TYLDESLEY Little Theatre's new season opens with the classic Willy Russell comedy One for the Road.

It will see the directorial debut of Karen Ward, one of the society's longest running and best thought of actresses.

The play is set in the early 1980s, the setting is a showy new suburban estate of bungalows that all look the same. Carly Lomax plays Pauline, desperately trying to 'keep up with the Joneses' while her husband Dennis (Ian Taylor) fails to come to terms with ageing (or growing up) and seems hell-bent on undermining her plans.

A birthday meal with friends, played by Ingrid Folkard-Evans and Alex Clarke, results in a whole bureau full of secrets and lies exploding out, painting an hilariously bittersweet picture and shining a vivid light on dull suburbia and the claustrophobia of successful maturity.

Ian said: "One for the Road is not as well known as Russell's Blood Brothers or Our Day Out, but it is actually one of the legendary Liverpool writer's earliest, funniest and most thoughtful pieces of work.

"It's often rude, rowdy and occasionally ridiculous and fans of John Denver and Richard Clayderman should develop a thick skin before arriving for the show. Despite this, it is written with affection, skill and wit — and director Karen hopes that it will have the whole audience in stitches.

Following this show, winter will be a busy time for award winning director Ian Taylor who will produce the pantomime Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood in December and then the period thriller The Edge of Darkness in January.

Ian added: "TLT look forward to seeing friends old and new at the shows and are proud that ticket prices will not be increasing, despite already having been among the best valued in the area. There are also discounted season tickets for the whole season available."

The play will run at the theatre, in Lemon Street, from October 6 to 10, at 7.30pm.

For tickets, call the box office on 01204 655619 or 01942 886908, or visit the website tlt.org.uk.