A FANTASTICAL world of witches comes bursting onto the stage of Bolton Little Theatre next month.

The amateur dramatic group is magicking up the creations of beloved author Terry Pratchett with a production of Wyrd Sisters.

Aficionados of Pratchett’s Discworld will know some of his more outlandish creations, but for the uninitiated, the plot revolves around the exploits of three witches in a divided kingdom - a parody of Shakespeare’s Macbeth - and their comedic efforts to right the terrible wrongs they find there.

Director Gareth Preston has been a fan of Discworld virtually since its inception.

He said: “I’ve actually had the privilege to direct Wyrd Sisters before at another society and I’m so please to get the chance to do it again, with a host of new ideas, a greatly enhanced technical plot and a quite fantastic array of stage and costume designs.”

Wyrd Sisters is Pratchett’s sixth Discworld novel and was published in 1988.

It will be remembered by some as an animated version and a four-part BBC Radio 4 dramatisation aired in 1995, starring Sheila Hancock as Granny Weatherwax.

It was later adapted into a play by Stephen Briggs to mark Discworld’s 25th Anniversary in 2008. Sheila Wicks plays Nanny Ogg, one of the three witches, alongside Sue Gill and Catherine Hayes.

She said: “Rehearsing this play has been like nothing else I’ve ever done.

“I think the genuine sense of fun we’ve had during rehearsals can’t help but spill over into the auditorium.”

Ben Latham, playing the Fool, added: “I find myself being put upon a lot by the other characters in this play… again.

"Having just turned 30 I sort of felt the days of playing the fool were behind me – apparently not!”

The multi-dimensional fantasy universe of the Wyrd Sisters lands at the Bolton Little Theatre in Hanover Street and runs from March 6 until March 11.

Details from the box office on 01204 524469 or boltonlittletheatre.co.uk.