TICKETS will go on sale on March 14 for Hope, two concerts at the Milton Rooms, Malton, on May 15 in aid of Cancer Research that will be the culmination of a fund-raising programme under the title of A Decade Of Hope.

The events are being co-ordinated by Ryedale actress, choreographer and former Kirkham Henry Performing Arts student Chloe Shipley to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of her mother, Diane, who died from bowel cancer.

Hope will be a variety show, performed cabaret-style to audiences at tables in two sittings at 2pm and 7pm, by a company of familiar Ryedale faces assembled by Chloe.

Among them will be Scott Garnham, at present appearing as Feuilly in the 25th anniversary London production of Les Miserables; Lauren Hood, now in Canada performing in The Secret Garden; and Laurie Scarth, travelling nationwide in the UK tour of Hairspray in the lead female role of Tracy Turnblad.

Taking part too will be Lara Zoeller-Hare, who trained at Kirkham Henry Performing Arts and sang at Diane’s funeral; Olwyn Murray, a student at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, who appeared on Ireland’s Got Talent; and former York College students Nathan Lodge and Jordan Langford, who are now studying at Italia Conti.

“Each year a scholarship is given at Kirkham Henry in memory of Diane, and everyone who was won that over the past nine years will be performing at Hope,” says a delighted Chloe. Lauren and Laurie are among those scholars, as are Danielle Brown, now a pupil at Doreen Bird’s Bird College; Gemma Kirk, who has just finished her Italia Conti studies; Hayley Milner, now at Italia Conti, and two current Kirkham Henry students, Elizabeth Haigh and April Benson.

Chloe is directing the show and choreographing some of the routines, while fellow choreographers Angela Kirkham and Lesley Hill will provide four and two dances respectively. Anna Wragg, from Dance Expressions, will do a dance number too.

Martin Lettin and Simon Brookshaw will perform their Blues Brothers act, and York Stage Musicals actress Alicia Roberts will be singing too. Rory Queen, the Malton & Norton pantomime dame, will be the master of ceremonies, and Chloe will be joined by her equally musical sister and brother, Kirstie and James, for a routine before an ensemble finale.

“This is a show that will never happen again in Malton, getting all these people together to perform on one day,” says Chloe, who is now seeking company sponsorship for the Hope performances.

From March 14, tickets will be on sale at £12.50, available from Barrie Shipley on 01904 761809 or via an email request to adecadeofhope@hotmail.co.uk. “I’m sure there’ll also be people who can’t come but will want to give a donation to the charity,” says Chloe, who has set up an online giving page for Cancer Research at justgiving.com/chloe-shipley She hopes to raise up to £10,000 from a series of events before the Milton Rooms concerts. “We’ve already done a bucket collection and there’ll be a quiz night on March 22 at 7.30pm at Wills (CORRECT) Bar in Malton Market Place. Just turn up on the night and enter a team!” she says.

“We’ll also be holding a karaoke night or auction of promises at the Derwent Arms on a date yet to be fixed, and some people will be doing a sponsored sky-dive, and the new sports centre in Malton, near Malton School, will have a five-a-side football tournament and family fun day on May 1 to raise funds for A Decade Of Hope as well to promote the centre.”

Anyone keen to participate in the football event is asked to send an email to adecadeofhope@hotmail.co.uk.