Here’s what’s going on in York this week.
The celebration of independent cinema is back with Aesthetica Short Film Festival – with a series of special events at York Theatre Royal this year including comedian Sophie Duker and film critic Mark Kermode.
There’s a double sporting-bill at York Barbican with an evening with Gareth Southgate and Bradley Wiggins, enter the Bake-Off tent with The Great British Bake-Off Musical, and there’s live hauntings with The Wetwang Hauntings.
Take a look at our full guide below.
What’s on in York this week: Monday 3 – Friday 7 November
All week
Pick Me Up Theatre presents Bugsy Malone
Get your splurge gun at the ready as Alan Parker’s world-famous Bugsy Malone comes to York with Pick Me Up Theatre following last year’s sell-out NATIVITY! The Musical.
Bugsy Malone is set in Prohibition era New York with rival gangsters Fat Sam and Dandy Dan at loggerheads. As custard pies fly and Dan’s destructive ‘splurge guns’ wreak havoc, Bugsy Malone, a penniless ex-boxer and all-round nice guy, falls for Blousey Brown, an aspiring singer.
The production features a cast of 40 young performers, and has all the great songs from the original movie, including “You Give A Little Love”, “My Name Is Tallulah”, “So You Wanna Be A Boxer?”, “Fat Sam’s Grand Slam” and “Bugsy Malone”.
- Grand Opera House York, Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
- Fri 31 Oct – Sat 8 Nov
- 7:30pm (2:30pm Sat matinee)
- More info
The Wetwang Hauntings – LIVE!
Between the 1986 and 1993 a series of often violent hauntings rocked the small Yorkshire town of Wetwang. The cases went cold, and all the records were lost… until NOW! Join Dorian Deathly and his team as they dig into the history and horrors of these cases.
This show is not for the faint of heart.
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Tue 4 – Sat 8 Nov
- 7:30pm (2:30pm Sat matinee)
- More info
Aesthetica Short Film Festival
Aesthetica is the destination for independent cinema. From 5-9 November 2025, we will welcome filmmakers, games developers and VR experts from around the world to the 15th anniversary edition of the festival, both in-person in York and online. The programme will comprise screenings, industry masterclasses, networking sessions, pitching opportunities and much more.
- Multiple locations
- Wed 5 – Sun 9 Nov
- Multiple times
- More info
Ghosts: The Untold History
Step into the past with an intimate journey through one of York’s hidden gems to uncover the secrets hidden in the Snickelways and shadows.
Enjoy a small group 40-minute tour through St Anthony’s Gardens, in a uniquely atmospheric setting. Uncover previously untold stories behind your favourite ghosts from York’s Ghosts in the Gardens, from cross dressing Vikings and filthy Anglo Saxon riddles to Victorian morality and much more.
- St Anthony’s Gardens, York, YO1 7PW
- Wed 5 – Sun 9 Nov
- Multiple times
- More info
The Great British Bake-Off Musical
Baking battles, singing sponges, and a sprinkle of hilarity – it’s The Great British Bake Off Musical!
A sweet and savoury symphony of British wit and oven mitts, this performance will have you craving more than just the next act. It’s like your favourite TV show, but with more jazz hands and jubilant tunes. Join our band of bakers as they mix, roll, and rise to the top under the watchful gaze of the iconic judges.
- Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Haxby Road, York YO31 8TA
- Wed 5 – Sat 8 Nov
- 7:30pm (2:30pm Sat matinee)
- More info
Monday
In Conversation with Gareth Southgate – Lessons on Leadership
Sir Gareth Southgate spent eight years in one of the highest-profile roles in the country: leading the England men’s football team on the world stage. In this rare evening, Southgate will take to the stage alongside a special guest host, to celebrate his new book Dear England: Lessons in Leadership. He will discuss the experiences that shaped him: his leadership style, the principles that informed his decisions, and the grace under pressure that enabled him to perform under the most intense public scrutiny.
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Mon 3 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Comedy: Lou Wall
A new show by Lou Wall about lying, mental breakdowns and the internet. Featuring Wall’s signature meme-fuelled PowerPoints and musical comedy, Breaking the Fifth Wall is a forensic and frankly ludicrous deep dive into the space where performance and reality collide. Nothing and everything is as it seems.
- The Crescent York, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Mon 3 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Everybody Dance Festival
Showcasing and celebrating dance in schools and community settings across Yorkshire. A chance for young people to shine and share their creativity with a live audience and immerse themselves in all things dance.
Created by Dance Space Projects in partnership with Children’s and Young People’s Dance Network North, York Dance Space and Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Each day, there will be different schools performing!
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Mon 3 – Tue 4 Nov
- 7pm
- More info
Tuesday
An Evening With David Walliams
Join one of the UK’s greatest comedic talents, David Walliams, for an unforgettable evening of laughter, storytelling, and surprises. From his breakthrough as a star on Little Britain and Come Fly With Me to Britain’s Got Talent, David has defined a generation of British comedy with his sharp wit and unique humour.
Hear the hilarious stories behind his legendary sketches, his time as a television favourite and bestselling author, and the highs and lows of a career that has made him a household name. Prepare for candid conversation, outrageous anecdotes, and the chance to put your own questions to one of Britain’s most beloved entertainers in the audience Q&A.
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Tue 4 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Wednesday
Comedy Night: Sophie Duker & Friends
An all-women comedy night featuring the sharpest, boldest voices in stand-up. Headliner Sophie Duker is a comedy force of nature. A Taskmaster champion and star of Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Sophie’s award-nominated Edinburgh show Venus earned five-star reviews and a sold-out Soho Theatre run. She’s also the winner of the 2021 Funny Women Best Comedy Writer Award and a breakout star on the international stage. Support from Eleanor Tiernan and MC Bella Hull.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Wed 5 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
An Evening With Bradley Wiggins
Join legendary British cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins as he reflects on life on and off the bike to celebrate his new memoir, The Chain.
A national hero and the first Briton to win the Tour de France, Wiggins boasts five Olympic golds, eight world titles, and eight Olympic medals. But behind the accolades lies a story tainted by contradiction, controversy, and confusion. Now, Wiggins sheds the mask to share his journey of survival and self-discovery, as a man finally comfortable in his own skin. In an evening of raw honesty, hear from the man behind the medals as he tells the story of how he came back from the brink and broke the chain.
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Wed 5 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Thursday
The Moors
Two sisters and a dog live out their lives on the bleak English moors, dreaming of love and power. The arrival of a hapless governess and a moor-hen set all three on a strange and dangerous path. The Moors is a dark comedy about love, desperation, and visibility.
- York Mansion House, St. Helen’s Square, York YO1 9QL
- Thu 6 – Sat 8 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO
Meet the industry-leading companies working in York and North Yorkshire at the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO. Running alongside York’s Film Festival, the EXPO gives you and your young person the opportunity to explore the groundbreaking work happening in our region. Speak to creatives behind major international projects, from Viridian’s visual effects on HBO’s House of The Dragon to Button Down Productions’ reality TV for BBC and Channel 4.
Hear from companies who are delivering projects with world-class clients: award-winning production company Orillo work with Adidas, Beats by Dre, BT Sport, and Pepsi; BetaJester – the award-winning immersive games studio – craft unforgettable experiences with giants like Ubisoft.
- The Guildhall, Coney St, York YO1 9QN
- Thu 6 – Sat 8 Nov
- All day
- More info
Friday
Mark Kermode: In Conversation with Jenny Nelson
Join Britain’s best-known film critic Mark Kermode and award-winning radio producer Jenny Nelson for an unmissable evening of cinematic insight, sharp wit and passionate debate. Together, they explore the power of film music, inspired by their new book Mark Kermode’s Surround Sound. Mark is a BAFTA member, Observer columnist, and recipient of the BFI’s Outstanding Contribution to Film Criticism.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Fri 7 Nov
- 7pm
- More info
