AS Geoffrey Mogridge so clearly outlined in the Gazette (20th April 2020, ’Pandemic lockdown threatens local halls and theatres’) the future of all arts events (in the widest sense) is seriously threatened. Everyone is thinking and planning for an uncertain future with no opening date and no script. Everyone, whether in the professional world or the amateur and community worlds of all arts and creative endeavours, is fearful.

Maintaining our wonderful theatre spaces and varied arts programming at Ilkley Playhouse is vital to our members, community and diverse audiences. Thousands of people visit each year to enjoy our wide range of productions, activities, and opportunities.

This is such a challenging time for us, and we do not know when we will be able to reopen. Our audiences and community are what make our theatre special and we are hugely grateful for your support and patience.

We need your help now more than ever; if you can offer a donation, we would be incredibly grateful. You can donate online today via our website by clicking the Donate button on the right hand side of our front page at: www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk

However, despite this testing time, the energy and creativity of all arts-based projects is beginning to bloom! The big dogs like the RSC, The National, Opera North; museums and choirs; musicians and writers are all sharing their work and encouraging us all to watch, take part and become our own artists.

Thursday night clapping for the NHS is growing into a community event for many; amateur musicians and singers are sharing their skills with neighbours and we are all learning the importance of our local community, perhaps more than we ever have.

As Laurence Olivier said: ‘I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theatre is the outward and visible sign of an inward … culture.’ All of us at Ilkley Playhouse certainly endorse that viewpoint and we continue to plan for our future as much as we can.

We have a season, ready to go: the first plays are cast and actors and directors, set designers and costume and technical crews are all raring to go, when we can – if we have to keep adjusting things, we will.

We have had to furlough some of our amazing team; we have been applying for grants and government support to ensure we are as buoyant as we can be when we can resume. Behind the scenes and in the ‘dark’ we have been trying to keep a sense of our Playhouse community alive through various Facebook initiatives: the most recent being members posting their own Kitchen Sink dramas and poetry recitations.

We are collaborating with the Manor House with their Facebook Storytime initiatives and we are also hoping to be involved with some new drama writing so if you know of anyone writing radio plays about the current state of Covid-19 life or a locally based ghost story or even an Ilkley-based soap opera, please contact us at: info@ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk. If you want to try a Kitchen Sink drama or a poetry recitation in front of a supportive audience and even ask for some feedback, join us as a new member at: www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk and visit the FB Members Zone.

As the totally brilliant Tom Stoppard wrote: ‘…look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.’ And we will all meet again, be it virtually for a while but at some time in the future at opening nights!

by Geraldine Woodhouse, Chair of Executive Theatre Committee and Justine Sowden, Theatre Manager, Ilkley Playhouse