RIVERSIDE Drama Company have been given permission by Scarborough's famous Stephen Joseph Theatre to perform Tim Firth's hilarious Man of Letters as part of their triple offering of one-act plays at the newly refurbished Devonshire Studio Theatre at the Chatsworth Centre, West Gate, Long Eaton.

Performances will take place from July 27 to 29 at 7.30pm.

Man of Letters, which centres on two workers trying to erect giant letters on the side of a building, was written by Tim Firth and first put on at Sir Alan Ayckbourn's Stephen Joseph Theatre 15 years ago.

Firth has since gone on to write such hits as movie Calendar Girls, Madness musical Our House and TV series All Quiet on the Preston Front.

But Man of Letters has continued to be so popular as a one act play that Tim Firth adapted it and added a second act to turn it into Absolutely Frank, which is currently running at the Stephen Joseph Theatre.

Riverside's Martin Holtom said the group had already planned to include the play in their July offerings and only discovered the new version would be running at the same time when they contacted the Stephen Joseph Theatre to see if the group could borrow the giant letters from the original production.

"They agreed that we could go ahead with our production. So we are very grateful," said Martin.

The group hopes their production, and other two one-act plays, Chinamen and The Help Committee Try Again, will draw people back to the site of the old Duchess Theatre. The refurbished Devonshire Studio is all that remains of the fire-struck building but work continues to boost the Phoenix Fund for a new theatre.

The plays also feature Riverside debuts from Hannah Coleman and Sarah Dagley.

Tickets are £5 or £3.50 concessions and are available from the cast, call 0115 8750506, the Chatsworth Centre Saturday Coffee Morning (10am - noon) or on the web at www.riversidedrama.com .

Riverside are on the lookout for storage and rehearsal space and anyone who could help with either should contact the group. They are always on the lookout for new members too, particularly males who fancy a go at acting. Help behind the scenes is also welcome.