With the Royston Arts Festival fast approaching, Royston’s amateur dramatics group are putting the final touches to their contribution this year, the haunting black comedy Ghost Writer by David Tristram.

Corvus Amateur Drama Society has been performing in Royston and beyond since the 1940s.

The play opens on the anniversary of the mysterious death of tempestuous actress Ruby Pinfold, whose playwright husband Edward still hasn’t got over his loss. Unable to write, he has moved in to the scruffy attic of a friend.

Then, one night, a strange visitation forces him to confront his past, present and future with the aid of a larger-than-life selection of his friends and colleagues.

Director Michael Young said: “I love David Tristram’s work – it’ll be almost exactly ten years ago to the day that we performed his hilarious Forget-Me-Knot with some of the same cast – and this one’s a particular favourite.

“It combines quick-fire wit with a lot of slapstick. Think Hamlet meets Blithe Spirit but with ruder jokes!”

“This is an adult play with adult content and is definitely not suitable for children or those of a nervous disposition!”

CADS membership is open to anyone from 15 upwards, and they also perform a family pantomime that embraces all age groups.

The group performs regularly at Greneway School as well as Meridian in Garden Walk. They also run a Play Reading Group that is similar in constitution to a book group, in as much as or a different person hosts each meeting in a room at a local pub or similar venue and selects a play for the group to read round the room.

Ghost Writer is being performed as part of the Royston Arts Festival at Meridian School on Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 each and can be bought online via the website www.cadsroyston.org.uk or by ringing the CADS box office on 07925 674967.

Also go to the Website if you want to find out more on a special CADS workshop on directing for the stage by Robin Belfield to take place on October 6 between 10am and 12pm at Royston’s Coombes Community Centre in Burns Road.

For more on Royston Arts Festival, which has it’s big weekend from Friday to Sunday, www.creativeroyston.org.