SHE’S a star, a natural performer, effortlessly charismatic, if not prone to occasional diva-esque moments: Who is she? Betty is of course the porcine star of Betty Blue Eyes, so diva-like behaviour is merely to be expected.

At first there were complaints of her hogging the limelight with a hammy approach, but she has learned from Ilkley’s best and her method acting is coming along nicely. Through the run of rehearsals she has snuffled into our affections and everyone is falling for her charms and her big blue eyes. We have all fallen in love with the pig!

As you may be aware Betty Blue Eyes is a musical based on the film A Private Function, it’s dazzling, energetic, clever and very funny. It’s been beautifully adapted for the stage by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, with a catchy score by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and lyrics that add to the poignancy of the 1940s story.

Set in 1947 in the fictional Yorkshire town of Shepardsford, the story sees humble chiropodist Gilbert Chivers struggling to bring home the bacon in post-war austerity Britain. Belts still tightened, the country is staggering under the burden of rationing, unemployment and the coldest winter for decades. The light on the horizon is the upcoming marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, which Gilbert’s ambitious wife Joyce is determined to attend.

Betty Blue Eyes is one of our largest productions, and the excitement at the Playhouse is palpable. Tickets are selling well. The set is fantastic and evocative of the time, the 100 plus costumes look stunning and the actors and back stage crew are ready for you! It’s such a local, nostalgic, musical, lyrical treat book your tickets soon because it may be too late!

Betty Blue Eyes runs from the 4th to the 16th of July.

Our fringe production of The Dumb Waiter has opened in The Wildman Studio and runs until Saturday 25th. Style, intelligence, drama, and humour run through the script, the set, the action – even the costumes. An early work by Harold Pinter, it’s a tightly-paced work, thoughtfully addressing power dynamics and the nature of relationships. There are only a few nights left in the run, so book your ticket now.

Finally, tickets are on sale for our next Stagefright Comedy Club Edinburgh Festival preview, which takes place on the 23rd July at 8 pm. Big names and big laughs are in store: it will feature Ivan Brackenbury, from BBC1’s acclaimed Hospital People – he’s been described by Chris Evans as 'a comedy genius' – along with Tom Binns, the writer of the same show. Joining them is Ian D Montfort, a comic spirit medium who will be previewing material from his forthcoming Edinburgh show How To Touch Dead People. The evening will be compered once again by Anthony J Brown.

To book your ticket for Betty Blue Eyes, The Dumb Waiter or any of our events, visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or call 01943 609539. You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest news, reviews and pictures.