STORTH Entertainers certainly know how to put on a show.

For 40 audience-engaging years at their Storth Village Hall (Theatre By the Bay) home, the popular thespians have staged many five star 'entertainments.'

Next week, the mighty Entertainers return to a theatre in the round production with Anybody for Murder?, a comedy thriller by Brian Clemens and Dennis Spooner.

For Storth Entertainers, it all started way back in 1976 during the Storth Village School Centenary, in particular the Old Time Music Hall arranged as part of the celebrations, by the 'fabulous five' - Mike and Terri Cooper, Tom and Winifred Wooff and Sheila Seed.

The group under the chairmanship of Edward Walker, the then landlord of The Ship at Sandside, got together and performed two further reviews followed by their very first musical Free As Air.

Diana Hannaford was the first musical director; the stage manager was Gerry Maguire. Wood was donated by Broomby’s, curtains, drops and footlights were bought from a theatrical auction in Blackpool and they apparently discovered an Aladdin’s cave of lighting in the cellar of Milnthorpe vicarage.

These days recognised as one of the area's leading theatrical societies, the Entertainers are good all rounders, not content with just performing musicals, but building a reputation over the years for side splitting pantomimes and summer plays; in recent years SE has invested heavily in new equipment with tiered seating and a computerised lighting board.

In 2003, the society introduced its junior section; the aptly named Kids on The Bay, performing Willy Russell’s Our Day Out. It was a huge success and the talented youngsters have gone on to present the likes of Goodnight Mister Tom, Bugsy Malone and The Wizard of Oz.

Anybody for Murder? revolves around Max Harrington, a man trying to murder his wife Janet two minutes after the curtain rises. Andrew Thompson takes on the lead role and his portrayal of a manic, scheming and all together charming Max is both mesmerising and exhausting in equal measure.

He is ably assisted by Abi Cooper as Janet, and Katherine Waterhouse, who plays Suzy Stevens ‘the other woman.'

The action takes place in a converted farmhouse, situated on the remotest peninsula of an equally remote and tiny Greek island. Max needs to think on his feet immediately once Janet’s distant cousins Mary and George Ticklewell (played by Sue Gardner and Tim Tranter) visit with news that Mary and Janet are beneficiaries of a huge fortune. Cue a storyline filled with deception, confusion, greed and - murder. And what story is complete without the nosey neighbour next door? Anne Dickinson plays Elsie Chambers, an eccentric writer of worst selling fiction and a connoisseur of all things Ouzo.

After four decades, the society is still very active, with a strong membership treading the boards and a number of talented young players helping to guarantee its future.

Steven Henneberry joined the Entertainers in 2000. He was a member for three years before heading off to university. After an 11 year break living away in London and Leeds, he moved back to Arnside in 2014 and rejoined the society, getting involved in plays, musicals and pantomimes. Recently, he took over as treasurer and makes his directorial debut with Anybody for Murder?

“It’s a fantastic script full of great characters, excellent writing and hilarious plot lines," explains Steven. “It’s a small but strong cast and we have had a blast meeting over the summer; I’m still laughing at lines three months into rehearsals.”

Like Steven, Katherine, Andrew and Abi made a return to the society after taking breaks for university and travel.

Driving the society forward with great gusto, the talented foursome are indebted to the legendary Mike Cooper, who gave them the recipe for a successful production. He described it as “the perfect balance of pace, power and passion.”

Anybody for Murder? runs from Wednesday-Saturday, September 7-10 (7.30pm). Box office 015395-61565 or storth.ents@gmail.com.