TO mark the 40th anniversary of the twinning of Bolton and Paderborn, Bolton Little Theatre will be celebrating in style.

The group has been invited to a festival in the German city next month to present a production at Das Neues Theater and have chosen French comic play Heroes, adapted by Tom Stoppard.

It follows war heroes Gustave, Philippe, and Henri who are plotting an escape from their home for elderly veterans. While keeping each other company on the back patio, they hatch a plan to escape to Indochina — or at least to a picnic under the poplars on a nearby hill.

The play is directed by Sandra Simpson, with Michael Tatman, David Smart and Peter Scofield(CORR) in the cast. The people of Paderborn will be providing the staging, but the Bolton group will be taking key technical equipment — including a stone statue of a dog.

Mr Scofield, who plays Gustave, said: "It is a great opportunity and it is a privilege to have been asked to attend.

"When you take a play abroad, it needs to be small and manageable. We decided on Heroes because it is full of wit and joy and quite popular.

"I play one of the three old soldiers who devise a plan to escape from their home for former soldiers. We're really looking forward to going – although people in Bolton have the chance to watch it before we go."

The team will also be presenting a compilation of English Literature at a school in the German town.

Chairman Elizabeth Tatman said: "It is a difficult time as this is usually when we get things in order for the new season and do vital maintenance at the theatre. Quite a few of the volunteers also take their holidays so we have had to select our production with care.

"All the volunteers pay their own way as we do not get subsidies and we are really excited to be visiting Paderborn again. The last time we went was in 1996 when we took two plays, Jim Cartwright's Two and The Importance of Being Ernest."

Heroes is on at The Forge Theatre in the Hanover Street venue between Wednesday, August 26 and Saturday, August 29. To book tickets visit boltonlittletheatre.co.uk.