ALAN Ayckbourn's rib-tickling portrait of everyday life will be the second play to be staged at the newly re-opened Swan Theatre, Worcester.

Table Manners is the first in Ayckbourn's Norman Conquests trilogy, and performing it has been an ambition of theatre group St John's Players.

"We've always fancied doing the Norman Conquests but have never got round to it," said director Rosemary Phillips.

"Next year will be the 30th anniversary of when Ayckbourn wrote the trilogy, but it hasn't dated a bit."

After much deliberating, St John's Players chose Table Manners over the other two plays, Living Together and Round and Round the Garden.

The action takes place over one weekend at Annie's home, where she looks after her elderly mother.

As siblings and partners arrive over the weekend, what should be a peaceful family get-together descends into chaos.

"The way it is written you do have sympathy for all the characters, but not all at the same time," said Mrs Phillips.

When it was first performed 29 years ago it starred Tom Courtney, Michael Gambon, Penelope Keith and Felicity Kendal.

Table Manners follows Great Witley Operatic Society's Pirates of Penzance in the newly re-opened Swan season.

The period of uncertainty hung a question mark over whether the theatre would be open in time and the show would go on.

"It was unsettling and it was difficult to do things like publicity," said Mrs Phillips.

"We would have staged it somewhere else if we had had to but it's great to be in the Swan.

"We are just very hopeful that the Swan will survive."

Table Manners runs from Tuesday to Saturday, May 6 to 10, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 to £8 from the box office on 01905 611427.

n Manners make the man: St John's Players rehearsing Table Manners. L-R Julie Sadler as Ruth, Paul Hughes as Reg, Dave Solly as Norman, Barry Imms as Tom and Ann Smith as Sarah. Picture by John Chapman. 18170305