FOR their 40th anniversary production the Chesil Theatre are presenting a work by one of the finest playwrights of our age.

Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett, although not a farce in the true sense of the word has several of the elements such as mistaken identity, secret passions and a vicar who drops his trousers.

The witty dialogue and fast paced action captures the way the generation who were young adults during the war look on wistfully as the permissive society of the mid 1960s arrives - just a little too late for them. The play, first presented in 1973 with Alec Guinness in the lead, also marks the 40th show in which Ian Crowe has either appeared or directed.

He said, "In typical Bennett fashion there is much more than just bawdy humour in this play.

"The characters all have a secret sorrow, an unfulfilled ambition which not all of them will achieve by the end of their adventures. The action is highly stylised with the all knowing and enigmatic cleaner Mrs Swabb observing the follies of the family in a way that more recently has been imitated by TV reality shows."

n The show runs from Monday until October 14 at 7.45pm. Tickets: £6. Box office: 01962 840440. You can become a member by calling 023 8025 5189. Chesil Theatre Ticket Clubmembers are entitled to buy tickets at a discount. Information on the Chesil, including the junior and youth drama workshops, can be gained by visiting the company's website at www.chesiltheatre.org.uk.