Following on from the critical and popular success of Death of a Salesman, the next major production at the Ilkley Playhouse will be Alan Ayckbourn’s ever-popular Bedroom Farce which opens for a fortnight’s run on Monday, April 28.

Marketing director at the Playhouse Yvette Huddlestone said: “This hugely entertaining comedy takes place in three bedrooms over the course of one night and the following morning and looks at the relationships of four married couples. There are, of course, plenty of very funny moments but, as always with Ayckbourn, behind all the laughs are some bitter truths and shrewd observations.”

The play is directed by Pam Gresty and the cast includes real-life married couple John and Jacquie Howard.

This weekend (on Saturday and Sunday) Ilkley Dance Centre will be performing Hooray for Hollywood – an Easter Eggstravaganza in the Wharfeside Theatre. Shows will be at 1pm and 5pm on Saturday and at 2pm on Sunday. Tickets are £8 for adults and £5 for children (18 and under). Check for availability as at least two of the performances are close to selling out well in advance.

From April 10-12, local playwright Ash Caton (also known for stand-up comedy and film-making) will be bringing his latest comedy, Three Stars For Your Suicide, to the Wildman Studio.

In a time-travelling adventure, “the personification of art himself is challenged to revisit his past and improve his future,” Ash explains.

Following the success of his previous show, Coffin Lock, early booking is advised.

During the afternoon of Saturday, April 12, the Playhouse will be screening Steven Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra, which tells the story of Liberace’s final years and the once secret relationship he had with Scott Thorson. The film is based on Thorson’s own memoir Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year and competed for the Palme d’Or. Critics have heaped praise upon the movie, particularly referring to the leading performances of Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. The screening starts at 4pm and tickets are £4 (with no intermission).

On Sunday, April 13, the Playhouse welcomes Hilary Green, author of popular historical novels such as We’ll Meet Again (based on the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry). Hilary has had a fascinating career which has included teaching drama – Daniel Craig was one of her pupils! The event starts at 3pm and tickets are £7/£5. The event forms part of a series of literary talks this spring, the next of which will feature Hilary Roper, a children’s author and illustrator, on Sunday, April 27. Her book, Macfaddion’s Finest Hour, was published in 1990. It was chosen by the Lancashire Children’s Librarian Association as their entry for the Children’s Book of the Year Award, 1991.

The illustrations were valued by Sotheby’s at more than £10,000 for the set. Hilary is writing novels and painting large contemporary oil paintings of sweeping landscapes. Both talks should appeal to general readers of any age and potential writers.

To book Playhouse events, call (01943) 609539 from 9.30am-6.30pm, Monday to Friday. For further information and to book online, visit ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk.