REHEARSALS are well under way for an extraordinary play about an ordinary Kendal woman.

The play - The Wife of Kendal - was commissioned by Kendal Parish Church as part of its Millennium celebrations and Diane Burton, the Kendal-born producer of the play, believes it will be something to remember.

"I think it is a presentation that will hit everybody.

We will have four video walls, each made up of nine monitors, showing photographs and scenes from around the town to accompany the production.

"There will be a male voice choir, a recorder and a fiddle group.

The cast are local people with many school children taking part from Queen Katherine School, Kirkbie Kendal School, as well as Vicarage Park and Heron Hill Primary Schools."

The play was written by former BBC radio journalist Robert Cohen, of New Hutton, and the plot draws extensively upon local history from as far back as AD999.

Tickets for the premiere of the production are selling well and organisers are confident that the play will appeal to all age groups.

Meanwhile, the search for a real-life Wife of Kendal continues.

Kendal Parish Church, in conjunction with The Westmorland Gazette, are offering a range of luxurious treats, including a hair cut and jewellery, to Kendal women who deserve to be acknowledged for their strength of character or personal success.

And one special individual will win the star prize of a trip to Germany to visit the Christmas markets.

All you have to do is fill in the Gazette coupon with your contact details and the reason why your nominee should be considered for the prize or e-mail your reasons to Louise_McDonald@notes.newsquest.co.uk (please write 'Wife of Kendal competition' in the subject line).

Normal Gazette competition rules apply.