A TOP Chester theatre company have announced details of upcoming auditions for its latest production.

Following the success of its sell-out production of Ira Levin's Deathtrap at Chester Little Theatre in October last year, Against The Grain is set to hold auditions for their upcoming production of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party.

The company is seeking to complete its cast for the play, with two remaining roles up for grabs.

The Birthday Party is a funny, dark and disturbing play. It is set in the 1960s in a small seaside B&B which has one permanent guest, Stanley, who has been living there for a considerable time.

Life is peachy for the landlady, her husband and Stanley at the B&B until two menacing strangers turn up with an unhealthy interest in Stanley.

Company co-founder Marian Newman said: "All roles are cast apart from the characters of Lulu and Stanley. Lulu is female, aged early 20s, a fun loving, happy go lucky girl. She has a dubious relationship with Stanley and she enjoys any man's attention.

Chester and District Standard: A scene from Deathtrap, the previous sell - out production staged by Against The Grain at Chester Little Theatre last year. A scene from Deathtrap, the previous sell - out production staged by Against The Grain at Chester Little Theatre last year. (Image: Steve Cain)

"Stanley is male, aged 30 to 45 years. Stanley is a mystery; we know little about his past and what we do know could be what he has made up. He has a strange relationship with the landlady and Lulu and during the course of the play his encounter with the two strangers causes his safe world to fall apart.

"We look forward to hearing from actors who feel they would fit the bill for these roles and we can't wait to begin the rehearsal process."

Auditions for the roles ,which are unpaid, will take place in Chester on Tuesday, February 21, at 7.00pm with the play set to be staged at The Salisbury Studio at Chester Little Theatre from April 13 to April 15.

Anyone wishing to audition or wanting to find out more should contact the production team via email at againstthegraintheatre@hotmail.com to register their interest.