COMIC drama comes to the fore at Chesil theatre in Winchester with the recent announcement of the group's autumn line-up. A mix of classic drama and contemporary work looks set to help us through the long, dark winter nights with a new season of six plays.

A must-see is the opener A Month of Sundays by Bob Larbey - who wrote TV's hit comedy The Good Life. This is an amusing and moving play about old age that sees two old men in a retirement home formulating an escape plan to keep senility at bay.

Another good choice is The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson. Three sisters meet to arrange their mother's funeral and as they work through their sibling rivalries, long-kept secrets of a more tragic nature emerge. Poignant and comic.

Chesil's publicity office Paul Riddell hopes audiences will be engrossed and enthralled as well as entertained. "While feel-good and comic drama are woven throughout our autumn season, it also covers issues of old age, bereavement and disability with some exciting and powerful theatre," he said. "Chesil has never shied away from challenging theatre and this season is no exception."

Discounted tickets are available by becoming a member of Chesil Theatre. For more details on this and the autumn/winter season call 023 8025 5189 or visit www.chesiltheatre.org.uk

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