DO you fancy singing With A Little Help From My Friends in the Joe Cocker style with York singer Chris Helme at the first York Arts Barge Project Presents evening at the Grand Opera House, York, on June 18?
If so, the project is calling on singers aged 16-plus to attend only one rehearsal, led by singer, voice coach and Ryedale Festival Community Opera director Em Whitfield Brooks at the Park Inn Hotel, in North Street, tomorrow from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
“There’s no need to contact Em in advance. Just turn up tomorrow,” says Arts Barge co-founder Marcia Mackey. “There’s no cost involved; we’d just be delighted to see you and you would have free admission to see next Saturday’s show, where you’d be singing.”
The newly gathered singers will be performing a series of modern numbers at the June 18 show, when Arts Barge, “York’s ultimate collective of the fringe, the alternative and the exceptionally talented”, will present the music and theatre show from 8pm to 11pm.
Chris Helme will preview songs from his forthcoming album and the newly formed Arts Bargestra orchestra will play its part in a night of “gorgeous music, grown up story-telling and a unique performance from the AndHow! theatre company”.
“Join us in the bar for some pre-show shenanigans from 7.15pm, when the doors open,” says Marcia, who extends a similar invitation for the second York Arts Barge Presents evening at the Opera House on June 19. That night, a bill of amiable comedy and psychological intrigue will run from 7.45pm to 10.30pm, and please note, this event is not suitable for children aged under 15.
Steve Day will perform his Deafy’s Island Discs, a witty insight into being a deaf man in a hearing world.
York polymath Rory Motion invites you to share his outré world view through his songs, poems and stories, while Chris Bush will swap his Opera House box-office duties for performing in the musical comedy duo Bush & McCluskey, and psychological illusionist Chris Rawlins will throw magic, suggestion, bluff and showmanship into the mix.
Tickets for each evening cost £11 to £14, children and students £5.50 to £7.50, and can be booked on 0844 871 3024 or online at grandoperahouseyork.org.uk
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