A NORTHWICH theatre is set to stage the UK premiere of a new comedy based on a French play.

This December, the Harlequin Theatre in Queen Street is putting on 'Heaven-Sent', an English version of the original 'Comme s'il en pleuvait'.

Written by successful Paris playwright Sébastien Thiéry, the play has been translated by Charlie Gobbett, who will also direct.

There will be five performances at 7.45pm each night from Wednesday, December 6, to Saturday, December 9. An additional 2pm matinee performance will also take place on the Saturday.

The play centres on middle-aged couple Bryan and Lesley Evans, who live in a Didsbury flat.

It begins as moderately successful anaesthetist Bryan returns home one day to find a £50 note on the table.

Nothing particularly odd, until then next morning when Lesley discovers a small pile of money on the lounge floor and before long floods of cash start pouring out of cupboards and piling up in the bedroom.

As their previously untroubled and unremarkable domestic life starts to fall apart under the strain, their suspicions fall on their Polish cleaner Kasia.

But then a paranoid neighbour with a penchant for violence turns up with suspicions of his own, and things get really serious…

Director Charlie Gobbett describes Heaven-Sent as 'a ferocious comedy about money and greed which will have the audience laughing in their seats but may also surprise them too'.

He added: “Our audience members have been asking us to add a matinee performance to our runs, particularly at this time of year when the evenings get dark early and the cold weather can sometimes be off-putting, so we have done just that."

The experienced and talented cast, which includes Dylan White (Bryan), Jo Ridgley (Lesley), Tina Wyatt (Kasia) and Simon Porter (the Neighbour), have all previously performed on the Harlequin stage.

Audiences can enjoy a drink before the show in the revamped theatre bar, which opens at 7pm before talking their reserved seat in the auditorium.

More information and tickets, priced at £11, are available at harlequinplayers.com or by phone on 01606 624517.