Best Western Dean Court Hotel in York

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Curtain Up Theatre Breaks

"Curtain up" THEATRE BREAKS - exclusive to the                                    BEST WESTERN PLUS Dean Court Hotel

"Curtain up" THEATRE BREAKS - exclusive to the BEST WESTERN PLUS Dean Court Hotel

Enjoy live theatre at one of the nation's most highly acclaimed provincial theatres; The York Theatre Royal - whilst staying in 4-star luxury comfort in the heart of the city near York Minster.

In conjunction with Damian Cruden, Artistic Director at the Theatre, we have selected some excellent plays for our 2013 Breaks. We hope you agree!

After checking in, your evening begins with:

• A specially created pre-theatre Cocktail
• Pre-theatre Supper in THE COURT Cafe-Bistro & Bar. (Two courses with wine before the performance - returning afterwards for desserts and  coffee
• Dress Circle seats
• Interval drinks at the Theatre Royal
• Complimentary Programme

THE PLAYS - for 2013

English Touring Opera  - a Trio of (one-night-only) Operas

Thursday 11 April: Cosi fan tutte

One of Mozart's most famous operas, Cosi fan tutte is a high energy, laugh-a-minute comedy about making mistakes in love. In one day, two pairs of fiances are parted, and new fiances found, or so it seems. Discovering they are not at all the people they thought they were is strange, exciting, and very embarrassing. This new period production will be sung by a remarkable cast, including Kitty Whately (Rosina in ETO's The Barber of Seville at York Theatre Royal in 2012).
Sung in English.

Friday 12 April: Simon Boccanegra

Simon Boccanegra is a compelling drama set in the Italian port of Genoa. The title character is a former pirate who returns to the city to become its leader.
Verdi's depiction of the shimmering Mediterranean is wonderful. So too are the characters he creates, from Simon, the rough-hewn buccaneer, to his spiteful adversary, his own father-in-law.
The large orchestra and chorus make taking this opera on the road a massive undertaking, so this is a rare chance to see this little-toured masterpiece outside of London.
Sung in Italian with English subtitles.

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Saturday 13 April: The Siege of Calais

Donizetti's rarely performed epic The Siege of Calais, tells the story of the Burghers of Calais, who offered up their lives to save the citizens of their city from the English army. ETO's new production includes poignant scenes between the young couple at the heart of the drama and between the leader of the city and his anguished followers. Meanwhile, at the gates, the triumphant King Edward III shouts for blood.
Sung in Italian with English subtitles.

Fri 19 Apr - Sat 11 May  iShandy

Very loosely based on the novel by Laurence Sterne with footnotes, gratitude, savoury snacks and pregnant pauses.
Members of a teachers' Book Club meet to discuss the latest ambitious read in their season of Yorkshire classics, the insurmountable Tristram Shandy.
It's fun loving English teacher Susan's turn to host and as always, she insists on an elaborate fancy dress theme. As the friends gather dressed as characters from the novel, excitement builds about meeting the group's newest member. After all, he was the one who suggested Tristram Shandy in the first place!
However, this is no ordinary cosy night in with a good book as the evening takes some extraordinary twists and turns. As confusion mounts and hilarity ensues, the meeting descends into debauched absurdity and this cunning comedy becomes as saucy, surreal and dangerous as Sterne himself.
Warning. This product may contain unavoidable nuts and other adult themes, including at least 17 verbal references to *******'s and a visual *!
(This production contains nudity and is suitable for 16+)

Tue 21 May - Sat 25 May The Misanthrope

How to lose friends and infuriate people!
Master wordsmith Roger McGough dips his quill into a Moli¨re classic in this mockery of manners and morals set amid 17th century French aristocracy. Considered by many to be Moli¨res best work, The Misanthrope will again join the creative forces of McGough, director Gemma Bodinetz and English Touring Theatre to complete a tricolour of Moli¨re comedies following the huge successes of Tartuffe and The Hypochondriac.
Poet Alceste is disgusted with French society. Powdered fops gossip in code and bejewelled coquettes whisper behind fans wherever he looks. In pursuit of honesty, he embarks on a one-man crusade against forked-tongues, frippery and fakery. But could the woman he has fallen in love with be the worst culprit of all? And in this rarefied world will his revolution prove just revolting?
Anarchic, irreverent and hysterically funny. Flawless. The Observer on Roger McGough's Tartuffe

To see all three plays on the same day - Saturday 29 June, Saturday 6 July and Saturday 13 July

Henry VI Trilogy: Harry the Sixth, The Houses of York and Lancaster, The True Tragedy of the Duke of York

This is a fantastic opportunity to see Shakespeare's Globe opening a new version of the first part of The Wars of the Roses here in York before they take the production to London.
The plays which make up Shakespeare's Henry VI create a world without ideology; a savage time, when the heroes are not kings, but formidable women, such as Joan of Arc, or rebels, such as Jack Cade.
Bold characterisation, black comedy, rhetorical power and, in the personality of Henry VI, touching pathos combine in Shakespeare's powerful rendering of a country racked by civil war.

Wed 24 Jul - Sat 31 Aug   The Legend of King Arthur

The Final battle has come and Camelot has fallen into ruin.
But it wasn't always this way. Arthur, the boy who pulled the sword from the stone, would become King of the Britons and the figurehead of a band of knights revered for their bravery and acts of chivalry.
As knights and ladies, wizards and sorceresses gather to the fabled round table we will hear stories from a time when myth, magic and mystery were woven into the fate of a kingdom.
Discover how Arthur was given his powerful sword, Excalibur, by the Lady of the Lake. Meet Merlin the Wizard, Arthur's trusted teacher and friend. Learn of the love between brave Lancelot and Queen Guinevere and of the battle which would bring an end to the treasured realm of Camelot.
Created by York Theatre Royal who brought you the hugely successful summer shows The Railway Children, The Wind in the Willows and Peter Pan, this fantastical tale is bought to life with jousting, swords and sorcery. The Legend of King Arthur invites you to come and take your place at the Round Table.

MID-WEEK SAVER PRICES IN BRACKETS

NO HIDDEN EXTRAS! There are no extra costs! These prices are for a one night stay, for two people sharing, with full Yorkshire Breakfast plus all elements listed above -  and  excellent DRESS CIRCLE seats at the Theatre Royal

Please enquire about extra nights often at greatly reduced rates

BOOKING CONDITIONS for "CURTAIN UP" BREAKS

 A £50 per room deposit is required when making your reservation. Regrettably,  should you be forced to cancel within seven days of arrival, deposits will be retained.
Cancellations within 48 hours (2 clear days before arrival day)  will incur a 2/3rds of total price of your Break- unless the Hotel is able to relet your rooms at their Standard Tariff. In all cases the deposit will be retained