IT IS a theatre classic, a piece of theatre that was controversial when it was first staged in the Sixties and which remains as relevant today as it was then.

Holmfirth’s Turn Again Theatre stages Peter Nichols’ play, A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg in the town next week.

Performances at the Civic Hall in Holmfirth begin on Wednesday and run until Saturday.

At the heart of the play is the story of one family, Bri and Sheila and their disabled child nicknamed Joe Egg.

It is a story of humour and heartbreak, of coping strategies developed to deal with everyday life.

When it was first staged, the play received four Tony nominations and the play has been revived in the last decade both in the West End and on Broadway.

The questions, after all, remain the same.

The Holmfirth group has put together a cast which features Mel and Mark Brockway taking on the roles of Bri and Sheila.

“The problem was casting the title character of Joe,” said the show’s director, Daren Wild.

“it is played by an adult in many shows as the character runs an emotional roller coaster.

Turn Again has picked a nine-year-old, Hermione, or as she likes to be nicknamed (Myni), Brockway to play the role.

“I am both thrilled and excited with the outcome.

“We had relatively little time with school and summer holidays but the result should be amazing,” he said.

“The show also has fantastic supporting artists who are well-established actors of Turn Again Theatre. They are Steve Baker as Freddie, Christine Millington as Pam and Meg Plummer as Grace.

“Please join us for a real ‘Myni’ – adventure.

“You will laugh, you might cry but you are certainly in for a night to remember.”

Daren who was struggling to find a play to direct earlier in the year, said Joe Egg was no easy play to cast and he wondered if he would ever be able to put it on the amateur stage. Now he has.

Tickets on 01484 222444.

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