The road to wedded bliss

“Sylvia’s Wedding”, a comedy by Jimmie Chinn, directed by Jeff Heys, opens a week tomorrow and is the story of Sylvia and Gordon who have been going out together for years until one night, totally out-of-character, Gordon proposes over a tray of fish and chips and the scene is set for domestic chaos!

Gordon’s father is a working class snob who is determined that his son will not marry beneath him. But he is by no means the only obstacle to Sylvia’s matrimonial ambitions and the pathway to the altar is strewn with family skeletons, moral dilemmas, financial crises, costume catastrophes, damaged lavatories and a lame budgie!

It runs from January 22nd to 29th (excluding the Monday) and tickets are £6. Ring 01706 228720 or call into Watts News next door to the theatre. There will be a charity performance on the Sunday in aid of Edenfield Parish Church.

Nostalgia from G&S

A NOSTALGIC evening of music is promised by the Burnley and Pendle Gilbert & Sullivan Theatre Company next month.

The group is celebrating 40 years of music making since the company was formed in 1971 and former members are returning to take part. It promises to be a wonderful evening of music from all the popular G&S comic operas with three guest conductors.

The date is Friday, February 4th, at Burnley Mechanics, with all proceeds going to the Help for Heroes charity. Tickets are £10 and £5 for under 14s, from the box office on 664400 or buy online.

An Inspector Calls

REHEARSALS begin on Tuesday, January 25th, for a classic suspense drama by J.B. Priestley “An Inspector Calls” being presented by the Garrick.

The play is being studied by GCSE students, so it could be an opportunity for them to see the printed word come alive.

“If you fancy seeing “An Inspector Calls”it runs at the ACE Centre, Nelson, from March 23rd - 26th, curtain up nightly at 7-30 p.m.

Passion and lies

NEXT up from Blackburn Drama Club is “Separate Tables “ by Terence Rattigan, directed by Jane Berry.

Set in 1953, “Separate Tables” is a detailed study of the lies, class judgements and repressed passions of the long-term residents of the Beauregard Private Hotel.

Made up of two linked one act plays, it explores the seedy gentility of guests who live by the strict social rules of a bygone era.

The play runs at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn from February 2nd to 5th at 7-30 p.m. nightly.

Tickets are £9 from the Box Office on 01254685500 or see www.thwaitesempiretheatre.co.uk

Women on the stage

MEET Nell Gwynne in Pendle Borderline’s forthcoming production, “Playhouse Creatures”, which is set in the world of restoration theatre when women were first allowed on the English stage.

Director Mark Cassidy said it is set in the turbulent period of the 1660s, but as a recently written play the issues it raises of power, wealth, sex and female emancipation remain as relevant as ever.

Written by April D’Angelis it is rapidly becoming established as a modern classic and has been performed many times in the UK and world-wide but makes its debut in Pendle.

It has an all female cast and will begin its four day run at Colne Muni from March 9th.