AMATEUR actors will be taking to the stage in two separate farces next week - Skipton's Little Theatre performing Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit and Grassington Players staging Anyone for Breakfast.

In Skipton Philip Smith is directing a cast of seven through what Coward described as "an improbable farce" concerning the popular novelist Charles Condomine and his new wife, Ruth.

During a séance by psychic Madame Arcati, Charles' first wife is summoned and proceeds to haunt him and Ruth.

All is not well, and through singing, car crashes and tampered brakes, the audience waits to see if normality can be brought back to the Condomine household. The play will be performed from Tuesday until Saturday at 7.30pm each night.

Grassington's offering is a comedy of marital mishaps led by experienced director Sue Clement, who also works with Skipton Little Theatre. The cast is a mix of seasoned Grassington thespians including Rachel Steventon and Zarina Belk, as well as some new faces.

Chris Matthews has been borrowed from Embsay Players, where he usually stars at the dame in panto.

"It makes a change to be playing a man," he said.

Travelling from Burnsall is their stalwart musical director and professional drama and music teacher Ed Williams.

It can be seen at Grassington Town Hall next Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm.