Rejoicing in Ripon: Hugh Bonneville to headline fundraising evening for Ripon Theatre Festival
🎭✨Downton Abbey and Paddington star Hugh Bonneville to headline fundraising evening for Ripon Theatre Festival
Acclaimed actor Hugh Bonneville (Pictured) is coming to Ripon for a very special fundraising evening in support of Ripon Theatre Festival.
The Downton Abbey and Paddington star will appear at Holy Trinity Church on Saturday 21st November, for an evening exploring his celebrated career on screen, his life in theatre, and passion for acting.
All profits from the event will go directly to Ripon Theatre Festival, helping the volunteer-led charity continue bringing high-quality, affordable and accessible theatre and live performance to people across the city.
Hugh is one of Britain’s most recognisable actors, known internationally for playing Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in Downton Abbey, as well as Mr Brown in the hugely popular Paddington films.
His career spans theatre, television and film, and he is a longstanding supporter of organisations encouraging access to theatre and the arts.
Hugh will be interviewed on stage by former BBC Radio York presenter Anna Wallace, in what promises to be a warm and entertaining conversation spanning his career.
Ripon’s Downton connection ✨
Ripon is the closest real cathedral city to the fictional estate of Downton Abbey, serving as a frequent plot reference and actual filming location in the franchise. The Royal Ascot scenes in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale were partly filmed at Ripon Racecourse.
The show’s creator, Julian Fellowes, spent a significant part of his youth in North Yorkshire while attending Ampleforth College. His teenage years near Ripon, alongside neighbouring market towns like Thirsk and Malton, left him with a lifelong affection for the area. Fellowes initially considered shooting the series around the Ripon area before choosing Highclere Castle in Hampshire.
The real Lord Grantham💛
Newby Hall in Ripon was the seat for the real Lord Grantham, an amateur architect who designed the cell block that now houses the Ripon Prison and Police Museum. The third Baron Grantham, later Earl de Grey, was uncle of the Marquess of Ripon.
Hugh will also talk about another role – bestselling children’s author.
The evening will also include a signing of Hugh’s new children’s book, Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea, hosted by The Little Ripon Bookshop, offering audiences the chance to pick up a signed copy in time for Christmas.
Published by Bloomsbury in October, the book is the second instalment in Hugh’s Rory Sparkes series and follows the young storyteller as he becomes caught up in a mystery involving secret messages, spies and a rather suspicious amount of tea.
Illustrated by Loretta Schauer, the book combines mystery, mischief and humour and is aimed at readers aged seven to eleven.
Hugh Bonneville said: “Theatre and live performance have played such an important part in my life and career, so I’m delighted to be supporting Ripon Theatre Festival and the work it does to bring the arts to audiences across the city.
“Festivals like this can make a real difference, not only by creating opportunities for artists but by taking performance out into the community and making sure as many people as possible can experience it. I’m very much looking forward to coming to Ripon, talking about my life in theatre and beyond, and meeting audiences there.”
The event represents a major fundraising opportunity for Ripon Theatre Festival, a small independent festival with an ambitious mission to bring professional theatre and live performance into the heart of its community.
Run by a small team of volunteers, the festival works with local supporters, funders and partners to create a cultural programme for a rural city where opportunities to experience professional live performance can otherwise be limited.
Its work goes far beyond traditional theatre venues. Alongside ticketed performances, the festival provides free outdoor and street theatre, works with schools and young people, and takes creative activity directly into community settings.
Its 2026 programme included professional theatre, opera, dance, comedy, family performances, workshops and extensive free activity in public spaces. The festival also runs outreach initiatives designed to reach people who might otherwise face barriers to participating in the arts.
Funds raised through Hugh Bonneville’s appearance will help the charity keep ticket prices affordable, continue free performances, support emerging artists and extend its work into community settings across Ripon.
Katie Scott, Director of Ripon Theatre Festival, said: “Having Hugh Bonneville support Ripon Theatre Festival in this way is incredibly special for us. We are a small, volunteer-led organisation with big ambitions for what arts and culture can do for our city.
“Every year we work hard to bring exceptional artists and performances to Ripon, while ensuring that cost, age or circumstance do not prevent people from taking part. An evening like this will not only raise vital funds but introduce our work to new audiences and supporters and give the festival an enormous vote of confidence.
“We are hugely grateful to Hugh and cannot wait to welcome him to Ripon.”
Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog: “The theatre festival has been a massive success for the city since its launch as a three-day event in 2022.
“It has grown year on year and the 2026 season, combining first-class theatre productions, free family-focused activities and performances for people of all ages, saw it staged over eight days, putting Ripon firmly on the festival map.”
The evening with Hugh Bonneville is produced for Ripon Theatre Festival by Cause & Effect PR and sponsored by Hethertons Solicitors.
It will take place on Saturday 21st November at Holy Trinity Church, Ripon, followed by a signing of Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea, hosted by The Little Ripon Bookshop.
