STAGECOACH Youth Theatre York opens its spring season of three productions in three months next week.

Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound will be staged at Stagecoach Studio Theatre, in Trinity Hall, Monkgate, from Wednesday to Saturday.

Director John Cooper says: "This play is a seminal piece of 20th century stage comedy. It introduced a new interpretation of the concept of farce to the English stage in 1968, making instant household names of its author and leading players."

In Stoppard's play within a play, two theatre critics - originally played by Richard Briers and Ronnie Barker - meet to review a mediocre thriller. Slowly they are inextricably drawn into the action on stage until the farcical drama becomes a frightening reality to them.

At least once a year, Stagecoach presents a small-cast play to give members the chance to discover the value of specific aspects of drama while working together as a close-knit team.

Cooper says: "I chose this mini-classic for its superb use of language and comedy timing, which I believe is not a magical in-built talent but an art that can be learned by willing students.

"The fact that the average age of the cast is 14 only goes to prove how demanding Stagecoach is of its members and why they are supported by the City of York Council education department in their work."

The production is supported additionally by the York College of Further Education media department in a blossoming relationship between Stagecoach and college students.

"The two institutions are hoping to incorporate an interesting development in the use of video as an integral part of next week's show," says Cooper.

Tickets for the 8pm performances cost £4, concessions £3, on 01904 674675.

Updated: 16:37 Thursday, February 05, 2004