AUGUST may mean holidays for most but there has been no rest at Ilkley Playhouse where rehearsals have continued all summer for the new season opener, The 39 Steps.

The play has its first showing on Monday September 8 at 7.30pm and runs until Saturday September 20.

Directed by Jay Cundell-Walker, Patrick Barlow’s adaption is a spoof thriller with four actors (Robson Stroud, Beth Welch, Dermot Hill and James Fellows) playing 150 parts between them. A man with a boring life meets a woman who says she is a spy. When he takes her home she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization is hot on his tail. The re-written version has run continuously since 2005 on Broadway and the West End and has also toured the world.

Rosie Bond, of Ilkley Playhouse, said: "We are delighted to bring this play to Ilkley and tickets are selling fast for what promises to be an action packed evening."

For The 39 Steps the Playhouse is re-introducing the matinee to its run. For future Wharfeside productions the first Saturday will be a matinee at 2.30pm and will replace the evening performance on that day. A trial run last season proved very successful. The 39 Steps matinee is on Saturday September 13. Tickets £10 and concessions £8.

The autumn schedule sees a number of touring musical performers adding Ilkley Playhouse to their itinerary. The first of these is My Sweet Patootie – a vintage swing acoustic group from Ontario. They will be bringing vocal harmonies, guitar, fiddle, percussion and abundant charisma to the stage. Terry Young and Sandra Swannell started the band in 2007 as a duo. They are both Canadian Folk Music Award winners with classical music backgrounds. Joined by Bradford Nowak in 2012 the trio is critically acclaimed worldwide.

My Sweet Patootie is performing for one night only this Saturday, August 30, at 7.30pm. All tickets £10.

On Sunday September 14 at 7.30pm the latest show by historical musicians, Blast from the Past, entitled Smile! Smile! Smile! will be performed in the Wharfeside (tickets £10). Especially created to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, Chris Green and Sophie Matthews use music and song to tell the story of “The War to End All Wars”. ‘Smile! Smile! Smile!’ is a scintillating mixture of soldiers’ songs, music hall numbers, war poems set to new music and original compositions.

The show does not flinch from conveying the full horror of the first global conflict but also celebrates the courage and humour of the Tommie’s under fire and the folks at home.

Featuring a host of sing-along wartime standards such as ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’, ‘Tipperary’ and ‘Goodbye-ee’ as well as a host of other great songs – ‘Smile! Smile! Smile!’ is the perfect way of remembering the sacrifice of our forebears while enjoying a great evening out!

Internationally-renowned quartet Cantabile are performing on Saturday September 27 at 7.30pm, tickets £15. They promise an evening of humour and harmony 'a cappella' style.

The Greenroom Drama Classes re-commence on Saturday September 6. With the accent on fun as well as learning the classes are run by Andrew Leggott and Nikki Mason, registration is in the Wildman Theatre on Tuesday from 6-7pm, or this can be done at the first class of the new season.

If you wish to book tickets for any Ilkley Playhouse event please visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or call the box office on 01943 609539.