HIGHLIGHTS of the first part of 2024 at Skipton Town Hall include stand-up comedian, film and television star Omid Djalili; singer Kiki Dee; 80s pop band, China Crisis; and Opera North.

There will also be a fascinating talk on two German naval officers who escaped from the POW camp in Fukuoka, Japan, in November 1915, and spent a year on the run, almost circumnavigating the globe, before being recaptured by the Royal Navy and spending the final part of the war in Skipton.

Other events include The Alex Voysey Blues Band; classic ‘roots music and Americana’ with Swedish sisters 'Baskery'; and 'Fat Chance', a powerful one-woman play exploring true-life experience of weight gain from size eight to 18.

Iranian Omid Djalili brings Work in Progress to Skipton Town Hall on February 4.

Described by The Guardian as 'probably one of the most subversive, let alone funniest, comedians around’, and by The Sunday Times as the 'thinking person’s comedian', the festival favourite, stand-up comedian, film and television star guarantees an 'evening of experimentation'.

On February 9, Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri come to Skipton as part of their Long Ride Home Tour. For more than 25 years Kiki and Carmelo have been touring their acoustic live show across the UK and Europe.

Kiki, 76, who recently celebrated her 55th anniversary in the music industry, is best known for Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, which she performed with Elton John; and I Got The Music In Me.

China Crisis, formed in the 1980s by singer Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon, will be coming to Skipton in May. The band's hits include Wishful Thinking, Christian, Black Man Ray and King in a Catholic Style. Also in May will appear Animals and Friends - an acclaimed group of musicians including founding member of The Animals, drummer, John Steel; expect an evening of classic hits, including House Of The Rising Sun, and We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.

In March, theatre group Forget About The Dog brings Happy Place to Skipton, a show based in a near dystopian future, where corporations have commodified happiness into virtual reality booths called Happy Places, costing just the price of a coffee for limitless experiences.

Also in March, audiences will be invited to meet Rachel, a 20-something actress from Boro whose funny, celebratory and politically powerful one-woman play explores her true-life experience of weight gain from size eight to 18; Fat Chance is for anyone who has ever felt they don't fit.

More details at: https://skiptontownhall.co.uk