A THEATRE company have taken improvisation to its limits by changing the play they were set to stage mid-way through rehearsals.

Hagley Theatre Group found themselves in a sticky situation when their male lead was forced to pull out only weeks before Children of a Lesser God was due to be staged.

Tickets had already been sold and the formidable task of finding a replacement was complicated by the requirement that they learned sign language.

But the show was to go on - in the form of Alan Ayckbourn's comedy, Confusions, which the group will perform instead.

The play has five inter-linked sections, including an unsuccessful seduction attempt, a fraught dinner encounter in a restaurant, a disastrous fete and a mother who cannot escape from baby talk.

It will be performed from Wednesday until May 24 at the Rose Theatre, Kidderminster.

Hagley Theatre Group could not trace all ticket holders to notify them of the change of bill and are therefore urging anyone who wants a refund to contact the Rose Theatre box office on 01562 743745.

Alternatively they can watch Confusions instead.