singer and has secured the Best Vocalist title at the British Jazz Awards on four separate occasions. “We’re really delighted that someone of the calibre of Carol is playing at Ropery Hall over Easter,” said The Ropewalk’s managing director, Liz Bennet. “According to Frank Sinatra Carol was the best-kept secret in British jazz, but not after she opened his Glasgow show at Ibrox in 1990,” Liz went on. Carol is renowned for her impeccable phrasing and delivery along with an innate ability to breathe fresh life into jazz standards and throughout her career has cut a distinctive path through the Great American Songbook with orchestral and trio backing. George Shearing, Georgie Fame, Annie Ross, Benny Carter, Joe Temperley, Bobby Watson and Martin Taylor MBE are among the many guest luminaries who have performed with Carol during her live concerts. Admired by contemporaries and fans alike, Carol’s popularity extends far beyond these shores and she and has performed regularly in China and Singapore for more than 30 years. In 1994 she was the first western artist to be invited by the Chinese Government to perform there in 25 years. Her signature song, When I Dream, was the theme in Korean movie, Shiri, and it held a chart placing in Asia for some 13 weeks. This led her to "superstar" status in a part of the world where she now regularly performs to sell-out audiences. Tickets to see Carol cost £13 or £15 on the door. The gig starts at 8pm. March 17 2011
The double Ivor Novello winning Chris Difford, one half of the inimitable and timeless Squeeze, returns to Ropery Hall on Saturday, March 26. With his partner, collaborator, friend and Squeeze co-founder Glenn Tilbrook, Chris has written some of the most enduring and best-loved songs of our time. Up The Junction, Cool For Cats and Labelled With Love, to name but a few, all have their well earned places on recurrent play, in radio stations across the world. And Squeeze now enjoy a new generation of fans, with celebrity admirers such as Lily Allen and Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse and The Feeling. Difford, who last appeared on the Ropery Hall stage two years ago, has over the years brought us characters and sketches from every day life, turning that mundane into the beautiful, the urbane into the exquisite, for over 30 years. Difford has released four critically acclaimed solo albums – the last, Cashmere If You Can last year- and has toured relentlessly both inside and outside of Squeeze. “He is one of the country’s most respected songwriters and has co-written with a host of musicians and performers that reads as a veritable who’s who of the industry,” said Mark Keable of mtm promotions. Difford recently curated the fascinating Songs In The Key Of London concert which saw a host of 30 or more performers including Suggs, Phil Daniels, fellow Squeeze member Glenn Tilbrook and Elvis Costello gathered together at the Barbican to perform songs by Londoners about London. The concert begins at 8pm and tickets cost £14 in advance or £16 on the door. For more details go to www.roperyhall.co.uk or call 01652 660380. February 23 2011 Paul Kerensa returns to Ropery Hall
We all know what Scots think of the English, and English think of the French... Well Dutchmen think Germans are bicycle-thieves, Latvians swear in Russian, and Finns are apparently introverted sauna-lovers. In Paul Kerensa’s new show, Borderline Racist, we also learn that Ukrainians find Latvians quaint, Swedes name Ikea flooring after Danish cities, and Serbs think Croatians are backward illiterates but with good films. Find out what every nation thinks of their neighbours at Paul’s second show at Ropery Hall on March 11. The British Comedy Award nominee and BBC writer ('Not Going Out', 'Miranda', 'Now Show'), hilariously uncovers what every nation thinks of their neighbours, the ending of the 'Pole, German and Russian' joke, and why Albanian travel adverts say: "Come travel to Albania, your car has already arrived." First seen at the 2010 Edingburgh Fringe, there’s a slightly provocative edge to a title like Borderline Racist but the title, in fact, refers to the fact that he’s going to explore the national stereotypes that most countries have of their neighbours armed with a atlas and a cross-section various European nationalities. The result is skip through jokes that have, until now, remained a mystery to those outside the nations concerned. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door and can be bought online at www.roperyhall.co.uk February 16 2011 Simon Mayor and Hilary James at Ropery Hall
Across Britain from Shetland to Sark, and across the globe from Vancouver to Singapore, Simon Mayor and Hilary James have brought their special blend of dazzling musicianship. A diverse array of talents combine to form a hugely entertaining stage show. There can't be many performers who slide easily from a beautifully evocative Irish ballad into a mandolin and guitar version of Handel's Arrival Of the Queen Of Sheba and then have the audience singing one of their own notorious comic songs. Hilary James' singing has received huge acclaim but she’s famed too for an unlikely taste in bass instruments while Simon Mayor started out as a guitarist and fiddler, but his current position as one of the world's foremost mandolinists (and composer for the instrument) has led to an ever increasing number of invitations to play and teach at festivals and conventions. They will be appearing at Ropery Hall on Friday, March 4, with tickets costing £10 in advance. More details can be found on www.roperyhall.co.uk February 16 2010 Two jazz greats appear at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall Two jazz greats are appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Saturday. (February 19) Local jazz legend Pat McCarthy is making his first appearance at the Maltkiln Road venue supporting one of the most talked about voices on the jazz circuit, Gwyneth Herbert.
“Pat is widely regarded as one of the country’s leading jazz guitar players and he is a popular choice as guest or sideman with many bands,” said Liz Bennet of Ropewalk Events. “It’s not surprising that the late English jazz great and legendary broadcaster Humphrey Lyttleton once described him as a ‘world-class guitarist’ when he featured his music on his BBC radio show, The Best of Jazz, shortly before his death.” Pat’s early inspiration came from listening to the recordings of Wes Montgomery, Barney Kessel and Django Reinhardt and he remains a champion of the pure, classic jazz guitar sound. While Saturday’s gig is the first time that Pat has appeared on the Ropery Hall stage, jazz aficionados will be welcoming Gwyneth back for her third visit to Barton. Not surprisingly she is now one of the most talked-about voices on the jazz circuit and is at the vanguard of a new generation of young jazz and folk influenced singer-songwriters. Her songs are touching, powerful and her voice a thing of rare beauty. “She is an assured performer who fully deserves the accolades being thrown at her,” added Liz. The concert starts at 8pm and tickets, which cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door, can be booked by calling 01652 660380 or online here January 27 2010
Following on from actor Roger Llewellyn’s successful visit to The Ropery Hall with Sherlock Holmes... the Death and Life he returns in February with his other critically acclaimed production, Sherlock Holmes……the Last Act! Written by Conan Doyle expert David Stuart Davies, original music by Simon Slater and directed by award-winning Gareth Armstrong, Sherlock Holmes - The Last Act has toured successfully for 10 years in more than 450 venues around the world. “The play shows the man behind the myth, exposing the great detective's fears and weaknesses, the devastating consequences of the dramas of his formative years, and, unexpectedly, his cutting sense of humour,” said Ropewalk Events director, Liz Bennet. “I am sure all those who enjoyed Roger’s first visit to Ropery Hall will look forward to another theatrical evening unfolding, with 14 characters, all played by Roger Llewellyn,” she went on. Cross-examinations, heated arguments between Holmes and Watson, and all manner of comic and serious interactions, between many famous Conan Doyle characters, develop the evening's drama which is set in 1916 when Sherlock Holmes has returned to his rooms in Baker Street after attending the funeral of his long time associate, Dr John H. Watson. He reflects on the old days and comes to realise that not only was there so much that he had shared with Watson in his lifetime but also there was so much that he had not revealed to him: things he had kept hidden, including his deep affection for his friend. Roger has had an extensive career including Shakespeare in Stratford and London, leading roles in many major regional theatres, musicals in the West End and an impressive list of television work, including Kavanagh QC, Inspector Morse, The Bill, Casualty, Lifeboat and many more. "A warning: anyone expecting a dry, historical treatise will be disappointed - it is certainly well-researched, but it is also a very human piece of work and highly entertaining,“ said Roger. Sherlock Holmes takes to the stage on Saturday, February 12, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door. January 19 2011
Ian Briggs, one of the great names in blues, is appearing alongside his group The Supervampers at the end of this month at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall. The gig gets the 2011 season at the Maltkiln Road live entertainment venue underway on Saturday, January 29. Ian and The Supervampers regularly appear at festivals and venues across the UK and Ireland and recent performances have included The Gloucester International Blues Festival, Forest of Dean Festival, Cork Jazz Festival, The Wallingford Blues Festival and The Exeter Vibraphonic Festival. For the past 15 years Ian and his group have been recognized as one of the top UK blues bands with Ian taking his inspiration by the likes of Alexis Korner, one of the founding fathers of British Blues. Over the years Ian has recorded and toured with many artists, including Bernie Marsden, Whitesnake and Savoy Brown as well as playing with the legendary Yardbirds which featured one Eric Clapton at the time. “Ian’s music has been described as real blues played with total commitment and you’ve really got to be at one of his gigs to hear just how good his music is,” said Ropewalk Events director Liz Bennet. “And ticket sales are doing really well and I expect Ian will be playing to a packed house.” “We are delighted that someone who is described as one of the finest blues harmonica players in the world, Ian Briggs, is bringing his own brand of blues to Barton,” she went on. Ian’s gig starts at 8pm and tickets can be purchased now either by ringing The Ropewalk on 10652 660380 or online at www.roperyhall.co.uk More details on the Ropery Hall programme as well as the spring programme of exhibitions and workshops at The Ropewalk are now available in the new look free Ropewalk Magazine. January 11 2011 Film programme starts spring programme at The Ropewalk An exciting new programme of films is being screened at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall this spring. The programme, which begins on Thursday, January 20, has been put together by the Barton Film Group and according to its chairman Pete Mitchell it epitomises all that is best in the modern film world as well as a nod to past film greats. “The programme includes such popular films as Made in Dagenham which is being screened in early February to one of the all-time classics, Duck Soup, with the Marx Brothers in mid-March,” he said.
“I think that once again the Film Group has managed to put together a range of Thursday night films which will appeal to all film-lovers,” he said. The current season starts on Thursday, January 20, with the 2010 film, Inception (12A).
“I’ve already watched Inception and its theme is fascinating. Although there are lots of twists and turns in the early stages as if you are on a roller coaster ride it is well worth it in the end,” he said. This year the Film Group have raised their weekly seat price to just £4. “It is still incredible value for money, especially if you don’t like visiting the huge multi-screen cinemas in neighbouring towns and cities,” Pete said. “And this season we have introduced a Barton Film Group pre-payment membership card where for just £25 in advance you can see all of the spring season’s films which equates to just over £2 a film,” he continued. For more details on all the films being screened between January and the end of March at Ropery Hall, as well as other live events, go to www.roperyhall.co.uk or pick up a free copy of the first issue of the Ropewalk Magazine. December 17 2010 Ian Briggs gets 2011 Ropery Hall programme off to a musical start
One of the great names in blues, Ian Briggs, is appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall in the new year. With his group, The Supervampers, Ian is sure to get the new programme at Ropery Hall off to a resounding start when he appears at the Maltkiln Road venue on Saturday, January 29. Inspired by the likes of Alexis Korner, often referred to as the founding father of British Blues, Ian and his group are now recognised as being one of the top UK blues bands after being together for 15 years. They regularly appear at festivals and venues across the UK and Ireland and recent performances have included The Gloucester International Blues Festival, Forest of Dean Festival, Cork Jazz Festival, The Wallingford Blues Festival and The Exeter Vibraphonic Festival. “We are delighted that someone who is described as one of the finest blues harmonica players in the world, Ian Briggs, is bringing his own brand of blues to Barton,” said Ropewalk Events director, Liz Bennet. “His music has been described as real blues played with total commitment and you’ve really got to be at one of his gigs to hear just how good his music is,” she continued. Ian has recorded and toured with many artists over the years, including Bernie Marsden, Whitesnake and Savoy Brown as well as playing with the legendary Yardbirds which featured one Eric Clapton at the time. Ian’s gig starts at 8pm and tickets can be purchased now either by ringing The Ropewalk on 10652 660380 or online at www.roperyhall.co.uk More details on the Ropery Hall programme as well as the spring programme of exhibitions and workshops at The Ropewalk will shortly be available free of charge in the new look Ropewalk Magazine. December 6 2010
A rare performance by Snake Davis and The Suspicions brings the 2010 programme of events at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall to a close. The storming eight piece band with searing sax, soulful vocals and bold brass is guaranteed to get people onto the dance floor in the show which pays homage to the days of Atlanta, Motown and Northern Soul. Liz Bennet, Ropewalk Events director, said she was delighted that 2010 at Ropery Hall would be ending on such a high note. “Tickets for Snake Davis never fail to sell out and with just a couple of weeks to go this concert will be no exceptional,” she said. “He is a regular on the Ropery Hall stage in all his guises and he really has a strong following in this area.” And Snake Davis too is looking forward to the show on Thursday, December 30. “We’re really happy to be celebrating over the holidays with a performance at Ropery Hall,” he said. “This is going to be a relaxed standing and dancing performance with all those favourite Northern soul, Atlanta, Motown hits that you know and love.” The band formed 20 years ago in the student bar of Leeds Polytechnic as Snake Davis and his Alligator Shoes which played sax versions of Stax, Motown and Atlantic classics and went on to embrace the Northern Soul scene playing to some of the most passionate and commited music-loving crowds around. In the ensuing years individual band members scattered to various parts of the world but the nucleus of Snake, bass man Dave Bowie and guitarist Mark Cresswell come together every year or so to back visiting American soul stars. At the end of last year the three decided to reform the Suspicions and take to the road doing their own show again for the first time in 13 years! In addition to Snake, Dave and Mark, there is Bryan Hargreaves on drums, Paul Birchall on Hammond and keys, Bob Taylor on trumpet, and Doreen Edwards and Sue Quinn provide the vocals. December 2 2010
They first played Ropery Hall in Barton upon Humber in the spring and now, by public demand, Germany’s Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn and his comrade Otto Kuhnle, the funniest man from Dusseldorf, return on Friday, December 17. “When Herman and Otto appeared at Ropery Hall they really brought the house down,” said Ropewalk Events director Liz Bennet. “So I was delighted when I was asked if I would like to stage their German Christmas Do.” “And I think that after the weather that we have been experiencing in recent days we are all in need of some pre-Christmas cheer.” The duo, in their German Christmas Do, will be once again be imparting their very own brand of comedy sprinkled with renditions of some of the Fatherland’s most popular Christmas carols such as Oh Tannenbaum, Stille Nacht – heilige Nacht, and Klingglöckchen klingelingelingelingelingelingelingeling. And they threaten that not only have they ways of making their audience laugh – but also sing! Liz explained that London based comedian Wehn had been performing in this country as the self-styled German Comedy Ambassador since 2003 and is a regular contributor on television and radio. “I am sure that everyone who came to their spring show at Ropery Hall will want to return for this Christmas special,” she continued. “This is the last event at Ropery Hall before Christmas – we have Snake Davis and The Suspicions bringing the Autumn programme to a close on Thursday, December 30 – and I believe it will be really special.” Tickets for the show, which begins at 8pm, cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door. November 18 2010 Husband and wife comedy duo Mary Bourke and Simon Clayton will be appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall at the end of the month.
Award winning Irish comedienne Mary will be presenting her contrarian's guide to pop culture. She explores the world of Facebook, Twitter, Mumsnet, Google, Wikipedia, book clubs and the inherent evilness of Grease the musical. If you think Come Dine With me is a work of sociological genius this is the show for you. As well as being an accomplished comedian who has performed all over the world Mary is also a respected comedy writer who before she was a comic was a burlesque dancer and choreographer in San Francisco. Supporting her on Saturday, November 27, will be her husband Simon Clayton whose subject matter is simple - it involves being fat, mixed race, married and balding – although not necessarily in that order. Tickets for the show cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door. The previous evening Boo Hewerdine pays a further visit to Ropery Hall.
Don’t miss the chance to see this hugely talented, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer perform live. A former member of the cult group The Bible Boo has since pursued a successful career with four solo albums under his belt coupled with success writing for other artists, including Eddi Reader, kd lang, Chris Difford and Natalie Imbruglia to name but a few as well as producing albums for artists including The Corrs and David McAlmont. Tickets for his show cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door. November 10 2010
Surreal stand-up comedy from the gothic comic Andrew O’Neill takes to the stage at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Saturday, November 20. O'Neill describes himself as a vegan, transvestite and anarchist who got his first taste for stand-up while he was at school when he performed a comedy routine at the age of 10 at his school assembly. His routine consisted of Harry Enfield sketched which he had ripped off from his TV shows. “O'Neill is an inventive comic who adds a touch of surreal, the absurd and silliness to the majority of his performances,” said Ropewalk Events director, Liz Bennet. “He will be performing his latest show, Occult Comedian,” she said. “If heavy metal transvestite comedy with a reference to the occult ever has a chance of making it to the big time then it will be thanks to him.” “O'Neill isn't your usual stand-up comedian. He tells jokes and makes you laugh but does it all with an innate sense of absurdism and silliness, and proudly displays one of the most inventive comic minds around today,” Liz continued. “Most of the time he is anecdotal or enthusiastically explaining the benefits of the occult and black magic, about which he certainly knows his stuff.” November 10 2010
Nick Harper makes a welcome return to Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Friday, November 19. Son of the legendary folk/blues singer-songwriter Roy Harper, Nick Harper has forged his own way ahead to become recognised as one of Britain’s finest acoustic singers and guitarists. Self-taught, he began playing the guitar at the age of 10 and was surrounded by the likes of Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and David Gilmour during his early years. A meeting with Squeeze frontman and songwriter Glenn Tilbrook in 1996 led to his playing with and supporting Squeeze and being signed to Tilbrook’s own Quixotic label. “To call him a superlative singer/songwriter could put his highly lauded guitar talent in the shade, and to call him a guitarist’s guitarist might slight his distinctive, soulful voice and passionate songs,” said Mark Keable of mtm promotions. “To see Nick Harper live, with a style that combines a multitude of musical influences from folk to rock, classical to flamenco, is an unforgettable experience, where no two gigs are the same, “he continued. For more details and to book online please click here November 8 2010
Playing on Friday (November 12) at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall is Australia’s highly acclaimed contemporary folk and pop artist, Chloe Hall. Chloe is currently nearing the end of her first major UK tour which began in August to coincide with the release of her latest CD, Dance With Me. Backed on stage by two of Australia’s finest musicians, bassist Chris Mildren and percussionist Teal Bain-Robin, Chloe has been touring her home country since her teens. “Chloe is an engaging, intriguing and charismatic performer but it is the simple, undeniable quality of her songs that leave the listener with such overwhelming emotion,” said Ropery Hall director Liz Bennet. “She really is a woman at the top of her singer/songwriter profession – she makes you laugh, cry, sigh and ream and her voice is so warm and inviting.” Just voted Australia’s best live act, Chloe has built up a loyal following from her numerous live performances in Australia and more recently on the Canadian and European acoustic music scene. Tickets for her show, which begins at 8pm, cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door. For more details and to book online please click here October 28 2010
One of the highlight of the final films in the autumn screenings at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall is the 1990 film, Memphis Belle, which will be shown on Remembrance Day, November 11. The film, whose flying sequences were shot at the former RAF station at Binbrook, was the personal choice of the chair of the Barton Film Group, Pete Mitchell. “As long as I can remember a real interest of mine has been what went on in the First and Second World Wars,” he recalled. “When other kids were watching cartoons I was watching ‘Where Eagles Dare’, ‘The Battle of Britain’ and ‘A Bridge Too Far’!” “Memphis Belle is one of the films that really stand out for me as it places such strong emphasis on the comradeship during the War, and in particular within Bomber Crews. My Granddad was a navigator on a Handley Page Halifax early in the War who later moved on to the famous Avro Lancaster.” “This year is the 65th year anniversary of the end of the Second World War, and what better way to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice these men and women made than with a film like Memphis Belle,” he added. The film, which has a PG category, is being screened on Thursday, November 11, starting at 7.30pm and admission is £3. The week before, on Thursday, November 4, Academy Award winner Russell Crowe appears in Robin Hood which tells the story of the man behind the legend while the week after, Thursday, November 18, sees the screening of I am Love which stars Tilda Swinton and follows the fortunes of an immensely rich Milanese dynasty. On Thursday, November 25, is Good, which is based on the highly praised play by C P Taylor and shows how an intelligent, decent man can find himself supporting a wholly evil political movement. The final film of 2010 is The Ghost on Thursday December 2 which tells the story of a ghost-writer given the task of penning the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister All films begin at 7.30pm and admission is just £3. October 20 2010
Comedian and comic book creator Kev F Sutherland is on his way back to Ropery Hall in Barton upon Humber. Kev’s creation, The Scottish Falsetto Sock Theatre Company, is hot-footing it back to the town for a third show at the Maltkiln Road venue on Friday, October 29. “There’s something very English, or perhaps I should say Scottish, about a room full of adults watching two grey socks with ping-pong ball eyes swearing at each other in high-pitched Scottish accents,” said Liz Bennet of Ropewalk Events. “It is so funny it is almost family entertainment although it is aimed at ‘big kids’ only and they have always had a great reception here,” she went on. “To begin with the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets come across as a couple of sweet, innocent little chaps, but don’t be fooled: they’re filthy wee tykes at heart,” Liz revealed. “These two puppets are the comedy double act which has to be seen to be believed.” Tickets for the show, which starts at 8pm, cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door and can be bought online here or by calling 01652 660380. Before he takes to the stage Kev will be leading two workshops at The Ropewalk as part of the children’s charity, ST-ART’s contribution to The Big Draw. They take place the same day between 10am and 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm, and are aimed at young people aged between eight years and 14 years and costs just £3 for each place. The following day, October 30, a third workshop is aimed at adults and teenagers over 15 years. This workshop costs £8 for teenagers and £15 for adults and runs from 10am to 12.30pm. Places can be booked by calling 01652 660380. October 20 2010 Esther Miller at Ropery Hall
Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall continues its occasional series of jazz gigs with the appearance on Saturday November 6 of South African born Esther Miller. “Esther is a jazz singer of the classic school, possessing an outstanding technique, sensitive interpretation and an eclectic repertoire,” said Ropewalk Events director Liz Bennet. “At home in Port Elizabeth she drew on her family’s Nat King Cole albums for early inspiration before going on to study medicine at university in Cape Town. Luckily for her fans she soon gave that up to the lure of jazz.” Her grounding in jazz began as the vocalist with Gerry Spencer’s Jazz Cyclone – one of the leading bands on the South African jazz circuit at the time and during this early apprenticeship she worked with some excellent players, including guitarists Herb Ellis, Johnny Fourie, Errol and Alvin Dyers, saxophonists Winston Mankunku and Ezra Ngkukana, and bassist Basil Moses, to name but a few. Now Esther has honed her technique with classical singing lessons and delved into jazz history to take her inspiration from some of the all-time greats such as Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Shirley Horn and Blossom Dearie as well as the jazz/pop mix of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. The latest addition to her discography is the album Into the Sunlight which was released last year. Tickets to see Esther cost £8 in advance and can be bought online here October 12 2010 Welcome return for Robin Ince
Award winning comedian Robin Ince makes a welcome return to Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Friday, October 22, with his new show, The Bad Book Club. Based on his new book of the same name, the show is a compilation and celebration of the world’s worst and inadvertently hilarious books. The book stems from five years ago when the stand up comic and secularist campaigner founded a London based comedy night, The Book Club which offered a creative alternative to comedy mainstream and at the same time offer Ince the opportunity to indulge in one of his many obsessions by exploring the most bizarre corners of the world of literature. Now the Bad Book Club is taking to the road in a four month tour of the country and Ince will not disappoint and will be unleashing his reading skills, coupled with his world-beating sarcasm, once again. “Robin first came to Ropery Hall in 2008 when he played a four date residency as he prepared material for his Bleeding Heart Liberal show,” recalled Ropewalk Events director Liz Bennet. “He enjoyed those four nights so much that he made sure that Ropery Hall was part of that show’s tour and now we are delighted that he is returning to Barton in 2010.” She added: “His treasure trove of under-appreciated classics includes vengeful beast horrors such as Crabs on the Rampage, (where Wales is the unlikely setting of a sociopathic crustacean invasion), romance sub-genres from the equine Diamond Stud to the gynaecological Sign of the Speculum and celebrity autobiography such as Syd Little’s Little Goes a Long Way and his later volume Little By Little.” Ince is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most accomplished, versatile comedians with a string of awards and media appearances to his name including the Chortle Award Winner in 2009 and winner of the Time Out Outstanding Comedy Achievement. The show starts at 8pm and tickets cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door and can be bought here September 30 2010 Theatrical Weekend at Ropery Hall
Two leading actors will be performing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on consecutive nights in October. On Saturday October 9 TV and stage actress Gabrielle Drake will be portraying the Victorian novelist, Elizabeth Gaskell, in her own words in an exceptional dramatisation, Dear Scheherazade, For the first time the author of novels such as Cranford, North and South and Wives and Daughters, all of which were adapted for television, is the subject of a one-woman show. Mrs Gaskell is shown in all her variety by using extracts not only from her novels and short stories but also her wonderful letters in the production compiled by Gabrielle and Richard Digby Day. “I think that all those who enjoyed the Cranford and North and South television productions will enjoy this show,” said Liz Bennet of Ropewalk Events. “She will be shown balancing her responsibilities as the wife of one of Manchester’s leading clergyman during a time of social upheaval but also as a mother, novelist, biographer of her friend Charlotte Bronte and as a hostess, traveller and great correspondent.” Gabrielle Drake has played many leading roles on television and on stage including Jill Hammond in The Brothers and Lady Asharton in the Inspector Lynley series and her West End theatre performances include Mrs Erlynne in Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan and Monica in Tom Conti’s production of Noel Coward’s Present Laughter. Tickets for this show cost £14 in advance or £16on the door. The previous evening, October 8, Gerard Logan is bringing his solo performance of Shakespeare's brilliant and brutal narrative poem The Rape of Lucrece to Barton. “This is theatre at its purist - a single actor, an empty stage and the torment of rapist and victim brought searingly to life,” said Liz. “We are delighted that an actor of the calibre of Gerard, who has played many leading roles with both the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company is bringing this tour-de-force to Ropery Hall.” Tickets for the Rape of Lucreze cost £8, £10 on the door or £5 if you are a student. Both performances start at 7.30pm. September 4 2010
More than forty years since he last played in the Scunthorpe area, Iain Matthews, returns to North Lincolnshire to play Ropery Hall in Barton upon Humber on Sunday, September 12. Iain is doing a short run of UK dates, playing in intimate venues, to support the release of the first Matthews Southern Comfort album in four decades. Iain, who was a founding member of Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort before pursuing a solo career, recalls that it as 42 years ago when he last appeared at the Scunthorpe Baths and at that time he had one album and a few singles under his belt. Now, 75 albums later, he is returning to the mainstream with a new album, Kind of New, by one of his previous incarnations, Matthews Southern Comfort, which is attracting lavish critical praise and attention and is due for public release shortly. “It is because of the large media interest in the album that we have put this short run of dates in at short order,” he said. “I am delighted to be coming ‘home’ and playing an intimate show at Ropery Hall,” he said. And Liz Bennet of Ropewalk Events added: “Our autumn programme hasn’t officially started yet but when I heard that there was the possibility that Iain would play Ropery Hall I was absolutely delighted.” Now based in Holland Iain has been busier than ever and late last year released a revolutionary new album, Joy Mining, with Egbert Derix’s The Searing Quartet. Tickets for Iain’s concert cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door and can be booked by calling in at The Ropewalk, ringing 01652 660380 or going to www.roperyhall.co.uk The concert starts at 7.30pm and the support act is Circus Envy, an alternative folk band from Hull, who featured in The Symphony for Yorkshire, broadcast on the BBC to celebrate 25 years of Yorkshire Day. September 3 2010
A star of the West End, theatre and film, Linda Marlowe, is bringing her one-woman show based on the poetry of the first female Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, to Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall. The World’s Wife, which achieved critical acclaim following its premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, examined the stories of the great women behind some of history’s greatest man, both real and imagined. Adapted from a selection of Carol Ann Duffy’s poems, the The World's Wife examines the stories of the great women behind some of history's greatest men, both real and imagined. “The poems are written as monologues in the first person and they were crying out to be done in the theatre,” explained Linda who is perhaps best known for her collaborations with the actor, director and writer, Steven Berkoff. The poems are based on the lives of the wives of famous people through history but there are also fictitious renderings such as Queen Kong. There are also poems about the Kray sisters, Myra Hindley and various mythical Greek figures like Mrs Midas. By her own admission there is a feminist aspect to The World’s Wife but Linda is quick to point out it doesn’t come over as heavy feminism on stage. “Carol Ann Duffy has a wonderful ability to, with humour, look at the idea that women haven’t had a voice through history but if they had of, this is how they would have reacted to their situation,” continued Linda. The show is on Thursday, September 16, and starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door. Students are able to buy their tickets at the special price of £5. August 10 2010 Milton Jones Sold Out
More than two months before he is to appear at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall, all tickets to see award winning comedian Milton Jones have been snapped up. Ropewalk Events Director Liz Bennet has been amazed at the demand for tickets to see Jones who is a past Perrier Best Newcomer and Nominee as well as a Sony Award winner for his radio show, The Very World of Milton Jones. “Even before our Autumn programme for Ropery Hall was published we were receiving daily requests for tickets for those who had spotted his appearance online,” she said. “It really has been amazing – we have made sales as far afield as Rotherham and Newcastle as well as more locally,” Liz continued. Other events which are selling well include An Audience with Jonathan Miller on Saturday, October 23, and the play, The World’s Wife which takes place on Thursday, September 16. The production was inspired by the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy and is performed by Linda Marlowe and had a hugely successful Edinburgh premiere. “The World’s Wife has proved to be particularly popular with students especially as for this event they can see a quality production which has regularly attracted full houses during its tour of the United Kingdom for just £5. August 12 2010 Last chance to see Milton Jones
Only a handful of tickets remain unsold for the October performance at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall of award winning comedian, Milton Jones. Milton, who is currently on a four month tour of the country with his show “Out and About” arrives at the Maltkiln Road venue at the end of three nights of top class entertainment also featuring Robin Ince and Sir Jonathan Miller. “It really has been amazing the number of people who are prepared to travel long distances to see Milton particularly as they have been unable to catch him nearer to home,” said Ropewalk Events director Liz Bennet. “It is not surprising there has been such a demand for tickets particularly as he is a former Perrier Best Newcomer and Nominee as well as a Sony Award winner for his radio show, The Very world of Milton Jones,” she continued. Milton, whose style of humour is based on mostly one-liners involving puns, has had various shows on BBC Radio 4 and regularly tours the country. Milton is appearing at Ropery Hall on Sunday October 24 and before that there is Robin Ince’s Bad Book Club on Friday, October 22, and An Audience with Jonathan Miller the following evening. Tickets for Milton and Robin cost £10 in advance with tickets for Jonathan Miller costing £15. If you are quick enough tickets for all three performances can be purchased at a special offer price of £30. Full details of the Autumn Programme and how to buy tickets are now available on www.roperyhall.co.uk July 15 2010
An Audience with Jonathan Miller is just one of the highlights of the new Autumn season at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall. For this season, now in its fourth year, the Ropewalk Events team has placed an emphasis on theatre with a literature bias as well as live music nights, comedy and film in conjunction with J-Night and mtm promotions. As well as Sir Jonathan Miller’s appearance on the Ropery Hall stage on Saturday, October 23, Linda Marlow will be performing The World’s Wife, based on the work of Carol Ann Duffy in mid-September and Gabrielle Drake will be portraying the Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell in Dear Scherehezade in early October. North Country Theatre return with their version of Lorca’s famous Spanish tale of feuding families with A Blood Wedding in Wensleydale and Royal Shakespeare Company actor Gerard Logan brings his astonishing solo performance of Shakespeare’s brilliant, brutal narrative poem, The Rape of Lucrece, to Ropery Hall. “We also have a night to look forward to with the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre Comedy and Robin Ince and Milton Jones performing either side of Sir Jonathan Miller,” said Liz Bennet, Ropewalk Events Director. “The season will also have jazz nights with Esther Miller and Eduardo Niebla, performances by Angie Palmer, Nick Harper, Chris Difford and a seasonal special with St Agnes Fountain performing at the beginning of December,” she continued. “Snake Davis and The Suspicions will be bringing the season, and 2010, to a close with a standing gig while every Thursday from September 23 until the end of November will be Film Night.” For regular attendees of events at Ropery Hall, the Loyalty Scheme – support nine events and get your 10th ticket free – continues while there are reduced admissions for students on two performances and for those with stamina a weekend ticket for Robin Ince, Jonathan Miller and Milton Jones is available for a special discounted price of £30 – a saving of £5. The entire programme is available to view on www.roperyhall.co.uk and tickets can either be bought online, by telephone on 01652 660380 or in person at The Ropewalk. May 28 2010
Musician and comedian Neil Innes, whose career has included collaborations with such greats as Monty Python, the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Beatles and Mick Jagger brings Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall spring programme to a close on Friday, June 4. His work in TV, film, literature and theatre has taken him around the world and after 2007's Bonzo Reunion, 2008's Rutles Reunion and 2009's Python reunion he has gained yet more accolades from the likes of Stephen Fry and Eddie Izzard. “He really is the musical genius behind The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Rutles, Grimms, and Monty Pythons Flying Circus and we are delighted he has included Ropery Hall in his current tour,” said mtm live promoter Mark Keable who brings Innes to the Maltkiln Road venue. Innes, with the late Vivian Stanshall, wrote most of the band's songs, including "I'm the Urban Spaceman” for which Innes won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Novel Song in 1968. He also wrote the songs for Monty Python and the Holy Grail and after Python finished its original run on UK television, Innes joined with Python's Eric Idle on the series Rutland Weekend Television. This show spawned The Rutles (the "prefab four"), an affectionate pastiche of the Beatles, in which Innes played the character of Ron Nasty, who was loosely based on John Lennon. After Rutland Weekend Television, Idle relocated to the USA, and Innes went on to make a solo series in 1979 on BBC television, The Innes Book of Records. He has also worked in Children's television and on re-union tours with the Bonzo’s, The Ruttles etc. During the 1980s, Innes delved into children's entertainment and with shows such as Puddle Lane, The Raggy Dolls and composed music for these shows as well as The Riddlers and Tumbledown Farm. Tickets for the show, which begins at 8pm, cost £15 in advance of £17 on the door. More details are available on www.roperyhall.co.uk May 19 2010
Chris Cook just may be the best kept secret in the music business. The Charlotte, North Carolina native has performed around the world for years but he remains relatively unknown except to those lucky enough to have discovered him at one of those performances. Now he is appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Friday, May 28. A multi-talented singer, guitarist and songwriter he blends elements of numerous influences into his music with amazing ease while remaining uniquely original. Using his distinctive vocal talents along with his considerable skill as a guitarist he has created an album that takes the listener on a journey that showcases those influences well. However there’s not a steel guitar or fiddle in sight, just an extremely solid rhythm section in Bass, Bob Babbitt and Drums Ed Green who combine with outstanding guitar licks and masterful keyboards Steve King and Keith Urban combining to produce a sound not heard often today. The gig starts at 8pm and tickets cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door. May 5 2010
A German comedian whose aim is to conquer the globe is appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall in his next step towards world domination. Henning Wehn and his compatriot Otto Kuhnle are touching down in Barton as part of a UK wide tour which he hopes will debunk the myth that Germans do not have a sense of humour. “My understanding of humour and comedy is very British, mainly because I’ve never encountered it until I came to the UK,” explained Henning. The tour Abracadabra – German Humour Goes Global comes on the back of three successive Edinburgh Fringe sell-outs as the two Herren march on in their pursuit to put Teutonic jolliness back where it belongs - on top of the world. Adelaide, Melbourne and Edinburgh have already capitulated. “Barton is next, and failure is not an option. Germany above all!” he proclaims. Ropewalk Events’ Liz Bennet said she was delighted to welcome the two Germans to Barton. “I have seen them now several times and they made me laugh so much it hurt,” she said. “I can’t wait to welcome them to Barton.” Henning arrived in this country in 2002 to work for Wycome Wanderers FC and took office as the German Comedy Ambassador to the United Kingdom in October a year later. “This turned out to be not the easiest of jobs because Germans to not allegedly have a sense of humour,” he remarked. Berlin-based Otto Kuhnle on the other hand is a prime example of a versatile German entertainer and actor. He sings, dances, juggles, plays several instruments, and does magic tricks as well as working as an actor. Five years ago on a trip to London he met up with Henning and the rest is history. Since then they have had three successful shows at the Edinburgh Festival - 1000 Years of German Humour (2008), A Beginner’s Guide to German Humour (2007) and Three World Cups and One World Pope (2006) as well as their current show. April 29 2010
Few husband-wife musical duos provide audiences with the complete entertainment package that Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart dish out in a live performance. And music lovers in the Barton upon Humber area will soon be able to hear for themselves when the American duo play Ropery Hall on Thursday, May 6. Armed with clever acoustic guitar interplay, autobiographical songwriting, lovely harmonies, and humorous storytelling this couple captivate your attention from the first moment they are onstage. Based out of Tennessee, Earle and Stuart draw from blues, pop, country, rock, and more in their heartfelt music. “The years of touring the folk/Americana circuit and playing 170 concerts a year have given them a knack for reaching out to the audience in an intimate ‘come in to my living room’ fashion,” said promoter Mark Keable of mtm promotions. Stacey and Mark own their own record label, Gearle Records, and have made eight CDs over the years. Since meeting in 1992 and marrying in late 1993, the duo has toured the USA, Canada, and Europe repeatedly. They left the environment of pursuing a major label deal in Nashville in 1998 to target small intimate venue crowds in theatres, coffeehouses, festivals, clubs, and house concerts. “This has now become their home and they are a recognized fixture on the folk music trail they blaze,” added Mark. Tickets cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door. April 29 2010 Dennis Rollins' Velocity
Award winning jazz trio, Dennis Rollins’ Velocity, is appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Saturday, May 8. Well-known on the British and international jazz scene, Dennis is celebrated for his versatility and for the progressive, contemporary edge to the sound of his music. Raised just across the border in South Yorkshire, Dennis cut his teeth with the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association before playing with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the legendary all-black jazz group, the Jazz Warriors. Now based back in Doncaster, Dennis has established a reputation as an artist of excellence and was won the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Awards’s Jazz Education Award as well as being nominated for the Jazz Musician of the Year. Other awards have followed thick and fast including being given Honorary Freedom of Doncaster in recognition of his community work as well as his successful musical career. “Not for nothing has Dennis been described as the most exciting British trombonist in decades,” said Liz Bennet of Ropery Hall Events. “We are delighted to welcome him to Barton.” The concert starts at 8pm and tickets cost £12 in advance or £14 on the door. April 22 2010
A former Royal Navy submariner with a gift for telling tales of his life beneath the ocean waves is appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall next month. Eric’s Tales of the Sea will be casting off from the Maltkiln Road venue on Friday, May 7, with the promise of giving his audience an insider’s view into the mysterious world beneath the waves in a Royal Navy nuclear submarine. Eric was a submariner for 17 years and during his hour long show, which was one of the hits of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, he offers a glimpse into the lives of the men who live and work beneath the waves. “This superb comedy is not just another stand up show but a cross between comedy and theatre – it is unique, riveting, funny and poignant,” said Liz Bennet of Ropewalk Events. “Eric is just an ordinary guy with a great gift for telling a great yarn by recounting a few funny things that happened to him – and they are very, very funny,” she continued. “The audience will find themselves transported to an underwater existence where edgy camaraderie and black humour are the closest of bedfellows.” Eric’s Tales of the Sea is being staged on Friday, May 7, at Ropery Hall starting at 8pm with tickets costing £7 in advance or £9 on the door. April 20 2010
Two artists Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley, who have been bringing their unique sound to audiences across Europe and America for nearly two decades, are appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Saturday. (April 24) Known for their soul stirring songs, exhilarating tunes and a love of the craic, Chris on concertina and Denny on guitar and vocals ensure that no two concerts are ever the same. For Chris, Saturday’s concert sees a return to the area where he grew up. His parents’ involvement with Goole Folk Club meant that his home was a regular haunt for passing folk singers and musicians from all over Britain while Denny, from Co Limerick, draws on the inheritance of age-old slides, slow airs, slip jigs and wild reels. The two met on the Hull session scene in the early 1990s where they formed an instant bond, both musically and as friends, and developed a unique and recognisable musical style, releasing their debut duo album Last Night's Fun in 1995. The dynamic duo built on this album name and `Last Night's Fun' the band was born. Forerunners on the folk circuit until 2008, Last Night's Fun released four more albums before Sherburn and Bartley returned to their roots as a duo. Tickets for the show cost £12 in advance or £14 on the door and can be bought through the Ropery Hall website April 7 2010 Empirical brings jazz to Ropery Hall
Empirical, the jazz band described as “the band of the moment” by BBC Radio 3 DJ Jez Nelson, head to Barton upon Humber later this month to entertain at Ropery Hall. The group’s smart post-bop musical style - coupled with their suited and booted sartorial sharpness - has drawn admiring notices on both sides of the Atlantic with their self-titled debut album, released on Courtney Pine’s Destin-E label in 2007, going on to be voted Jazzwise magazine's album of the year, and Mojo magazine’s jazz album of the year. Expertly incorporating elements of classical, African and Cuban musical forms into their original, sophisticated, fresh-sounding jazz, Empirical make a point of not being centred around a specific front line or leader; it is very much a complete band, each member - Nathaniel Facey (alto sax); Lewis Wright (vibes); Tom Farmer (double bass); Shaney Forbes (drums/percussion) - contributing equally, adding their own facets to the overall sound. With the release of their album Out ‘n' In, the much anticipated follow-up to their self-titled debut album that took the jazz world by a storm in 2007 tribute is paid to Eric Dolphy’s musical legacy through nine Dolpy-inspired original compositions and two new arrangements of his work: Hat and Beard and Gazzelloni. In May 2008, Empirical collected the Ensemble of the Year prize at the annual Parliamentary Jazz Awards, held at the House of Commons, and organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group which was just the latest in a succession of accolades the band has picked up in its short lifetime. And much like the previous success of their debut album, Out 'n' In was included on several 2009 end-of-year, 'best-of' jazz lists including Mojo Magazine and Jazzwise. “These talented lads are the future of British Jazz and we are delighted, in conjunction with the East Riding’s leading promoter of high quality jazz, J-Nights, that they are appearing at Ropery Hall,” said Ropewalk Events Director, Liz Bennet. March 23 2010 Megson return to Ropery Hall
For the second year running, the award winning folk duo Megson, will be playing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall. The duo, made up of husband and wife team Stu and Debbie Hanna, will be performing this Friday (March 26) starting at 8pm. The twosome have recently been judged Best Duo by Spiral Earth, the online hub for folk and roots music and were shortlisted for the BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards 2010 in the Duo category. “The nominations, and the Spriral Earth award are well deserved recognition of their wonderful musical chemistry,” said Mark Keable of mtm promotions. “ Stu and Debbie Hanna create the most amazing vocal harmonies which allied with Stu's blistering guitar style means that you have to keep checking the stageas there sounds more than just two voices and one guitar,” he went on. It all began for Megson in 2004 when Stu and Debs, then living in South East London, armed themselves with a selection of original and traditional folk songs and combined their classical and punk backgrounds to start gigging on the London acoustic scene. Since then, Megson have gone from strength to strength, playing up and down the country at festivals, folk clubs, arts centres and acoustic venues. Although their albums have been critically acclaimed, the biggest strength of Megson, is their stunning live performances. The duo have played at numerous folk festivals including Shrewsbury, Sidmouth, Gosport and Fareham, Wimborne and Cambridge. Originally from Teesside, the husband and wife duo met singing in the local Cleveland Youth Choir. At that time, they both had very different music career paths ahead of them. Middlesbrough born and bred Debbie trained to be a classical singer while Billingham born and bred Stu was playing in a pop-punk band run by an American manager who had big ideas for the band. Tickets for the show cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door. March 23 2010 Howard's End
Hull University Professor Valerie Saunders will set the scene for Thursday’s (March 25) screening at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall of the E M Forster masterpiece, Howard’s End, which he wrote in 1910. Prof Saunders is returning to the Maltkiln Road venue to give a brief introductory talk on the book, set in England at the beginning of the 20 th century, which features three social classes, the Victorian capitalists, the Wilcoxes; the enlightened bourgeois, the Schlegels and the workers, the Basts. Prof Saunders, who is Deputy Dean for Research in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, specialises in the period 1830 to 1930 and in particular the novel from Austen to Hardy. The 1992 film, made by Merchant-Ivory, received massive critical acclaim when it was premiered and won three Oscars including Best Actress for Emma Thompson and two BAFTAS and two Evening Standard Awards, again Best Actress for Emma Thompson and Best Film. The evening begins at 7.30pm and admission is just £3. March 10 2010 2010: A Space Oddity
A celebration of space movies will be coming to Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall stage next week when Company Gavin Robertson brings 2010: A Space Oddity to the banks of the Humber. The performance, on Friday, March 19, is the last one of the current tour although it is likely to feature at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Theatre producer Gavin Robertson and Royal Shakespeare Company and West End veteran Jonathan Bex dreamt up the idea of for the production over lunch during last year’s summer and, according to Gavin, it is intended as light and entertaining enjoyment as well as a celebration of space movies in general. “It’s a show for our times,” said Gavin. “With recession, depression and gloom seemingly close we wanted some light relief and no-nonsense fun.” “We have created a universe on stage in which ladles, whisks and cheese graters become spaceships, fruit and vegetables become planets and four wooden blocks represent everything else from spaceship “bridges” to corridors, transporter room and prison and, of course, the iconic ‘monolith’ itself,” he went on. “2010: A Space Oddity will take us into the world of science fiction, cult movies, and spoof! It is every space movie you’ve ever seen in an hour and a bit!” said Ropewalk Events Director Liz Bennet. The show begins at 7.30pm and tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door. For more details go to www.roperyhall.co.uk where there is also the facility to buy tickets. March 3 2010
Thirteen months after they delighted the crowds at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall the comedy double act which has to be seen to be believed, the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, make a welcome return on Saturday. (March 6) And Ropery Hall Events Director Liz Bennet says she cannot wait to see the sock duo back on the Ropery Hall stage. “Anyone who has seen the puppets on YouTube and MySpace cannot help but be entertained by them,” she said. “Watching them you can see why they have such a cult following on that website.” The stars of BBC 3s Comedy Shuffle and Upstaged, and MTVs Best Show Ever – and of course, YouTube come across as a couple of sweet, innocent little chaps but, as Liz warns, don’t be fooled. “They’re filthy wee tykes at heart,” she says. “And they will be bringing with them songs, sketches, socks and violence. Although the sock puppets look charming the show is aimed at an adult audience and is not suitable for those under the age of 16.” Supporting the Sock Puppets is Ali Cook whose irreverent persona and respected sleight of hand have made him one of the pioneers of the alternative magic scene. His anarchic illusions and stand up have attracted a large and diverse audience appeal including The Harry Potter Premiere Parties, private events for Damien Hirst, JK Rowling, Minnie Driver, Basement Jaxx as well as headlining comedy clubs. The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door. February 22 2010 Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers
Arizona 's finest will bringing heat to the British Winter when they appear at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Saturday, February 27. The sound of Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers owes as much to the punky, power-pop of the late-seventies as it does to traditional American rock influences. The group is not fraid to cross boundaries with their music, and will mix tales of banditos from somewhere-down-Mexico-way with subtle observations of the human condition amongst tequila-slugging good-time anthems. All this set against a backdrop of riff-rich driving guitar, and melodic, memorable choruses, while unmistakable tones of Mariachi and Spanish phrasing drift in and out of the proceedings. Fronted by Roger Clyne with drummer P.H. Naffah, lead guitarist Jim Dalton and bassist Nick Scropos, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers are the only independent band to debut in the Top 10 on Billboard's Internet Sales chart for six consecutive albums, including two Number One entries. The gig starts at 8pm and tickets cost £10 in advance or £12 February 16 2010 It Wasn’t Me It Was Bennett Arron
One of the stars of the Edinburgh Festival, Bennett Arron, will be appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Saturday. (February 20) His show, It Wasn’t Me It Was Bennett Arron, is based on the true story of the time he had his identity stolen with devastating consequences. “He spent two years trying to clear his name during which time he became homeless and he and his wife had to live with family and friends,” said Liz Bennet, Ropery Hall Events Director. “I saw the show at the Edinburgh Fringe and this show really stood out from other excellent performances,” she said. Following on from his Edinburgh success Bennett was asked to direct and present a Channel 4 documentary on identity fraud and in the programme, nominated for a BAFTA, he proved, through a series of stunts, just how easy the crime of ID theft can be to carry out. Bennett had planned on taking his findings to the Home Office in the hope that changes would be made to the system. However when his meeting was cancelled and not rescheduled he took desperate measures to prove his point. He therefore set out, and succeeded, in stealing the identity of the then Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, by successfully applying for a driving licence in his name. “I applied for a copy of Charles Clarke's birth certificate, filled in the details on a form and there it was - a driving licence with my photo and his details," he said. But his stunt backfired dramatically when he was arrested in a dawn raid by police who accused him of major fraud. While Bennett protestations that he was merely illustrating flaws in the system were disregarded he feared he would face a High Court trial but eventually accepted a caution for applying for a false driving licence. The performance starts at 8pm and tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door. February 16 2010 Egil Skallagrimsson Keeps his Head
Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall is the venue on Friday afternoon (February 19) for the first showing outside York of a new drama by North Country Theatre, Egil Skallagrimsson Keeps his Head, which has been commissioned to celebrate York’s JORVIK Viking Festival’s 25th anniversary. The hour long performance, which begins at 2.30pm, includes violent feuding, cunning witchcraft and poetic resolution in this comedy drama. North Country Theatre, originators of the Olivier Award Winning West End and Broadway hit version of “The 39 Steps” as well as many other ripping yarns, are no strangers to Ropery Hall and Ropery Hall Events Director Liz Bennet is looking forward to welcoming them once again to the Maltkiln Road venue. “What better place than Ropery Hall on the banks of the River Humber to stage a performance about Egil, the Icelandic hardman, being driven up the river into the hands of his old enemy, Erik Bloodaxe,” she said. “And we thought that as well as the evening performance it would be lovely to stage a matinee performance as I am sure young people will enjoy what will be a memorable performance.” The first performances of the drama, the first theatrical commission for York Archaeological Trust, took place in York earlier this week. The performance tells the part-historical and part-mythical saga of Egil Skallagrimsson - 10th century Icelandic hard man - and how he falls into the hands of his old Viking enemy Erik Bloodaxe. When Egil and his crew are driven up the Humber into Erik Bloodaxe's hands, their days of travelling, trading and trashing seem numbered. But Egil has more strings to his bow (and his harp) than Erik might imagine, using poetry and smarming to get him off the hook with the bloodthirsty King. Four actors will perform the hour-long saga at using clever costume changes and puppetry to depict the main characters and crew. The drama is suitable for ages 10 and over and tickets for the matinee performance cost £6 for adults and £2 for children. The evening performance, with tickets costing £6 in advance and £8 on the door, begins at 7.30pm. February 5 2010 Keith James and Rick Foot Just over a year since the death of John Martyn, one of the most revered and innovative singer-songwriters of his generation, duo Keith James and Rick Foot will be playing tribute to him at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Friday, February 12.
Martyn’s music – a mix of blues, folk and funk – influenced artists as varied as U2, Portishead and Eric Clapton and it was not surprising that after his death there was a significant number of fans wanting Keith and Rick to continue to celebrate his music. “Keith and Rick, having performed hundreds of successful concerts of both the music of Nick Drake and the poetry of Lorca within the intimate format of voice, acoustic guitar and double bass were, unsurprisingly, approached by countless of both their and John’s audience along with many venues across the country to play some concerts of his music,” explained promoter Mark Keable of mtm promotions. “The focus of the concert will be on the central integrity of the songs in their pure form on acoustic instruments only.” “They perform fairly extensive concert tours across the UK every spring and autumn and their audiences can be as young as early teens and as old as - well old-ish and many concerts take place in arts venues such as Ropery Hall,” Mark continued. Also included in the concert will be music by Davy Graham, Sandy Denny, and Nick Drake. Tickets for the concert which begins at 8pm are on sale costing £12 in advance of £14 on the door. More information can be found on www.roperyhall.co.uk or by calling 01652 660380 January 28 2010 Snake Davis - Burden of Paradise Legendary saxophonist Snake Davis returns to Ropery Hall in Barton upon Humber on Sunday, February 7, with his brilliant acoustic quartet, Burden of Paradise.
Joined by world class singer, Helen Watson together with talented musicians Dave Bowie on double bass and Mark Cresswell on guitar. Burden of Paradise will delight the audience with a sublime mixture of soul, jazz, blues and folk, promises Ropewalk Events Director, Liz Bennet. Both Burden of Paradise and the Snake Davis Band are no strangers to the Maltkiln Road venue with the Snake Davis Band playing Ropery Hall in early April. “This is an acoustic show with great songs, with poignancy, passion and fun with Snake Davis on sax and flute, Helen Watson on vocals, Dave Bowie on double bass, and Mark Creswell on guitar,” said Liz. “They promise jazz, soul and folk influences, but a completely unique sound. Great songs, poignancy, passion and a lot of fun.“ “It’s great to put on such acts of this quality thanks to a grant from Arts Council England, Yorkshire, which has allowed us to walk in partnership with J-Nights from the north bank to develop and establish world renowned jazz performances at Ropery Hall,” Liz continued. Snake Davis is renowned for his skill and expertise in playing the saxophone and is in demand from some of the biggest names on the British music scene, as well as visiting artists from overseas while Helen’s repertoire includes blues, soul, jazz, pop and folk. The two first worked together many years ago. Snake played on Helen’s Blue Slipper album, which also featured Albert Lee and members of Little Feat and since then they made various TV appearances together. The group is touring through 2010, playing an eclectic mix of material from sources as diverse as Bob Dylan, The Loving Spoonful, Paul Simon and Billie Holiday! January 14 2010 John Hegley at The Ropewalk The irrepressible John Hegley makes a welcome return to Barton upon Humber on Friday (Jan 15) when he appears on the Ropery Hall stage.
A huge hit when he appeared last year – he had his audience dancing in the aisles (but only if they wore glasses) – his 2010 show will be featuring family-friendly sing-alongs and jaunty poetry including The Adventures Of Monsieur Robinet, his latest collection of short poems which features tales of a Frenchman with a dog called Chirac. “Not many shows feature family-friendly sing-alongs and jaunty poetry as well as references to Max Beckmann, Mark Rothko and Georges Braque, but then few performers have the ability to talk so accessibly about any subject as John Hegley does,” said Ropewalk Events director Liz Bennet. Also featuring in the show are a couple of subjects close to Hegley’s heart – his French heritage and his Luton upbringing. “I am sure that once again there will be plenty of warm wit both in the poetry and his banter with the audience,” Liz continued. “But the main joy comes from sharing his love of language, of learning and of rhythm.” “And the audience will be invited to sing along. But not to dance. Much,” she went on. John has produced ten books of verse and prose pieces, two CDs and one mug, but he is mainly known for his live performances up and down the country. He is an Edinburgh Festival regular where he is noted for his exploration of such diverse topics as dog hair, potatoes, handkerchiefs and the misery of human existence. And he also classes himself an occasional DJ, musician, dancer and workshop leader, using drawing, poetry and gesture. December 24 2009 Spring Programme at Ropery Hall An appearance on the Ropery Hall stage by Edward Fox, one of the talented Fox acting dynasty, is just one of the highlights of the spring programme of theatre, comedy, live music and film at the Maltkiln Road venue. Fox, who has had an extraordinarily varied and lengthy career in television and film, will be taking on the mantle of the great novelist Anthony Trollope in his one man show, An Evening with Anthony Trollope, when he appears on Friday, March 12. Jazz fans are not forgotten either with young super-group Emirical appearing in mid April, quickly followed in early May by Dennis Rollins’ Velocity trio. Ropewalk Events Director Liz Bennet believes the programme has a mix of artists never seen in Barton before as well as some who draw sell-out audiences whenever they appear. “We are able to welcome back such artists as Paul Jones and Dave Kelly who played to a sell-out audience last year, Snake Davis and Burden of Paradise,and Pluck who be providing some slapstick comedy in the heart of winter,” she said. “And, after welcoming Chris Difford in April 2009, we are delighted that the other half of the Squeeze songwriting duo Glenn Tilbrook is following in his footsteps and appearing here on March 2,” Liz continued. “And of course I cannot forget those pesky sock puppets, the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, who brought the house down the last time they appeared at Ropery Hall,” she added. She went on to say that another favourite at Ropery Hall, North Country Theatre, was returning with a short play based on the 10th century’s Egil’s Saga while comedy acts include those who have received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe including Bennett Arron, former submariner Eric’s Tales of the Sea and two German comedians, Henning When and Otto Kuhlne who together are determined to prove that Germans do have a sense of humour! “Other live music includes a mix of past favourites such as Megson and Henry Priestman while we also welcome new acts such as The Wiyos, Keith James and Rick Foot and Chris Knight and again we have our weekly Thursday Film Nights with a mix of new and old films,” Liz went on. November 18 2009 Spine Tingling Thriller at Ropery Hall In a wryly humorous tale of murder, mystery and the occult being performed at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall in early December, the world’s greatest detective Sherlock Holmes refuses to leave the stage. Actor Roger Llewellyn stars in Sherlock…The Death and Life Of in a highly acclaimed solo show where Arthur Conan Doyle tires of 'his' intolerably arrogant Sherlock Holmes, and invents arch villain Moriarty to eliminate him. This dangerous scheme, combined with Doyle's passion for raising the spirits of the dead, has bizarre, dramatic and very unexpected outcomes. “The play, which follows on from Roger’s hugely acclaimed solo show, Sherlock Holmes….The Last Act, is a light-hearted and intriguing investigation of the consequences, when fictional characters take on lives and ambitions of their own, quite against the wishes of the author, “ explained Ropery Hall events director, Liz Bennet. “Arthur Conan Doyle tires of his intolerably arrogant Sherlock Holmes and invents the malevolent Professor Moriarty to dispose of him. But the author’s dangerous strategy, combined with his passion for raising the spirits of the dead, has rather more bizarre and dramatic consequences than he bargains for.” “Roger has had a long career in classical theatre including Shakespeare, television where he appeared in dramas such as Kavanagh QC and Inspector Morse as well as the West End and many seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company,” she continued. Both Sherlock Holmes plays have been especially written for him by David Stuart Davies, a renowned author, and a specialist in adaptations of the Conan Doyle canon. A thrilling, original score from RSC composer Simon Slater adds to the memorable, moving and intensely theatrical experience. And Roger is no stranger to Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation. His first theatrical encounter with Holmes was in 1999 in a major adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Sherlock….The Death And Life is being staged at Ropery Hall on Friday, December 4 starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door and can be booked online at www.roperyhall.co.uk or be calling 01652 660380. November 9 2009 Two leading exponents of jazz, singer songwriter Sarah Gillespie and saxophonist Gilad Atzmon, are appearing at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall on Saturday. (Nov 14)
Gilad and Sarah first met at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club while she was supporting Ian Dury’s band, The Blockheads. Since then they have forged a partnership which saw him produce Sarah’s critically acclaimed debut album Stalking Juliet which has received rave reviews since it was released earlier this year. Mixing blues, jazz, vaudeville and “gypsy-swing”, her music has been described as a sonic reflection of the contemporary London street, a melting-pot mix of urban-folk stamped with her trademark lyricism that knits everyday banter with raw poetry. Song-writing is nothing new to Sarah as she first started writing songs on the piano at an early age before graduating to the guitar when she was 15. Now her music is said to represent a sonic reflection of the contemporary London street as she delivers a melting-pot mix of urban-folk and middle-eastern blues. As a member of the Blockheads, Gilad has recorded and performed with Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney as well as working as a producer and has been working with Sarah to produce her debut album. “I think the audience can expect emotive ballads and raucous gypsy swing incorporating pre-rock elements of blues & vaudeville - all with Sarah’s trademark lyricism that knits everyday banter with raw poetry,” said Ropewalk Events director Liz Bennet. “Gilad’s album Exile was BBC jazz album of the year in 2003, and he has been described as ‘one of London's finest saxophonists’,” Liz continued. “He plays more than 100 dates a year and has been called the hardest-gigging man in British jazz". Tickets for the concert cost £8 in advance and £10 on the door and can be booked online at www.roperyhall.co.uk or by calling 01652 660380. The concert starts at 8pm. October 21 2009 Swing, Latin and jazz ballads singer Ruthie Culver brings her fresh and stylish fusion of poetry and music to Ropery Hall on Friday. (October 23) Utter:Jazz is a poetry reading-with-improvised music plus jazz and cabaret songs presented with spark and plenty of humour by Ruthie and her band of talented musicians. “Utter:Jazz is not a soundtrack for poetry, but something quite different,” said Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet. “From the beautiful Rilke poems of Jo Shapcott to the witty teenage memories of Simon Armitage, the improvisation around each poem becomes a never-to-be repeated world premiere,” Liz went on. “The music vividly enhances the poetry – and vice versa, drawing comedy from a serious poem or adding a layer of intense seriousness to an ostensibly light piece. Sometimes the poem is dominant, other times the words inspire an extended piece of music with a life of its own: utterly jazz, utterly unpredictable. “ Liz added that the performance promised to be an unusual mix of sultry jazz standards and improvisation over poetry. “This unusual programme will appeal to everyone,” she said. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door and are available from The Ropewalk or from the website. October 15 2009 BBC and Sky film buff Barry Norman charmed the sell-out audience of film lovers at Barton upon Humber’s Ropery Hall when he talked about his favourite films and actors. “It was a fantastic evening and attracted an audience from far and wide who I am sure found his talk fascinating,” said Ropewalk Events director Liz Bennet. “He over-ran both sessions talking about the films he had chosen and the question and answer session to bring the evening to a close.” “And what made the evening even better for us at The Ropewalk was the fact that Barry chose Dirty Harry as one of his all-time favourite films – and it’s being screened in Ropery Hall this Thursday. (Oct 15) Dirty Harry, starring Clint Eastwood, was one of four films highlighted by Barry with the others being Casablanca, Gone With The Wind and the Errol Flynn version of Robin Hood. “He really enthused about Clint Eastwood who he said was the last great actor to star in Westerns,” Liz went on. “And not only did he single out Dirty Harry as one of his favourite films he also said that Gran Tourino, which is being shown at Ropery Hall the following Thursday, was a brilliant film for to end Clint’s career as an actor as from now he will be concentrating on directing,” August 26 2009 Welcome to the new website for events taking place at Ropery Hall. Just a click away is all the details for Ropery Hall’s autumn programme 2009 as well as some additional details not in the brochure. Starting on Thursday September 10 with the first Barton screening of the blockbuster movie Slumdog Millionaire (15) and ending 14 weeks later on December 17 with a very seasonal performance by folk singers Pete Morton, Maggie Boyle and Chris Parkinson, the programme has something for everyone. A highlight this year is Barry Norman who will be recounting stories of rich and famous film actors and their antics both on and off screen when he appears on the Ropery Hall stage on Friday, October 9. And there is also comedy with Arthur Smith headlining an evening of comedy in late November but before him there are appearances to look forward to of Mark Allen and Adam Hills. Music ranging from jazz to folk with a diversion to pay tribute to Bob Dylan once again features in the programme as does theatre. Ropery Hall’s own South Bank Players will be performing J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls while North Country Theatre make a welcome return to the Ropery Hall stage with their production, Home on the Range.
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