IF were you writing a play, wouldn't you give yourself all the best lines? Noel Coward certainly did and the proof is Private Lives.

Coward's sophisticated comedy about a divorced couple is being staged by Worcester's Swan Theatre Amateur Company later this month.

The role of Elyot - the character originally played by Coward - is being filled by John Horton. He says: "It's a delightful character. Because Noel Coward wrote the part for himself, Elyot has all the best lines. There are some really sparkling one-liners."

Set in France in the late 1920s, Private Lives follows divorced couple Amanda and Elyot, who have both recently remarried and, by accident, book adjoining suites in a hotel for their honeymoons.

"They had an incredibly tempestuous marriage followed by this very acrimonious divorce," says Mr Horton.

"It's difficult to describe Elyot. He's rather arrogant, supercilious, and very jealous. He and Amanda are both jealous types and that leads to these almighty rows."

The production is being directed by Brian J Burton whose most recent shows at the Swan have included Misery and Educating Rita.

Mr Burton and his cast have been working hard to strike a balance between Coward's highly stylised approach and a modern naturalism.

Mr Horton says: "We have to acknowledge Coward's style. The way it is written demands it, so we're playing very much a period piece. But at the same time we are trying to make it as naturalistic as we can. That's really the biggest challenge."

Written in 1930, the original production starred Coward, Gertrude Lawrence and Laurence Olivier. The show is considered a classic of modern comedic theatre.

Starring alongside Mr Horton is Julie Nunn as Amanda, Kathryn Bellamy as Sybil, Tim Watson as Victor and Pat Pickwick as Louise.

The show runs from Thursday to Saturday, February 14-23. For tickets, £5 to £9.50, call the Worcester Live box office on 01905 611427.