ONE of the region's most talented and inventive double acts has a new play in development at The Dukes.

At a free event at the Lancaster theatre on Friday, May 12, the public is invited to give feedback on The Profession, a work in progress by Kendal-based performers Natalie Morrell and Simon McElligott.

The highly imaginative theatrical twosome are best known as The Knotted Project, these days a Dukes Associate Company.

The Profession promises to be a funny, dynamic and truthful insight into the working life of the ‘Average Joe.’

Through a clever collection of opinions collected about dozens of careers, the play will explore the world of the workers.

Expect larger than life characters speaking the real words of ordinary people combined with punchy choreography.

The Knotted Project was established in 2013 by Natalie and Simon who met at East 15 Acting School where they both graduated with degrees in physical theatre.

Together, they aim to bring stories alive in their engaging and unique style, transcending the boundaries of traditional theatre.

The Profession is a free but ticketed event. For more information and to book telephone The Dukes box office on 01524 598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org.

Meanwhile, following on from the powerful political prison drama The Island - which concludes its run at The Dukes on Saturday, May 6 - is the witty, fast moving and stylish theatre production of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey.

The delightful adaptation tells the story of Catherine Morland who loves a good novel and the more horrid, the better.

At 17, she is taken by her aunt to Bath where she encounters the social whirl denied her at home. When Catherine accepts an invitation to the Tilney’s country seat at Northanger Abbey, lurid images from her favourite gothic novel Mysteries of Udolpho threaten to overwhelm her.

However, all misunderstandings are eventually resolved and, as in all the best Jane Austen novels, the young heroine finally gets her man.

Northanger Abbey opens on Tuesday, May 9 and runs until Saturday, May 13, and is the final stop on Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds national tour of the play.

There will be a post show talk back with the cast after the May 9 performance.

For more information and tickets telephone The Dukes box office on 01524-598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org.

Elsewhere at The Dukes future theatremakers gathered for an exciting Youth Theatre Festival.

The annual event was organised by The Dukes Young Ambassadors, a group of young people who meet weekly at the Lancaster theatre to help create opportunities and festivals for their contemporaries.

They were supported by The Dukes Creative Learning staff to develop a day devoted to learning a variety of skills beneficial to anyone considering a career in the creative sector.

During the festival, more than 30 youngster participated in workshops for acting on screen, stage combat, accent and dialect training and theatre design.

The festival concluded in fine style with a performance by the Swati Dance Company, a South Asian dance company based in the North West who aim to make Indian classical dance more accessible.