Federico Lorca’s Blood Wedding opens in the Wildman Studio at Ilkley Playhouse on Monday. The tale of a simmering vendetta between two families in 1930s rural Spain is the backdrop to this timeless classic.

On the eve of her wedding, the bride anticipates the honour and prosperity that will be hers through marriage but first she has to choose between her intended groom and her lover, Leonardo.

The wedding party is a joyful celebration of music, dance and song but the bride’s decision unleashes dark forces which have fateful consequences.

The drama features Jason Evens, Andy Price, Laura Romanowski, Jenny Button, Kay Vann, Louise Button, Tony Clegg, Rachel Vernelle, Ann Bradley, Julie Greenough, Rachel Wallbank, Lisa Debney, Lizzie Hebbert, Mai Haver, Anya Southby, Tom Jordan, Matan Haver and Sam Button. Directed by Andrew Leggott.

The next social event is the Call My Bluff wine tasting evening, with cheese and paté provided in addition to six different wines to sample, all for £10 per person.

Guests are invited to put their wine knowledge to the test in choosing which of three descriptions best fits each wine, with plenty of bluffing to confuse all but the true tippler. The event is on Saturday, February 23 – bookings being taken now.

The next Playhouse Picturehouse screening takes place on Sunday, February 24, at 7pm in the Wharfeside Theatre, featuring Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) based on John le Carré’s novel.

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6. Directed by Tomas Alfredson, this spy thriller stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, John Hurt and Tom Hardy.

The café opens at 6.30pm and the bar will open following the movie, with a discussion to follow. Tickets £4.

The first visiting theatre group of 2013 is Encore Drama, who present Rasputin’s Mother, a prize-winning new play by Michael Davies.

Described by Alan Ayckbourn as ‘bristling with theatrical ideas’, the plot explores the idea that Grigory Rasputin might have survived the various attempts upon his life in 1916 and, instead, has been held prisoner by revolutionaries. The play runs for two nights in the Wildman Studio on March 1 and 2.

Rehearsals are well under way for Dion Boucicault’s romp, London Assurance, written in 1841, which follows the varying fortunes of young Charles Courtly (played by Tom Hebbert) who is obliged to leave London to escape debt, accepting a fortuitous invitation to a country estate offered by his new acquaintance Dazzle (Ash Caton) who dazzles everyone he meets with his charm.

Here Charles encounters and falls in love with the lovely Grace (Roza Hesmondhalgh), a girl who knows her own mind, only to discover she is already engaged to his father, Sir Harcourt Courtly (Nick Pennington)!

Also starring Paul Chewins, Geraldine Woodhouse, Mike Sellers, Peter Lindsay, Mike Ellison and Jane Scampion, this is a delightful comedy runs for ten nights from Wednesday March 6.

Extra events are already in the diary for later in the year – and March is going to be a particularly busy month with the return of the Stagefright Comedy Club (March 9), the first of the Baroque music concerts (19), the visits of Fifth Province theatre group (21) and Claptrap Theatre (30), and with another social night featuring renowned pianist and singer Michael Lunts performing a host of comedy songs (23).

To book Playhouse events call (01943) 609539, 9.30am to 11.30am and 1pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Visit ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk for further information.