LIGHTEN your January evening with laughter at The Ilkley Playhouse. Role Play, Alan Ayckbourn’s contemporary comedy, opened on the 17th of January to much chuckling and applause. Aykbourn began writing in the late 1950s; some 80 plus plays later he continues to produce critically acclaimed work – such as Role Play, a relatively recent offering from 2001.

This is the third play in a trilogy all set in the same Docklands yuppy flat. It sees a mismatched couple host a dinner party at which they plan to announce their engagement to their parents. The evening veers off on a somewhat unexpected course with the arrival of lap-dancer Paige, on the run from her violent boyfriend, closely followed by her gun-toting minder Mickey. Despite being the culmination of a trilogy, you don’t need to have seen the first two for this to make sense: it’s a perfect self-contained piece.

Servings of the Role Play dinner party are available until Saturday, January 27 with a matinee performance on January 20.

The Ilkley Playhouse website is brimming with new offerings. February sees us welcome Visitors by Barney Norris, a tender look at a long and happy marriage. It also explores the themes of ageing, family support and the struggle for survival in the farming industry.

March contains entertaining, comedic and intelligent delights. As well as our regular Stage Fright Comedy Night, the Playhouse presents Molliere’s The Misanthrope in an adaptation by Tony Harrison: it’s a contemporary all-female production set in the glamorous world of high-stakes cookery books. Sacre bleu! Cordon bleu! It’s a tasty treat not to be missed.

April holds the dramatic and poignant Journey’s End by R C Sherriff, while Claptrap Theatre Company bring their production Blindfold to the Wildman Studio. We also have a special evening of comedy coming up with a very popular local guest.... more about that to come!

Role Play: Wednesday, January 17 to Saturday, January 27. Visitors: February 6 to 10. Stage Fright Comedy Night: March 3. The Misanthrope: Wednesday, March 7 to Saturday, March 17. Journey’s End: Wednesday, April 18 to Saturday, April 28.

To book please call 01943 609 539 or go to www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk