A SOUTH Lakes theatre group is preparing to perform its second production this month as life returns to 'normal' following a year and a half of Covid restrictions.

The Burneside Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS) team will take to the stage for a comedy from the pens of Ian Hislop, journalist and a panellist on Have I Got News for You, and cartoonist Nick Newman.

A Bunch of Amateurs tracks fading action hero Jefferson Steele (played by BATS' Richard Warburton) and a humourous mix-up over place names that sees him dealing with stage novices rather than acting royalty.

The play comes in the same month as BATS' successful Showstoppers musical.

A BATS spokesman said Jefferson 'arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village'.

The spokesman said: "Welcome to Stratford St John in Suffolk, not ‘on Avon', and, on meeting the director, Dorothy (Samm Parker), the dreadful realisation dawns that his agent has signed him up to perform with A Bunch of Amateurs!

"Instead of Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench, the cast are desperately trying to save their theatre from developers.

"With pompous solicitor and wannabe Lear Nigel (Martin Cash), starstruck handyman Denis (Alan Kenny), doting Mary (Sue Cook) and sponsor’s wife Lauren (Jen Postlethwaite) all expecting a stellar performance, what else could go wrong?

"And then his feisty, teenage daughter, Jessica (Millie Stephens) turns up!

"Jefferson's monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested to the limit by the enthusiastic am-dram thespians.

"As acting worlds collide and Jefferson's career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself - along with his inner Lear!"

The play is being performed at Burneside's Bryce Institute between October 27 and 30 at 7.30pm each night.

Tickets can be booked at batsburneside.co.uk or by visiting 'Burneside Amateur Theatrical Society' on Facebook.