Bongo's Bingo

Bongo's Bingo comes to York Barbican on Friday 13 November, bringing its interactive bingo show to Paragon Street. It's a format that's played in over 40 locations across the globe, and the promoters describe it as a night of madness, mayhem and sheer joy, where you join the host and the girls for what they call the night of your life.

If you've never come across it, it's not your typical bingo night. The whole thing leans heavily on nostalgia and fancy dress, and it's known for its themed editions. Past shows have run as Bongo's Bingo 90s, Bongo's Bingo Disney, Bongo's Bingo Country, Bongo's Bingo Halloween, Bongo's Bingo Presents Night At The Movies and Night Of The Divas. A recent special, 90s vs 00s, pitted the two decades against each other with throwback hits, dance-offs, rave rounds and bingo alongside era-defining pop culture and fashion: Backstreet Boys, Nirvana, TLC and 2Pac on one side, and The Wire, Malcolm in the Middle, iPods, PS2s and Daft Punk's 'One More Time' on the other.

That's the kind of thing that usually frames a Bongo's night — the bingo is the thread that holds it together, but the music, the costumes and the crowd are where it really lives. It's as much about the atmosphere as the game itself, and the fancy dress is a big part of the fun, so it's the kind of night that works best when you're fully in on it.

It's at York Barbican on Paragon Street, so it's right in the city centre. If you're planning to go, it's worth checking the official venue site for tickets and timings.