Murder most comical

The amateur theatre group combines both this month as it performs Agatha Christie spoof Murdered to Death.

Peter Gordon's play is set in the requisite country manor house in the 1930s with a cast of stock whodunit characters.

There's a butler, stiff-up-lipped colonel, high-society debutante and shady French art dealer.

Into their midst comes a bungling police inspector and a local amateur sleuth vying to solve the Murder of the house's owner.

Uproarious fun and hysterical happenings are promised as the body count rises and the murderer plots to remain unmasked.

Murdered to Death, which toured the UK in 2002 featuring Trevor Bannister, Geoffrey Davies and Anna Karen, is presented on January 19-24 (7.30pm).

Book tickets at Keighley Information Centre in the town hall or phone 08451 267859.

n Regular audiences at Keighley Amateurs shows may recall seeing principal girl Fiona Gilderdale before.

As a child the 17-year-old local girl took the title role in the musical Annie for the same society.

She returns later this month to play Alice Fitzwarren in the traditional family pantomime Dick Whittington.

Fiona is even more familiar to the Amateurs' regular principal boy Rachel McMahon -- she's Rachel's niece.

Fiona's sister Alice is one of the dancers in the January 24-31 production at Keighley's Victoria Hall.

Family ties continue as cousins Ben and Chris Tomlinson -- teenagers with much stage experience -- play penniless solicitors.

Peter Whitley returns as comedy sidekick Idle Jack opposite Mark Brown playing Keighley's Dame for the first time.

Long-time Amateurs stalwarts Peter Greenwood and Robert Lister are joined in principal roles by Richard Lloyd, Antonia Gentile, Henry Church-Michael, Sam Heaps, Ann Styles and Peter Kewley.

Tickets for Dick Whittington are on sale at Reids bookshop on Cavendish Street, or by phoning 01535 652547. There are matinee performances on both Saturdays.

n The sequel to one of Britain's best-loved farces is presented this month by Bingley Little Theatre.

Caught in the Net is the follow-up to Ray Cooney's 1980s smash-hit comedy Run for Your Wife.

The play toured the country last year with a cast including Russ Abbot as the friend of bigamous taxi driver John Smith.

He again had to keep Smith's two wives apart, and this time stop their unsuspecting children meeting for the first time.

Bingley's cast includes Keighley Playhouse regulars Gilly Rogers, David Templeton and Leigh Bowman.

Caught in the Net is on January 19-24 at Bingley's Arts Centre at 7.30pm. Book at Keighley Information Centre or phone 01274 432000.

n Tony Benn, Ken Dodd, Derren Brown, Bill Bailey, Curtis Stigers and Lesley Garrett are helping reopen St George's Hall.

They are among stars appearing at the Bradford concert hall during its winter and spring season.

The venue had been closed for several months so vital ceiling repairs could be carried out.

Sing-a-long-a Abba arrives on March 19, the Chinese State Circus entertains on February 23-25, and politician Tony Benn mixes opinion, debate and memories on February 7.

There is comedy from Ken Dodd (February 28), Jethro (April 17), Dylan Moran (May 2), Freddie Starr (6), Bill Bailey (7) and Mick Miller, Frank Carson and Roy Walker (13).

Make 'Em Laugh features Cannon and Ball, Little and Large, Lord Charles and Ray Allen, as well as the Grumbleweeds, on March 20.

The Hitmakers brings together Chris Farlowe, Cliff Bennett, Mike D'Abo and Dave Berry to sing classic songs on February 6.

The Fabulous Drifters perform on February 27, and there are tributes to Pink Floyd (February 14), Freddie Mercury (March 27) and Billy Fury (May 19).

VIPs of Jazz brings together Terry Lightfoot, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and the Dutch Swing College Band (March 4).

Children's shows include Pinocchio (December 17), the Chuckle Brothers (18), Starlight (26) and Dream Street (April 15).

Classical music comes from Young New Zealand performer Hayley Westenra (March 25) and percussionist Evelyn Glennie (May 8).

Chisinau National Opera performs Puccini's Turandot (February 29) and Lesley Garrett performs with Northern Sinfonia (May 14).

Other shows: singer Paul Carrack (February 8), music hall show Roll Out the Barrel (11), singer-guitarist Curtis Stigers (13), Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards Band (March 9), Dr Hook singer Dennis Locorriere (26), Black Dyke Band (April 3), raconteur Gervase Phinn (7), Mind Control magician Derren Brown (13), Irish duo Foster and Allen (April 21), West End singer Dave Willetts (3), folk band Steeleye Span (May 10).

Book tickets at Keighley Information Centre in the town hall or phone 01274 432000.

n The joint concert by Keighley Vocal Union and the Australian Children's Choir begins at 7pm, not 7.30pm at Skipton Parish Church as organisers previously stated.

n Story Writer, the latest musical from Keighley youth theatre HYT, is at Victoria Hall on Thursday to Saturday (7.30pm) and Saturday (2pm). Book at Keighley Information Centre in the town hall or phone 01274 832438.

n A sculptor who divides his time between Milan and London is exhibiting at Keighley's contemporary art gallery.

William Stock has provided several works for the opening exhibition at the new base of Keighley Arts Factory.

The Factory, which also houses drama, radio and TV studios, has moved from Keighley College's Dalton Lane site to its town centre complex.

The first exhibition also features Cononley book artist Esther-Leah Chambers and Bristol sculptor Cathy Lewis.

William Stock is known internationally for his sculptures and paintings and is providing the Keighley pieces free of charge.

Full Monty writer Simon Beaufoy will open the exhibition during a launch party next Thursday evening.

The display opens to the public the following day and runs until February 12 in the college's North Street building.

Access is either from within the college, or by a special entrance in the college car park off Alice Street.

The Arts Factory is open every weekday (10am-4pm). Phone 01535 618554 for details.

n Peas become boys, horses speak, women are gloriously greedy and men satisfyingly silly in an adaptation of Calvino's Italian folk tales.

Kneehigh Theatre uses film, puppetry, illusion and live music to tell the story of The Wooden Frock.

A girl escaping her family works for a prince, from January 30-February 14 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds.

Buy tickets from Keighley Information Centre or phone 0113 213 7700.

n A Dreamer of Dreams from the Shores of Sleep explores an old man's dreams of his youth using music, puppetry and poetry.

In the Boat, whose members have learning difficulties, present the show at the Square Chapel in Halifax on January 23.

Marge is a tale of "jealousy, betrayal, lust and liver", a black comedy about a warring married couple on January 29.

Book on 01422 349422.

n Holiday on Ice celebrates 60 years with a worldwide tour taking in Vienna, Los Angeles, and Rio with a range of diverse music.

The show is at the Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, on February 5-8.

Book on 0114 256 5656.