AS the new season begins, Farnworth Little Theatre will be taking the bull by the horns.

The theatre group is preparing for its opening production of Come Blow Your Horn by Neil Simon.

The light-hearted comedy concerns the growing pains of two brothers in New York and the parents and young women who keep coming in and out of their lives.

The story follows Alan Baker, a swinging, girl chasing bachelor who happily introduces his younger Buddy to his lifestyle when he turns up unannounced on his doorstep.

The 1963 film of the same name featured crooner Frank Sinatra as Alan, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

FLT's stage production, directed by Wallace Wareham, will run from September 5 to 12 at the theatre, situated in Cross Street.

Mr Wareham said: "The basic story is set in a 1960s New York apartment belonging to the eldest of two brothers who is a carefree womaniser. His younger brother suddenly turns up and decides he's had enough working for their father at a factory which produces wax fruit. His brother lives the life of Riley and he wants to do the same.

"As the story develops you get the mother and father turning up at the flat, who are a typical Jewish couple, and they want to live with the boys to sort them out. As you can imagine, it doesn't quite work like that."

Alan Baker is played by Paul Ward, Oliver Bowler takes on younger brother Buddy and their parents Mr and Mrs Baker are played by Stephen Knowles and Carol Butler.

Charlotte Ashworth is Peggy Evans, Louise Davenport is Connie Dayton and Pam Massey is Aunt Gussie.

Mr Wareham said: "It's very funny — Neil Simon is a classic American comedy writer. I love his plays and all the cast have taken to it brilliantly.

"We are lucky at FLT to have such a good crop of actors and I can't wait for the show to start."

To book tickets for Come Blow Your Horn, contact the box office on 0845 6430808 or visit farnworthlittletheatre.weebly.com/book-tickets-online.html.