SKIPTON: Victorian London is being recreated at the Mart Theatre.

Skipton Musical Theatre Company returns to the stage tonight with its musical, Oliver!

And making his first-ever appearance in a large-scale show will be 12-year-old Erymsted's Grammar School pupil Benny Hick from Silsden.

He will take on the title role of orphan Oliver, who finds himself in the criminal-infested London underworld. Fagin is played by Dale Chadwick, while Steve Charlton takes on the role of Bill Sykes and Skipton MTC favourite Helen Procter will play Nancy.

The show runs until Saturday and tickets are available from 01756 709666, themarttheatre.org.uk or the SMTC website,skiptonmtc.co.uk Mill Bridge Gallery is staging an exhibition to highlight the work of the Craven RSPCA.

Other Animals features photography and sculpture and invites the visitor to consider the diversity and beauty of the other species who inhabit our world and our relationship with them.

It includes images by guest photographic group Over The Moon, which was formed in 2012 to raise the profile of fine art photography in East Yorkshire, and a 1940s image of farmer and calf by Skipton's Henry Meyer, which has just been awarded a joint first prize by the prestigious Royal Photographic Society.

A preview evening will be held on Saturday from 5.30pm when a number of the artists will talk about their photography and sculpture and a local member of Craven RSPCA will be there to answer questions. Commission from sales on the preview evening will be donated to the RSPCA.

Tickets will also be on sale for a prize draw to win Champagne Bird, a painting by Beverley Drury, which will be made when the exhibition ends on Saturday, December 20.

Howlin Johnny and The 59 Sound will perform at a Halloween party at the Cross Keys tomorrow. For more information, call 01756 79291.

Alan Bullard, one of the UK's most highly regarded contemporary composers, will give a choral workshop at St Andrew's Church on Saturday.

The event has been organised by the Sutton-based KVU Singers and for more details, email info@kvusingers.co.uk.

The story of the real-life Downton Abbey will be revealed to Skipton and Wharfedale Decorative and Fine Arts Society next Thursday, November 6.

Guest speaker Matthew Adams will give an illustrated talk on Highclere - where the TV series is filmed - and its owner, Lord Carnavon.

The meeting will be held in Christ Church (due to ongoing work at the town hall) and will start with coffee at 7pm before the lecture at 7.30pm.

Guests are welcome.

The duo, Loc Tup Together, which enjoys producing close harmonies and plenty of choruses, will perform at Skipton Folk Unplugged on Monday.

The club meets in the upstairs of the Narrow Boat pub from 8.30pm.

SETTLE: Settle Amateur Operatic Society is staging Guys and Dolls at Victoria Hall.

Set in mythical New York City in the 1940s, this oddball romantic comedy soars with the spirit of Broadway.

The show opened on Monday and will run until Saturday, with performances at 7.30pm. There will also be a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets are available from the hall box office on 01729 825718 or online at settlevictoriahall.org.uk A trio from Manchester-based The Housedevils will headline at the next First Sunday Folk event at Victoria Hall.

The group is known for its traditional Irish and American music.

As usual, the gig will be introduced by local singer, songwriter, comedian and broadcaster Mike Harding and will feature the William Small Small Orchestra.

There will also be support from Hannah Saunders and Liz Simmons, who are from New England and create an harmonic blend of voice and guitar.

The gig takes place on Sunday at 7.30pm and tickets are available from 01729 825718.

The Ribblesdale Area Moving Picture Show (TRAMPS) will show the film, Big Night, at Victoria Hall on Monday, November 10.

It is a comedy drama about two brothers, who emigrate from Italy to New Jersey in the 1950s and are determined to make a killing with their restaurant, serving authentic Italian food. But, alas, their food is too authentic for local American tastes.

The screening starts at 7.45pm.

The Folly closes for the winter on Sunday - but there are still a couple of days to view its current exhibitions.

The first includes 50 photographs celebrating the golden anniversary of the Forest of Bowland as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The pictures have been taken by photographers, residents and visitors and have been chosen to reflect and capture the Forest of Bowland's special sense of place and some of the characteristics of the wonderful area.

Also being staged is War Beckons, which focuses on the early stages of the First World War and the effects it had on the district.

It recalls the recruitment of volunteers and the commandeering of local horses following the outbreak of war, as well as some of the lesser-known stories, such as the Belgian refugees who were brought to Settle and the efforts of local people to raise money and support the troops.

Running alongside is a third exhibition, Journeys Through a Family Archive, which explores the story of the Riley family and their many involvements in the life of Settle and district over nearly 100 years.

All three exhibitions run until Sunday.

The Gallery on the Green has extended its current exhibition, showcasing the work of local photographers Tony and Carol Dilger.

Out of Africa and into The Dales features wildlife pictures, shot during safaris in South Africa and nearer to home, in the Dales.

The exhibition will now run until November 29. For more information, visit galleryonthegreen.org.uk or tonydilger.co.uk Linton Court Gallery is holding an autumn exhibition.

Voices of the Land features work by Edward and Heather Cowie, who both received scientific training but "defected" to the arts in early middle life.

A composer, natural scientist and painter, Edward has exhibited internationally as a painter and his works are in public and private collections in more than 20 countries.

In 2002, he became the first artist in residence with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

His Australian-born wife, who has a geology degree, is fascinated by nature, with its sound, colour and shaped action.

The exhibition will run until next Saturday, November 8.

ADDINGHAM: There is still a chance to catch Addingham Drama Group's latest offering.

It is staging Duets, a comedy in four acts, at the memorial hall until Saturday, The show features four sets of characters and four crucial moments in a humorous examination of the chaotic world of love, relationships and why the grass is never greener.

Performances start at 7.30pm and tickets are available from Steve Crossley-Smith on 01943 830640 or Jane Aldridge on 01943 830110 or 07557 196756.

BARNOLDSWICK: The 17th anniversary of Northern Soul nights in West Craven will be celebrated tomorrow.

However, a double booking means the dance evening put on by DJs Roman, Ginger and friends will not take place in West Craven.

As the Rolls Royce Leisure Club is double-booked, the Northern Soul night will relocate for one night only to The Muni in Colne.

The event begins at 8pm and tickets, costing £5, are available on the door or by ringing 01282 661234.

GARGRAVE: The Swing Commanders – described as Europe’s number one western swing band – will return to Gargrave Village Hall tomorrow.

Every member of the group sings and plays at least one instrument and will perform a mix of 1940s classics, boogie woogie, western swing and 50s jump jazz.

Tickets cost £10 and are available from 01756 749235 or 749609. A bar and hot beef sandwiches will be available.

GIGGLESWICK: As part of the Community Cinema season, the family film The Nut Job will be screened at the Richard Whiteley Theatre next Sunday, November 9.

The computer-animated film tells the story of an incorrigibly self-serving exiled squirrel who finds himself helping his former park brethren raid a nut store to survive.

The screening starts at 3.30pm and tickets are available from 01729 893180 or giggleswick.org.uk/rwt KILDWICK: Guitarist Brian J Comber will perform country and indie music at the White Lion next Sunday, November 9, from 4pm.

THRESHFIELD: A film night will be held at Gamekeepers Inn, Long Ashes, on Saturday.

The featured film will be The Railway Man, based on a best-selling book and starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman.

It tells the story of Eric Lomax, a signals engineer who was forced to work on the infamous Thai-Burmese "Death Railway" after being taken prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War.

The screening begins at 7.30pm and tickets costing £5 are available from the Hub, Grassington, on 752222.