RIVERSIDE Drama Company are set to perform the first plays at Long Eaton's Chatsworth Centre since it was largely destroyed by fire late last year. 

The group are putting on two one-act comedies which will be presented in the Devonshire Room, which escaped destruction thanks to the fire doors, on Thursday, June 3 Saturday, June 5. 

And the audience will get the chance to help build a replacement for the Duchess Theatre.

The Phoenix Fund has been set up towards the reconstruction of the theatre and a collection will be made each night for that fund. 

In the first play, The Droitwich Discovery, by Nick Warburton, four thespian enthusiasts find themselves in a dusty attic in Droitwich, an unlikely place for a Shakespearean tour, where a startling discovery is made.

Their guide, Mrs Craddock, explains that the Bard, aged ten, lived there when he came to Droitwich to work mending drainpipes. 

Attic door 

George believes they are being had, but how is it that there are boxes piled behind the closed attic door? Where is that other voice coming from, and is that a casket I see before me? 

Directed by Paul Norris, The Droitwich Discovery casts Martin Holtom as Terry, Bob Baron as George, Sylvia Holmes as Karen, Amy Hall as Olive, Donna Chinn as Dilly, and Maggie Millington as Mrs Craddock. Each evening will then be completed with a production of Richard Harris' Albert - a comedy of language misunderstandings between people of three nationalities. 

Directed by Rob Osmond, Albert stars Martin Holtom as Albert Donna Chinn as Karin and Paul Norris as Nico. 

Tickets are also on sale now on 0115 8750506 or via the group's website at www.riversidedrama.com.