THE regular actors and actresses at Ilkley Playhouse will be taking a break tomorrow when The ClapTrap Theatre Company from Malton perform in the Wildman Studio.

The word claptrap originates from the early 1700s when actors were said to use ‘a trap to get a clap’ (for milking applause). They will present ‘Broken’ an original play by Libby Pearson on Friday, November 20 at 7pm in the Wildman Studio.

The drama revolves around 24-year-oldEllie who returns to the family home after working overseas to find that she is no longer the centre of everyone's world.

Confused and unsure of her own identity, she wreaks havoc on those around her. Friendships, partnerships and family bonds are tested to their limits. Which of them will survive the impact? Can what is broken ever be unbroken...?

Ilkley Playhouse is delighted that the works of four new, talented playwrights will be taking to the stage on Friday, December 4.

The Walter Swan Trust introduced a competition to find play-writing talent and the judges appointed have now selected the winners.

'Evening' by Padraic Walsh, 'Following Orders' by Ben Ramsey, 'Antarctica' by Karla Dearsley and 'The Cutlery Draw' by Oliver Balaam will be performed in the Wildman Studio by a group of actors from both Ilkley Playhouse and the West Yorkshire Playhouse and are directed by Francesca Murray-Fuentes (Birkbeck director at the West Yorkshire Playhouse), Yvette Huddleston and Nikki Mason.

The Walter Swan Trust was launched at Ilkley Playhouse at the Literature Festival in 2014; Walter was the Creative Development Manager at the Playhouse for a number of years, as well as being the Artistic Director and a regular actor and director in his own right. He wrote several plays and always encouraged new creative writing in others.

‘Four Winning Plays’ Wildman Studio Theatre 7.30pm, December 4.