ILKLEY Playhouse members have been kept busy on a number of projects during the lockdown year.

The Lockdown 3 project for members involved converting a number of short plays into radio drama. The work was done in association with Rombalds Radio, and will in future involve Drystone Radio too. Fifteen podcasts are currently available on the Rombalds Radio website entitled ‘Tea Break Dramas’. You can find them at https://www.rombaldsradio.com/podcasts/ilkley-playhouse-tea-break-dramas/

They range from light comedy to drama and are just ideal to listen to for ten minutes while you enjoy a hot drink and a biscuit.

Four additional radio plays are available via another platform.

It is in one of these plays - Good Choices by Livy Potter - that Tom Gibbons appears.

Tom is better known for playing the character of Johnny Phillips in the Archers, the BBC radio soap. He has also been a member of Ilkley Playhouse for a number of years, making an appearance on stage between his radio engagements and offering his support to the theatre. Tom was a judge in the recent 8x8x8 Playwriting competition run by the Playhouse.

‘The Rising Sun’ by James Underwood and ‘Happily Ever After’ by Jay Cundell Walker, which were shortlisted in the judging of 8x8x8 also appear in this selection of four plays.

‘Moving On’ by Sally Edwards was a winner in the competition. As well as appearing as a radio play it will be performed live at the Playhouse as soon as the green light is given to safely re-open.

Readers should be aware that they are available separately from the Rombalds podcasts due to some adult content and language.

They can be found at https://soundcloud.com/ilkley-playhouse/sets/ilkley-playhouse-tea-break

During the past twelve months, Playhouse members have been kept entertained with a Lockdown Library, a Playhouse Bake Off, the 8x8x8 Playwriting Competition, some short kitchen sink videos, a Yorkshire Nativity and some open air Shakespeare back in August. But all members are full of enthusiasm to bring you some live theatre and are looking forward to the time when this is judged to be safe.