What's on at Ilkley Playhouse

On Friday, June 14 we welcome back Chris Bannister who will be performing the music of John Denver. A firm favourite at Ilkley Playhouse, 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. Enjoy John Denver classics Annie’s Song, Take Me Home Country Roads, Calypso and Leaving On A Jet Plane. Chris has played to capacity 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).

Glorious! which opens in the Wharfeside Theatre next week (Image: Ilkley Playhouse)

Only a week to go until Glorious! opens in the Wharfeside Theatre. Based on a true story, Peter Quilter’s warm-hearted comedy invites us into the world of Florence Foster Jenkins, a gregarious and eccentric soprano singer who in the early 1940s became the must-see artist in New York. From charity recitals to recordings to extravagant balls, Florence’s enthusiasm and joie-de-vivre more than made up for her imperfect pitch. Paying little attention to her critics, ‘the first lady of the sliding scale’, as she became known, resolutely restricted her professional performances to an annual recital, yet her unconventional career culminated in a triumphant sell-out concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall. A story of self-belief, the play is incredibly touching and joyfully uplifting. Florence defied all her critics and soldiered on to pursue her dreams. If there is a lesson to be learned from this wonderful piece of theatre, it is simply to live your life to the full and enjoy every opportunity that comes your way. More glass-shattering than ear-pleasing Florence Foster Jenkins’ voice may have been, but glorious indeed is the legacy of love and laughter that lives on in Peter Quilter’s terrific take on her life and legend. The play runs until Saturday, June 29.

As part of National Refugee Week, Amnesty International is delighted to be screening the 2023 Ken Loach film The Old Oak in the Wharfeside Theatre on Sunday, June 23 at 7.30pm. The Old Oak pub is the only remaining public space where people can meet in a once-thriving mining community in North-East England. The Landlord is hanging on to the pub by a thread but his hold becomes increasingly endangered when the pub becomes contested territory after the arrival of Syrian refugees. Following the screening there will be a discussion about the film in the bar and information will be available from the local Amnesty International branch.

Prepare to be transported on a remarkable musical journey as Fleetwood Shack makes its debut performance at Ilkley Playhouse on Friday, July 5. Featuring an impressive repertoire of the biggest and most beloved Fleetwood Mac hits, such as ‘Don’t Stop’, ‘Go Your Own Way’, ‘Little Lies’, ‘Everywhere’, ‘Landslide’ and many more, this show guarantees to immerse you in a captivating, nostalgic and unforgettable experience.

The following evening, Saturday, July 6, Lee Newsome performs Elvis ‘Up Close and Personal’. Lee has been performing his tribute to the King for four years and currently tours the UK in various theatres and clubs. Lee’s stunning powerhouse vocals and attention to detail, with suits made by the person who made Elvis’ suits, are simply second to none. The show is an unforgettable, jaw-dropping experience from start to finish, with customised projection visuals and indoor special effects.

The final play of the season, Honour, opens on July 8 in the Wildman Studio. After 32 years of marriage, George suddenly announces to his wife Honour that he is leaving her for a younger woman. What unfolds is a story of three women; wife, mistress, daughter and the quality of the relationships that ensue. The play paints an unflinching portrait of what happens when a secure marriage suddenly stalls, and when the opportunity arises for one life to be revived at the expense of another. The play runs until Saturday, July 13.

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