TALKING Scarlet presents Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy Table Manners at The Haymarket next month.

Part of the trilogy The Norman Conquests – three plays depicting the events of a single weekend from the perspective of three locations: dining room, living room and garden - Ayckbourn's hilarious play depicts the interplay between six members of a family in the dining room of a middle class home.

See it in Basingstoke from Wednesday, February 11 to Saturday 14, with a cast including Anna Brecon (Emmerdale), Marcus Hutton (Brookside) and David Callister (The Bill). 

The action is set in July 1974 as assistant librarian Norman tries to bring happiness to the lives of the three women present at the house with varying results.

David Callister 

Basingstoke Gazette:

Sarah and Reg (Annie’s older brother) arrive to give Annie the chance to escape for the weekend for a long-needed rest. Fireworks begin almost immediately when Annie tells Sarah she is going away with her sister’s husband, Norman.

That pretty much sets the tone for a disastrously hilarious weekend of eating, drinking and misunderstanding. Central to these relationships is Norman, who needs desperately to be needed – by anyone.

It’s almost hard to blame him, too, once you meet his wife, Ruth, a career-obsessed woman with little apparent need for Norman. And then there is Tom, the neighbour whom everyone assumes is courting Annie (including, to some degree, Tom and Annie, even though the two haven’t ever declared it).

Marcus Hutton 

Basingstoke Gazette:

The result is a comic feast where food and chairs are scarce but laughs are aplenty. 

Tickets: Wed-Thu £20, over 65s £18. Fri-Sat £22, over 65s £20. 2pm performances £17, over 65s £15. Under 16s & full-time students £11 any performance. All ticket prices include £1 booking fee.

Box office: 01256 844244, anvilarts.org.uk.