WHEN did John Mortimer take a break from Rumpole and She Who Must Be Obeyed to write When The Cat's Away with Brian Cooke?

The answer is that he didn't. The comedy which Barlaston's Proscenium Players are presenting next month is by Johnnie Mortimer, although the two are sometimes confused.

Johnnie Mortimer, who died in 1992, was a cartoonist turned scriptwriter who cut his teeth on radio classics like The Men From The Ministry and Round The Horne. Later, often working with Brian Cooke, he wrote TV sitcoms like Man About The House and George And Mildred.

Of their stage comedy When The Cat's Away, I know little, however.

No doubt all will be revealed before the comedy begins a four-night run at the Village Hall, Barlaston, on April 28.

The big event in the immediate future is John Cumberlidge's eagerly-awaited revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King & I at The Regent Theatre, Hanley.

This is John's original production for the Gaiety Theatre on the Isle of Man in which the story of the English governess at the court of a 19th century Siamese monarch is given a fresh new look.

Featuring numbers like Shall We Dance, Getting To Know You and Whistle A Happy Tune, the show stars Sarah Buckley as Anna, Simon Fletcher as the King, Shelley-Anne Rivers as Princess Tuptim and Julie Mellor as Lady Thiang.

The King & I is at The Regent from March 10 to 13 at 7.30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tel 0844 871 7649.