RATS send up the swinging sixties

IT'S a send-up of permissive '60s society with plenty of risqu jokes thrown in.

Ribchester Amateur Theatrical Society presents Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus on Thursday, Friday and Saturday May 13, 14 and 15 in Ribchester Parochial Hall.

RATS first performed this comical romp nine years ago, but have decided to revive it with a cast that includes Keith Flood and Susan Cronshaw as Dr and Mrs Wicksteed and Jo Shipman as their son.

Produced and directed by Robin Simmons, Habeas Corpus will kick off at 7.45pm with a licensed bar from 7pm.

Tickets (costing £4) are available on (01254) 878530 or (01254) 878611 or from Ribchester Post Office

Absolutely bloomin' luverly...

PENDLE Hippodrome Theatre will be the venue for a production of the ever-popular My Fair Lady.

St John's Amateurs will stage the much-loved musical, with Wendy Ranwell as Eliza and David McKinley as Professor Higgins, between April 19 and 24 at 7.15pm at the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, New Market Street, Colne.

Ticket prices vary from £5 (pre-booked), £6 (on the door) and £3 (children) on Monday and Tuesday to £7 (pre-booked), £8 (on the door) and £4 (children) from Wednesday to Saturday and are available on (01282) 612402.

Back on boards

ROSSENDALE Players present Natural Causes at the New Millennium Theatre from Tuesday, April 13 to Sunday, April 18.

Casting difficulties forced the postponement of this play, which charts the relationship between Vincent, a professional suicide merchant, his client Walter, Walter's wife Celia, played by Christine Durkin (pictured right) and a resilient rubber plant.

Tickets to see Eric Chappell's black comedy cost £5 and are available on (01706) 228720.

Promise of a wild night

THE Wild West will be coming to Lowerhouse when Greenbrook Methodists present the popular musical Calamity Jane.

The production runs from Monday, April 19 to Saturday, April 24 at 7.15pm at the community centre on Greenbrook Road.

Taking the lead role of Calamity Jane is Christine Chadwick, while Chris Blackie, left, plays Wild Bill Hickock and Jason Morris is Lt Danny Gilmartin.

Theatre's ghostly goings on

TICKETS are now on sale for Oswaldtwistle Players' ghostly production - Blithe Spirit which runs from Wednesday, April 21 to Saturday, April 24. at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre.

The show tells the story of Charles Condomine, his deceased wife, Elvira, and his current wife, Ruth.

Elvira is a mischievous spirit brought back from the dead by Madame Arcati, who begins to wreak havoc on Charles' life. It is one of Noel Coward's best known plays and will create a challenge for the Oswaldtwistle Players' special effects department.

Tickets can be purchased from Accrington Information Centre at the town hall, Oswaldtwistle Post Office or from any cast member.

Any groups of 10 or more who are interested in bulk purchases should contact Gayle Knight on (01254) 387851.

Tickets are priced £6, with concessions £5 except on Wednesday when all tickets are priced £4.50.

nGASP at the exploits of the handsome hero. Sigh along with the lovelorn heroine.

Quake at the sight of the spine-chilling monster and rock to the best music in town in Todmorden Amateur Dramatic Society's Return to the Forbidden Planet.

The rock 'n' roll masterpiece runs at the Hippodrome Theatre in Todmorden from April 20 to 24. For tickets (£8, £6 concessions) call (01706) 816568.

nBURNLEY St Stephen's Players present the Richard Harris comedy Outside Edge at The Hall, Woodgrove Road, Burnley on April 15 and 16 at 7.30pm and April 17 at 6pm. For tickets call (01282) 421891.

nBLACKBURN Amateurs will stage South Pacific at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre between May 10 and 15.