End of an Era as Pickering Musical Society Stages Farewell Musical 'Hello, Dolly!'

The new production getting underway tonight marks the end of an era, concluding over 100 years of staging full-scale musicals in the town.

Pickering Musical Society is preparing to take its final bow on the musical stage tonight with the opening performance of Hello, Dolly! at the Kirk Theatre.

The Society traces its origins back to 1919, when members of earlier local groups officially formed a musical society after gathering for performances during the Great War to raise funds. The Society later sought a permanent home, purchasing the old Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on Hungate in the late 1970s and converting it into a fully operational theatre, which opened in 1982 or 1984.

The difficult decision to cease staging large-scale musicals was made due to rising production costs and a decline in membership. Theatre Manager and Director Luke Arnold stated that soaring costs associated with performance rights, casting demands, and mounting a full musical have made it increasingly challenging to continue.

"Pickering Musical Society started in 1919. We bought the theatre in 1979 and opened it in 1984. So Pickering has had a showing of musicals for well over a hundred years.

The cost of putting these productions on and the dwindling audience numbers and performers caused us to make the decision really traditionally. We've done three performances a year, three productions. All mean well this year's concert and pantomime will still go ahead

So we will still be making an offering and involving our members. And the theatre obviously is still running as well"

Luke says that the cost to put on this production of Hello, Dolly! is higher than their pantomime, despite running for only six nights compared to the pantomime's 15 or 18 performances. The Society also faces challenges with a dwindling membership base, which has made casting these productions harder in recent years.

Set in 1890s New York, Hello, Dolly! follows matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi who decides it's time to find a match for herself. The show is filled with Broadway classics such as “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” and the iconic title number, “Hello, Dolly!”.

The cast is led by Rachel Anderson as Dolly Levi. The role of Horace Vandergelder is played by Tim Tubbs or Michael O’Brien. Stephen Temple takes on the role of Cornelius Hackl, with Barnaby Tucker played by Jack Dobson or Marcus Burnside. Other principal cast members mentioned include Paula Paylor or Paula Cook as Irene Molloy, Danielle Long as Minnie Fay, Courtney Brown as Ermengarde, Will Smithson as the artistic and earnest Ambrose Kemper, and John Brooks as Rudolph Reisenweber. The production is directed by Luke Arnold with musical direction by Clive Wass.

Adding to the scale of this final musical, a 10-piece professional orchestra provides live musical accompaniment, and talented students from the Sarah Louise Ashworth School of Dance contribute choreography. The production involves ambitious technical undertakings, with a complex array of lighting and sound equipment. A grand Harmonia Gardens staircase serves as a centerpiece of the elaborate set. The wardrobe department has created a rich collection of period costumes.

Despite the end of musicals, the Society's commitment to live performance continues. Their annual pantomime, described as a firm fixture in the Kirk Theatre calendar, will continue. The Society's popular concert, traditionally held in October, will move to a June slot starting from 2026.

Luke Arnold reflected that while ending musicals is a difficult choice, the Society must look to the future. He highlighted that they have a fantastic venue in the Kirk Theatre, which is "going from strength to strength" as they introduce new genres of musical entertainment, speakers, and maintain the vibrant pantomime tradition. The Society has a core support from Pickering and the wider district, with membership coming from areas including Whitby and Scarborough, as well as Pickering.

"It is the end of an era, but we are very lucky. We own the theatre. We have a theatre to run, and the theatre is going from strength to strength. So we've gotta look at the positives.

It's the end of an era with musicals, but we will keep doing things and we will keep the theatre going, which is the main thing.

We have a really good. Core support from Pickering and from the wider district.

In the short term, this is the decision we've had to make. If we had an influx of new members, then we might be able to do something. But it's trying to make the sums work. Basically "

The run of Hello, Dolly! is from Tuesday 10th June to Saturday 14th June, with evening performances at 7:30 pm and a matinee on Saturday at 2:30 pm. Early demand for tickets has been strong, with some performances nearing sell-out, and audiences are urged to book soon. The Society describes this production as not just a farewell, but a celebration and a tribute to the talent, community spirit, and dedication that has defined their musical legacy for generations.

Tickets are £18 standard / £16 concessions and can be purchased via:

• Website: https://www.kirktheatre.co.uk
• Phone: 01751 474833
• In Person: Box Office open Tuesdays from 11:00am – 1:00pm