THE last Stagefright Comedy Club was a resounding success and with this month’s “triple treat” line-up, comedy fans are in for another cracking comedy night out.

Visiting comedians appreciate the friendly Ilkley audiences: one of this month’s headliners, Shazia Mirza, is returning to Ilkley just a month after her visit to the Ilkley Literature Festival.

Shazia Mirza is an award-winning stand-up comedian and columnist, who has recently been seen on Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls. Also on the bill is Josh Pugh, current holder of two comedy crowns: English Comedian of the Year, and Chortle Comedian to Watch.

Shazia and Josh are ably backed up by relative newcomers Lucy Thompson (best show nominee at the Leicester Comedy Festival) and Jake Donaldson, fresh from an Edinburgh Fringe appearance with a storytelling style mixed with intelligent comedy observations.

This month’s compere, popular with audiences for his cracking gags and comic songs, is Elliot J Huntley. Elliot will entertain you with his array of inventive tales that conclude with curiously twisted punchlines; his persona of oily superficial goodwill will charm any audience.

If you have not been before then you are in for a treat: the evening is relaxed as well as funny. The bar is open from 7pm. Cabaret-style seating makes for an informal atmosphere, while the caption competition gives you the chance to win tickets for the following month’s comedy show. Your host for the evening is Ilkley Playhouse’s own Robson Stroud. Many return again and again once they have caught the comedy bug!

Finally, there is still time to solve the puzzle of Murder, Margaret and Me at Ilkley Playhouse. Philip Meeks’ comedy thriller runs until November 11. This uplifting, funny thriller charts the imaginary relationship between two successful women, crime writer Agatha Christie and eccentric actress Margaret Rutherford, and how it might have developed. The fictional Christie turns detective to investigate the sadness beneath Rutherford’s jolly persona; Christie too has her secrets. At the time of writing tickets are available for the last few nights but book soon as some performances are nearly sold out!

Stagefright Comedy Night is on November 18 at 8pm, bar open from 7pm

Murder, Margaret & Me by Philip Meeks runs until November 11. Tickets are available at www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or from 01943 609 539.

by Claire Emmott