Ilkley Playhouse

TO you, our wonderful, loyal audiences and supporters of Ilkley Playhouse, we are sure that you are aware that as of Saturday 21st March, we are closing our theatre to the public. This is following official government advice which stipulates that people should avoid public buildings, including theatres until further notice. We can assure you that we will review this on an ongoing basis and keep you informed via our website www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk and our Facebook page.

This week we had been hoping to bring you news of our forthcoming plays and events but sadly all we can say at this point in time is that we hope to reschedule some postponed events and productions when circumstances permit. If you have tickets booked, we will contact you directly as soon as possible. As we are a registered charity, we will be working hard to safeguard funds. In line with other venues we are asking patrons to consider supporting the charity by donating any refunds back to Ilkley Playhouse to help get us back on our feet when all this is over – this would be gratefully received.

Our audiences, our volunteers, our members, our staff and the local groups that use our facility, are such an integral and important part of the Playhouse community and an invaluable part of its successful running. In difficult times like these, people shine. Over the past couple of weeks particularly, faced with such a level of uncertainty, our Theatre Manager Justine Sowden has worked tirelessly to keep us updated, to ensure that everyone who works in the Playhouse and has visited the Playhouse has been informed of government advice about hygiene and that we are all as protected as possible. Our Artistic Director, Jamesine Cundell-Walker, has already presented ideas for our new and now re-arranged 2020/21 season, and we are all thinking positively about the future.

We do know that along with all theatres, both professional and amateur, the immediate future and the long-term future will present many significant challenges. Ilkley Playhouse has never ‘gone dark’ – except once when snow prevented performances of Les Liaisons Dangereuses! Different times, indeed! We will look forward to welcoming you back to our Playhouse with renewed energy to face these challenges, when we can.

Finally we want to thank you for your continued support and loyalty and we send you our very best wishes for the next stage in this unfolding drama.

Caroline Mutton and all at Ilkley Playhouse.