A lockdown Passion Play by Les Ellison

April 2020 update – please note in response to the coronavirus lockdown the May-June leg of this tour has been postponed.

Dynamic, sharp theatre with a new twist…

The Kaleidoscope Tour is built for you and your community – let us know how we can help you to best serve those in your area. If you are familiar with our previous Roughshod companies this tour works along the same lines but aims to be even more flexible to your needs. We can offer:

Colourful Performances…

There are performances of almost any length (up to 90 minutes) available for schools and youth clubs, assemblies and church services, prisons and colleges with storytelling and comic sketches to challenge and delight. There is also a brand new full length show ‘Breaking Ground’ available.

Brilliant Sessions in Schools…

We can offer sessions in both primary and secondary schools. A range of performances, lessons, and workshops on a range of up to the minute topics, including social media influencing, violence, image awareness, and transitions from primary school.

Light in Local Prisons…

We have illuminating performances and workshops shaped for the needs of prisoners, and a brand new show written specially for prisons too.

Connecting with Your Events…

Do you have events you’d like the team to be present at? Or an event you need help preparing for? Maybe you think a bit of street theatre would really liven up a fundraiser, or have a special service that could use some thought-provoking sketches to bring out the message. Maybe your own drama group could use a workshop ahead of their big performance. Let us know what you have in mind and we’ll do our best to help you out.

Kaleidoscope will be as flexible as possible – you can book it for an evening performance, a day of workshops, a few days, a week, or even longer – whatever you and your community need.  Prices for the work will vary, starting from £500.00 +VAT for a single night’s performance, and it would be on a sliding scale from there. We never want cost to be a barrier to people if they want their community to access our work, so if you would value a conversation about the cost please do let us know.

BOOKING NOW – Contact us on touring@rltc.org or 01904 655317 today!

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL THE AUTUMN. PLEASE WAIT TO BE CONTACTED WITH MORE DETAILS.

Peter is an aspiring poet suffering from a bad case of writer’s block. One night, after a frustrating evening with the pen, he receives an unexpected visitor.

Presented by Off The Rock Productions, The Trouble with Nietzsche is a short one-act play in which a budding writer is exposed to crippling doubts about the value and quality of his work. The intention is to provoke discussion about the mental health of authors and after a short interval, the writer and director will look at ways of combating some of the issues surrounding the subject.

Saturday 21 March 7.30pm
Friargate Theatre, York

Part of the York Literature Festival

Ticketholders please contact the box office for a refund on 01904 613000

With You to The Threshold takes you on a journey of emotional discovery. With a combination of western classical instruments, world instruments, and poignant vocals, it will walk you through the barren landscape of loss, towards sanctuary, peace and light.

The album is being debuted through an experimental, boundary pushing sound installation, attempting to help break down the taboo of grief. The installation will guide visitors through the music of the album enabling them to reflect on the journey of grief. There will be charity representation and advice on site.

Tickets for the sound installation are £6.

Book by calling 01904 613000.

Selection of times available. See schedule for details.

Booking essential. Tea and coffee included in the ticket cost.

Tour times:

10:00am for 10.30am start (installation finishes at 11.10 vacating 12 pm)

1.30pm for 2pm start (installation finishes at 2.40pm, vacating 3.30pm)

3.30pm for 4pm start; (installation finishes at 4.40pm, vacating 5.30pm)

6pm for 6.30pm start (installation finishes 7.10pm, vacating 8pm)

“And let those that play your clowns say no more than is set down for them..”

1598: Meet Will Kemp  – celebrity comedian, international superstar of the Elizabethan stage and the original “9 Day wonder”, about whom the above quote from Hamlet is said to be written.

A “horrible histories” for all ages, Kemp’s Jig makes Shakespeare accessible by sending him up – his supposed lack of a sense of humour is a running joke throughout the play –  and also gives an insight to the unglamorous side of life in Tudor England, using aspects of commedia dell’arte, music hall revue and storytelling to illustrate Kemp’s adventures.

As Shakespeare’s plays began to require comic actors rather than comedians Kemp’s style (comedy dog, slapstick and all) became less and less suitable and Shakespeare and Kemp parted ways.  Kemp resigned his shares in “The Lord Chamberlains Men”  and embarked upon a bizarre publicity stunt to cash in on his popularity and superstar status:  In February 1600 he began a 125 mile Morris dance from London to Norwich, and later published his diary of the event “The Nine Daies Wonder”.  And that is where our story begins…

Kemp’s Jig has been seen at the Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and all across the globe.  The original production was the subject of a TV documentary (introduced by Sir Peter Hall) and its original writer and performer Chris Harris toured the US (as Kemp) with Sam Wanamaker’s company to raise sponsorship for the building of Shakespeare’s Globe.

This new production comes direct from gaining a new audience and rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Friday 15 November
7.30pm

Tickets: £12 | £10 Concessions or online: Book Now
Box Office: 01904 613000

^{Please note there is a £1.50 per transaction charge if booking online. There is no transaction charge if booking by phone or in person through the Riding Lights Box Office. If you would like your tickets posted to you then there is a 50p charge to cover postage costs}

“It sparkled; it was brilliant.”
“The creativity and energy were just fantastic!”

In a crowded house a man walks a new walk… young lovers set a teeth-chattering example of faith… while a gangster starts up in the forgiveness business, a fool dreams of escape on a rocket to Mars… and there’s a jaw-dropping moment for prisoners when singing unlocks the doors.

Among the manicured, self-managed images of the YouTube influencers and evaporating virtual dreams, this show celebrates substance and truth and joy.

Can the rich kaleidoscope of the good news of Jesus reveal new patterns which are life-changing in the 21st century? Is there an influencer we can trust to tell us the truth? Delight in us for who we are and help us build a community which values everyone?

A vibrant, sparkling show, packed full of entertaining stories and comedy that connect with hopes and fears today.

Saturday 26 October
7.30pm

Tickets: £8 | £6 Concessions
Box Office: 01904 613000, in person at Friargate Theatre, or online: Book Now

We have closed our box office for the Clifton Parish Church performance to avoid tickets being sold without their knowledge over the weekend,  but there will be plenty of tickets available to buy on the door for that show.
Please note the Clifton performance will begin at 19:00.

^{Please note there is a £1.50 per transaction charge if booking online. There is no transaction charge if booking by phone or in person through the Riding Lights Box Office. If you would like your tickets posted to you then there is a 50p charge to cover postage costs.}

“Fast, funny, unpredictable and chaotic.
This show…should be added to every comedy fan’s calendar’
York Mix

York’s own comedy improv night is back with its own brand of sensational silliness based on audience suggestions.

You come with the ideas and our merry band of improvisers instantly turn them into chaotic comedy to kickstart everyone’s weekend. It’s funny, it’s foolish, it’s fit for family audiences, and it really does make it up as it goes along.

So join us for music, mayhem and muppetry in an unforgettable and absolutely unrepeatable evening of joy-filled nonsense… it wouldn’t be the same without you!

Friday 20 September
7.30pm

Tickets: £5
Box Office: 01904 613000 or online

^{Please note there is a £1.50 per transaction charge if booking online. There is no transaction charge if booking by phone or in person through the Riding Lights Box Office. If you would like your tickets posted to you then there is a 50p charge to cover postage costs}