The Scarborough Spotlight Podcast

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In May, The John Godber Company are bringing 'Do I Love You?' - a Northern Soul themed stage show - to the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.

Sophie Bevan from The John Godber Company is part of the show and she joins the podcast to talk about what makes it worth going to see!

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Writer and Director Steve Wallis joins the podcast for the second time to chat about his two stage shows he is bringing to Scarborough Spa Theatre in the coming months.

Firstly there is ‘The Mod Crop’ written by Steve himself along with Quadrophenia novelist Alan Fletcher. 

And there is also news on Steve’s other creation ‘Hannah: The Soldier Diaries’ as the story delves deeper with ‘The Missing Pages’. 

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Scarborough Spa Theatre:

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Unity Racing, based at Scarborough UTC, are a team made up of teenagers Jack, Matiss, Ryan and Billy who compete in the 'F1 In Schools' STEM competition.

The team had a very successful 2024, competing in the world finals in Saudi Arabia and the boys are hoping to go one better in 2025, by aiming to become World Champions.

Sponsor:

If you are an individual or business who is interested in sponsoring the hardworking and talented members of Unity Racing as they compete in 2025 please check out their profile here (where you can find contact details):

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Newby and Scalby Library is a community run library which has recently been awarded the prestigious 'King's Award For Voluntary Service' - an equivalent to an MBE.

Isobel Nixon is the Chair of Trustees at the library and explains what The King's Award is and why they were awarded it, the history of the library as well as the many different ways they serve the local community.

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Scarborough Disability Action Group is a registered charity based at The Street. The charity was setup by disabled people, for disabled people and helps an incredible 6000+ people every year.

In this episode we hear from the Chair of Scarborough DAG, Ian Whitfield as well as Manager, Tim Vasey.

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Beckview Studios is an incredible residential recording studio based in Scalby village, providing world class facilities for a wide range of artists.

In this episode you'll hear from owners Chris and Kristina Jones who made their dream a reality when creating the studios.

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The Hub Sea Swimmers are a social swimming group who meet a couple of times a week. During this episode, we went along to one the groups ‘Moonlight Swims’ and chatted to the founder Roxanne as well as a few of the brave souls who took a dip in the North Sea on a chilly summers evening.

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The South Cliff Gardens are one of Scarborough's most scenic and beautiful places. Having undergone a huge regeneration a couple of years ago, the gardens are thriving.

In this episode, The South Cliff Gardens Community Engagement Officer, Gemma Alexander, sat down for a conversation in Beeforth's Hive to explain all about the gardens and the events that take place there too.

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Scarborough Atlas is a free online website that delves into the town's history in a series of trails that links places in town with real artefacts held by Scarborough Museums and Galleries.

Yasmin Stefanov-King lead the team who developed the website (which is hosted by Scarborough Museums and Galleries) and spoke to Scarborough Spotlight about the project and what people can expect when they access the resource.

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In this episode I had the good fortune to chat to the very talented Zoe Wright and Stephen Alexander, lead actors in upcoming Scarborough musical 'Hannah - The Soldier Diaries', as well as the show's director Darren Johnson.

The cast and crew are a week into their rehearsals ahead of the shows World Premiere at Scarborough Spa Theatre on April 9th 2024 and we discuss 'Hannah', how they all got involved in the project and why you should definitely go and see the musical in April!

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St Martin-on-the-Hill church sits on Scarborough's South Cliff. The church building was built in the mid 1800s and features a lot of work by Victorian designer William Morris.

In this episode Mike Bortoft, a retired teacher, keen historian and member of St Martin's Church chats to Ian about the history of the church, explaining many of the incredible features that make the church such a charming place to visit.

Scarborollers are a skating group created a couple of years ago by 'French Dave'. The group has grown steadily, recently moved to a more suitable venue and has ambitions to grow further.

In this episode I chat to French Dave about how Scarborollers started, what people can expect if they go along and how they can get in touch if they are interested.

Later, I chat to Eleanor, one of the skaters at Scarborollers who explains why she loves the group so much.

Members of 'Run Scarborough' are taking part in a 48 hour running relay this weekend, all in aid of St Catherine's Hospice. Runners sign up for a one hour slot and run with a partner.

It's the 4th time Run Scarborough have done a continuous running challenge.

In this podcast I speak to Run Scarborough founder Paul Sutherns about the ethos of Run Scarborough as well as the 48hr challenge.

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Donate to St Catherine's Hospice

As a nation of tea lovers there aren't many situations that a cup of tea can't make a little bit better! Hisham and Lisa are a couple who love tea so much they set up their very own organic tea company - The Finest Organic Tea Company - right here in Scarborough.

Hish and Lisa explain, in this episode, why they started the company, where their love of tea came from and why being organic was vital to them.

Find 'Finest Organic Tea Company':

Hannah - The Soldier Diaries is a new musical production made and set in Scarborough!

Featuring 11 original songs Hannah - The Soldier Diaries  is a story of love, separation and an uncertain future. It features 11 original songs as the story of hairdresser Hannah and Lance Corporal Jack Webb’s romance unfolds on stage.

Ian sat down with Steve Wallis the writer and director of Hannah - The Soldier Diaries to find out more about this exciting new production coming to Scarborough Spa Theatre in April 2024.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit these websites:

Stephen Joseph has a theatre named after him in Scarborough, but why?

Who was Stephen Joseph? What impact did he have on a young Alan Ayckbourn? And why is he considered a revolutionary?

Find out in this bonus episode with Simon Murgatroyd, official archivist to Sir Alan Ayckbourn.

Find Simon and keep up to date with what he is up to, including talks here:

Sir Alan Ayckbourn is arguably the most famous name associated with Scarborough. The playwright has written an incredible 90 plays, most of which have premiered in Scarborough at the Stephen Joseph Theatre.

Such is the depth of his work, Sir Alan, has an archivist who maintains the collection. That person is Simon Murgatroyd who also happens to be a theatre historian. Simon sat down with Ian to discuss Ayckbourn's career as well as his work with the archives.

Keep an eye out for a mini bonus episode with Simon that will drop on Wednesday 24th January.

Find Simon and keep up to date with what he is up to, including talks here:

In this episode... Ian sits down with Andrew Clay the Chief Executive of Scarborough Museums & Galleries to discuss Woodend Gallery & Studios, one of the centres under his guidance.

Woodend has a fascinating history, with the aristocratic Sitwell family owning the property and extending it whilst under their care at the turn of the 20th century.

Today, it is a creative hub filled with a variety of working professionals. However Woodend is also open to the public. In this interview Andrew explains some of the history of Woodend and shares his hopes for the future too.

Andrew also discusses his wider role as the head of Scarborough Museums and Galleries, a position that includes running both Scarborough Art Gallery and the famous Rotunda Museum.

Find out more about Woodend here:

Glenda Young is a novelist who has written three 'cosy crime' books that are set in Scarborough. Glenda also writes historical saga novels that are set in the North East of England just after World War 1.

Her latest Scarborough based book is called 'Foul Play At The Seaview Hotel' and tells the story of a group of crazy golfers who visit the fictional Seaview Hotel and its landlady (turned amateur sleuth) Helen Dexter.

In this episode, Glenda chats to Ian about her 'Seaview' series, her love for the town as well as crazy golf and even Coronation Street!

Glenda's website can be found here: