The Old Paint Shop is back and better than ever. In 2025, the Studio at York Theatre Royal is once again being transformed into cabaret club The Old Paint Shop, an apt name for a space that pre-Studio housed the theatre’s workshop.
Join us for a an incredibly special season of shows featuring an eclectic mix of comedy, music and York’s very own internationally acclaimed burlesque star Freida Nipples.
Seating will be cabaret club style and unreserved offering a unique, intimate theatrical experience where audience members are encouraged to grab a drink at the bar, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
23 January – Come Play With Me Presents: Mica Sefia
Future-soul Artist Mica Sefia endorses the interpretive nature of music as an art to be studied and related to by the public. Mica’s own exploration of self-expression solidified her passion in the production of a timeless and authentic style of music. Preferring to keep her lyricisms and narrative open to interpretation, Mica relates to a balanced approach to song writing, in which her music remains subjective, but retains its emotive sensitivity. Mica’s music leans into the genre of Alt Soul, Jazz and Soft Rock intertwining to create atmospheric sounds and textured layers.
24 January – Frankie Monroe and Friends
BBC New Comedy, and Edinburgh Newcomer Winner Frankie Monroe comes to York for an evening of laughs, tricks and mucky bitter. Join the owner of the Misty Moon (a working men’s club in Rotherham that is also a portal to hell) as he does his biggest show yet with some of York’s finest cabaret performers.
25 January – Hyde Family Jam Burns Night
The beloved York band, famous for their fusion of irreverent covers, folk instrument and punk energy, return to YTR for a special show celebrating Burns Night. Since 2014 the band have appeared in many forms, to delight and entertain on the streets, in clubs, castles, tipis, tapas bars, stately homes and even on film sets.
30 January – Come Play With Me Presents: An Evening with Hannah Rowe
Hannah Rowe’s emotional range transcends generations; the young singer writes about experiences and shifts in life, offering all listeners a sense of reflection within her rich, authentic, jazz-infused sound.
31 January – Karl Mullen
A familiar sight to York visitors as the busker with an upright piano playing around the Minster and Pub Piano Champion at the Leeds Piano Competition! Expect a highly entertaining mix of everything from Chopin to Oasis, via Led Zeppelin and Les Dawson, delivered with a large dose of humour and stories!
01 February – Haus of Games with the Isolation Creations
Join the queens of comedy for an evening of adults only fun, games, bingo, daft prizes, and a party atmosphere like no other! The Isolation Creations are inspired by the old-fashioned drag of Les Dawson, Dame Edna, Dick Emery, Lily Savage. Their characters embody the spirit of British drag — think cheeky barmaids, Seaside B&B landladies, and your nanna’s gossipy friends!
07 February – The Beverley Beirne Trio
Join us for an evening with one of the UK’s finest jazz singers. Beirne will be performing some of the finest songs in the jazz repertoire alongside Alec Robinson on piano and Emlyn Vaughan on bass. Beirne has performed at leading clubs throughout the UK and Europe and headlined at Marsden Jazz Festival and Limerick Jazz Festival with her band of leading young U.K. musicians.
08 February – Frieda Nipples presents The Exhibitionists
Join York’s own Internationally Award-Winning Burlesque Artist Freida Nipples as she welcomes some of her favourite and most fabulous performance artists from across the UK and further afield to YTR this October. Get ready to be dazzled, shocked and in awe by these performers. Only a few things are guaranteed: glamour, gags and giggles.
The Old Paint Shop is at York Theatre Royal from 23 January – 08 February
Find out more information and book your tickets here.
