KING Edward VII and Queen Mary School is set to stage a theatrical first in Lytham with a series of three outdoor plays in June.

The School will bring two professional outdoor companies to the town for performances of classics and, in differing style, will present a promenade performance of Sue Townsend's "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole" with a cast of its own students from year 10.

The series will begin on Tuesday June 17 when the Illyria Company will bring Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" to Lytham. The Edwardian splendour of the main school building will provide the back drop for Director Oliver Gray's production.

Just a week later, Drama teacher Ian Clarke will make use of the School's 35 acres of grounds and gardens for a promenade performance of "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole". Dermot Crowley, Emma Wrench, Joanna Piancastelli and Katie Plucknett will play the lead role in Sue Townsend's comic tale of teenage angst and peer pressure.

St Annes' born actress, Carol Carpenter, is hoping to be in the cast of John Vanbrugh's restoration comedy "The Provoked Wife" presented by the Rain or Shine Company in the natural amphitheatre of the School's grass tennis courts Tuesday July 1. Carol is a regular with the company, appearing in their successful 2002 produce of "She Stoops to Conquer".

School principal, Julian Wilde, is expecting capacity audiences for each of the plays.

"Outdoor theatre is always very popular," he said "and this will be the first visit by Illyria and Rain or Shine to the Fylde coast. The weather is usually very settled in the last two weeks of June and we are delighted to have three such contrasting plays. I think each will be a great success."

Tickets for the plays will go on sale at the school from May 1.