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Upstagers has been bringing young people together through theatre in Ilkley since 1987.
Each year, Upstagers Theatre stages two major productions at the King's Hall, Ilkley – our award-winning pantomime in January and a musical theatre production in July.
Our casts bring together performers from around six years old through to young adults, supported by a huge team working both on stage and behind the scenes. Whether performing, directing, choreographing, making costumes and props, building scenery, working backstage or helping front of house, Upstagers has always been about people coming together to create theatre.
We're proud members of NODA and long-standing supporters of the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre.
From our first production, Tin Pan Ali, in 1987 to today's pantomimes and musicals, hundreds of young performers have grown up with Upstagers – with many returning over the years as directors, choreographers, volunteers and members of our production teams.
Across almost four decades we've staged more than 100 productions, ranging from traditional pantomime and large-scale musicals to plays, youth productions and concert-style shows.
The Upstagers Barn has been our permanent home since the late 1990s. With the support of a grant from the Arts Council of England, supported by the National Lottery, together with funding raised by Upstagers, we were able to purchase and refurbish the property on Station Road and create our own rehearsal and production base.
Today, The Barn is at the heart of Upstagers. It provides rehearsal space alongside our wardrobe, scenery and props stores, photo and sound recording studios, workshop and other production facilities, and is also home to Upstagers Academy.
Alongside our Theatre productions, Upstagers Academy provides regular acting, singing and performance classes for young people.
Academy students also have opportunities to take to the stage in Christmas and Summer showcases, helping them build confidence, develop their performance skills and – most importantly – enjoy being part of theatre.
Upstagers Theatre Charity Ltd is a registered charity (No. 1041989), run with the support of a fantastic team of volunteers.
From producing our shows and maintaining the Barn to costumes, scenery, chaperoning, front of house and countless jobs behind the scenes, volunteers are at the heart of what we do.
Income from our productions, Academy and fundraising is reinvested in our premises and activities, helping us continue creating opportunities for young people to experience theatre.
If you'd like to support Upstagers, whether by volunteering or making a donation, we'd love to hear from you.
Make a day of it!
Upstagers is proud to call Ilkley home. Set in the Wharfe Valley on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the town has fantastic independent shops, cafés and restaurants, beautiful countryside and plenty to explore before or after a show.
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