Ilkley Playhouse

by Caroline Mutton

ON Tuesday 7th June our annual musical Singin’ in the Rain opens in the Wharfeside theatre. Let us transport you back to the 1920s when Hollywood was the world’s film capital and the stars of the screen were adored by their millions of fans worldwide. Singin’ in the Rain charts the transition from silent movies to the arrival of ‘talkies’. It is based on the classic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, and is regularly voted the most popular film musical of all time. Silent movie star Don Lockwood has it all, a string of hit films and a studio-engineered romance with the most beautiful actress in town. What Don doesn’t know is that the silver screen is about to find its voice, and a chance meeting with a talented young chorus girl set to steal his heart promises to change both Don and Hollywood, forever. With fabulous costumes, brilliant musical numbers (Good Morning, Make ‘Em Laugh, Moses Supposes, Singin’ in the Rain) and wonderfully choreographed by Ted Oxley-Kirk, this is a feel-good production for the whole family. The show runs until Saturday 18th June with matinees on the 11th and 18th June.

Opening on 7th July is Peter Gill’s beautiful and moving play The York Realist. The play is set in the early 1960s and concerns George, a Yorkshire farm labourer involved in a production of the York Mystery Plays, who withdraws from the production. And John, the production’s shy Assistant Director, who tries to convince him to come back; the love affair between them and the clash between London and regional culture. Peter Gill’s influential play about two young men in love is a touching reflection of the rival forces of family, class and longing. The play runs until Saturday 16th July in the Wharfeside Theatre.

As part of Refugee Week 2022, Wharfedale Amnesty is delighted to be showing the animated Danish documentary film, Flee, in the Wharfeside Theatre on Sunday 26th June at 7.30pm.Nominated for three Oscars (best documentary; best animated film; and best international film) and two BAFTA awards, Flee tells the extraordinary true story of a man, Amin, on the verge of marriage – which compels him to reveal his hidden past for the first time. Please note that all surplus funds will go to Amnesty International UK. The bar will be open before and after the film, with the opportunity for a discussion about the film afterwards.

Stagefright Comedy Club returns to Ilkley Playhouse on Saturday 2nd July frontlined by Justin Moorhouse (as seen as Young Kenny with the tiger striped face on Phoenix Nights, plus Live At The Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Dave’s One Night Stand, Coronation Street and his own acclaimed Radio 4 show Everyone Quite Likes Justin). Also performing is Jack Campbell (former winner of the prestigious English Comedian of the Year award). Supporting them is Kevin Daniel (nominated for Midlands Comedy New Act Of The Year for 2019 and Midlands Comedy Breakthrough Act in 2021) and Jacob Nussey (Beat the Frog and Won Ten Feet Tall Gong winner with clever sharp jokes and hilariously ill-fated anecdotes). All wonderfully compered by the talented Anthony J Brown.

Something new to Ilkley Playhouse is our film club starting on Tuesday 28th June with Singin’ in the Rain. You can sing along (quietly) to ‘Make ‘em Laugh’, ‘Good Morning’ and so many others. Afterwards you can chat about the film over tea and cake. The box office opens at 1pm, the film starts at 1.30pm. Tickets £5. Taking the same form, July’s film club is The Sting. On Tuesday 19th July come and be reminded of how Paul Newman and Robert Redford set up the ultimate con-trick. We hope this new film club will be a popular event and we will keep you informed of forthcoming films. We are open to your film choice ideas!

We are excited to announce our new season ticket offer. Buy your tickets for all eight Wharfeside 2022/2023 productions at the same time and get one play free, saving you up to £12. You can either choose your preferred day of the week and seat number for the entire season or opt for the flexible season ticket and book whichever days of the week and seat number that suit you best for each production. This offer ends on Saturday 24th September.

For details about this and about all our plays and events and to book tickets visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or contact Ilkley Playhouse box office on 01943 609539.