What's on at Ilkley Playhouse

This is a heartbreakingly beautiful production that explores class and education and their impact on children, in a tale of three walking wounded trying hard to find healing. As any parent knows, being called in to school to talk to a teacher about your child can trigger a welter of memories, thoughts and emotions. In the case of Brian, it does just that, evoking an overwhelming sense of unease as he and his estranged wife, Donna, meet with primary school teacher, Mr McCafferty, to talk about the troubles their eight year old son Jayden is having at school. Inside the classroom, Brian meets an overwhelmingly sense of failure - as a student, as a mechanic, as a father and as a husband, despite all his best efforts. Brian wants Donna back, wants them to be a family again. Mr McCafferty wants them both to support him in helping Jayden with his recently diagnosed learning issues. As their meeting progresses, unspoken prejudices rise to the surface and the best of intentions might well lead to the worst possible result. Enjoy and evening of heartfelt, irresistible and thought-provoking theatre. Class runs to Saturday, May 18.

Class which opens at Ilkley Playhouse on May 13 (Image: submitted)

On May 24 and 25 a new play Bridge, written by Sarah Nelson, comes to Ilkley Playhouse, starring Dean Smith and Tom Gibbons. On a dark night, Jacob stands on a motorway bridge, the wrong side of the railings. Liam, an off-duty paramedic happens to walk past. One man whose job it is to save people and one who has come to a moment in his life where he needs to be saved. What follows is an unexpected conversation, a purging of fears and regrets, as they finally open up about what has brought them to this moment and discover whether the time they spent together on the bridge might change them both forever. Bridge is a pitch-black comedy about the fragility of men trying to survive 21st century life. Exploring the pressures and challenges they face, the detrimental effect on their mental health and the power of talking to someone. The last decade has seen a growing conversation about men’s mental health, and an awareness that the power of men talking about how they feel can and does save lives.

Back by popular demand on Friday, May 31 is Celtic rock folk band Gaelforce. The band was voted winner of the Great British Folk Festival Introducing Stage in January 2023 by public vote, to an audience of three thousand people. Since winning the GBFF, Gaelforce has been selling out ticketed gigs in Yorkshire & beyond, attracting plenty of interest from folk and rock festivals.

Always popular with Ilkley Playhouse audiences, country rock band Laurel Canyon Union returns to the Wildman Studio on Saturday 8th June. Formed in the summer of 2015 by US Grammy Nominated, ex Acoustic Alchemy drummer John Shepard, this union of fully professional, experienced musicians take their inspiration from the late 1960s/early 1970s American West Coast singer song writer era, playing well-known songs from artists such as Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Eagles, The Byrds and James Taylor.

On Friday, June 14 Chris Bannister will be performing the music of John Denver including Annie’s Song, Take Me Home Country Roads, Calypso and Leaving On A Jet Plane. Chris’ distinctive vocal style has always led to him being compared to the great American singer, but from the very start he was determined not to copy the visual aspect of John’s performances but to maintain his own identity. He has played to sold out audiences across Europe and is recognised as one of the best performers of John Denver’s music across the world.

Stagefright Comedy Club returns to Ilkley Playhouse on Saturday, June 15. The evening will be frontlined by Justin Moorhouse where he will be previewing his Edinburgh Festival show ‘The Greatest Performance Of My Life.’ Justin played Young Kenny with the tiger-striped face on Phoenix Nights, he has performed at Live At The Apollo, in 8 Out of 10 Cats, QI, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, Dave's One Night Stand, Coronation Street and his own acclaimed Radio 4 show Everyone Quite Likes Justin. Jimmy Carr describes him as 'easily my favourite comedian’. Joining him on the night is Karl Porter. Karl’s slow motion goal celebration routine went globally viral. He is a brilliant, natural born gagster hailing from the North West of England. You can’t help but love his cheeky and unique self -deprecation, laced with tall tales and hilarious observations. ‘Jaw droppingly good physical comedy’ (BBC online). Also performing is Sunny Shine. 'His DIY routine was very good and Sunny built up the momentum....he closed his performance on a high' (Notts Comedy Review). This will all be brilliantly compered by Anthony J Brown who has ‘more stings in the tail than a scorpion with a migraine' (Leeds Guide).

Our next Wharfeside Theatre production opening on June 20 is Glorious!, written by Peter Quilter. Florence Foster Jenkins was probably the worst soprano the world has ever seen. And yet she could fill Carnegie Hall to the roof. This play is her story – a story of triumph over embarrassment. Often described as “the diva of din”, “the first lady of the sliding scale” and “the queen of camp”, in 1940s New York, Florence Foster Jenkins performed to sell-out audiences despite being unable to sing a note. But this delusional and joyously happy woman paid little attention to her critics and was surrounded by a circle of devoted friends who were almost as eccentric as she was. Based on a true story, the play spins from Florence’s charity recitals and extravagant balls, through to her bizarre recording sessions and an ultimate triumph at Carnegie Hall. This fascinating true story blends history, humour and heart-warming pathos in perfect harmony. The play runs until Saturday, June 29.

To book tickets for all our plays and events visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or contact Ilkley Playhouse box office on 01943 609539.