AN ALL-female cast will help give a contemporary twist to Moliere's classic The Misanthrope.

The play, which was first performed in June 1666 in Paris, will be brought to audiences at Ilkley Playhouse's Wharfedale theatre in March. And while the comedy of manners may seem far removed from a production in a Yorkshire town in the 21st century, audiences can expect to be surprised at the parallels that can be drawn with modern life.

A spokeswoman for the theatre said: "Moliere was a French playwright whose popular comedies satirised the aristocracy. The Misanthrope one of his most acclaimed plays, and contains a strong moral message, but that doesn’t make it pompous or stuffy – think of it as a cracking whip of wit and cutting satire. At its heart it’s a comedy.

"Presenting a 17th century play to 21st century audiences inevitably raises questions: of language, relevance and context, among others. The Playhouse production uses Tony Harrison’s celebrated 1973 translation – we took the controversial view that presenting it in late medieval French may limit its commercial appeal – and has been further updated by a contemporary setting, in the worlds of celebrity chefs and the media set. It also features an all-female cast.

"Perhaps there’s a certain assurance that our inevitable contemporary musings with the dissatisfaction of moral life were reflected centuries ago in another country. Moliere certainly had the same concerns, leading him to hold a mirror to the foibles and follies of the aristocracy. That’s perhaps less of a concern now, for which reason the cult of 'celebrity' is the 21st-century replacement. It’s a subtle shift, but it’s funny, bold and intriguing.

"And if the Master Chef host Gregg Wallace were a theatre critic we feel sure he’d say 'Theatre doesn’t get any tastier than this!' "

There is still time to book for the next Stagefright Comedy Club, on Saturday, March 3. Topping the line up is Lloyd Griffith, who is known to football fans from Sky's Soccer AM. Lloyd also appears on Radio 1's Live Lounge Comedy Club, and supported Jack Whitehall on his 2017 national tour. He is supported by Maisie Adam, who has appeared in the Ilkley Literature Festival Fringe. Anthony J. Brown is the evening’s MC, and there will be more comedians in the line up. The bar is open all evening and Stagefright tickets are £14.

The Misanthrope will be staged from Wednesday, March 7 to Saturday, March 17.

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