FOUR men will be behaving badly on stage in Bolton next month.

Fortunately for the Phoenix Theatre Company that behaviour is all part and parcel of its next production, Neville’s Island by Tim Firth.

Firth is best known as the writer of Calendar Girls, but this comedy has become something of a modern-day favourite for amateur theatre companies and has recently finished a successful revival in the West End, featuring Adrian Edmondson, Neil Morrissey, Miles Jupp and Robert Webb.

Members of the Phoenix were pleased to be able to secure the rights to perform the show which they describe as “a mix of incisive humour and brutal honesty”.

Actor Richard Leigh, who plays the bitterly sarcastic Gordon, said: “It’s probably got the best one-liners of any play I’ve been in.

“In fact I challenge anyone not to laugh – I’ve said I’ll buy anyone a drink if we don’t make them laugh out loud by the end.”

The plot sees four out-of-condition, middle-aged businessmen – Gordon; Angus, played by Ben Latham; Roy, played by Matthew Seber; and Neville, played by Connor O’Breine – sent off on a team-building exercise in the Lake District and quickly succeed in being the first people ever to get shipwrecked on an island on Derwentwater.

Bound in by fog, menaced by the wildlife and cut off from the world, what should have been a fun-filled, company-funded jaunt turns into a carnival of recrimination, French cricket and sausages as all attempts at a bonding process turns into a muddy, bloody fight for survival.

“It’s essentially a study of four very different characters,” says Connor O’Beirne.

“There are certainly aspects of these characters that I’ve met in my life – not least during team-building exercises!”

Director David Smart was well aware of the technical difficulties staging this play.

He added: “I’ve been in it myself some years ago so when I was casting for the roles I told them they had to be prepared to be totally drenched at the start of the play – I mean wet through from head to foot because the play starts with the four of them having just sunk their rowing boat.”

Neville’s Island will be running at Bolton Little Theatre from July 7 to 9, with a matinee performance on Saturday.

To book tickets call the box office on 01204 524469 or visit www.phoenixtheatrebolton.co.uk.