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Welcome to Upstagers!

We're 'dead' excited about our next auditions….

Normal? Over our dead bodies….

Upstagers return to the King’s Hall, Ilkley from 8–11 July 2026 with the gloriously gothic smash-hit musical The Addams Family – and we’re looking for our next cast of kooky, spooky stars!

When Wednesday Addams falls for someone shockingly normal, the ultimate night of secrets, chaos and deliciously dark comedy unfolds. It’s bold, it’s hilarious, it’s heartfelt – and it needs a company bursting with character, commitment and confidence.

Whether you’re a seasoned performer or ready to take your first step onto the King’s Hall stage, this is your chance to be part of one of Upstagers’ biggest summer productions yet. Expect dazzling costumes, show-stopping musical numbers, high-energy choreography and the unforgettable buzz of live theatre. Visit our The Addams Family web page to learn more!

✨ Auditions are open – and we’d love to see you there.
📅 Auditions will be held on 8th March.
🖊 Online registration is essential.

Come and join the family.… if you dare.
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Snow White 2026 – What a Spellbinding Adventure! 🍎✨

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What an incredible journey it’s been!

Our 2026 pantomime Snow White has now taken its final bow, and we simply want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along to support us. Your energy, laughter, cheers, boos (for the Queen, of course!), and the countless lovely messages we received both in person and across social media meant the world to us.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the kind words about the performances, the costumes, the choreography, the live music, and the magical atmosphere in the theatre. Seeing so many smiling faces – and hearing how much families enjoyed sharing the experience together – is exactly why we do what we do.

A massive round of applause must go to our phenomenal cast, who gave their all in every performance, and to our dedicated backstage crew, creative team, chaperones, volunteers and front-of-house team who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the magic happen. Pantomime is the ultimate team effort, and Snow White was no exception. We are so proud of every single person involved.

If you joined us this year and shared photos or memories online, thank you for tagging @weareupstagers – we’ve loved reliving the moments with you!

And now… we look ahead 👀✨

We’re already hard at work on our 2027 pantomime, and we can’t wait to share more details soon. Online registration for auditions (taking place on 6th September 2026) will be opening shortly, so keep an eye on the website and our socials for updates.

From all of us at Upstagers – thank you for believing in the magic, supporting local theatre, and making Snow White 2026 such a sparkling success.

See you at the next adventure! 🎭✨

7x award-winning pantomime!

What a night at the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre Awards 2025!

Out of fifteen nominations, we were thrilled to bring home an incredible nine awards – a true celebration of the amazing talent and dedication within our Upstagers family.

The evening was filled with joy, camaraderie, and admiration for the outstanding local amateur theatre community. A huge thank you to Yeadon Town Hall for hosting such a fantastic event.

Here’s what we were proud to win:
🏆 Best Pantomime – Dick Whittington
🏆 Best Director(s) – John Clark, Andrew Hewitt & Joey Wilby
🏆 Best Choreographer(s) – Lily Normington & Bea Whiteley
🏆 Best Stage Presentation – Dick Whittington
🏆 Best Programme – Andrew Tarbett
🏆 Best Villain – Sophie Holdsworth
🏆 Best Dame – Mike Riley
🏆 Best Principal Girl – Olivia Leather
🏆 Best Comedy Support – James Hepworth

We are immensely grateful to everyone who contributed to making Dick Whittington such a triumph. The production was a true team effort, brought to life by the passion, creativity, and hard work of the entire Upstagers team. ❤️

Special thanks to Paul Clarke for capturing the evening in photographs.

You can find out more about the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre at wharfedaletheatrefest.org.uk.
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Upstagers Academy

Upstagers has been providing a creative outlet for youngsters in the Ilkley area since 1987. We have a great team of teachers providing fulfilling, fun and beneficial classes to our next generation of Upstagers stars. Our students get the most out of their experience by building confidence and developing communication skills, whilst also having a lot of fun and meeting new friends. We're proud that many Upstagers alumni have created successful careers in theatre and other forms of performance.

Classes are available for six-year-olds up to young adults and take place at the Upstagers Barn opposite Ilkley railway station.

Click the button below to visit our Upstagers Academy mini-site.

Forthcoming shows

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Upstagers Theatre
2026 Summer Show

The Addams Family Musical

8th - 11th July 2026
King's Hall, Ilkley
5 performances

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Upstagers Academy
Summer Showcase

TBC

Summer 2026

Single performance

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Upstagers Theatre
2027 Pantomime

TBC

22nd January - 30th January 2027
King's Hall, Ilkley
10 performances

Banner video credits (in order):
Robin Hood - Set by DSH Pantomime Set Hire, Will Scarlett costume by Molly Limpets Theatrical Emporium, Ensemble costumes by Upstagers
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Set by Scenic Projects, costumes by Charades Theatrical Costume Hire
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Set by Scenic Projects, Principal costumes by Molly Limpets Theatrical Emporium, Ensemble costumes by Upstagers
Cinderella - Set by Scenic Projects, Fairy Godmother & Unicorn costumes by Molly Limpets Theatrical Emporium, other costumes by Upstagers

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