What's on at Ilkley Playhouse

The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse was first published in 1938 and has been adapted countless times for radio, stage and screen. Jeeves and Wooster in ‘Perfect Nonsense’ is the fond retelling of Wodehouse’s tale which premiered in 2013. This play is a masterpiece of farcical storytelling; chock full of 1930s colloquialisms, exceptionally silly character names and a plot so ridiculous that it’s impossible not to laugh out loud. Perfect Nonsense lives up to its title. Nonsensical and nostalgic, you can expect a fantastically fun evening of theatre. This three-man play, that won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, is every bit as funny today. At the beginning of the play we meet Bertie Wooster, who tells the audience that he and Jeeves are going to act out a story (with a little help from another gentleman’s gentleman, Seppings), and so much of the laughter comes from seeing the two valets’ portrayals of all the other characters and their mishaps with the scenery. If you are simply looking for a feel-good night out, then look no further than Ilkley Playhouse. The play runs until Saturday, March 16.

Jeeves and Wooster in ‘Perfect Nonsense’ (Image: submitted)

The first of our two fringe productions of the Spring/Summer season is The IT performed by our senior Greenroom students, from March 21 to 23 March in the Wildman Studio. The IT is a play about a teenage girl who has something growing inside her. She doesn't know what it is, but she knows it's not a baby. It expands in her body. It starts in her stomach, but quickly outgrows that, until eventually it takes over the entirety of her insides. It has claws. She feels them. Does it have teeth, skin, and hair as well, or is that feathers, or spikes she can feel, butting up against her organs? What is it? It makes a noise, like a lizard or a snake. No one must know about it. She has to keep its presence, its possession of her, concealed. She pulls away from her friends. She refuses to speak in case the IT is heard. Then the IT tries to escape from her body. She can't let that happen. She cuts an isolated, weird figure at school, trying to live her life normally; but battling to keep the IT inside of her. But she can't contain it forever, sooner or later something's got to give...Presented in the style of a direct to camera documentary, this is a darkly comic, state-of-the-nation play, exploring adolescent mental health and the rage within, written very specifically for today.

Performing for the first time at Ilkley Playhouse on Friday, April 5 is the Yorkshire Gypsy Swing Collective. Featuring some of the region’s hottest gypsy jazz and swing players, playing music inspired from legendary musicians Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli of the “Quintette du Hot Club de France” and more! Expect fiery solos, foot-stomping rhythms and even some jazz standards to sing along to.

The Roy Orbison Experience returns to Ilkley Playhouse on Friday, April 26, fronted by the incredible voice of Oliver Harris, to play their own tribute to “the Big O”. From Oh Pretty Woman, You Got It, I Drove All Night, Penny Arcade and everything in between, this tribute show captures the essence of Roy Orbison’s timeless classics. Expect to be swept away by the powerful vocals, the dazzling instrumentation and the sheer energy of the performance. This is not a look-a-like tribute act, but rather a special live performance faithfully replicating the unique unrivalled sound of Roy Orbison.

You can look forward to our next Stagefright Comedy Club on Saturday, April 27 when you will be treated to an evening of hilarity from comedians Aaron Simmonds, Phil Pagett, Alex Mitchell, Helen Brooks and Gareth Williams. Aaron Simmonds, who is frontlining the event, is fresh from a solo UK tour. His credits include The Russell Howard Hour, Breaking The News, Guessable and The Stand Up Sketch Show. He has a talent for weaving an overarching story into multiple anecdotes, calling back to them masterfully throughout his performance. Joining him is Birmingham based Phil Pagett who has been performing since 2010 and his act features a heady combination of clever, sharp one-liners and bone-dry observations. In addition to his live work he has written for Mock the Week and BBC Radio 4. Also performing is Helen Brooks who, in her own words, looked to comedy as a way of turning her problems into punch lines. Expect a heady mix of self-depreciation, social commentary and green sequins. She is a comedy writer on BBC Radio 4 ‘The Skewer’ and BBC Scotland ‘Noising Up’. Gareth Williams, another talented comedian joining the line-up, has been described as ‘fabulously confident and instinctively funny’ (Derbyshire Times). He is winner of the Komedia Comedy LaunchPad and ‘wins over audiences with his “Did he really just say that?” humour. Finally, Alex Mitchell ‘brings a breath of fresh air to any comedy night. He has strong material from the start and the crowd instantly warm to him.’ (Lairy Laughs Comedy). What a line-up! The evening will be compered by the fabulously talented Anthony J. Brown.

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