Mikron may be 44 years old but there’s no hint of middle-aged spread about this dynamic theatre company.

The energy and pure creativity of the opening night of One of Each - A Savoury Tale of Fish and Chips at Marsden Mechanics Hall was pure delight.

Never having seen a Mikron production before, I have to admit I had my doubts when the play opened to reveal a minimalist set and four actors slipping into a variety of costumes and roles while still on stage.

But I was soon immersed in the story of the contest to win £100,000 and the Golden Fish Fork Trophy for the best fish and chips in the land.

The characters and their secrets sucked the audience in and swept them along in the tide of this pacy production.

By the end of the night I was bellowing “HADDOCK!” along with the rest of them - -except for those shouting “COD!”

One of Each, written by Deborah McAndrew and directed by Chris Honer, tells the story of Rod and Nettie Whale, twins and proprietors of The Pickled Egg and the Silver Darling.

They have both won through to the grand final of the Finest Fish and Chips in Britain competition sponsored by Sir Caspian Delamere - another man with a secret, it transpires

Which will prevail - Rod’s traditional fish and chips or Nettie’s high tech version? In the end, in true democratic style, it’s the audience who decides. And in Marsden, the traditional version with haddock emerged triumphant.

The play is cleverly written so that what follows can do so whichever of the twins takes the crown.

We marvelled at the four actors -all new to Mikron - and their range of talents: James Mclean, Rachael Henley, Steve McCourt and Ellen Chivers. They slipped effortlessly in and out of costumes, roles, accents and changed musical instruments at will in this pacy production, never once forgetting a line or losing the accent or character.

They even managed to portray the spirits of three fish wives in a convincing and amusing manner. In one short scene alone the actors played the accordion, violin, eukelele, trombone, flute and various percussion instruments.

The songs romped along, the actors held the harmonies beautifully and the emotive Cullercoats Fish Lass song by Elen Chivers sent a tingle down my spine.

Even more impressive was that this was only half of their work, as they have already opened Raising Agents, the production which celebrates 100 years of the Womens’ Institute.

The two plays will tour a staggering 150 venues from now until October, including village halls, churches, libraries, and even allotments -many are already a sell-out.

Raising Agents will end its run in Marsden this October in what is sure to be a sell-out performance and one not to be missed. Visit www.mikron.org.uk for details.