GRANGE Amateur Dramatic Society's latest theatrical soiree is set in a seaside resort somewhere in the North of England.

Written by television scribe Bob Larbey, Sand Castles was commissioned by BT and will be premiered by more than 85 other am-dram groups simultaneously across the UK.

As part of the BT Biennial Week 2000 aimed at bringing communities closer together, the curtain will go up on the production on Saturday, October 14 (7.45pm), with GADS performing in the town's Victoria Hall.

In addition, there will be extra shows on Thursday and Friday, October 19/20.

Bob is best known for creating the characters of Tom, Barbara, Margo and Jerry in the classic TV programme The Good Life, which he co-wrote with John Esmonde in 1976.

He also penned A Fine Romance and As Time Goes By.

He relates Sand Castles as "about chaos on a British beach and full of strong characters."

The two-act play (based on an idea by Trisha Larbey) is directed by John McDonagh and features the adventures and misadventures of the occupants of three beach huts at a British seaside resort.

William and Margaret Patterson (played by Mike Hill and Margaret Dorn) own one of the huts.

Throw in would-be middle-class types Stan and Bernice Billet (Martin Gregory and Benita Oxley), a kite, the odd windbreak, the laissez-faire Doug (Ray Hodgson) who's "in fish and chip shops" and brings along two pretty young things who he claims are his nieces - and hey, a recipe for seaside fun without getting any sand between your toes.

Tickets £4 (children half price) from Grange Tourist Information Centre or on 015395-33735.