A PLAY which plunges audiences into the world of a tabloid newspaper opens on Saturday.

Damages, being staged at Bolton Little Theatre until Saturday, February 7, sees a sensational photograph pose a moral conundrum — exposing deceit, lies and a darker secret that must not be revealed at any cost.

Director Michael Shipley said: "The production team has really enjoyed researching the 'back stage' life of a newspaper — how it is put together before it reaches the presses and the public.

"Some of this 'research' was easy , we just had to call to the office of the Bolton News and watch — see the busy reporters working at their computers, see the proofs being produced page by page, and checked, and see the personnel going from desk to desk to make sure the deadline was achieved.

"The cast themselves also enjoyed meeting a former Sunday Mirror journalist, who had many fascinating stories to tell about life at a tabloid newspaper."

In Damages, the audience is plunged into an office at a tabloid red top newspaper where the final touches are being made to tomorrow’s edition before it rolls off the press.

Howard is checking the proofs for errors, while the young night editor, Bas, and the deputy editor, Lister, come and go with some of the latest stories.

They are all waiting for the libel lawyer Abigail to arrive to make the final check.

There is tension in the air, as it is quickly revealed that the paper has received a compromising sexual photograph of a prominent female TV personality which would make a sensational front page.

Can they – dare they – print it?

Written by Steve Thompson, it was commissioned by The Bush Theatre, London, with the support of The Peggy Ramsay Foundation Award 2002 and received its world premiere at the Bush Theatre on 4th June 2004.

Promising fascinating twists and turns, it looks at issues including privacy and freedom of the press — both topics that still dominate the papers today, 10 years after the play was written.

Damages, starring Chris Moxon, John O’Connell, Natalie Crompton and J-Jay Rocket, will be staged in the Forge Theatre, Bolton Little Theatre, from Saturday, January 31, to Saturday, February 7, at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Sunday, February 1, at 2pm.

For tickets, phone 01204 524469 or visit boltonlittletheatre.ticketsource.co.uk.