Edinburgh hit Yukon Ho! visits Bath’s Ustinov Studio

Yukon Ho!, the riotous one-woman show by internationally renowned choreographer Jennifer Irons, tours to the Ustinov Studio at the Theatre Royal Bath for one night only on Saturday 19th February. Dark, fearless, original, bizarre, at times tragic and very funny, this (mostly) true, cabaret-style show was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and now visits Bath as part of a UK tour. 

Image: Jennifer Irons in Yukon Ho!

Yukon Territory is where North America’s coldest temperature ever (-63 degrees Celsius) was recorded. It’s where there are more caribou than people, tossing chainsaws is entertainment, barbecued squirrel is food and watching bears forage at the garbage dump is a big night out. But it’s not all sophisticated fun. It’s a genuinely challenging place to live, where escape is difficult and where many people die tragically young as a result of accidents and the harsh Arctic winters. It’s where Jennifer was born and raised, dreaming of leaving.

In Yukon Ho!, Jennifer Irons is ‘Intrepid Jen’, telling the story of her upbringing and ultimate escape from an unbelievable life in Canada’s frozen north, and an eventual reconciliation through reconnection with her homeland. Audiences can expect to laugh, holler and learn how to be Bear Aware. 

‘Fascinating, laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly tender’ - The List

Growing up in a tough, isolated mining town with little prospect of reaching ‘The Outside’, Jennifer found release through performance. Her passion for dance subsequently led to an extraordinary journey out of the Yukon, and around the world. 

Jennifer Irons says: ‘If it wasn’t for dance, I’d have probably ended up pregnant, an addict or dead. However tough it is growing up – whether it’s in the Arctic or the city – the arts will always be a salvation. It’s a shame more governments don’t realise this. I mean, who would have ever thought doing high kicks for drunken miners would have got me to Britain? …Though drunken miners are still very welcome to buy tickets!’

Now living on the south coast of England, Jennifer Irons has won awards for her choreography, creating large-scale mass movement for outdoor festivals, working across commercial music videos, film and TV, and making dynamic new work for theatre. Amongst many other credits, she choreographed a number 1 hit single for Olly Murs and Rizzle Kicks and was Assistant Artistic Director for the Rugby League World Cup. She acted as Mass Movement Director for Akram Khan Company’s Kadamati at the 2018 Edinburgh International Festival and Associate Choreographer for Complicité’s Everything That Rises Must Dance. Jen was also once charged with teaching Boris Johnson to dance.

Yukon Ho! tours to the Ustinov Studio at the Theatre Royal Bath on Saturday 19th February. Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov