COMEDY fans will be delighted with our next Stagefright Comedy club offering: our annual Edinbrugh Festival preview night on Saturday, July 8. You may recognise some faces from TV appearances and films, or have read their rave reviews in newspapers.

This year’s line-up includes Smug Roberts and Mundo Jazz. The intriguingly-named Smug Roberts’ career so far has included appearances in Phoenix Nights, That Peter Kay Thing, Mrs Brown's Boys, Cold Feet and even the Ken Loach film Looking For Eric. An established member of the British comedy circuit, he’s been described by Metro as “an act everyone deserves to see at least once”. Long-term Smug fans may remember his minor chart hit, Meat Pie Sausage Roll, which began life as a local radio comedy routine and made it to the heady heights of number 67 in June 1998.

Bringing music to the occasion, we welcome Mundo Jazz, who promises to make us laugh with his guitar-based musical improvisation. He’s been described by the BBC as “a brilliant character comedy worthy of Coogan or Kay”, although a live, latino answer to Spinal Tap also gets close to describing the Mundo Jazz experience.

The line-up will be completed by Dan Triscott, whose onstage arsenal includes surreal one-liners, short stories and topical gags; and finally, “Amazing” Grace Johnson, an improvisational punner. As always, the audience is in the safe hands of our faithful compere Anthony J. Brown.

To ensure a balance of light with shade, our next production is Terence Rattigan’s taut 1950s drama The Deep Blue Sea. This is a story of simmering emotions barely kept in check by the strict social conventions of post-war Britain. Rattigan’s writing oozes quality and is perfectly framed by the exquisite direction of Dick Hebbert, who regular theatre-goers will remember also brought us last year’s acclaimed production of My Boy Jack.

First performed in 1952, The Deep Blue Sea relives a day in the life of Hester Colyer, who has left her husband, a High Court Judge, for a former RAF pilot with a drinking problem. Flashbacks reveal the story of her tempestuous affair, which leads Hester to confront her future. It’s a tricky play to discuss without giving too much away, so let’s finish by saying that lovers of well-crafted theatre, exquisite writing and brilliantly revealed stories will find much to admire and enjoy.

Stagefright Comedy Club is on July 8 from 8pm. The Deep Blue Sea runs from Wednesday, Saturday 12 to Saturday, July 22.

To book tickets for any of our productions, please visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or phone the box office on 01943 609539. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest news and backstage gossip!