FIVE of the region's best known thespians line-up for the next Staveley Roundhouse production.

Liz Breaks, Judith Notley, Kate Vernon, Sarah Brett and Bob Christie, are the five-star cast for Richard Everett's Entertaining Angels, which runs at the popular Staveley theatre, from Thursday, May 14, until Wednesday, May 20 (not Sunday).

Director Fliss Pocock said she first saw a Richard Everett piece at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2006 and really admired his writing skills:

"Entertaining Angels is a play about grief, regret, lack of communication and buried secrets but, the laughter constantly bubbles to the surface of this perceptive and very funny script.

"I'm very pleased to be directing it and that I managed to tempt quite a few ex-Brewery Players to the Roundhouse stage."

Centre stage will be Liz as lead character Grace, a vicar's wife played in the original production first aired at the Chichester Festival Season in 2006 by Penelope Keith; it played to a record-breaking 26,000 people in just over three weeks.

Judith plays her sister Ruth, Sarah takes the role of Jo, Grace's daughter, Kate is Sarah and Bob plays Grace's husband Bardolph.

Writer Richard began his career in 1970. He was a professional actor for ten years making regular appearances on television, in the theatre, and in films such as the 1970s cult classic If… starring Malcolm McDowell, Cry of The Banshee with Vincent Price, and Hamlet directed by Tony Richardson, alongside Anthony Hopkins, Marianne Faithful and Nicol Williamson.

In the late 1970s he went on to form his own fringe theatre company, The Upstream Theatre in London (opposite the Young Vic).

In the 1980s Richard turned to writing, producing works for theatre, radio and film.

Performances for Entertaining Angels start at 7.30pm.

Tickets by email staveleyrht@btinternet.com or by telephone after May 4 on 015395-61076.