GIVE the gift of drama, comedy, thrills or mystery this Christmas!

It’s nice to have something to look forward to after the festivities are over – and a trip to the bright lights of theatreland could be just the, ahem, ticket (pun intended) for a loved one on a damp January (or February, or March…) evening.

Drama can be a transporting experience. You can step inside the world of a detective getting to the bottom of why Ruth Ellis shot her boyfriend in Amanda Whittington’s play Thrill of Love by (January 17th to 26th); or why not take a walk with Alan Ayckbourn into Haunting Julia, the ghost story of an adolescent musical prodigy found dead in her student flat (February 4th to 9th).

If laughter’s what you’re after, you can experience comedy and delight at our next Stagefright stand-up comedy night. It’s an award-winners special, featuring Christian Reilly and Tom Wrigglesworth on Saturday, February 16th (for over 16s only!). For younger people – in years or at heart – January also brings our Greenroom retelling of Pinocchio (Saturday and Sunday, January 12 and 13 at 2pm).

A pair of classic dramas follow later in the year: Spring and Port Wine and On Golden Pond. There’ll also be music events, with the return of the popular Simon Mayer and Hilary on March 23rd and a pleasing dose of 60s and 70s West Coast Americana, courtesy of Laurel Canyon Union on March 22.

And don’t forget how magical the gift of an experience can be. So magical that we even have magicians for you to see! Tickets are now available for magicians Forster & Smith, presenting their new show full of magic, mind reading, suggestion and comedy.

And if you are looking for a bit of drama this side of Christmas, you may just be in time to bag one of the remaining seats for our fantastic production of A Christmas Carol. We have had so many wonderful comments from audiences about this production – it’s one to remember, so see if you can find tickets for the remaining performances at 7.30pm on December 13th, 14th and 15th, and the matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday, December 15th.

Finally, why not pop into our Christmas Fair, also this Saturday, December 15? Doors open at 9.30am. Entry is free and inside you will find stalls, refreshments, performances and much festive cheer!

More about these events can be found on our website www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk. One more benefit of giving a Playhouse present – it’s all bookable from the comfort of your living room by visiting out website or calling 01943 609539.

by Claire Emmott