YORK Theatre Royal's newly assembled cast is experiencing its first taste of A Taste Of Honey this week.

Rehearsals began on Monday at the Walmgate rehearsal rooms, under the direction of artistic director Damian Cruden, whose production will run from March 16 to April 3.

Billed as the original kitchen sink drama, Shelagh Delaney's 1958 tale of love, friendship and betrayal will be revived by a cast led by Katherine Dow Blyton, the Theatre Royal and Hull Truck regular who has gone on to play Sally Hunter in Channel 4's teatime soap opera, Hollyoaks. Her theatre and television credits include Behind The Scenes At The Museum and Habeas Corpus in York and appearances in Coronation Street, Cracker and Where The Heart Is.

In A Taste Of Honey, she takes the role of Helen, irresponsible mother of young, working-class Jo. When Jo's first love abandons her and her mother disappears, Jo is left picking up the pieces of her shattered life. She seeks comfort in her only friend, preparing together for a bright future as the sun rises on the 1960s.

Commenting on the play, Damian says: "Challenging the pre-conceptions of the time about motherhood and awakenings, the teenage Delaney portrays a realistic and believable portrait of ordinary life as seen through the eyes of Jo.

"A Taste of Honey engages with the outsiders of the world, their search for love and understanding, when at times it all seems futile. Brief moments of fulfilment come at a price and as Jo grows from childhood to adulthood we question whether her and her child's future have any prospect of true contentment."

First produced in 1958 by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop Company, this tough-humoured tale of life in Manchester is best known for the 1961 film version, which starred Rita Tushingham and garnered Delaney a BAFTA for her script.

For the Theatre Royal production, Dow Blyton is joined by Mark White, who will play Peter in his first York role since his superb Studio performance in Frankie And Johnny In The Clair De Lune in October 2002. Helen Rutter will make her Theatre Royal debut as Jo and the cast also will feature Cornelius Macarthy as Jim and Glyn Williams as Geoffrey.

For tickets, ring 01904 623568.

Updated: 16:07 Thursday, February 19, 2004