OTLEY Courthouse has announced the Ilkley Literature Festival events it will be hosting this autumn.

The venue will host three events for the festival, starting on Sunday, October 2 with a one-man production of Great Expectations.

Theatre veteran James Hornsby, a hit at the Courthouse last year with his performance of Bram Stoker's Dracula, will once again be showing his versatility by portraying a whole array of roles.

One of Charles Dickens' best-loved works, Great Expectations is packed with memorable characters such as Abel Magwitch, the Gargerys, Uncle Pumblechook, Estella, Herbert Pocket, Miss Havisham and the hero himself, Pip.

Hornsby has appeared in more than 100 theatrical performances and, in a career spanning 35 years, worked with some of the country’s leading playwrights including Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Dame Kay Mellor, Richard Cameron and John Godber.

Tickets for the Otley show cost £8, with concessions available for £6.

The following week, on Sunday, October 9, will see the Courthouse continuing its support for talented young writers by staging Wordsfest.

Running from 2pm to 6pm, the event will consist of an afternoon of fun workshops aimed at young people who love writing - with everything from graffiti to comics, short stories and songwriting covered.

Suitable for 12 to 18 year olds, tickets for Wordsfest cost £5 per child.

A second young person's event, meanwhile, will conclude the Courthouse's literature festival contribution on Friday, October 14.

The Cool Voices Club Night will see teenagers performing their own work - including songs, poetry, rap, sketches, stand-up and short stories - in front of their peers.

The evening runs from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and is also aimed at 12 to 18 year olds.

Ticket cost £4 - for more information about performing send an e-mail to info@ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk .

To book tickets for any of these or other forthcoming events visit otleycourthouse.org.uk, call (01943) 467466 or pop into the venue, on Courthouse Street, Otley.