MEMBERS of the Swan Theatre Company will be stepping into the shoes of the likes of Timothy Spall, Josie Lawrence and Brenda Blethyn in a new production of the cricketing comedy Outside Edge.

The Richard Harris' 1979 play formed the basis of the television series in the early 90s featuring these stars.

But now it is the turn of the Swan Theatre's resident amateur company to step up to the crease.

Roger Dervish (played by Bob Harper) has the awesome challenge of preparing his local cricket team to take on the might of the British Railways Maintenance Division Yeading East team.

He is determined to whip the misfit bunch of players into a team, but much of the real work falls to his long-suffering wife Miriam, (Sue Hawkins).

The challenge is complicated by the arrival of an entourage of wives and girlfriends, including Maggie (Jane Wootton) who can't keep her hands off her husband Kevin (Peter Baio).

"Anyone who has tried to organise a village cricket team will recognise the difficulties Roger has," said Ann Moore publicity officer for STC.

"But it is about far more than cricket.

"A lot of people have likened it to Ayckbourn in the way it studies people.

"Richard Harris' plays are very well crafted.

"About three years ago we did his Business of Murder, which is a very tense psychological thriller."

Outside Edge follows Ayckbourn's Season's Greetings, the last play staged by STC.

But now members plan to return to the more heavyweight theatre with plans to stage Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House in October.

Season's Greetings turned out to be the last play at the Swan Theatre before it closed at the beginning of February.

"STC had nothing to do with the difficulties the management," said Ms Moore.

"We were the innocent party and there was nothing we could do about it."

When the theatre closed STC was left without a place to rehearse and no idea if they would be able to appear on their home stage.

Our home

"Other companies could have gone to a different theatre, but the Swan is our home," said Ms Moore.

"We were there at the start, fundraising for the bricks to build the Swan.

"It's really good to be back and we have great confidence in Chris Jaeger.

"With members returning to STC and new members joining the future is looking bright."

Outside Edge runs at the Swan Theatre from Thursday, June 5 to Saturday, June 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8, concessions £5, from Huntingdon Arts box office on 01905 611427.

To celebrate STC's return to the Swan Theatre all tickets on opening night will be £5.

Starting in Wednesday's Evening News you can collect tokens every day to win a discount for a performance of Outside Edge. Each token knocks £1 off the cost of the ticket to a maximum value of £5 off the £8 seats.