Cycle of life in York Theatre Royal’s Alive season

Bicycles will be used to generate electricity for a zero-travel production described as a “bold experiment in eco theatre-making” that is at the heart of York Theatre Royal’s Alive season later this year. Miranda Rose Hall’s darkly funny, life-affirming show A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction (27-30 September) is part of a ground-breaking international experiment in reimagining touring theatre in a climate crisis. 

 Mingyu Lin, Resident Artist at York Theatre Royal and director of A Play For The Living In The Time Of Extinction said: “We are so excited to bring this ground-breaking show to audiences in York. It’s the first of its kind in the UK as an experiment in touring a show sustainably, with all the set and costumes sourced locally and second-hand wherever possible. 

 “The electricity used in the show will be generated during the performance by local people on bicycles. We will also have a choir made up of people from the community. We can’t wait for the people of York to join us for this innovative show, which will really get us all thinking about how we can creatively produce eco-friendly theatre.”

 The production is the first of its kind in the UK to adopt a zero-travel tour model which sees the play tour across the country, while the people and materials do not. In each city a blueprint of the show will be brought to life by local teams. A different actor will perform this one-woman show at each venue on the tour. 

 The Alive season also includes The House With Chicken Legs (6-9 Sept), a family show based on Sophie Anderson’s much-loved novel. The production uses puppets, live music and magic to bring the story of Marina whose dreams of a normal life are upset by her house – which has chicken legs and moves on without warning.

 Original Theatre, producers of last year’s hit production of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d, now invite audiences to a Murder in the Dark (19-23 Sept). Philip Franks, who directed the Christie play, also helms this ghost story by Torben Betts.

 Frantic Assembly return after the success of Othello with their first commission since 2019 - Kafka’s Metamorphosis (10-14 Oct), adapted by Lemm Sissay and directed by Scott Graham, which promises an unmissable retelling of Frank Kafka’s shocking tale of cruelty and kindness.

 The new thriller Frankenstein (24-28 October) by Sean Aydon is based on Mary Shelley’s novel and promises the world’s favourite horror story as you’ve never seen it before.

 Tracy-Ann Oberman stars as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice 1936 (14-18 Nov) which transports Shakespeare’s drama to 1930s Britain under Brigit Lamour’s direction.

 Rambert’s Death Trap (3-4 Oct) sees Rambert dancers in two short pieces created for them by Ben Duke. Goat is inspired by the music and spirit of Nina Simone with a live on-stage band performing her iconic songs including Feelings, Feeling Good and Ain’t Got No/I Got, Life. In the other piece Cerberus, the dancers enter a world where dance is literally a matter of life or death.

 York Opera return to the Theatre Royal with a production of Giuseppe Verdi’s powerful opera Macbeth (18-21 Oct) sung in English.

 The season ends with the return of “Dame” Robin Simpson in the 2023-24 pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk (Dec 8-Jan 7).

 One-nighters include The One Like Judi Love (7 Sept) in which the Loose Women panellist tells anecdotes from her life; Velma Celli’s God Save the Queens (15 Sept) in which which York’s very own cabaret superstar pays tribute to the best of UK music icons; and the Strictly dancer turned judge Anton du Beke dances on to the stage of the Theatre Royal in An Evening with Anton du Beke and Friends (6 November).

 For younger audiences The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Sept 1 & 2) is a musical play adapted and directed by David Wood, based on Judith Kerr’s book. Stick Man (7-8 Nov) is an adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s book.

 Shows in the Studio include:

York-born author Andrew Martin discussing and reading from his book Yorkshire – There and Back (Oct 27), which is part travelogue and part memoir. He’ll be talking about his series of historical railway novels featuring Jim Stringer that have collectively sold over a third of a million copies.

Learning to Fly (Oct 26) James Rowland’s mix of theatre, comedy and music tells the story of his friendship with the scary old lady who lived on his street and whose last wish was to get high once before she died.

Blue Badge Bunch (Oct 21) is described as a disability Taskmaster – a hilarious game show where each game represents a different disability.

The Mistake (Oct 7) is a drama from Michael Mears about the dangers that arise when humans dare to unlock the awesome power of nature.

 ·Box office 01904 623568 | yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

·Ten day priority booking for Ambassador, Advocate and Benefactor Members opens online and in person on 22 March at 1pm.

·Five day priority booking (for Act 1, 2 & 3 Members) opens online and in person on 27 March at 1pm.

·Tickets go on general sale online and in person on April 1 at 1pm.