Spring blossoms for revitalised venue

Expectancy is growing at the Milton Rooms in Malton as the new and ever-expanding programme of events gets under way this spring.

The state-of-the-art lighting and sound system is nearly installed and will be ready to welcome Ryedale Youth Theatre for their production of Matilda Jr – The Musical, which begins on April 12 and runs until April 16 with five evening performances and three afternoon matinees.

This is followed by Malton’s beer festival Beertown, which runs from April 21-23 and offers a range of beers in both cask and keg from Brass Castle and Bad Seed and breweries from across the UK.

Then the music starts to flow, with The Salts on May 8, The Barricade Boys on May 14, Fairport Convention on May 20, Lollypops & Moptops on June 18 and Snake Davis with Chris Bannister on June 25.

Ryedale Blues Club continue their monthly sessions with Five Points Gang on April 28, the Tom Killner Band on May 26 and Redfish on June 30.

But it’s not all music and there are a series of literary talks, theatre and comedy on offer. In conjunction with Kemps Books, there is poet Rob Cowen in conversation with Amy-Jane Beer on May 19 and on July 8, Following in the Bronte’s Footsteps – Walking the Invisible with Michael Stewart.

Hilarity Bites Comedy Club presents Lauren Pattison and Eddy Brimson on April 29 and there is a portrait of one of the most beloved figures in British comedy in Cult Figure - Kenneth Williams on May 27.

On June 19 the Red Ladder Theatre Company presents The Damned United, the story of Brian Clough’s brief but turbulent tenure as manager of Leeds United after leaving Derby County in 1974.

And for something completely different, May 28 sees the return of wrestling to the Milton Rooms with Megaslam Wrestling – Live, an exciting experience for the whole family to enjoy.

New events are being added all the time, so head over to www.themiltonrooms.com for the latest information and keep a lookout for the brand new website coming soon.

Below are some of the Milton Rooms events coming up. Visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/themiltonrooms to book tickets unless otherwise stated.

April

Tuesday April 12 to Saturday April 16: Ryedale Youth Theatre presents Roald Dahl’s Matilda Jr – The Musical. Evenings at 7pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday matinees at 3pm. Tickets £12, concessions £10, from www.yourboxoffice.co.uk

Thursday, April 21 to Saturday, April 23: Beertown, Malton’s craft beer celebration, featuring Brass Castle and Bad Seed breweries. Thursday 5pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday 12noon to 11pm. Tickets from www.beertownmalton.com

Thursday, April 28: Ryedale Blues Club presents Five Points Gang, a London-based blues trio which blends new original material with classic blues standards. 8pm. Tickets £10.

Friday, April 29: Hilarity Bites Comedy Club presents Lauren Pattison and Eddie Brimson. Lauren, an Edinburgh Best Newcomer Nominee 2017, is a comedian, actor and writer with numerous TV appearances, while Eddy Brimson has established himself on the live circuit and is regarded as one of the leading headliners in British comedy. 8pm. Tickets £10.

May

Sunday, May 8: The Salts Sea Shanties, a co-operative of seasoned musicians creating one of the most exciting and energetic sounds around, performing original material alongside their own interpretations of traditional songs. 7.30pm. Tickets £12.50.

Saturday, May 14: There are only a few tickets remaining for The Barricade Boys, the UK’s most exciting theatrical vocal group. 7.30pm. Tickets £20.

Thursday, May 19: In association with Kemps Books of Malton, naturalist and writer Amy-Jane Beer talks to author Rob Cowen about The Heeding, his raw, devastating, but hope-filled collection of poetry. 7.30pm. Ticket and book £18, Ticket only £10, students/under-18s £8.

Friday, May 20: Fairport Convention are in Malton as part of their Spring Tour. During the band’s 55 years of existence, there have been many changes, but one thing has remained the same - Fairport’s passion for performance. 7.30pm. Tickets £22 until tomorrow, thereafter £27.

Thursday, May 26: The Ryedale Blues Club features the Tom Killner Band. Tom is an up-and-coming blues guitarist from Rotherham. 8pm. Tickets £10.

Friday, May 27: Cult Figure: Kenneth Williams. He was a unique and beloved figure in British comedy history, from show-stealing performances on the radio in Hancock’s Half Hour and Round the Horne to more than 20 years of starring in the legendary Carry On films. Celebrated actor and impressionist Colin Elmer, who played Kenneth Williams in the UK tours of Round the Horne and Hancock’s Half Hour, reprises his role in this new production telling the great man’s story. 7.30pm. Tickets £12 or £10 concessions.

Saturday, May 28: A new feature for the Milton Rooms, Megaslam Wrestling – Live. The battle in the ring will see Team Megaslam battle it out with Team Nasty. Megaslam is a captivating live experience for the whole family. 7.30pm. Adults £12, children £10, Family ticket (two adults and two children) £36.

June

Saturday, June 18: Lollypops & Moptops, a must see show for all 1950s and 1960s music fans. Compere for the evening is Alan Mosca (formerly of Freddie & The Dreamers), who retells stories of yesteryear with a touch of comedy, while recreating hits from the awesome Dreamers. Buddy Walker brings back to life the look and feel of Buddy Holly and finally National Music Tribute Award winners The Temple Brothers bring their tribute to The Everly Brothers. 7.30pm. Tickets £23.50.

Sunday, June 19: Red Ladder Theatre Company presents The Damned United, the story of Brian Clough’s 1974 journey from his beloved Derby County to the team he hated the most – Leeds United. 8pm. Tickets £12.50/concessions £10.

Saturday, June 25: Snake Davis with Chris Bannister. Top saxophone player Snake Davis, whose soulful sound has been heard with many great artists, from McCartney to The Eurythmics and Klingande to Calvin Harris, is joined by Chris Bannister, a singer songwriter guitarist of immense talent and class. 8pm. Tickets £20.

Thursday, June 30: Ryedale Blues Club present Redfish, a blistering UK-based band who started a new chapter in 2021, headed by the talented and highly-acclaimed singer/guitarist Christian Sharpe. .8pm. Tickets £10.

Saturday, July 2: Laurel Canyon Union, formed by ex-Acoustic Alchemy US Grammy-nominated drummer, John Shepard. They play tribute to the bands and singer/songwriters of the West Coast counter-culture of the 1960s and 1970s, such as Neil Young, The Eagles, The Byrds and James Taylor. 8pm. Tickets £12.50.

Friday, July 8: Walking the Invisible – Following jn the Brontes’ Footsteps. Author Michael Stewart tells of his journey walking the historic paths the sisters trod from Liverpool to Scarborough while writing their most famous works. 7.30pm. Ticket and book £18; ticket only £10; students/under-18s £8.

Are you ready to volunteer?

The Milton Rooms is seeking more volunteers, so anyone with a little time to spare can join the team, meet new people, learn new skills and support the venue. There are plenty of roles available, including office, tech, bar and front-of-house positions. Email info@themiltonrooms.com for more information.