Caroline Mutton looks at what's on during November at Ilkley Playhouse.
Our next Wharfeside production opening on Thursday 2nd November is the fast moving, real-life crime drama The Incident Room. In 1970s Leeds the Millgarth Incident Room is the epicentre of the biggest manhunt in British history, for one of the most notorious criminals, Peter Sutcliffe. With public and political pressure mounting, hundreds of officers must work around the clock to end one man’s reign of terror in this gripping retelling of true events that took place on our doorstep. In this play Ilkley Players present a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of a pivotal moment in British history. The Incident Room explores the wider issues of misogyny and institutional negligence that surrounded the case, both at the time and in the present day. Olivia Hirst and David Byrne’s beautifully crafted play goes behind the scenes to investigate the case that nearly broke the British police force. Please note that the production contains strong language and strobe lighting. The play runs until Saturday 11th November.
On Friday 17th November Roisin Ban return to Ilkley Playhouse following a sell-out show last year. Meaning White Rose in Gaelic, Roisin Ban is a Celtic folk trio playing a mix of mainly traditional Irish and Scottish folk songs and tunes. This accomplished, professional band is well respected on the UK folk scene, having performed at numerous folk festivals in the UK, including their annual fixture at the Whitby Folk Week where they play for the set dance night as well as other concerts. Join this talented trio for an evening of lively Celtic folk music and song. The bar will be open from 7pm, the performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10.
Stagefright returns to the Wildman Studio on Friday 18th November. Frontlining this event is Stephen Bailey described as ‘a superstar in the making’ (British Comedy Guide) and ‘charming, sassy and very funny’. He is a star of Live at The Apollo and host of Celebs on The Farm. He was tour support for comedian Katherine Ryan and has starred in Roast Battle, Celebrity Coach Trip, Zoe Ball On Sunday, Safeword, Celebability and Big Brother's Bit On The Side. Joining him is New Zealand native Sully O’Sullivan who has performed professionally all over the world from Ohio to Oman. He has supported Tim Vine and Steve Hughes on UK theatre tours and is a four season veteran of New Zealand’s award winning TV stand-up showcase Pulp Comedy. He has been nominated for the Kiwi Comedy Industry's supreme award by the NZ Comedy Trust and by his fellow performers for the title of NZ's Best MC. Also performing is Welsh comic Vix Leyton. Discovered by Mark Watson on Twitter in 2019, she is an affable and ebullient storyteller with a keen eye for observation. Her panel show podcast 'The Comedy Arcade' is both an audio success and compelling live show. She picked up a nomination for Leicester Comedy's best podcast in 2021 and is racking up sell-out shows at Edinburgh Fringe. Helen Rice will also be performing on the night. Helen has been Showing Off at various venues around Yorkshire and the Midlands for the past four years and within her home city of Sheffield she has developed something of a cult following. She writes quirky songs and poems exploring a broad range of themes and reflecting on her experiences as a middle-aged disabled woman who ‘likes bread a bit too much’. She plays the accordion, keyboard and guitar in her own ‘unique, lo-fi style’. Her work is hard to categorise but usually results in equal amounts of amusement, bemusement and general musement. Northern comic Ben Silver will be joining this line-up of talented comedians. He will deliver tales of the human spirit through an absurd kaleidoscope of impressions, mis-directions and sprawling vignettes. The evening will be compered by the fabulous Anthony J Brown.
Our second fringe production of the season is Constellations which will be performed in the Wildman Studio from 23rd to 25th November. Nick Payne’s beautiful play explores how even the smallest change in our lives can dramatically alter the course we take. It is a spellbinding exploration of love, science, quantum theory and infinite possibility for heartbreak or for hope. This is a warm, funny and engaging love story, that ponders the paths in all our lives that remain untaken…..
To book tickets for all our plays and events visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or contact Ilkley Playhouse box office on 01943 609539.