Final countdown to Players' night

IT'S been a hard slog but they're nearly there.

After three months of rehearsing, the Oswaldtwistle Players will finally take to the stage this week for A Night On The Tiles, which runs from Wednesday until Saturday at the Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre.

For first-time director Lesley Jackson, it's been quite a journey but one she thinks she'd be prepared to make again - but only if she gets a few years' rest beforehand.

"I've gone grey!" she said. "It's been a really hard slog. I would like to direct again, though - probably when I've forgotten how much effort I've put into this one."

Not that Lesley has allowed the cast to rest on their laurels.

"We were set-building at the weekend," said Lesley, "and then we've had the technical rehearsal with the dress rehearsal tonight.

"All the cast had to chip in on the set build. It's not just about the acting - there's a lot of graft involved as well."

Tickets are selling quickly but some are still available at Accrington Information Centre, Accrington Town Hall and Elmwood Home Care, Accrington, priced £6 (concessions at £5).

All tickets for Wednesday night are £4.50.

Randle's Scandals

ROSSENDALE Players will bring Scandals to the New Millennium Theatre, Waterfoot, on Friday and Saturday.

It's a one-man play about "the life and liver of comic Frank Randle," starring its co-writer Keith Clifford.

Tickets for the play, set in a Blackpool hospital just before his death 1957, cost £8 and are available from Mary Taylor on 01706 211918.

Society's Bouncers comedy

BAR GAMES: Guy Mason is one of the four-man cast for Bouncers

IT'S a Friday night out in a northern town and the lads and lasses are getting ready to party.

That's the premise of Ribchester Amateur Theatrical Society's production of John Godber's Bouncers, which runs from November 10 to 12, at Ribchester Parochial Hall.

The play stars Rob Hindle, Kevan Thompson, Guy Mason and Keith Flood, who play all the parts in once continuous act.

The comedy does contain strong language. A licensed bar will open at 7pm, with curtain up at 7.45pm, and for tickets call on 01254 878530.