Next at Ilkley Playhouse, one of the greatest stories ever written
- Nick
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
The Ilkley Players will bring to life the extraordinary tale of Mary Shelley this month at Ilkley Playhouse. Caroline Mutton looks at this, Bronte, May's Stagefright Comedy, live music and an open day in June which will showcase the community theatre and venue.
From Thursday 24th April in the Wharfeside Theatre, Mary Shelley and how she came to write one of the greatest stories ever written. The daughter of the feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft and the radical philosopher William Godwin, Mary Shelley was raised in a free-thinking household of ideas. But when, aged sixteen, she eloped with the married poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, her father cut her off from the family. At eighteen, Mary wrote Frankenstein, a novel dedicated to her father, a novel that would change the literary landscape forever. Mary Shelley, written by Helen Edmundson, explores a key period in Mary’s life when the tensions in the Godwin house between the spirited Mary and her step mother are charted, as is the scandalous love affair between Mary and the poet, a young man so feckless you almost sympathise with Godwin’s concerns for his daughter. This compelling drama will run until Saturday 3rd May.
Our next play to open in the Wildman Studio is Polly Teale’s Bronte - a compelling literary detective story about the turbulent lives of the Bronte sisters. The play explores how three Victorian sisters living in isolation on the Yorkshire moor, came to write some of the most powerful and passionate fiction of all time. We see the real and imagined worlds of Charlotte, Emily and Anne as the fictional characters come to haunt their creators and how they are affected by their brother Branwell’s descent into alcoholism and insanity. This production is part of our Bronte project, in the year that Bradford is City of Culture and celebrating the wider district. The play runs from 12th till 17th May.
On Saturday 24th May Stagefright Comedy Club returns to the Wildman Studio. Imminent superstar Scott Bennett frontlines the event, well known from The Royal Variety Performance, Live at the Apollo, Live from The Edinburgh Fringe, The News Quiz, The Now Show, The Likely Dads and Elephant in the Room with Sarah Millican. He was UK tour support for John Bishop and Jason Manford. ‘Great material, great delivery, a very funny man' – (Rob Brydon). Yorkshire Comedy Awards Best Breakthrough Act and Hull New Comedian of the Year Jack Maclean also performs. He was tour support for Josh Jones who describes him as 'one of the best new acts on the circuit.’ Expect a cracking moustache, gaudy jumper, oodles of onstage charisma and hilarious, finely honed material. The Stand describe him as 'an absolute star. Very, very funny and likeable.' Amy Albright joins the line-up who is described as 'a warm presence with undeniable taste for comical adventure’(Comedy on the Coast). London Evening Standard's Critic's Choice and UK Pun Championship winner Rob Mann brings the evening to a close. The event will be fabulously compered by Anthony J. Brown.
The ever-popular Laurel Canyon Union return to Ilkley Playhouse on Friday 30th May. This union of fully professional, experienced musicians take their inspiration from the late 60s/early 70s American West Coast singer songwriter era, playing well -known songs from artists such as Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Eagles, James Taylor, Crosby Stills and Nash, Buffalo Springfield and many more. Opening the show are acoustic folk duo Reuben and the Bridge.
On Friday 6th June, enjoy a night of classics performed by Edinburgh festival award-winning vocalist, Oliver Harris, and the amazing Oliver Harris Band! He brings his tributes to The Caruso and King of Rock and Roll, Roy Orbison and Elvis. Oliver’s set-list includes Pretty Woman, I Drove All Night, You Got It, Only the Lonely, Heartbreak Hotel, Suspicious Minds, Wonder of You, and many more. If you love the classics, this is an event not to be missed!
An Open Evening on Wednesday 4th June will see Ilkley Playhouse opens its doors to showcase our wonderful community theatre. Don’t miss this opportunity to take a look at our wonderful space and peek behind the scenes to discover how our dedicated volunteers bring our productions to life! Enjoy guided tours where you can meet our stage management team, set designers, builders and painters, members of the technical team, members of the costume and props department and our front of house team. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. This is your chance to have a look around and be inspired to get involved.
To book tickets for all our plays and events visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or contact Ilkley Playhouse box office on 01943 609539.