'The home of street performance in York'

 

There have been performances in public places in every major culture in the world, dating back to antiquity. In medieval Europe local merchants would invite entertainers to their storefronts and public spaces to attract pedestrians and increase business.

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This tradition has continued in York with King’s Square being the home of street performance in York for over 40 years entertaining upwards of a quarter of a million people a year. The square is a small open space in the heart of the City situated at the top of the Shambles. Until 1937 it was the grounds of the Holy Trinity Church. Since that time it has seen performances from some of the best street performers from every continent (excluding Antarctica), has been home to several of the mystery and wagon plays and even had the Clash stop by on their busking tour of the UK.