THE next Playhouse production Sweet Charity is in rehearsal.

A popular musical with a superb story based on the book by Neil Simon, it tells the bittersweet story of Charity Hope Valentine, a New York dancer with a habit of falling for the wrong man.

Charity’s adorable optimism lifts you up and carries you along, while the recognisable score includes Big Spender, Rhythm of Life and If My Friends Could See Me Now.

Bob Fosse’s original choreography has been adapted by the Playhouse’s Ted Oxley-Kirk to make the most of the jazzy score, mixing Fosse-style big kicks with swinging 60s twists and frisky gallops.

Big-hearted, bright and brazen, Sweet Charity boasts everything you’d want from a musical: comedy, pathos, stunning choreography, a fabulous score and plenty of brass.

It runs from June 4 to 16.

Ticket sales for Dom Pipkin and a touring production of Bouncers are also making the phones buzz.

Dom will be appearing on Friday, May 18 and filling the Wildman studio with his acclaimed one man show, a rollercoaster ride through the rich world of New Orleans, featuring astonishing stories and some breath-taking piano.

On Saturday, May 19, John Godber’s Bouncers will be holding court.

This crowd-pleasing piece of brilliance is brought to you by Bite My Thumb, who have given several celebrated productions of Bouncers in the past.

Also coming up in the Wildman we have an intriguing piece of fringe drama, The Bench.

One day, one bench, eight encounters. On a bench in a local park we meet some interesting, amusing and worrying characters.

All they have in common is that they take a few moments to rest and reflect in the same place.

This Fringe event showcases a dozen of our members: some familiar, some new, some returning to our stage.

We can promise you a fascinating evening, entertained by these eight short plays.

Directed and written by our own artistic director, Jamesine Cundell Walker, The Bench runs from May 23 to 25.

Word is out that our next Stage Fright Comedy night (on Saturday, May 26) has a stellar line-up.

The headliner is Gary Delany, who you may know from Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo, or Celebrity Mastermind, Eggheads, or Pointless.

His debut Edinburgh festival show Purist received enthusiastic reviews and he has won two Sony Awards for his writing work.

He’ll be joined by Pete Selwood and full support: it’s great comedy on your doorstep.

Finally, the Playhouse welcomes more award-winning visitors when Fat Rascal Theatre bring us Tom & Bunny Save the World: The Musical.

As 2018 falls to a zombie apocalypse, Tom and Bunny begin their perilous journey to Yorkshire in quest of sanctuary and a proper cup of tea.

From the creators of the award-winning hit Buzz: A New Musical comes a gender-stereotype-destroying, bloody black comedy with a live folk soundtrack, examining what it is to be British in a crisis.

Perfect for teens and beyond, Tom & Bunny are with us for one night only on Saturday, June 2.

Tickets for all events and productions can be found at www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or by calling 01943 609 539.