IT'S not often that you get the chance to see two connected plays running in the same few weeks in a theatre.

But next month you can, with The Norman Conquests at the Haymarket, courtesy of director Kate Dove.

Since it all seems a little complicated to me, I leave it to the expert Kate (pictured) to explain the set-up over lunch.

"There are three Norman Conquest plays by Alan Ayckbourn, two of which are chronological and the third one is intercut with the others," she begins.

"Round & Round the Garden and Living Together are chronological and set during a summer weekend. Annie, the younger sister, is nursing the mother, who's upstairs and we never see, and Sarah and Reg (her brother and sister-in-law) come down for the weekend to take over the care while she goes away.

"What they don't know is that Annie is planning to go away with Norman, who is the husband of the middle sister Ruth!

"It's really good comedy - slightly early Ayckbourn, which has an innocence about it, a lovely, sunny quality. And the writing is wonderful."

As Kate is also an actress who has herself just finished a tour of Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, surely that must help when dealing with actors?

"I've been really pushing the actors and I know it's frustrating for them because they've still got the book in their hands and I'm being picky, saying 'I don't know what your thought process is, I don't know what you're doing now'. But I think it's necessary because, if you put it in at this end, hopefully it will come out the other end.

"There is a school of thought that all directors should have experience of acting so they know how difficult it is. When you've got a comedy which has been as well written as this, or rather two comedies, there's no fat on the line.

"It's got to be clear because the audience has to know exactly where to look all the time or they're going to miss the joke."

Kate, who is married to ex-Haymarket director Alasdair Ramsay, took over the helm of the plays at the last minute from her husband.

"The opportunity just came up. I have done about 10 productions professionally so for someone who wasn't intending to direct, I have done quite well. And I am of a grey age," she laughs, looking nothing of the sort.

"Alasdair's terribly glad I'm doing it. I've actually directed in the Haymarket before - in Educating Rita when he hadn't been on stage for 22 years and he felt he ought to remind himself of how frightening it all is.

"We've worked together for nearly 30 years now and we don't talk about it at home. We don't talk about other people outside the rehearsal room - we have rules that make working together fun, even under stress.

"He's coming to the first night, even though he's working very hard with other stuff at the moment. But he's very supportive, my best friend."

So on the night, where will Kate be while her actors are going through turmoil on stage?

"I'll see bits and go backstage. I don't worry for me but I get terribly nervous for the actors as I know how they're feeling. I sit there feeling as sick as they do!"

The Norman Conquests will play at the Haymarket from June 3 to 25 on different evenings. For full performance details and to book tickets, at £12.50 each, contact the box office on 01256 465566.