Ilkley Players greenroom students return for their fourth National Theatre Connections Festival on 5th March with The Animals opening at Ilkley Playhouse.
The Animals is a powerful new play set in a Youth Custody Unit where student teacher Sam introduces Philosophy to resistant young residents. Written by BAFTA‑nominated, Emmy‑winning playwright Sean Buckley (Responsible Child, Skins), the play explores fragile hope, fear of release, and the challenges of education behind bars. Each year the National Theatre commissions eight new one-hour plays, specially written for teenagers by established playwrights. They then select up to 300 schools and Youth Theatre Groups throughout the country to produce these works with specialist help from their directors and experts. The Animals runs till 7th March in the Wildman Studio.
Our next play to open in the Wharfeside Theatre on Thursday 12th March is Lucy Kirkwood's play The Human Body. It’s the winter of 1948, austerity is biting and Iris Elcock, GP, socialist and Labour Party councillor, is working tirelessly to implement Nye Bevan's National Health Service Act and its revolutionary promise of free healthcare for all. At home she is a mother, and wife to a fellow GP, an ex-Navy man scarred by the war. But a chance meeting with George Blythe, a local boy who has made it to Hollywood, turns her quiet, certain world upside down. The Human Body was first performed at the Donmar Warehouse in 2024, featuring Keeley Hawes and Jack Davenport. A gripping story of political and private passions, The Human Body runs till the 21st March.
Our next Stagefright Comedy Club is on Saturday 28th March and will be frontlined by comedian Ricky Balshaw, who has been described as ‘a fascinating fusion of witty observations and storytelling’ (The Times). He is Midlands Comedy Award Winner and interestingly a Paralympics Dressage silver medalist! Joining him is Slim, who has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Live at the Hackney Empire, Sorry I Didn’t Know, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgiveable, Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains and The Russell Howard Hour. He is described as ‘brave and profoundly funny’ (The Guardian). BBC New Comedy Award Finalist 2025 Shugufta Choudhry also performs. She has ‘charming insights with a dash of darkness’ (SFC). Jack Miller completes the evening, who is ‘absolutely brilliant, born with funny bones’ (Manfords Comedy Club) and is ‘really relatable with on point story telling’ (Just The Tonic). The evening will be compered by talented Anthony J Brown, who has ‘more stings in the tail than a scorpion with a migraine' (Leeds Guide).
Visiting theatre company Rise and Howl Productions present Martha Loader’s Bindweed, on 10th and 11th April in the Wildman Studio. Four men convicted of domestic abuse offences meet each week to undergo a perpetrator programme. But as Jen, the new group facilitator, starts to make progress with the men inside the room, life outside begins to buckle. A shattering and darkly funny play about responsibility and rehabilitation, Bindweed looks at what can be done to tackle abuse at its root. Rise and Howl Productions is a female-led production company that focuses on theatre, TV and film. They are part of the Northern Powerhouse for the arts and aim to amplify voices and stories that challenge and connect with audiences.
Join The After Hours Quintet on Friday 17th April for a scintillating, exhilarating jaunt through the vaults of British Trad Jazz, New Orleans Swing, Gypsy Jazz and Jump Blues. Led by front man Oly Clarkson (on Sax, Clarinet, Harmonica & Saw) the band has thrilled audiences from Dublin to Dubai on their decade-long journey. Seasoned professional Danny Hammerton (Trumpet - Pasadina Roof Orchestra, Glen Miller Orchestra) and Vernon Bigsby (Hot Club of Halifax) are the two latest additions, making for a very impressive lineup alongside John Arnesen and Elliot Roffe (Ancient Infinity Orchestra) on drums and double bass. Expect to hear classics from the American song book blended seamlessly alongside 90's anthems; reimagined in the swing style.
On Saturday 18th April the superb traditional Irish folk band, The Hooliemen make their Ilkley Playhouse debut, made up of four seasoned and highly accomplished musicians who have played together for decades. They bring a lifetime of experience, energy, and artistry to every performance. With up-tempo Irish traditional music at their core, The Hooliemen deliver thrilling jigs and reels, heartfelt ballads, tight vocal harmonies, unaccompanied (a cappella) songs, and the unique flair of sean-nós dance. Their set features beautiful renditions of well-known Irish songs as well as high-energy instrumental sets.
To book tickets for all our plays and events visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or contact Ilkley Playhouse box office on 01943 609539.
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