THE Library Theatre brings a new play to the stage with a tale of sibling rivalry and A-roads in Traffic and Weather.

Set against a succession of uncomfortable Christmas visits Richard, played by Leigh Symonds, and Chris, played by award winner Graeme Hawly, find it hard to settle in each other's company.

Richard brings his girlfriend Sophie along at first but his inability to talk to his brother and her ultimately splits them apart.

The brothers skirt around their problems with banal comments about the weather and map routes with real humour.

They play out strange body movements, emphasising their discomfort and inability to talk about work problems or their misfiring love lives.

Watching over the trio are Sophie,s grandmother and the boys, great-grandfather David who was killed during the First World War.

And it is David's pain that can be seen to be the root cause of the brother's difficulties stemming back to his problems with a stern Victorian father.

The Library Theatre is one of the few mainstream venues that provide new and developing production companies with a stage.

Traffic and Weather pokes fun at the troubles and problems that families experience with a delicate smile and gentle comic timing.

The Library Theatre until Saturday. Tel: 0161 236 7110.