Drama isn’t just for the stage, it’s rehearsal for real life. We sit down with Chris Colebrookw from Colebrooke Productions to hear how a local Whitby performing arts school grew from a handful of children into a bustling community of young performers and adult learners, and why Chris is stepping away from his day job at the Whitby Pavilion to put his energy where it’s needed most.

Chris also shares why he wrote an open letter about drama provision at Whitby School, focusing on Key Stage 3. We talk about access and fairness for years 7, 8 and 9, and why drama education supports confidence, communication, imagination and employability. If young people spend so much time on screens, what happens when schools stop giving them structured time to speak, listen and work face to face?

After Chris, we have the usual local round up: the Grosmont suspension footbridge closure and the knock on effect for businesses and residents, fresh questions about the Whitby maritime hub costs and harbour funding, and a first look at the Treasury ahead of its opening on 8 June. Then we finish with seaside essentials: a council seagull strategy, gull stories, and the Royal Navy sending a seaboat to collect 50 portions of Magpie fish and chips.

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