Specsavers in Ripon are celebrating five years of supporting one of the city's annual cultural events.
Specsavers Ripon has backed the Ripon Theatre Festival since it launched in 2021, helping to support performances and activities as the festival marked its fifth anniversary this year.
The eight-day festival featured more than 100 events at venues across the city, including Ripon Cathedral, Spa Gardens and Market Place, with a programme of theatre, music, circus, puppetry and street entertainment.
This year's sponsorship from Specsavers Ripon supported professional performances at Ripon Arts Hub, the open-air production of Romeo & Juliet by The Dukes Theatre Company at the Old Deanery Hotel, and a range of Sunday events, including the one-woman show The Poetic Life of Philomena McGuiness and street performances in Market Place.
Festival Director Katie Scott said:
"Ripon Theatre Festival celebrated its five-year milestone, and we are proud of all we have achieved so far, thanks to supporters such as Specsavers Ripon.
"Local support is vital to the ongoing success of the festival, as well as the wider cultural landscape. Ticket income makes up less than a third of the revenue required each year, making external backing not just valuable but essential.
"Specsavers' sponsorship helps us create a festival accessible to audiences from all income backgrounds, ages, and interests. Such sponsorship enables us to bring the best touring theatre companies and artists to showcase their work alongside talented community performers."
Acts appearing during this year's festival included the Edinburgh Fringe production Down to Chance, One Man Poe, as well as performances featuring circus, knitting cabaret and puppetry.
Annette Duffy, Retail Director at Specsavers Ripon, said:
"On behalf of the team, we are always proud to be key sponsors of the Ripon Theatre Festival, and celebrating its fifth anniversary this year is a testament to the passion the organisers have for the eight-day extravaganza and curating a diverse range of acts and artists that can captivate visitors every year.
"Supporting key cultural moments in our community's calendar is something we cherish in store, and we understand how much it means to many of our customers.
"It's been a wonderful week, and we can't wait to see what they have in store for next year."
The Ripon Theatre Festival was established in 2021 and has grown into an annual programme of performances and events held across venues and outdoor spaces throughout the city.
