FANS of literary horror should pencil in a visit to Otley Courthouse next month.

Box Tale Soup Theatre Company will present The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James, at the venue on Saturday, September 14.

An adaptation of the famous novella, the show combines human and puppet performances to bring the gothic horror story to fresh life.

The tale tells of a governess who is charged with looking after two small children in the isolated country estate of Bly House.

She is charmed at first by her surroundings - until sinister figures appear, intent on corrupting the children as the governess battles to save them.

A Courthouse spokeswoman said: “Back by popular demand following performances of Wind in the Willows and Northanger Abbey, this latest production by Box Tale Soup Theatre Company was a sell-out at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

“Creepy and tense, this is an imaginative and thoughtful adaptation that will delight fans of the gothic and macabre and promises to be another entertaining evening.”

The Turn of the Screw was published in 1898, first appearing in serial format in Collier’s Weekly magazine.

It went on to enjoy success as a novella, hailed by academics and the public alike, and has been adapted many tines for film, radio, television and stage.

James’s story is also often cited as one of the best ghost stories ever written.

The show at the Courthouse begins at 7.30pm - the bar will open 45 minutes beforehand - and tickets cost £12.

A little later in the month, on Friday, September 20, music will take centre stage at the venue.

Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman will perform on the night as part of Otley Folk Festival - which this years runs from Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 22.

Known for their ‘blazing guitar and dancing harp’, the duo will be supported by Kitty Macfarlane, a songwriter and guitarist from Somerset.

Chris Newman has been hailed as one of the UK’s most influential acoustic guitarists while Maire Ni Chathasaigh is a renowned, award-winning Irish harpist.

The pair were recently presented with two 2019 Livies Awards by LiveIreland - one for Concert of the Year and another, for Chris, as Male Musician of the Year.

Their Otley show starts at 8pm and tickets cost £20. To book tickets for these and other forthcoming events visit www.otleycourthouse.org.uk, call (01943) 467466 or pop into the Courthouse, on Courthouse Street.