OTLEY Courthouse is promising a new season ‘jam-packed’ with music, comedy, theatre screenings and family shows.

The arts venue has got a variety of award-winning acts booked to perform between March and August: as documented in its new 2019 programme.

Among the star names set to appear are two pop stars (and actresses) who shot to fame in the 1980s - Toyah Wilcox and Hazel O’Connor.

Toyah will give an ‘up close and personal’ acoustic show on Sunday, March 23, while Hazel O’Connor will be singing songs from her latest album, Hallelujah Moments, on Sunday, March 31.

Other musical highlights look set to include a visit by original Lindisfarne members Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell, presenting The Lindisfarne story.

Also back by popular demand will be folk acoustic duo Gilmore & Roberts, local folk heroes The Jon Palmer Acoustic band, ‘Neasden Queen of Soul; Mari Wilson, folk mega star Sharon Shannon, and pop icon Dean Friedman.

The comedy stars set to perform include BBC Radio 4 regulars Paul Mayhew-Archer, Andrew Maxwell and author and ex-MP Gyles Brandreth.

The Courthouse also has plenty of attractions lined up for families and theatre fans.

For family audiences there will be a production of Hansel and Gretel by Norwich Puppet Theatre, while award-winning Tessa Bide and Soap Soup theatre will present their version of Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant.

A spokeswoman said: “Keeping up our tradition of bringing diverse theatre to the Courthouse this season we also welcome Liz Grand with her one woman show Where is Mrs Christie? - and John Osborne with his theatre double bill of John Peel’s Shed/Circled in the Radio Times.

“Plus, we are thrilled that Chapterhouse theatre are returning to Otley with their outdoor production of Treasure Island, which will be playing in Garnett’s Field in June.

“Our live and recorded screening programme, meanwhile, goes from strength to strength.

“We’ll have National Theatre Live’s production of The Tragedy of King Richard II, All My Sons starring Sally Field, All About Eve with Gillian Anderson and Lily James, and Andrea Levy’s Orange Prize-winning novel Small Island, as an epic new theatre adaptation.”

Tickets for all listed events will be available from Friday, February 1.

For more details call (01943) 467466 or visit www.otleycourthouse.org.uk .