THE summer season begins next month at Helmsley Arts Centre (HAC) and is packed with events, including live theatre, cinema and workshops.

Reform Theatre brings Hopeless Romantics on Sunday, May 7, with hit comedy writer Nick Frost and Fiona Wass joining forces to create a comedy based on the new age of dating.

Other live theatre events include Hotbuckle Production’s adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel, Far From the Madding Crowd, and local new theatre company, Me and Thee Theatre are performing two short plays in the Studio Bar at the HAC, The Barber and Sue.

Helmsley Arts Centre’s 1812 Theatre Company brings Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman In Mind from Wednesday, July, 5 to Saturday, July 8, and regular 1812 performers Charlie Bailey and Joe Coughlan are performing in two suspenseful Harold Pinter plays on Friday, July 21, directed by David Powley.

As well as live theatre performances, HAC will also be screening live theatre performances from the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), The National Theatre (NT) and Glyndebourne operas.

This season productions will include NT Live’s Obsession with Jude Law, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? starring Imelda Staunton and Angels In America Parts 1 and 2 with Andrew Garfield, as well as Salomé, a Sunday matinee of Peter Pan for the whole family to enjoy and Yerma with the award-winning actress Billie Piper.

RSC performances consist of the ongoing Rome season with Antony And Cleopatra and Titus Andronicus. The Glyndebourne shows are La Traviata, Hamlet and La Clemenza Di Tito.

The HAC will also play host to a huge selection of music events, including the inspiring Emily Maguire, ‘a talent to be reckoned with’, on Saturday, May 13, and the multi-instrumentalist group, Raven on Friday, May 26.

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan are performing in Helmsley on Saturday, June 24, at 7.30pm.

They are one of the best-known and most experienced folk duos on the British circuit today with Nancy winning Folk Singer of the Year at 2015 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Joe Stilgoe will be at HAC on Saturday, July 1, with his tour of Songs on Film after two sell-out years at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

As well as folk music, the HAC will play host to a number of choirs, including Four Quarters and Harmonia Choir and the return of the popular Mardi Gras Lunchtime Jazz event in the Studio Bar on Sunday, June 18.

Snake Davis with his Sax Solos Volume 2 will be at HAC on Friday, May 19, and if you are into something a little different, One Night of Ska performs on Saturday, June 3.

Other events include comedy from BBC Radio 4 presenter, Jeremy Hardy on Saturday, May 20, at 8pm, and Alfie Moore’s Getting Away With Murder on Friday, June 16, at 7.30pm.

David Powley is giving a talk entitled Help! Where’s the exit?! Drama, Therapy and Being Human on Sunday, May 21, at 3pm, and HAC welcome back students from Welburn Hall School who be performing The Return of the Right Royal Varieties.

HAC also has a packed programme for children including an “under the sea” inspired craft day for ages seven to 12 on Thursday, June 1, and theatre show The Tap Dancing Mermaid bringing you stunning puppets, original live music and of course, tap dancing on Friday, June 2.

In addition there’s a screening of Dreamworks’ latest film, The Boss Baby based on the picture book of the same name by Marla Frazee.

In July there is a two-day drama workshop for ages seven to 12 inspired by The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe from local writer and director Helena Fox, where children will step through the theatre wardrobe and explore the wonderful world of Narnia through storytelling.

Tickets for events can be bought from the box office at Helmsley Arts Centre on 01439 771 700 or online at helmsleyarts.co.uk