ILKLEY Playhouse will welcome audiences back next week for the first time in over a year despite the delay of 'Freedom Day'.

Next week, from Wednesday, June 24 to Saturday, June 26, Ilkley Playhouse will show case its 8x8x8 festival.

A Playhouse spokesperson said: "These plays, all selected by our panel of celebrity judges, including actor Julie Hesmondhalgh and her niece, the actor and playwright Rosa Hesmondhalgh, Emmerdale’s Karen Blick, Radio 4’s Jonny Archer – Tom Gibbons and the head of creative Writing at Huddersfield University, Michael Stewart.

"These playlets, which were selected out of the dozens submitted from around the country and beyond are all eight minutes long and were specifically required to have small casts, suitable for the post-Covid re-openings. What a treat then to be back in the theatre and to be seeing an entire evening of new writing in their premier performances!

"A few tickets are still available for these performances but as the theatre will be set up to adhere to all social distancing regulations, they are bound to sell out, so do book quickly. Similarly, tickets are now on sale for Picnic at Hanging Rock from July 6 to 10. This play tells the story of school girls, who on Valentine’s Day in 1900, go missing in the Australian bush. The play focuses on the effects of the disappearance on the school and the local community. Thought by many to be a true story, this play has become part of Australia’s pseudo-history and has led to much talk and intrigue.

"Whilst you’re at it, don’t forget to reserve your seats for The Children to be performed from July 20 to 24 July. It is surely fair to say that whenever nuclear power is included in the theme of a piece of drama, a gripping and tense evening will ensue!

"Whilst this is set in Britain, the piece was inspired by the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima power station in Japan. With overtones of Chernobyl and the TV drama still fresh in memories, this is bound to be an edge of the seat evening.

"Ilkley Playhouse is ready and excited to see its loyal supporters and would be delighted to tempt in a new audience too – all will receive the warmest of welcomes."