New season at York Theatre Royal

“It’s a mixed season but with a lot of comedy,” he says, introducing the line-up in the main auditorium.

“While trying to battle against the notion of the blues, we’re looking to provide plenty of humour and light and fun in the early, dark months of the new year, along with some really big classic texts for people to come out to, and shows for young people too.”

Warming to his theme, Damian says: “Is life about having 85 TV channels in front of you and ossifying in your living room or going out and doing things? I think lots of people will turn to shared experiences: when times are tough, people turn to that, sharing their woes and joys, whether going out with friends to a comedy night, or watching their children in a youth theatre show, the act of going out is really important.”

He notes a further factor that may benefit theatres.

“It may not be as readily possible to go abroad this year, so it will become more important to go and see things that have a really big impact, to have a good day out that feels really worthwhile.”

One such show, one that provides the headline story for the Theatre Royal’s year ahead, is The Railway Children, booked for a second ride on the tracks at the National Railway Museum from July 23 to September 5.

Following last summer’s successful union between theatre and museum, Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E Nesbit’s story has been granted a run even longer than the annual Berwick Kaler pantomime.

“We’re really pleased the show is coming back and hopefully we’ll have most of the original cast back too to recreate it from last summer,” says Damian, who will direct the revival. “What’s been so lovely has been the demand for it to come back and everyone has been so confident about bringing it back.”

The cornucopia of comedy begins with the two touring shows: Boeing Boeing’s turbulent tale of a Parisian architect trying to balance the demands of his three air-hostess fiancées, from February 24 to 28, and Tony And Twizzle, The Glory Years, from March 5 to 7.

On tour after its West End revival last year, Marc Camoletti’s French farce Boeing Boeing is directed by the York-raised director Matthew Warchus, while Tony And Twizzle’s spearing of showbiz gossip is the latest satirical vehicle for the Lip Service satirical duo of York actress Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding.

“Boeing Boeing is a fun show, and there’s something nice about a show directed by Matthew, who was part of Youth Theatre Yorkshire in York, coming here now that he’s an Olivier Award winner,” says Damian.

The comedy will continue with Nicki Frei’s adaptation of another French farce, George Feydeau’s Where There’s A Will, directed by Sir Peter Hall in a new production for English Touring Theatre, from March 10 to 14; Nick Lane’s revival for Hull Truck Theatre of John Godber’s satire on winning the lottery, Lucky Sods, from March 17 to 21, and Victoria Wood’s new stage spin-off from her television sitcom, dinnerladies, from March 24 to 28. York actor Andrew Dunn and Shobna Gulatii will reprise their roles from the BBC series.

Comedy of the Shakespeare variety is booked in for April 25 to May 16 when associate director Juliet Forster directs the Theatre Royal production of Twelfth Night (Or What You Will).

Even Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming, a production already planned before the playwright’s death at Christmas, will have shards of comedy in its run from May 30 to June 20.

“The Homecoming is dark but it’s black humour,” says Damian, who will be directing the show, set in an old and sinister house in 1960s’ North London.

“It’s off the wall, dealing with misogyny and sexual politics and how men cope with out women or living without them.”

For tickets, ring 01904 623568 or book online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk