The Rowntree Society and Joseph Rowntree Theatre join forces for York Residents' Weekend 2017

28 & 29 January 2017

Joseph Rowntree Theatre and The Rowntree Society will be joining forces for York’s Residents’ Weekend (28 & 29 January 2017) to offer visitors guided walks around the Haxby Road area and special films and tours in the Grade 11 listed theatre, opened in 1935. 

The Rowntree Society shall be leading a guided walk around the Haxby Road area to launch its latest book, Five Walks of Rowntree York: From Chocolate comes Change. The walks will run on the hour, with the first walk starting from the Joseph Rowntree Theatre at 11.00 a.m. (duration c. 20 minutes).  Visitors can pick up their free copy of the book at the Residents Festival event and find out about the other walks in other parts of York.

In the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, The Rowntree Society shall be showing two films recently commissioned and adapted for full screen. They will be shown on the half hour every hour, starting at 10.30 a.m. (duration c. 20 minutes).• Joseph Rowntree Retrospect is short film created for the centenary of Joseph Rowntree’s admission into the Freedom of the City of York. The film track contains parts of his acceptance speech and highlights the enormous changes brought about by York City Council since Joseph’s childhood.• Seebohm Rowntree Retrospect is a short film created to document the life and work of Seebohm Rowntree, who was an innovator in business management and a pioneering social scientist whose work influenced the founders of the welfare state in Britain. Demonstrating the contemporary and visionary relevance of the Rowntree legacy still today, this film is set to an atmospheric sound track by the producer/dj /electronic composer, Floating Points, who was recently described in Ninja Tunes as ‘one the most respected and sought-after musicians in modern music’. 

The Rowntree Society will also be showcasing some of their other recent work including exhibitions and archive materials such as the ‘Cocoa Works Magazine’.  Books and postcards will be for sale, and visitors can get their hands on lots of Rowntree-related items in a fundraising raffle.

Joseph Rowntree Theatre’s own volunteers will lead guided tours of the Grade 2 listed building and visitors will have the chance to see technical equipment working.  Archive material held by the Joseph Rowntree Theatre illustrating its history and past productions from the 1930s to 2000s will also be on show, whilst adults and children can dress up in costumes that have graced York’s stages, with the kind support of local costume specialist, Dress Circle.

Tea and coffee will be available all day served by theatre volunteers.  Visitors to the event can take advantage of free Parking on Haleys Terrace, or on other street locations. (No parking in the theatre grounds).

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Rowntree Society was founded in 2004 as a registered charity aiming to tell the story of the Rowntree family, their business, their passion for reform, and their legacy.The Rowntree Society provides information about any aspect of the Rowntree legacy by means of educational resources, leadership and guidance. It does this mainly by means of a website (www.rowntreesociety.org.uk), walks, talks, film materials, and publications. Its core work on a day-to-day basis is to act as information point, facilitator, and reliable authority on all things Rowntree, and to ensure that the ‘Rowntree ethos’ is kept in focus, especially for future generations. 

The Joseph Rowntree Theatre Ltd is a registered charity formed to provide a meeting place and performance space in this lovely Art Deco interior for community groups in York and the surrounding area. It is run entirely by volunteers and receives no grant funding from outside sources. The theatre hosts more than 30 different shows each year and has a loyal following.

For further media information, please contact:Graham MitchellSecretary, Joseph Rowntree Theatre Email: graham.mitchell@jrtheatre.co.ukPhone: 07761 683440