In a world where journalism is under attack, Marie Colvin (Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike) is one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time. Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontlines of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless, while constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado. After being hit by a grenade in Sri Lanka, she wears a distinctive eye patch and is still as comfortable sipping martinis with London’s elite as she is confronting dictators. Colvin sacrifices loving relationships, and over time, her personal life starts to unravel as the trauma she’s witnessed takes its toll. Yet, her mission to show the true cost of war leads her along with renowned war photographer Paul Conroy (Jamie Dornan) to embark on the most dangerous assignment of their lives in the besieged Syrian city of Homs. Based on the extraordinary life of Marie Colvin, A PRIVATE WAR is brought to the screen by Academy Award-nominee and critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker Matthew Heineman in his pulse-pounding narrative feature debut.

Citizens of Hope and Glory! Our new tomorrow beckons. A new tomorrow that smells reassuringly of yesterday, but with wifi. One last heave and we will be there. And when the going gets tough the tough get going. Although the going won’t get tough and anyone who tells you it is going to be tough is lying.

Come join me to marvel at the majesty of our green and pleasant land. A land globally renowned for our culture, history and places, like the world-famous Salisbury Cathedral. Join me to step backwards into the future.

Please note this event is part of Platform Festival and takes place at The Old Station, Pocklington and NOT the Arts Centre.

Having toured together since 1986 to packed concert halls all over the world, together they are simply the best traditional musicians you are ever likely to hear.

This breathtakingly beautiful Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical, inspired by the Oscar® winning MGM film, tells the impassioned story of discovering love in the ‘City of Light’. Featuring the gorgeous music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin (including the classic hits ‘S Wonderful and I Got Rhythm), stunning designs, and show-stopping choreography. With a record-setting 28 five-star reviews from critics, An American in Paris is coming from London’s West End to a cinema near you. Jerry Mulligan is an American GI striving to make it as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war... Experience this “truly ravishing” (The Guardian) production in the comfort of your local cinema.

We are delighted that the 'Yorkshire Shepherdess' Amanda Owen will be returning to the coming to the venue for 'An Audience with' show. The acclaimed author will be discussing her latest book due to be released in June 2019

Andre Rieu's annual hometown Maastricht concerts attract fans from all corners of the globe. The medieval town square is transformed into a spectacular backdrop for unforgettable concerts filled with humour, fun and emotion for all ages – and, of course, magnificent music. This year Andre Rieu invites you to put on your dancing shoes for his spectacular 2019 hometown concert from Maastricht: 'Shall we Dance?' You can waltz the night away with Andre Rieu - the majestic waltz has been such an inspiration to Andre throughout his career that its three-four beat has become, in many ways, the rhythm of his life. And this year the maestro will bring the waltz to life in an unforgettable evening of music and dance. Summer nights are made for dancing and this is a party you do not want to miss! Audiences will be treated to behind the scenes content and an exclusive interview with Andre and as always, some delicious surprises. Shall we dance?

Paint your very own masterpiece on canvas to take home or sell as a great fake on the black market! A fun art evening with cheese, wine & all materials included. Absolutely no experience or skill required. To secure your place in art folklore please visit www.cheeseandwinepaintingclub.com

Critically acclaimed and award winning comedian, host of his own TV entertainment show and Stand Up show on Comedy Central, Celebrity Juice regular and the only person to ever put Katie Hopkins in her place; Chris Ramsey brings his brand new 2019 live tour to venues this summer. Snap up tickets up as soon as you can!

Please note this event takes place at The Old Station NOT Pocklington Arts Centre.

Founding member of The Zombies and successful singer/songwriter in his own right. "Probably the most quintessentially English pop voice of its generation" - The Times.

From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure “Dumbo” expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.

Eddi's taste in co-writers, writers, songs and players is impeccable and anything with her name on it is guaranteed musical treasure. Whilst the perfection of her technique is widely acknowledged, what sets Reader apart is the depth and quality of the emotional performance; her ability not only to move the listener but to connect her experience to that of her audience.

Her passion and instinct move people in a way reminiscent of those who have influenced her work. Her rare blend of meltingly true vocals and towering romanticism combine with an astute and pragmatic nature to make her a unique and powerful figure in contemporary British music. She has effortlessly developed into one of popular music's most thrilling and affecting performers.

Fairport Convention has been making great music for over fifty years. Credited with originating British folk-rock music, the band has been through many changes but the current members retain a passion for live performance. This year’s Spring Tour will feature a mix of long-established Fairport favourites and new material. Fairport Convention has attracted critical acclaim: the band has won a coveted BBC Lifetime Achievement Award; Radio 2 listeners voted Fairport’s ground-breaking album Liege & Lief 'The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time'; and their story has been celebrated with a major documentary on BBC Four television. Fairport Convention features Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion. Whether you are a long-time fan or a newcomer to their music, an evening with Fairport Convention is sure to surprise and delight you.

A fast-living, cynical London music executive (Danny Mays) heads to a remote Cornish village on a stag weekend where he’s pranked by his boss (Noel Clarke) into trying to sign a group of shanty singing fishermen (led by James Purefoy). He becomes the ultimate ‘fish out of water’ as he struggles to gain the respect or enthusiasm of the unlikely boy band and their families (including Tuppence Middleton) who value friendship and community over fame and fortune. As he’s drawn deeper into the traditional way of life he’s forced to re-evaluate his own integrity and ultimately question what success really means.

Mozart’s most magical comedy of The Magic Flute returns to Glyndebourne for the first time in over a decade. This new production by the renowned directing/design duo Barbe & Douce promises to take a fresh and playful look at the opera’s troublesome gender politics. Leading British bass Brindley Sherratt stars as Sarastro alongside exciting young singers including Caroline Wettergreen, Sofia Fomina and Björn Bürger.

Praise for Barbe & Doucet

"Director-and-designer team Renaud Doucet and André Barbe have captured perfectly the artifice that is a large part of Manon's charm." - The Guardian (Manon)

"Barbe and Doucet’s production plays up the humour and vitality of Puccini’s opera" - The Guardian (La Bohème)

Academy Award® nominee Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises, The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Hidden Figures) star in Participant Media and DreamWorks Pictures’ Green Book. In his foray into powerfully dramatic work as a feature director, Peter Farrelly helms the film inspired by a true friendship that transcended race, class and the 1962 Mason-Dixon line. When Tony Lip (Mortensen), a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on “The Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans. Confronted with racism, danger—as well as unexpected humanity and humor—they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime. Jim Burke (The Descendants), Charles B. Wessler (The Heartbreak Kid) produce alongside Farrelly’s fellow writers, Brian Currie and Nick Vallelonga, and Farrelly. The drama is executive produced by Participant’s Jeff Skoll (The Help) and Jonathan King (Lincoln), along with Octavia Spencer (Fruitvale Station) and Kwame L. Parker (Kill Bill series), as well as Cinetic Media’s John Sloss (Boyhood) and Steven Farneth. Linda Cardellini (Brokeback Mountain, The Founder) co-stars.

Americana Music Association Award winner and Grammy nominee Hayes Carll follows in the maverick Texas singer/songwriter country-folk style of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Hayes' list of accomplishments is long and with a career full of critical acclaim and popular success he could have played it safe on What It Is, his sixth record, but he didn't. The result is a musically ambitious and lyrically deep statement of an artist in his creative prime with his wit and style never being more evident. Whether it's with the put-you-in-picture detail of, "Beautiful Thing" the not quite sheepish enough, dude-esque defence of dishonesty in, "Things You Don't Wanna Know", or the strong as a tree trunk declaration of love on, "I Will Stay", he displays an increasing command of his poetic lexicon. Writers most often wrestle with experience and expectations, either romanticizing the past or telling us how good it's going to be when they get where they're going. What It Is is a record that is rooted solidly in the present, revealing an artist in the emotional and intellectual here and now. Carll is the rare artist who can rock a packed dance-hall one night and hold a theatre at rapt attention the next.

Recent television appearances include: The Tonight Show, Austin City Limits and Later with Jools Holland.

From DreamWorks Animation comes the highly anticipated culmination of one of the most popular animated franchises in film history, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic trilogy spanning their lives. In this next chapter, Hiccup and Toothless will finally discover their true destinies: the village chief as ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, and the dragon as leader of his own kind. As both ascend, the darkest threat they’ve yet faced—as well as the appearance of a female Night Fury—will test the bonds of their relationship like never before.

A tale to enchant listeners young and old, I am Turtle is an enthralling delve into the great oceans to hear Turtle’s story and what we can do to take care of their home. Join Makeshift Ensemble for a pre-show workshop to create your very own puppets using entirely recycled materials. Use your imagination to create and play and talk a little a bit about how we can keep our seas plastic free!

True power inspires awe, and Irish Mythen packs a lot of it – lyrical, musical, and personal – into a relatively small frame.Mythen is a globetrotting troubadour – an Irish-born, contemporary Canadian folk artist who’s been amassing accolades and achievements across several continents over the years. Her presence and charisma simply command attention, and regardless of where she takes the stage, she delivers a sonic and emotional experience that transcends language and location; that reaches the very core of what connects us. It’s an experience that, in recent years, has earned her spots performing alongside Rod Stewart, Gordon Lightfoot, and Lucinda Williams and billings on major festival stages the world over.

In just the last 12 months, Irish has closed out the Philadelphia Folk Festival, performing after the iconic Lyle Lovett, and had thousands in her hands at Australia’s Woodford Folk Festival. On the back of the latter performance, she was even handpicked to open for Melissa Etheridge’s 2016 Australian run.

Texas’ genre-bending rock ‘n’ roller Israel Nash plays Americana roots songs that are meticulously crafted and gently sprinkled with life meaning and multi-hued rock and psychedelia. His latest album Lifted includes the familial harmonies recalling the Beach Boys at their most joyous to the country-rock riffage of Lucky Ones. May your ears be blessed and your soul be lifted!

“Nash settles into a languid, hallucinatory groove that recalls mid-1970s Neil Young and the more recent mystic wanderings of My Morning Jacket …Cosmic Americana of the very highest order” Classic Rock

“Cosmic poetry, crunching guitars and swooning pedal steel” - Mojo

Every major artist has that one defining album or performance, but for ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, his entire career has been filled with such magical achievements. Since he first came to the world’s attention with his deeply beautiful and original take on George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps in a viral video that dominated YouTube in 2005, the Hawaiian-born Shimabukuro has virtually reinvented the four-string instrument. Jake will be touring his The Greatest Day album.

“The Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele!”

Storyteller, poet and Radio 4 regular John Osborne goes back on tour with his 2011 sellout Edinburgh show John Peel’s Shed. The acclaimed production went on to enjoy a sixty date UK tour, including appearances at Soho Theatre and the Glastonbury festival. It was adapted for Radio 4 and is now back on tour.

Award winning comedian Lucy Beaumont is back on the stand-up wagon after having her first (and only) child. Join her for an hour of proper belly laughs as she test drives new material about her new life back up north, ladies boxing, keeping out of trouble and surviving the terrible twos.

On Tuesday, September 10, Fane Productions and BY Experience will present the iconic author, Margaret Atwood, live on stage from London, on the worldwide release of The Testaments, the thrilling sequel to her 1985 classic, The Handmaid’s Tale. The global event will feature Ms. Atwood in conversation about the new book and other topics and will feature exclusive readings and special guests.

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake comes to cinemas with a fresh look for the 21st century and is 'as bold and beautiful as ever' (5-Stars - Telegraph). This thrilling, audacious and witty production is perhaps still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered convention, turned tradition upside down and took the dance world by storm. Retaining the iconic elements of the original staging loved by millions around the world, Matthew Bourne and award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (Set & Costumes) and Paule Constable(Lighting) have created a 'spellbinding' (5-Stars - Independent) re-imagining of this classic New Adventures production. Filmed live at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake stars Will Bozier as The Swan/The Stranger, Liam Mower as The Prince and Nicole Kabera as The Queen. Collecting over thirty international accolades including an Olivier Award and three Tonys on Broadway, Matthew Bourne's powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky's beloved tale is 'still original, still unmissable' (5-Stars - Metro), a passionate and contemporary Swan Lake for our times.

Mr Shell’s, Victorian end-of-the-pier, show is about to be inspected by the ‘orrible Council Inspector – Hector Fludd. Will, hero, Charlie save the Pier? Does Mr Shell find his box of tricks and remember the Seaside Spell? Can Charlie fight off the giant Octopus? It's a roller coaster ride of music-hall, magic and mayhem. If you like funny stories, magic, juggling, comedy and joining in you’ll love this hilarious Five-Star-hit-show!

Suitable for all Primary age pupils and their families.

Gillian Anderson (X-Files, NT Live: A Streetcar Named Desire) and Lily James (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) lead in All About Eve, broadcast live to cinemas from the West End in London. All About Eve tells the story of Margo Channing. Legend. True star of the theatre. The spotlight is hers, always has been. But now there’s Eve. Her biggest fan. Young, beautiful Eve. The golden girl, the girl next door. But you know all about Eve…don’t you…? Lifting the curtain on a world of jealousy and ambition, this new production, from one of the world's most innovative theatre directors, Ivo van Hove (NT Live: A View from the Bridge), asks why our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never seems to get old. All About Eve is adapted by Ivo van Hove from the 1950 Twentieth Century Fox film by Joseph L Mankiewicz and the play “The Wisdom of Eve” by Mary Orr. Ivo van Hove directs this new stage version with set and lighting design from Jan Versweyveld, costume design by An D’Huys and music from double Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey, alongside Tom Gibbons’ sound design. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG. Photographs: Gillian Anderson by Pari Dukovic and Lily James by Perou. Design: Bob King Creative.

Andrea Levy’s Orange Prize-winning novel Small Island comes to life in an epic new theatre adaptation. Experience the play in cinemas, filmed live on stage as part of National Theatre Live’s 10th birthday. Small Island embarks on a journey from Jamaica to Britain, through the Second World War to 1948 – the year the HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury, England. The play follows three intricately connected stories. Hortense yearns for a new life away from rural Jamaica, Gilbert dreams of becoming a lawyer, and Queenie longs to escape her Lincolnshire roots. Hope and humanity meet stubborn reality as the play traces the tangled history of Jamaica and the UK. A company of 40 actors take to the stage of the National Theatre in London in this timely and moving story.

Nick Lowe has made his mark as a producer (Elvis Costello-Graham Parker-Pretenders-The Damned), songwriter of at least three songs you know by heart, short-lived career as a pop star, and a lengthy term as a musicians' musician. But in his current 'second act' as a silver-haired, tender-hearted but sharp-tongued singer-songwriter, he has no equal. Starting with 1995's 'The Impossible Bird' through to 2011's 'The Old Magic', Nick has turned out a fantastic string of albums, each one devised in his West London home, and recorded with a core of musicians who possess the same veteran savvy. Lowe brings wit and understated excellence to every performance, leading Ben Ratliff of the New York Times to describe his live show as "elegant and nearly devastating".

His new 4 song EP "Tokyo Bay" features Los Straitjackets as his backing band.

Los Straitjackets are the leading practitioners of the lost art of the guitar instrumental. Using the music of the Ventures, The Shadows, and with Link Wray and Dick Dale as a jumping off point, the band has taken their unique, high energy brand of original rock & roll around the world. Clad in their trademark Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling masks, the 'Jackets' have delivered their trademark guitar licks to 16 albums, thousands of concerts and dozens of films and TV shows. Their most recent album "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love & Los Straitjackets' consists of instrumental covers of Nick Lowe Songs.

ON THE BASIS OF SEX is inspired by the true story of a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg – then a struggling attorney and new mother – who faces adversity and numerous obstacles in her fight for equal rights throughout her career. When Ruth takes on a ground-breaking tax case with her husband, attorney Martin Ginsburg, she knows it could change the direction of her career and the way the courts view gender discrimination. The film also chronicles the storybook-like romance between Ruth and Marty, a partnership that succeeded both personally and professionally.

A fantastic interactive workshop to accompany the theatre production. Advance booking required due to limited availability.

Fun-loving little Swiss puppy Oskar has been snowbound in the little house on top of the mountain for weeks and desperate for a game goes out into the forest to find a friendly animal to play with. This original play for young children uses a rich mix of storytelling, physical theatre, clowning, puppetry and music and song to tell the tale of a puppy's search for friendship in the wilderness of the Alps.

Oskar's Amazing Adventure is suitable for ages 2-8.

Platform Festival 2019 featuring:

Hothouse Flowers

Seth Lakeman

The South

The Grand Slambovians

The Dunwells

Dan Webster Band

Jess Gardham

Boss Caine

Late Night Marauders

Access to Music Stage

Plus special guests....

Hothouse Flowers

This band will simply raise the roof! Something amazing happens when Ireland's Hothouse Flowers step onto the stage.

There is a sense of musical adventure, an impulse to reach new heights and depths in music as the band and audience become one and the world becomes a different place for a while.. A rock n' roll band, a traditional band, a soul band, a jam band with their own brand of jam on both sides of the bread! They have featured at numerous festivals including headlining the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury.

Seth Lakeman

We are delighted that charismatic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman will be returning to Pocklington after 2018's whirlwind world tour with rock legend Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters. During a short break from this tour Seth recorded his ninth solo album, The Well Worn Path, which has been met with rave reviews. It’s a return to a no-nonsense, organic, classic folk-rock approach with hints of Fairport Convention, Neil Young, Nick Cave and Billy Bragg – plus Lakeman’s trademark foot-stomping, fiddle bow-shredding and soaring vocals.

Lucy Spraggan

Widely recognised as one of the leading lights in the LGBT community, her songs have something to say. She has performed at many major festivals including Glastonbury and Isle of Wight. Her toe-tapping trademark sound is the rattle of rap dropped into sing-a-long folk-style numbers. Today Was A Good Day is Lucy’s fourth studio album and is scheduled to be released in April 2019.

The South

The South are an impressive 9 piece band who feature former members of The Beautiful South including singer Alison Wheeler and lifelong sax player Gaz Birtles. They play the songs made famous by The Beautiful South ( A Little Time, Perfect 10, Rotterdam) plus a few South originals and bring back the full flavour and arrangements with this exciting live band. Come on! Let’s Carry On… Regardless!

The Grand Slambovians

Playing an utterly unique blend of rock and roll, folk, and quirky Americana, they have been called “the hillbilly Pink Floyd”, which is an apt description, particularly if you throw in elements of Waterboys, Neil Young, Dylan, and maybe a dash of Zappa. Their live shows are where the real magic comes down, earning them critical acclaim as well as a fiercely loyal following.

Plus... Dan Webster Band, The Dunwells, Jess Gardham, Boss Caine, Late Night Marauders, Access to Music College plus special guests.

Please note this event takes place at The Old Station NOT Pocklington Arts Centre and will be part seated (unallocated).

Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and the self-dubbed “Lie-In King”, Seann Walsh is “unquestionably the best observational comic of his generation (The Guardian).  

Returning from his run in America, where he made his USA television debut appearance on Conan, Seann Walsh is back on tour in the UK.

This disheveled, fiery, animated, fiercely idle, millennial man child is one of best live comedians to have come out of the UK.

Seann made his acting debut starring in Comedy Central’s sitcom Big Bad World, this was quickly followed up by the lead role in Monks (BBC One), he utilized his physical comedic abilities in Sky’s silent comedy, Three Kinds of Stupid, which led to him producing, writing and starring in his own silent comedy web-series The Drunk. He also wrote and starred in his own Sky short for Sky Arts and is now co-starring in Jack Dee’s brand-new sitcom Bad Move (ITV one). He recently made his feature film debut as the children’s nemesis in family film, 2:hrs. Seann is quickly on his way to becoming one of the UK’s best comedy character actors.

Team captain on Virtually Famous (Channel 4) and a regular on Play To The Whistle (ITV), other TV appearances include: One For The Road (BBC 3), Live At The Apollo (BBC 2), The Jonathan Ross Show (ITV), Tonight at The London Palladium (ITV), Celebrity Juice (ITV2), 8 Out Of 10 Cats (Channel 4), 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), Alan Carr’s Chatty Man (Channel 4) and Russell Howards Stand Up Central (Comedy Central) 

Seann can currently be heard hosting his weekly radio show News-Ish on Fubar Radio.

Challenging a youth to turn down his music, Irene Sparrow, inventor of the left-handed crochet hook (patent pending, as seen on Dragon's Den) finds herself under suspicion of murder after the train emerges from a tunnel with the young man dead. But this is no ordinary train, each passenger is reading a book, each book is a portal into a parallel universe of train related crime fiction.

With clever use of projection and multiple train sets, LipService give you a whistle stop tour that will leave you breathless and racing for the refreshment coach. So don't blow your stack, this show is just the ticket to help you let off steam and overuse many more railway metaphors. A show that appeals to crime aficionados and narrow gauge railway enthusiasts alike.

"LipService - The Laurel and Hardy of literary deconstruction" The Independent

Taiko Drumming Course - May 18th, 25th and June 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd.

Come and have a go at this exciting and energetic Japanese performing art in this six week introductory course.

Suitable for beginners to intermediate level and all for all ages 12 years. All equipment provided.

Limited places, advance booking required.

For further information please visit www.tengutaiko.com

The Fureys have been entertaining audiences worldwide for 41 years, audiences that have included former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Former Irish President Mary McAleese and the late Pope John Paul while Tony Blair has publicly stated his favourite peace song of all time is the Fureys “Green Fields of France” and President Michael D Higgins attended their last concert in National Concert Hall.

The Fureys are responsible for some of the most stirring music ever to capture the public imagination. Their folk based music has received standing ovations in some of the biggest concert halls of the world and they credit their musical ability to their parents, Ted and Nora, who were well-known musicians themselves. They encouraged their sons to play music from a very early age and there was live traditional music in their house almost nightly.

Their emotive songs stir many emotions….tears and laughter, sadness and joy.

This PAC based theatre group put their own magical touch to a classic tale of rags to riches, the power of love and making dreams come true. Their sparkling performance brings the excitement and thrill of the circus to the stage. You are sure to be delighted by an entertaining and often humorous mix of original song and dance, composed and choreographed by the Group, mixed with some well-known blockbusters and all cleverly linked together by the Group’s acting skills to tell a powerful story.

Five years since they first played at PAC, Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes are now raising the bar in Nashville. The Shires have become one of the most talked about acts in the home of country music, partly thanks to their two record-breaking albums (debut Brave became the first UK country album to make the Top Ten in 2015), but also for their pulse-raising live shows. Their third record Accidentally on Purpose features “Stay The Night”, a song provided by no less than Ed Sheeran, after the international star sought out Ben and Crissie at his Nashville concert. With only three albums under to their name, they’ve gone to play Glastonbury, toured with Irish chart-toppers The Corrs, and became a staple of BBC Radio 2. We can’t wait to welcome this unique duo to Platform Festival.

Please note this event takes place at The Old Station NOT Pocklington Arts Centre and will be part standing.

Where does a band go, after a symphonic journey that peaks with orchestral performances at the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall? Back to the beginning of course. Before fronting one of the most artistically brave and revered bands working today, Tyneside sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank grew up singing songs without accompaniment, in weaving, unschooled vocal harmony. As if to prove that creativity should never be about ambition or aspiration, The Unthanks move on from their recent orchestral explorations by going back to what they know and do best - singing in unaccompanied harmony - joined on this tour by Unthanks member Niopha Keegan to make a vocal trio. The three have already established a band within a band in The Unthanks, with the success of haunting harmony signature pieces like Magpie, recently brought to wider attention by Mackenzie Crook’s beautifully poignant series, Detectorists.

On this tour, they fully explore their rich and unique vocal combinations, with brand new material and arrangements, alongside more familiar Unthanks material. Believing unaccompanied song to be a performance art of storytelling and communication, instead of recording a studio album, each show will be recorded and there will be chance at shows to pre-order a forthcoming album compiled from live performances on this tour.

Special guests are: Aidan O’Rourke and Kit Downes. Lau’s Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle) and ECM artist Kit Downes (piano, harmonium) are perhaps the two most compelling and inventive players of their instruments we have in the British Isles today.

In celebration of her bicentenary year, Northern Ballet's major new production brings the sensational story of Queen Victoria to life in dance. Choreographed by Cathy Marston, creator of Northern Ballet’s acclaimed Jane Eyre, Victoria reveals the passion, tragedy and fierce devotion of one of Britain's most iconic monarchs, told through the eyes of her youngest child Beatrice.

2019 sees the 50th anniversary of the release of one of the greatest albums of all time – Led Zeppelin II.

Containing such classics as ‘Ramble On’, ‘Thank You’ and of course the orgasmic ‘Whole Lotta Love’, this LP was the one which catapulted Led Zeppelin from being just another sixties blues group to one of the most influential and successful bands of all time.

It was the first of their albums to reach number one, toppling the Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ in the process, and staying on the LP chart for a total of 138 weeks.

During 2019 Whole Lotta Led will be performing a series of Led Zeppelin II shows to celebrate this incredible album. The first half of these special shows will consist of a selection of songs from Led Zeppelin's vast back catalogue. The second half will feature the whole of Led Zeppelin II played in the same sequence as the original LP.

Don’t miss this special celebration of this timeless album.