AN unworldly comedy written to lighten the country's mood in the midst of the dark days of the Second World War is being staged in Farnworth.

Blithe Spirit, written by Noël Coward and first seen in the West End in 1941, is on at Farnworth Little Theatre (FLT), Cross Street, from Saturday until Saturday, May 23.

It tells the story of socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book.

The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance.

Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

Director Matthew James, who has previously directed Ray Cooney’s Caught in the Net and It Runs in the Family for FLT, is looking forward to bringing the theatre group's season to a close with one of Coward's most inventive comedies.

Matthew said: "It’s great to end the season on a comic high and, whilst it represents a departure from the farce of Cooney which I love, having directed other Coward works elsewhere, the attraction to me of this writer is his florid characterisation mixed with affectionate social satire.

"Although of its time, it still has meaning for modern audiences because of its timeless comic appeal.

"At the time of writing it, Coward was tasked with giving his country some sort of comic high — or rather relief — in the midst of the Second World War and it was proudly brought out to the cinema screens then in ‘Blushing Technicolor’ to literally brighten up the lives of our war-torn population.

"When you think of the theme of this story of getting in touch with lost loved ones, perhaps the time of its release demanded that there could be this comfort to help people through such a torrid time.

"It’s a timeless theme that will always be with us, as inevitably we will always cherish memories of those we have lost who are dear to us.

"Out of such sadness though, the comedy begins when it becomes quite apparent that being in touch with previous partners — dead or alive — is never a popular move with current partners."

The cast includes Sam Cooper, Lisa Wolstencroft, Keith Thompson, Emma Morris, Liz Dunne, Lindsay Taylor and Samantha Taylor.

Tickets can be booked online at farnworthlittletheatre.co.uk or from the box office on 0845 643 0808.