IT sounds like cushy casting - spending every minute of a play in bed.

But for actor Stephen Stubbs who does that in Farnworth Little Theatre's next production Whose Life Is it Anyway - it is not quite as relaxing as it sounds. Because he plays a man paralysed from the neck down.

Stephen says: "I shall have to concentrate very hard on moving nothing but my head."

Whose Life Is It Anyway though written in the 1970s, remains very topical since it deals with the still unresolved deadlock between an individual's right to decide between life and death and the medical profession's duty to preserve life.

Although playwright Brian Clark pulls no punches in presenting both sides of the dilemma, he manages to infuse it with considerable humour giving his central character, Ken Harrison, a wickedly mischievous attitude to the nursing staff, especially the women.

In the first production of the play at London's Mermaid Theatre, Ken was played by Tom Conti.

In FLT's production Stephen Stubbs, as Ken, is under the eagle eye of his wife, Helen, as the ward sister. She acts under the name of Helen Piece Jones.

Helen says: "I must admit that my bedside manner is a little rusty, but, fortunately, Steve is making a most patient patient."

Whose Life is it Anyway runs at FLT from March 27 to April 3.

Farnworth Little Theatre is aiming for a new look next season with cinema-style seating and a redecorated auditorium.

To pay for the improvements, the Management Committee has set a fund-raising target of £15,000.

Just over £5,000 has been raised via an auction, a night of songs from the shows and two dinner theatres. Other events planned include a golf competition for teams of four.

To help boost the total, members, patrons and local tradespeople are invited to buy a seat. For a donation of £50, a plaque on a seat will be inscribed with the name of the donor.

Cheques should be made payable to Farnworth Little Theatre and sent to Geoff Millard, 7 Delph Way, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley PR6 7TG.

The reading of Dial M for Murder, Farnworth Little Theatre's first production of next season, will be held at the Cross Street theatre on Sunday, March 14 from 2 pm. Auditions for members will be on the following Tuesday and Thursday.