The launch of a triple New Year celebration to mark the end of Ilkley Literature Festival's 25th year was announced today.

A photographic exhibition, history of the festival and a specially-commissioned play are to be staged in Ilkley next month to celebrate the prestigious event's achievements since 1973.

Written by award-winning Ilkley playwright Maureen Lawrence, Finding A Voice is set in the town during the period 1973 and 1998 and looks at the process of being or becoming a writer.

Directed by Barrie Rutter, of the Northern Broadsides Theatre Company, and performed by actress Polly Hemingway - whose TV credits include Emmerdale Farm, Heartbeat, Peak Practise and Coronation Street - the one-hour play will be staged at the newly-renovated Ilkley Playhouse at 9pm on Friday, January 15 and 8pm the following day.

Meanwhile a pictorial A-Z of the literature festival down the years opens at the town's Manor House Museum on January 9.

An Outpost of Progress features the work of 22-year-old Bradford photographer Louise Naylor, commissioned by the festival to document its silver anniversary year.

Events during the past 12 months have included PopTV, featuring pop video artists and performance poets; a specially commissioned celebration of the life of Sid James and a performance by international reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson.

The exhibition also includes other photographs, artwork and memorabilia from the last quarter of a century, including images of many of the top writers who have visited over the years, from WH Auden to Benjamin Zephaniah.

A potted history of the festival, edited by chairman Brian Lawrence, accompanies the photographic exhibition and opens on the same night.

Visitors will also have a chance to browse through books and press cuttings, many from the Telegraph & Argus, about the festival.

Festival director David Porter said: "In 1973 WH Auden gave his last reading at the first Ilkley Literature Festival and in 1998 Benjamin Zephaniah gave the last reading of the 25th anniversary year. The exhibition celebrates these events and everything in between - from A to Z in 25 years.''

l Tickets for Finding a Voice will be available from the festival box office on 01943 601210 from Monday, January 4.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.