Simon Williams's play Laying the Ghost is officially described as a gentle comedy.

But Michael Kennedy, the director of Keighley Playhouse's production next week, begs to differ.

He says the play is actually "quite hilarious" as it explores the relationships between an ageing actor and the three women in his life.

Michael says that although the fun really begins in the second half when the man returns as a ghost, the first act is quite funny too.

This is when the former wife, the present wife and the young mistress, come across each other for the first time.

The man -- visiting his ex at her retirement home -- suddenly drops dead.

John Cohen, seen last year at Keighley Playhouse in Heatstroke, plays the man both alive and dead.

His women are played by June Driver -- a Bingley Little Theatre actress making her Keighley debut -- Jan Darnbrough, and Alison Broadley.

Sheila Kershaw plays the boss of the retirement home and Barbara Lowens the medium who communicates with the man.

Laying the Ghost runs from Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm. Buy tickets from Keighley Information Centre in the town hall, or phone 08451 267859.

n Popular and traditional music will be played in Keighley during a seasonal concert in aid of Manorlands.

The Bradford Metropolitan Concert Band will perform its Christmas Spectacular on December 6, at Victoria Hall.

The 36-strong band was formed more than 27 years ago and performs regularly in Keighley and Bradford areas.

Tickets for the 7:30pm performance cost £5 and £3 from Keighley Information Centre in the town hall, or by phoning 01535 618014.

n John Garrett has taken over from James Ashworth as bass soloist in tomorrow's performance of Handel's Messiah, in Keighley.

Keighley Vocal Union is presenting the concert at Keighley Shared Church to raise money for the church's repairs fund.

John, from Burnley, regularly performs with many societies around West Yorkshire and Lancashire, including the Huddersfield Singers and Pendle Opera.

John will join soprano Stella Whitehouse, contralto Penny Wilson and tenor David Gee. Tickets for the concert cost £5 on the door, or phone 01535 601499.

n Sutton artist David Binns recently exhibited at The Mall Galleries, London, with fellow members of the Society of Wildlife Artists.

The popular artist's work is also on display at the Wildfowl Trust.

But this weekend David is back on home territory for his annual Christmas exhibition at his Cowling gallery.

Nature Abounding is the title of this year's exhibition by David and his invited guests.

David's wife Molly, who runs the Brent Gallery, says there are a wide range of subjects in watercolour.

She says: "There are prowling foxes, roosting pheasants, dozing mallards, lapwings in winter and portraits of grouse, woodcock, partridge and snipe.

"As a designer of Christmas cards, it is not surprising to see David's robins and the diminutive wren lurking in the show."

This year's guests are Steven Lennon, Frances Morgan, Arthur Gee and Northumbrian artist Jacqui Chillcot.

Previews are tomorrow and Sunday (10. 30am-5pm), then the gallery is open every day (10.30am-noon and 2-5pm) except Wednesdays and Saturday afternoons.

The gallery is at 68 Keighley Road, Cowling. Phone 01535 636892 for details.

n Musical comedy Nunsense is performed from December 9-14 by Bingley Little Theatre in the town's Arts Centre. The show follows five New York nuns as they reveal their secret ambitions and past lives through song and dance. Buy tickets on 01274 752000.

The annual concert by Yorkshire Building Society Concert Brass is tomorrow in Bingley Arts Centre at 7.30pm. Admission is £6 (concessions £5).

n Dick Whittington and His Cat will be performed in traditional style by Sutton Amateurs next Wednesday to Saturday (7.15pm), plus a Saturday matinee (2.15pm), at St Thomas's Hall, Sutton. Buy tickets from Place's Place, Main Street, Sutton.

n Kingdom of Song is a concert in which performers from West End shows present songs from classic animated films like the Lion King and Aladdin, tonight, at 7.30pm, in St George's Hall, Bradford. Coming up: Status Quo (tomorrow), Diwali Festival dance drama Bhagavad-gita (Sunday), Paul McKenna's Hypnotic Show (Thursday). Book on 01274 432000.

n The Russian National Ballet is at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, to perform Prokofiev's Cinderella (Sunday-Tuesday) and Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker (Wednesday-Saturday). Fame the Musical is on December 9-14. Book tickets at Keighley Information Centre in the town hall or phone 0113 222-6222.

n The Holme Singers present their annual concert at Keighley Shared Church on December 7.

The Hebden Bridge (Walkleys) Brass Band will also perform during the 7pm concert in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Tickets cost £3.50 from choir members or on the door of the Church Green venue, or by phoning 01535 654357.