Set to be a scorching start to the summer, Royal William Yard has announced its calendar of events for the next couple months. Spanning culture, comedy, creative, culinary and more, this vast variety offers something for everyone. The vibrant line-up also sees Royal William Yard become one of the locations for Plymouth’s popular Pirates Weekend for the first time.  

Kicking off this week with murder and moonshine at a pop-up immersive theatre production, followed by music by the sea with the return of Yard Sessions later this month, and heading into June with an international film festival, there will be no shortage of entertainment. The waterfront visitor destination will also host extensive and exciting celebrations to mark the South West Coast Path’s 50th anniversary. 

Dates for the diary also include much-loved regular fixtures like the monthly Good Food & Craft Market, gigs and art workshops. The Yard’s businesses have pulled out all the stops too, with a new fish market, wine tastings, comedy evenings, paddle-boarding and swimming classes. Real Ideas will be rolling out a programme of print and art workshops and events at creative hub, Ocean Studios.  

  

What’s On: 

May 

• The Many Deaths of Michael Malloy: opening on 4 May, a new prohibition-era themed immersive musical comedy brings murder, moonshine and mayhem to Royal William Yard. Performances takes place Thursday to Sunday at 7pm, and a matinee on Saturdays at 2.30pm. Tickets are available here 
• Full Moon Paddle: on 5 May, 8pm to 9.30pm, join South West SUP for a Full Moon Paddle. Book places here 
• Summer Swim Group: 6 and 27 May, 9am to 9.30am, 27 May, 9am to 9.30am, ACE Swimming will run its group swimming sessions from Firestone Bay. Book places here  
• Print Tutoring: 6 May, 9.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30 to 4.30pm, print workshop and tutorial from Beth Munro at Ocean Studios 
• Live music at Le Vignoble: 5 May 4pm to 10pm ‘Soul Century’ Live DJ. Tickets available here. 6 May, 5pm to 7pm with Rue performing. Tickets available here 
• RWY Good Food & Craft Market: taking place on 7 May, from 10am to 3pm, on the green – in its regular slot on the first Sunday of the month. This leading local market boasts the best food, drink, crafts and creations from the region’s finest traders.  
• Coronation Celebrations: Join Hook & Line for a screening of the Coronation and celebratory meal offer at its fresh fish BBQ on Saturday 6 May. There will be free, Coronation-themed crafting activities for children at the Good Food & Craft market on Sunday 7 May. 
• Artist Community Critique: 9 May, 6 to 7.30pm, monthly artist community critique at Ocean Studios, linking to Plymouth Print Social. 
• Yard Create: 13 May at Hub Box, from 10am to 1pm, is a free children’s craft session, for little ones to unleash their creativity. 
• Yard Create: 15 May at The Club House from 6.30pm to  8.30pm, is a watercolour workshop hosted by local artist Jayne Ashenbury. Book tickets here   
• Print and Prosecco: 17 May, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, try your hand at printmaking at an evening taster class – complete with a glass of Prosecco on arrival – with artist Suzanne Drummond. Tickets available here 
• Wine Tasting: 18 May, 7pm to 9pm, Glassware Wine Tasting at Le Vignoble. A tasting of 6 wines to demonstrate the dramatic relationship between wine and its vessel. Tickets available here 
• Botanical Printing:  19 May, 10.30am to 2.30pm. Botanical printing on paper, an introductory workshop at Ocean Studios.  
• Pirates Weekend: taking place over the weekend of 20 to 21 May, from 10am to 3pm. There will be a host of swashbuckling activities on the lawn and around Royal William Yard, including entertainment, a treasure hunt, music, plus food and drink aplenty.  
• Yard Create: 22 May at The Club House, from 6pm to 8pm, is an Art in the Yard Drop-in Session – a regular get-together hosted by artist Jayne Ashenbury.
• Comedy nights: Friday 26 and Saturday 27 May at BLOCK from 7pm, A Press of Suspects comedy nights. Tickets available here 
• Yard Sessions: 26 May, 5.30pm to 8pm at Firestone Arch. In the scenic surrounds of Firestone Bay, relax with local musical talent with a drink in your hand as the sun goes down for the return of the popular summer Yard Session series. 
• The Club House: Plenty of entertainment on offer, with Club Live (live music) taking place on 7 and 28 May, from 12pm to 3pm, and Musical Bingo on 17 May, from 8pm to 10pm.  

  

June: 

• The Many Deaths of Michael Malloy: running until opening on Friday 30 June, this 1930s inspired immersive musical comedy invites you into our very own speakeasy, The Blind Pig, for a show like no other. Performances takes place Thursday to Sunday at 7pm, and a matinee on Saturdays at 2.30pm. Tickets are available here 
• Summer Swim Group: 3, 17 and 24 June, 9am to 9.30am, ACE Swimming will run its group swimming sessions from Firestone Bay. Book places here
• Print Tutoring: 3 June (9.30am  to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm), print workshop and tutorial from Beth Munro at Ocean Studios 
• RWY Good Food & Craft Market: taking place on Sunday 4 June, from 10am to 3pm, on the green. Bringing together the best of the South West’s artisans. There will also be free, family-friendly Geo Science craft activities and the Geo Trail interactive walking trail.  
• Yard Create: 5 June at The Club House, from 6pm to 8pm, is an Art in the Yard Drop-in Session – a regular get-together hosted by artist Jayne Ashenbury.  
• Wine Tasting: 8 June, 7pm to 9pm, Food and Wine Pairing Evening. Eye-opening and mouth-watering wine tasting evening to learn how to get food and wine perfectly shared and paired. Tickets available here 
• Yard Sessions: 9 June, 5.30pm to 8pm. Sundowners at sunset, with great music and vibes at Firestone Bay.  
• Yard Create: 12 June at The Club House, from 6pm to 8pm, is an Art in the Yard Drop-in Session – a regular get-together hosted by artist Jayne Ashenbury.  
• Artist Community Critique: 13 June, 6pm to 7.30pm, monthly artist community critique at Ocean Studios, linking to Plymouth Print Social. 
• Print and Prosecco: 14 June, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, try your hand at printmaking at an evening taster class – complete with a glass of Prosecco on arrival – with artist Suzanne Drummond. Tickets available here 
• South West Coast Path: 15 June. Marking the 50th Anniversary of the South West Coast Path, there will be multiple events site-wide at Royal William Yard, including the culmination of the 630-mile Trailblazer Walk and the launch of the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year exhibition in Ocean Studios (running until 27 July). 
• World Trails Film Festival: 15 to 17 June. Taking place as part of the South West Coast Path’s 50th anniversary celebrations, this international film festival will be held in Royal William Yard’s New Cooperage building. 
• Live music at Le Vignoble: 17 June, 5pm to 7pm, music from Blues Duo, Thomas Ford and Becca Langsford.  
• Yard Sessions: 23 June, 5.30pm to 8pm. Live music at Firestone Bay to ease you into the weekend in style.  
• The Club House: Club Live (live music) provides the entertainment on 24 June, from 12pm to 3pm, and Musical Bingo returns on 21 June, from 8pm to 10pm. Quiz Night, 7pm to 9pm on 29 June.  

  

Regular fixtures: 

Whatever your passion or pastime, there is bound to be something on at the Yard that appeals, with monthly and weekly events that cater for all: 

• The Hook & Line: all new weekly fresh fish market and BBQ will take place every Saturday from 10am, and also during the Good Food & Craft Market (first Sunday of each month, 10am to 3pm). Held outside the restaurant, The Hook & Line chefs will be on hand to give recipe suggestions and fillet fish. 
• South West SUP: Stand-up paddle boarding classes, lessons and hire, all from Firestone Bay. Club Social Paddles Tuesdays, 6pm to 7pm, Thursday 7am to 8am, Fridays 6pm to 7pm and Sundays 8am to 9am. Book a place here. Junior Club (age 10+) weekly sessions starting at the beginning of May and running on Tuesdays at 4.30pm and Sundays at 1pm – see more here 
• Le Vignoble: Wine Club Members Tasting is a complementary tasting for members - tickets by invite only but free to join.  
• Seco Lounge: Quiz night, Monday evenings. 
• Ocean Studios: Mark Fielding Portrait Clinic, Thursdays from 10am to 12pm. Mini Print Sessions for children, Saturdays 10 am to 11.30am. Build on your drawing and painting skills on the third Saturday of every month with Mark Fielding. Drawing from Life classes, 10am to 1pm.  

Keep up to date with What’s On at Royal William Yard at: royalwilliamyard.com/whats-on