Dark humour in Ayckbourn comedy about unhappy family

Karen Henson, Amanda Howard and Susan Earnshaw, pictured left to right, in Snake in the Grass at Chesterfield's Pomegranate Theatre.

TABS Productions present this version of Alan Ayckbourn’s black comedy about an unhappy family in the aftermath of the loss of its head.

Where there’s a will, there’s a war…

Having left home many years ago, Annabel returns after the death of her father and is uncomfortably reunited with her younger sister, Miriam.

Having learnt of dark deeds committed both in the recent and not-so recent past, blackmail rears its ugly head.

The sisters join forces in a series of comic and chilling events, unleashing haunting memories and ending in a macabre final twist.

This show is the opening event in the theatre’s Spring Play Season.

Rumpus Theatre Company will stage Bedside Manners and Tim Firth’s Sign of the Times at the Pomegranate.

Snake in the Grass runs until January 23.

Bedside Manners, running from January 26 to 30, is a classic farce set in a quiet country hotel which was written by Derek Benfield.

When Ferris reluctantly agrees to mind his sister’s quiet country hotel, life turns out to be anything but sleepy as he finds himself trying to stop husbands, wives and lovers bumping into each other in assorted compromising situations!

Sign of the Times is a comedy about a time-served electrician and his work-experience helper whose roles are reversed three years later.

Catch the fun from February 16 to 20.

Box office: call 01246 345222 or go online at Chesterfield Theatres