OUR next play to open in the Wharfeside at the end of this month is compelling play Mary Shelley.
Playwright Helen Edmundson explores a two-year period of Mary Shelley’s life from 1814 – a time packed with scandal, family rifts and reconciliation, which shaped the author’s future and defined her literary style. It was an era when people were looking for change, liberalism and freedom. Yet in Mary Shelley's world it led to heartbreak, scandal, disappointment and grief.
We meet Mary when she is living with her father, radical philosopher William Godwin, whom she adores, and her difficult and manipulative stepmother. The teenager finds comfort in reading her father's memoir about her real mother Mary Wollstonecraft who died when Mary was only eleven days old. Mary Wollstonecraft, a writer and feminist, had caused scandal through an extra-marital affair in Paris which culminated in the birth of an illegitimate daughter. Mary Shelley follows in her footsteps, eloping to Switzerland at the age of 16 with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley who leaves his pregnant wife and child for his young mistress. Godwin is distraught and refuses to see his daughter. If you expect Mary Shelley to give you an insight into how the young author was inspired to write her Gothic horror novel, you'll be disappointed - Frankenstein doesn't get much of a look-in. Instead it's a psychological study of the turbulent lives of a troubled family. The play "seeks to explore the relationship between the world we inhabit and our inner lives". The play runs from Thursday, April 24th until Saturday, May 3rd.
Over the next two months you can look forward to a variety of musical entertainment and comedy. Chris Bannister returns to Ilkley Playhouse this coming Friday, March 28th, showcasing his latest album The Calling Course. Chris Bannister is a singer-songwriter from the North of England and has released seven albums of critically acclaimed original material. His distinctive singing style has led to him being compared to the great American singer/songwriter John Denver, although the comparison ends with the vocals. His original material has many influences of folk, country and rock.
Kelly Rickard (Image: submitted)
The following evening, on Saturday, March 29th, Stagefright Comedy Club returns to the Wildman Studio. The event will be frontlined by Seymour Mace, a two-time Edinburgh Festival Best Show nominee and City Life Comedian Of The Year. From Dave's One Night Stand, The Weird World Of Russell Brand, The Stand-Up Show, Hebburn, Comedy Lab, The World Stands Up and Clive Anderson's Chat Room. He was also a regular in BBC2's Johnny Vegas sitcom Ideal. Joining him is Kelly Rickard, who has been described as ‘brutally honest and hilarious!’(Rosie Ramsey) and as ‘very funny’ (The Scotsman). She was awarded Best Show Panel Prize Winner at Edinburgh Fringe, Felt Nowt New Act Of The Year winner & Chortle Hotshots Finalist. Also performing is Gurps Cheema, who has ‘sharp wit and engaging storytelling’ (BBC online). Lizzie Norm, who was So You Think You’re Funny? runner up at Edinburgh Festival in 2023 and who has ‘wonderfully droll observations’ (BBC), will be joining them. Comparing the event is Metro Award winner and talented comedian Anthony J Brown.
On Friday, April 4th The Art of Simon make a welcome return to Ilkley Playhouse, performing their extensive range of songs made famous by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel from the early years through to some of their solo hits. The evening will no doubt bring back some warm, nostalgic memories with songs such as Baby Driver, A Poem on the Underground Wall, The Boxer and Homeward Bound.
We welcome back The Yorkshire Gypsy Swing Collective on Saturday, April 5th when some of the region’s hottest gypsy jazz and swing players will perform, 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.
On Friday, April 11th, join us for an unforgettable night of hand-clapping, toe-tapping music with The Wild Murphys, a popular award-winning tribute group renowned for their lively cover of Irish songs. If you like songs by The Pogues, The Dubliners, The Saw Doctors, Brendan Shine, The Fureys, along with some great sing-along country classics, then this is a night out you don’t want to miss!
To book tickets for all our plays and events visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or contact Ilkley Playhouse box office on 01943 609539.
