Staff at the Grand Opera House in York are preparing for something a little different to the stage – they are set to become rowers for the day!
Staff at the theatre will take part in The York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge, taking place on 13th July – and they can’t wait to get stuck in! The boat race is a full-day event, raising funds for local charities. The race is a regular event in York and, over the past 22 years, has raised a cumulative amount of approximately £1.6 million for local charities*
The theatre’s theme for the event will be Cinderella, with the Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boat, celebrating all things panto!
Kat Moir, Theatre Manager and Team Captain, says:
“He’s behind you! That’s what we want to be hearing on Sunday 13th July when our dragon boat is soaring ahead! Here at Grand Opera House, we’re so excited to participate in York Rotary Club’s Dragon Boat Race. And there’s nothing we love more than a tie into panto (Oh yes we do!) and so we’ve decided to honour this year’s show by naming our team Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boat. If you couldn’t guess all ready, Cinderella will be gracing our stage in December and we can’t wait! Our boat-carriage awaits us; hopefully our Fairy Godmother can flash her wand and make all our racing dreams come true!”
The staff are delighted to be taking part and raising funds for the theatre’s nominated charity, Menfulness, a local, supportive men’s mental health charity. The money raised from the race will go towards urgent counselling for men at crisis point. The event should prove interesting with the Menfulness team also competing on the day! The teams will enjoy participating with the same goal in mind – to raise awareness and funds for Menfulness and, of course, to come first across the finish line!
Jack Woodhams, Menfulness CEO, says:“We’re absolutely delighted to have our friends and long-standing supporters at the Grand Opera House join us as charity partner for the Dragon Boat Race. Their ongoing support over the past few years has been nothing short of incredible. Every penny raised will go directly towards our support activities and free counselling services, helping us continue to make a real difference in the lives of men in the York community.”
Grand Opera House team members include staff from various departments, making this a real joint effort with many having never rowed before. The staff are all thrilled to help raise funds for an important cause.
Kat says: “While we hope the race is a fun day out, the most important part is the opportunity to raise much-needed funds and awareness for our partner charity, Menfulness. Mental Health can be so stigmatised, but Menfulness do great work in giving men opportunities to come together and share their experiences, hoping to end that stigma entirely. We’re proud to support their efforts (although we do hope to be faster than them!) and thank everyone who has donated to our campaign so far.”
The Rotary Dragon Boat Race takes place on Saturday 13 July 2025 on the river Ouse.
To support the Grand Opera House team and raise funds for Menfulness, please donate via the link HERE
Information about York Rotary HERE
Information about Menfulness HERE
Information about the York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge HERE
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