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York House is delighted to thank The Play’s The Thing Theatre Company for two wonderful productions of Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads” monologues on March 29th & 30th.
Susan Whyte as the feisty but stubborn Doris and her cream-cracker under the settee gave us sometimes harrowing, sometimes tear-jerkingly funny, performance.
Charlotte Biseker was a very convincing would-be film-star, Lesley, pendulum-like between her sense of professionalism and self-worth and tragic naivety which leads to her downfall. Even after that, she remain an optimist, awaiting “Her Big Chance”.
Thanks to Rosemary Hill, the driving force behind the project, all proceeds from the Saturday evening and Sunday matinee were donated to York House’s building renovation fund – a lovely total of almost nine hundred pounds!
The two previous productions saw fine performances from Alex Forni as the mother-dependent, dysfunctional Graham in “A Chip in the Sugar”; Rosemary Hill taking on the Lady of Letters, Irene, who is not afraid to make her views about the wrongs in society known to everyone from the local chemist to HM Queen; Susan Whyte again with the newly widowed but stoic Muriel, naively reduced to poverty by the machinations of her unlovable son, but is “Soldiering On”; Rosemary returned as the bored, alcoholic housewife finding solace and self-worth on “A Bed Among the Lentils” with the dashing young shop-owner Ramesh Ramesh.
The three double-events have been a sheer joy with appreciative audiences delighted by the magical, incisive words of the great Alan Bennett and the equally enjoyable and absorbing performances. Altogether, touching £3,000 has ben raised for York House.
As their website https://playsthethingtheatrecompany.co.uk/ says, The Play’s The Thing Theatre Company aims to produce thought provoking and exciting theatre. We look forward to their next event at York House in January 2026. Meanwhile, don’t miss “A Taste of Honey” in May – https://playsthethingtheatrecompany.co.uk/productions/a-taste-of-honey
Photographs courtesy Simon Raynor.
In addition to our regular groups of all sorts, we have:
Friday, April 4th (5.00 – 9.00pm): The new season of Eatstreet begins which means top-quality international streetfood to eat or take away. FREE ENTRY.
Saturday, April 5th (8.00 – 10.15pm): Back with another riotous improv comedy show, the “Whose Turn?” team with antics and audience participation.
Friday, April 11th (8.00 – 10.30pm): Yes! It is the second Friday and the Song Loft team invites you to Performers’ Night, when YOU can sing, recite or play.
Saturday, April 12th (8.00 – 11.00pm): UK Sixties Beat Boom. The cream of local musicians pay homage to the likes of the Beatles, Hollies, Stones, Kinks – you know.
Saturday, April 256h (8.00 – 10.30pm): The Jake Leg Jug Band return! A Song Loft/York House collaboration offering songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption, like they did in the 1920s and 1930s.
Friday, May 2nd (5.00 – 9.00pm): More high-grade streetfood from Eatstreet to eat or take away. FREE ENTRY.
Friday, May 9th (8.00 – 10.30pm): Yes! It is the second Friday and the Song Loft team invites you to Performers’ Night, when YOU can sing, recite or play.
Saturday, May 10th: MK Women’s Choir Showcase. Two performances – 5.00pm and 7.30pm.
Friday, May 16th 8.00 – 10.00pm: The Concessions return for another evening of 1950s and 1960s, skiffle, pop and jolly songs.
Saturday, May 31st 6.00 – 8.30pm: Kites Collective at the Cocktail Hour – Solos and harmonies, dazzling musicianship. An early evening show, supporting Willen Hospice and CRUK
Our lovely Main Hall ha some daytime vacancies. Have you been thinking about starting a yoga club? Dance class? Arts group? Maybe a baby group? Now’s your chance! Space at York House is becoming less and less available so move fast! #YourYorkHouse #NewVenture
Contact tina@york-house.org.uk for details.
One way of supporting the town’s own community centre is to become a member. Membership is free and open to anyone aged 18 years or over who has an MK11 postcode or a strong association with the town.
We are a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee with charitable objectives, the building and grounds are owned wholly by our members.
Members receive regular newsletters, are informed of our activities and are entitled to come to all members meetings such as the AGM. Members help to decide the future of York House Centre. Members elect the Trustees / Directors who run the centre and are entitled themselves to stand for election. An increased membership can help increase support from grant providers and official organisations to sustain and develop the centre.
You can find out more, and complete an on-line application form at http://york-house.org.uk/about-us/membership/
Not everyone knows that York House Centre is owned by the community of Stony Stratford – YOU!
It’s a registered charity, a business registered with Companies House, and it is run by a volunteer management committee, and its main role is to hire out space for a great variety of community, arts, self-help, small commercial, private party, and charity groups and individuals.
Many of the activities in York House depend on volunteers, eg for the community larder/warm space, gardening and horticultural, stewarding town events such as Christmas Lanterns and Arts4All, and helping with coffee mornings or bar work for our many music and arts events.
Could YOU spare a few hours regularly or occasionally during the year? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us by email at info@york-house.org.uk or phone 01908 561075 to find out more.
We have taken that giant leap! You can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/YorkHouseStony
Please do!
