AND Then There Was brilliant acting and intriguing character portrayals, drawing us in to the sinister house on Soldier Island, each guest vividly brought to life. A gathering with gravitas, glamour, frivolity and fragility.

And Then There Was gripping direction from Artistic Director David Kirk. David is known for his ability to mine a script for humour and draw out dynamic, taught stage tension. It’s active rather than passive entertainment: the pleasure of the spectacle while you are wondering, guessing and sitting on the edge of your seat. The production is scattered with whodunnit references to delight and amuse genre buffs in the audience.

And Then There Was the atmospheric set, silently dominating and sinister. The whole setting traps you deep in the bowels of the Wharfeside Theatre, and the heart of the action.

And Then There Were the beautiful, elegant period costumes, complementing the characterisation and assembled with an eagle eye for period detail from the Playhouse’s own costume store.

And Then There Were the perfectly timed, chilling sound effects and lighting, as if the script and the performances weren’t already tense enough.

And Then There Were None opened at the Ilkley Playhouse last night, leaving the audience enthralled, entertained, and unlikely to accept invitations from a mysterious source any time soon. Don’t miss out on this dramatic, humorous and thoroughly entertaining night out.

If you like your entertainment a little less gruesome and a touch more gentle, then join us to celebrate the return of our Flea Pit Cinema. Opening the season is the highly acclaimed Tea With Mussolini. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, this gorgeous-looking film is set in 1930s fascist Italy and tells the story of adolescent Luca who has just lost his mother, and the consequences of the Allied declaration of war on Italy. Featuring an varied cast, including Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin, and, er, Cher, this is a touching story and a pleasure to watch. It’s on at the Wharfeside Theatre from 2pm on September 18. Tickets are just £5, which includes tea or coffee with cake at the interval.

From drama to laughter: the Stagefright comedy club line-up on October 22 features some exceptional talents. Barbara Nice is the malapropism-prone Stockport Housewife creation of Janice Connolly, who’s appeared in That Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights, and Coronation Street, among other things. A likeable character on the verge of becoming a cult favourite, her energy draws in even the most cynical audiences.

Joining Barbara is Masai Graham, a master of snappy single-liners who’s been known to deliver over 100 jokes in half an hour. He joins us fresh from winning an award for the funniest one-liner at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Also featuring are the zany wit of Tom King, the fresh talent of Luke Wright and the comedian/broadcaster/social commentator Jay Islaam. A great tonic for those darker autumnal nights.

To buy Tickets for any of our events, visit our website www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or phone the Box Office on 01943 609539.

You can also follow Ilkley Playhouse on Facebook and Twitter for some tantalising rehearsal pics and some juicy backstage gossip.

by Claire Emmott