FOLLOWING another busy close season that has involved extensive work on brickwork, stage lighting and interior decoration, Tyldesley Little Theatre members are eager to get back to business.

Tickets are now on sale for the season opener Day of Reckoning -- a gentle comedy from the pen of Pam Valentine which promises to give the talented character actresses at TLT a real chance to shine.

Based around the organisation of a village summer fete, the play also tackles serious dramatic issues but always manages to raise a smile.

Main roles are taken by Margaert Speakes, Winnie Beatty and Jenny Orman, all of whom have been regulars on the Lemon Street stage since the 1980s.

Margaret is the under-pressure Hon Sec of the village fete committee, trying to cope with chaotic meetings that last for hours in addition to looking after her aged mother.

Winnie Beatty will be aged to play Mavis, an octogenarian who tells it like it is and suffers from a chronic deafness that conveniently disappears when necessary!

In contrast, Jenny will be playing a far classier character, the upper middle class wife of an army officer who just lives for her charming social life. She must surely be happier than her unfortunate co-committee members.

But is she?

Other funny and fascinating characters are played by Andrea Peters, Karen Morris, Roma Etherington and Kaye Taylor whilst Denis Beardsworth takes on the sole male role -- that of the faithless vicar trying to hide more than one little secret!

Will the summer fete go to plan? Will the carnival floats make it up the hill? Will the bouncy castle inflate? Will any of the play's characters find happiness?

The answers can only be found at Tyldesley Little Theatre from Tuesday, September 28 to Saturday, October 2.

Don't miss out on this charming tale of country life, good and bad, funny and sad.

Tickets are available from 01204 655619 or 01942 886908.