What's on at Ilkley Playhouse?

Liam Farrelly frontlines January's Stagefright Comedy Club

Written by Caroline Mutton

Gaslight, the iconic Victorian thriller of manipulation, secrets and suspense opens at Ilkley Playhouse on Thursday 15^th January. The Manninghams appear to be the perfect couple – at least from the outside. But behind the elegant façade of their London home, something far more sinister is at play. Bella Manningham begins to doubt her sanity; Jack, her husband, disappears on mysterious errands, objects disappear and strange footsteps echo from the attic. Is Bella truly losing her mind? And what prompts the sudden arrival of a detective at the door. Patrick Hamilton’s play is a gripping story of psychological control, deception and resilience – a chilling glimpse into the life of a woman fighting to reclaim her reality. Not for the faint-hearted. Gaslight runs until Saturday 24^th January in the Wharfeside Theatre.

Our six-week modern art course starting on Wednesday 21^st January (10.30am—12pm) examines various artistic couples and explores the connections between their works and their contribution to the art movements they belonged to. The course considers the work of Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Gabriele Munter and Wassily Kandinsky, Alexander Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova, Man Ray and Lee Miller, Anni and Josef Albers, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. The course tutor is Dr Simon Marginson, an independent art historian and curatorial researcher.  £48 for six sessions.

On Friday 30^th January stunning female trio Belle Voix bring the timeless sounds of Motown and Northern Soul to Ilkley Playhouse. Featuring over thirty iconic hits including Do I Love You, Tainted Love, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Midnight Train To Georgia and more. Starring Sandy Smith, Sophie Mairi and Briony Gunn, whose credits include London’s West End, Cruise Liners and Luxury Hotels, the trio deliver a powerful, soul-stirring performance that will have audiences singing along.

The following evening, on Saturday 31^st January at 8pm, Stagefright Comedy Club returns to the Wildman Studio. Frontlining the event is Liam Farrelly, Scottish Comedian Of The Year from Live At The Apollo, described as having ‘a natural storytelling flair’ (Beyond The Joke). Paisley-born Liam began performing stand-up comedy aged seventeen while still in high school. He went into comedy full-time after graduating and in 2021 he was a finalist in the BBC New Comedy Award at the tender age of twenty-one. He also won the Frog & Bucket Beat The Frog World series in the same year and has established himself as a headline act all over the UK and beyond. Joining him is Double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee from Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and The Stand Up Sketch Show - comedian Ian Smith. Ian is a regular on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, which he guest-hosted this year - and has appeared on The Now Show, Just A Minute, The Ultimate Choice, One Person Found This Helpful and his own Radio 4 stand-up series, Ian Smith is Stressed. Also performing is Becky Heaviside, described as ‘intellectual and earthy’ (Notts Comedy Review), Big Shaun, former singer in cult Yorkshire band Everly Pregnant Brothers, and Rob Coleman - 'full of one-liners, he had the packed venue in fits of laughter' (The Jokers Club). The evening’s event will be superbly compered by Anthony J Brown, who has very recently been voted Best Promoter at this year’s Yorkshire Comedy Awards.

Back by popular demand, Jon Palmer Acoustic Band returns to Ilkley Playhouse on Friday 6 February. This is a six-piece band that performs with a passion and enthusiasm that matches the content of Jon’s songs. Mixing the traditional with the contemporary, Jon Palmer writes songs with soaring, memorable choruses that you will struggle to get out of your head, long after the evening is over.

Audiences in Ilkley are invited to an intimate and unforgettable evening of music when acclaimed singer-songwriter Holly Taymar brings her highly praised show, Holly Taymar Sings Eva Cassidy, in the Wildman Studio on Saturday 7^th February. In this heartfelt homage to the vocalist Eva Cassidy, Taymar skilfully revives the timeless blend of folk, jazz and blues that made Cassidy’s interpretations iconic. The performance includes spellbinding renditions of classics such as Fields of Gold, Songbird, Over the Rainbow, Time After Time and Autumn Leaves, delivered with warm, expressive vocals and delicate guitar work. Holly Taymar Sings Eva Cassidy is a show that transcends imitation, and celebrates the emotion, purity and honesty that have cemented Eva Cassidy’s enduring legacy, while allowing Taymar’s own artistry to shine.

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