AMBLESIDE Players next must-see show puts the highly regarded thespians centre stage in Peter Gordon's Out of Focus.

Directed by Gail Toms, the play is centred around the unfortunate over-booking of a church hall. This results in a hilarious gathering of wonderful local characters, ranging from Evonne, the nervous vicar’s wife, to Leonard, a man intent on delivering a talk on steam locomotives to anyone who will listen. Eventually they all unite to produce a pantomime but, as rehearsals proceed, alliances are forged and switched as the opening night looms. Events culminate backstage after the final performance.

Running 'in the round' at Ambleside's Kelsick Centre, from Tuesday, October 24 until Saturday, October 28, Out of Focus follows on from the players sell-out spring production of another Peter Gordon play Murdered to Death.

With more than 1,500 professional and amateur productions worldwide, Peter is one of the UK’s most popular playwrights with several comedies, a psychological thriller and a one act comedy up his playwriting sleeve.

Among Peter's canon of works are his Inspector Pratt trilogy - clever spoofs of the Agatha Christie genre of whodunnits - and modern comedies such as Par for the Course, The Reunion and Third Week in August, which, as well as Out of Focus, have all proved favourites among scores of professional and amateur theatre companies.

In 2010 the former chartered civil engineer formed Piggyback Theatre Company, a not-for-profit theatre project which aims to perform new work in aid of local charities.

Performances for Ambleside Players Out of Focus start at 8pm.

Tickets for the laugh out loud play are available online at www.amblesideplayers.co.uk or from Fred’s bookshop in Ambleside.