OPENING this Thursday in the Wharfeside theatre is Peter Gill’s beautiful and moving play The York Realist. This play is a love story but it’s also about the divide made by class, culture and geography when a young director called John comes up from London to assist the director of a 1960s revival of the York Mystery plays and gets involved with farm hand George who is one of the cast. In John’s company, George steps from the closed world of farm and family to taste the fellowship of the theatre and the emerging scene of 1960s England. But how will it all go down with the folks back home? Can George step away from the world in which he was born and raised? This warm, witty and sharp piece of writing is intensely moving as George and John struggle to reconcile the differences between their lives and find a future together. Against the background of a changing England, this beautifully written play explores class, place, the arts, sexuality, society and above all, relationships and the family. The play runs until Saturday 16th July in the Wharfeside Theatre.

On Tuesday 19th July, the seven Oscar winning film The Sting is the second screening of what we hope will become a new monthly Ilkley Playhouse Film Club. Come and be reminded of how Paul Newman and Robert Redford set up the ultimate con-trick! The film starts at 1.30pm (box office opens at 1pm) and tea and cake will be served afterwards. Tickets are £5.

We are excited to announce our new season ticket offer. Buy your tickets for all eight Wharfeside 2022/2023 productions at the same time and get one play free, saving you up to £12. You can either choose your preferred day of the week and seat number for the entire season or opt for the flexible season ticket and book whichever days of the week and seat number that suit you best for each production. This offer ends on Saturday 24th September.

In August we offer you a summer feast from the works of William Shakespeare. Bard in the Yard returns with a 30 minute adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and a 30 minute performance of Shakespearean Duologues. Performances will take place on Saturday 27th August at 7.30pm in the Wildman Studio and in the Manor House Yard (open air) on Sunday 28th and Monday 29th August (Bank Holiday) at 2pm. Tickets are £6. To buy tickets for the Saturday evening performance in the Wildman Studio, please visit the Ilkley Playhouse website. If you prefer the outdoor performances in the Manor House Courtyard on Sunday and Monday, tickets can be bought online via Eventbrite or in person through the Manor House Box Office.

For details about this and about all our plays and events and to book tickets visit www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or contact Ilkley Playhouse box office on 01943 609539.