A CLASSIC British comedy is coming to the stage of the Tivoli theatre in Wimborne next week.

The Ladykillers, made by Ealing Studios in 1955 and starring Alec Guinness, Herbert Lom and Peter Sellers, has been adapted into a hugely entertaining stage play by Graham Linehan (Father Ted, The IT Crowd) and will be performed by Wimborne Drama Productions at the Tivoli Theatre on February 18-21.

It tells the tale of a sweet old lady, alone in her house, pitted against a gang of criminal misfits who will stop at nothing. Posing as amateur musicians, Professor Marcus and his gang rent rooms in the home of sweet but eccentric Mrs Wilberforce. The villains plot to involve the old lady unwittingly in Marcus’s brilliantly conceived heist job. The police are left baffled, but Mrs Wilberforce becomes wise to the gang’s ruse and Marcus concludes that there is only one way to keep the old lady quiet. With only her parrot, General Gordon, to help her, Mrs Wilberforce is alone with five desperate men. But who will be forced to face the music?

Directed by David Pile and starring Richard Neal as Professor Marcus, Sheila Dove as Mrs Wilberforce, and Simon Jackson, Sam Moulton, Tony Parkinson and John Sivewright as the members of the gang.

The Ladykillers runs from February 18-21, with evening performances at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets £10 - £12.

For more information and to book tickets call the Tivoli Box Office on 01202 885566 or visit tivoliwimborne.co.uk