Thank you for visiting the site of Richard Kay – York based Performer, Writer, Choir Leader and Facilitator

Richard is represented by Northern Lights Management.

Current/Recent work:

Performer in ‘Football Freddie’ for Fidget Theatre, performing at Leeds Playhouse and on tour Spring-Summer 2023

Appeared as Estate Agent on Coronation Street

Corporate filming in Rome for ‘Companies Talks’

Further R&D on ‘Mother of the Revolution’ for archipelago theatre

Corporate roleplay and Facilitation in communication skills and behaviours for HM Coastguard, HMPPS, Severfield, NHS, Viiv, KPMG and NG Bailey

Richard continues his work as Musical Director of HMVC and Deputy MD of YPMVC. This includes some composition and arrangement work, recording of 4-part tracks and occasional choral workshops with school and community groups.

Recent work (last three years):

Commissioned to write fifth and sixth pantomime scripts (most recently ‘Treasure Island’, performed at York Theatre Royal) for Badapple youth theatre.

Appeared as Father Christmas for Castle Howard’s grotto in 2021 and 2022.

Performing ‘Tales from the Great Wood’ and own story show ‘The Tidy Fox’ for Badapple Theatre Company

Storytelling and writing for ‘The Voice Within’ project for Cross Lane Primary in Elland

Performer in York Theatre Royal’s ‘Green Shoots’ showcase, May 2022.

Written and performed storytelling shows ‘The Giants of Brimham’ and ‘The Flora, the Fairy, the Leapers and the Lizard’ for NT Brimham Rocks

Ongoing corporate roleplay and facilitation; delivered Assertiveness training days for Health Education England

In May 2021 Richard performed his new composition, For the Love of Singing, commissioned by York Theatre Royal for the “Love Bites” events that reopen the theatre.

Richard appeared in a film of “Eddie and the Gold Tops”, streamed in April 2021, and toured with “Tales from the Great Wood” through the Autumn 2021, both for Badapple Theatre Company

Worked as Musical Director/Composer for an R&D process exploring A Midsummer Night’s Dream for West Bank Park Theatre Project

Richard performed in, and produced, a radio play entitled “Togetherness” that he was commissioned to write for Badapple Theatre Company‘s podcast series. This is available to listen to here; Togetherness by Richard Kay It includes a new composition recorded by the Ryedale Voices during lockdown.

This work was made possible thanks to emergency funding from the Arts Council of England and is helping to inform future writing projects.

Throughout the Covid lockdowns, Richard ran Zoom rehearsals for York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir, Ryedale Voices, Leeds Male Voice Choir and Harrogate Male Voice Choir. This has included recording each part for around 120 songs, compiling virtual recordings, presenting live concerts on Zoom and Youtube and composing new music. To hear a selection of these tracks visit his YouTube channel.

For Christmas 2020, Richard created an online “Message from Father Christmas” service, which included bespoke message following a new poem, written and recorded by Richard and available to view here; A Message From Father Christmas

Richard’s composition entitled “Keep Singing”, has been published by Banks Music Publications and is available for purchase here

Further work (pre Covid):

Ongoing corporate roleplay for Gatenby Sanderson, Xperient, RPfT, Health Education England and The Christie

Actor in advertising campaigns for SBB Swiss Rail, Motorpoint, Bensons for Beds, Vaillant and Macmillans

Writer and producer of A Journey Through Time and Space for York’s Railways to Greenways project.

Writer of one of the winning radio plays in Script Yorkshire’s 30th anniversary Radio Drama competition, with his short play Mistaken Identity

As resident writer and director at York Maze for 10 years Richard wrote, directed and performed six different Halloween “Phantomimes” as well as creating four Summer shows and writing the scripts for the ever popular Crowmania Ride and Pig Racing attractions.
“If you’ve enjoyed the Maze’s shows before, you won’t be disappointed: it’s a suitably silly story, brought to life by a talented cast, hilarious props and a sparkling script. Expect daft songs, innuendos and audience participation: the kids loved it so much that they kept asking if we could see it again.” – Little Vikings UK

As Associate Director of Badapple Theatre Company Richard has co-directed several shows including Farmer Scrooge’s Christmas Carol, The Thankful Village, The Last Station Keeper, Eddie and the Gold Tops, The Elves and the Carpenter and The Snow Dancer.

“Rural Magic”

“Badapple Theatre triumphs in a tour that takes the magic of theatre to remote venues” **** The Stage, Dec 2015

Writer and performer of first ever Easter show for the Visit York and Little Vikings Easter festival entitled The Hunt for the Magical Chocolatey Chick.

Please visit the relevant pages to find out more about Richard’s work as an Actor, Singer, Writer, Presenter, Corporate Roleplayer and Drama Facilitator.