THIS year's play in the Library Theatre's annual New Directors' Programme is Not A Game For Boys by Simon Block, a hard-hitting psychological black comedy directed by exciting new director Simon Pittman about three London cabbies whose table-tennis team is in danger of being relegated from their league's Premier Division.

Yes, you did read that right - table tennis.

For Eric, the highly strung, seen-it-all-before done-it-all-before team captain, table-tennis is his only release from the pressures of modern life.

He is unhappy at home, his ageing mother is terminally ill, and his wife is struggling to cope. For Eric, relegation to the Second Division is utterly unthinkable.

Oscar, a cigar-chomping wise old stager who has come to the realisation that there is more to life than his weekly table-tennis fix, can take it or leave it, while Tony, the youngest member of the team, is torn between loyalty to his team-mates and going home to save the most important relationship in his life, after his girl-friend discovers he is having an affair with one of his punters. Table-tennis, understandably, is hardly at the forefront of his mind.

The vital match which will determine the team's fate kicks off and is building towards a tense climax, but then the action takes a dramatic turn into completely unexpected territory.

Not A Game For Boys, The LIbrary Theatre, Manchester, Thursday April 19 to Saturday April 28. Tickets £12-£15, concessions available.