A THEATRE group is ready to grace the stage at a new venue with a comedy by J. B. Priestley.

When We Are Married, by St. Paul's Astley Bridge AODS, launches tonight at Bromley Cross Village Hall, Darwen Road.

The group has been looking for a new home since the closure of the Theatre Church, Astley Bridge, in 2012 and hopes people will support members at the new venue.

Steve Brennan, chairman, said: “Everything is ready now.

“Because we are in a new venue, we wanted something that was quite well-known and something with a biggish cast.

“The people of the village hall could not be more obliging.

“We were without a home because of the Theatre Church.”

The group plans to use the hall for its annual plays and a larger venue for its musicals, the next being Sweet Charity in September 2015.

Steve added: “The last musical we did at Walmsley Church and we have booked that for next year.”

When We Are Married was written by dramatist J. B. Priestley, perhaps best known for his play An Inspector Calls.

His comedy was first performed at St. Martin's Theatre, London, in October 1938 and focuses on three couples who all married on the same day, in the same chapel.

The old friends gather at one of their homes to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary but discover that they are not legally married.

Each couple initially reacts with proper Victorian horror — what will the neighbours think? — and all three find themselves re-evaluating their marriages.

Throw in an alcohol-soaked photographer and a wickedly destructive housekeeper and the stage is set for the comedy which was made into a 1943 film.

For tickets, phone Rachel on 01204 315521.