Children from Cononley school who are taking part in the village's millennium play

Cononley villagers' theatrical talents are being drawn together in a unique Millennium production. The Cononley Circle unites the village in its first ever community play.

Villagers agreed to celebrate the Millennium year by looking back at Cononley's history and forward to the future.

The play will coincide with the release of 'The History of Cononley: an Airedale Village' by Trevor Hodgson and David Gulliver.

Passages from the book have been adapted for the script. Mill workers, industrial disputes and the de-mutualisation of building societies will be covered.

"The long row of cottages on Aireview," says Mr Gulliver, "Was built by a building society formed by a working group of people in Cononley in the 19th century."

Mr Gulliver, who has lived in Cononley for five years and is a former Leeds public library local history librarian, is also on the play committee. He says events of the past will be compared with the present and a look to the future.

A £4,520 'Awards for All' Lottery grant and recent £200 Craven community chest grant paid to hire playwright and director Keith Bowen of the Different Stages Theatre Company.

Apart from Mr Bowen's associate designer Paul Davis and two or three experienced actors in 'demanding' leading roles, the rest is being done by locals.

This includes sets, costumes and promotion work. At first, though, volunteers were not forthcoming. "Although we advertised a lot, we did have to encourage the shy to take part," says Mr Gulliver.

A crew of 35 villagers, including children from Cononley Primary School has been assembled and a month of weekly rehearsals begins this weekend.

Mr Gulliver adds: "Such plays have been done in much larger communities so it was rather ambitious in a relatively small one. Most amateur productions would cost a few hundred while this is costing thousands. But unlike amateur dramatics we've started with no money."

The curtain opens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday October 26, 27 and 28. All performances are at Cononley Primary School and begin at 7.30pm Tickets, costing £2.50, will be on sale at Cononley Post Office from Monday.