A BIZARRE coincidence left Halliwell Theatre Company director Neil McMahon at the centre of a name game when he decided to check out the opposition.

Neil is directing the theatre company's latest production, the thriller, The Edge of Darkness, which will be staged at Harvey Street, Halliwell, from March 26 to 29, 7.30pm.

But when he went to investigate an amateur Keighley production of the Brian Clemens drama, he found himself at the centre of some confusion.

He said: "I rang to book our seats and to my surprise after giving my name I was asked 'Are you coming to watch Rachel?' I answered truthfully that I was just a fellow player who wished to see the play with a view to our society making it a future production.

"And it was only on the night that the booking clerk's strange question clicked into place. One of the characters, Penny was being played by Rachel McMahon -- no relation, never seen her before and never even read the play before.

"It was one of those quirks of fate that just disturbed the hair on the back of the neck."

The play promises its chilling moments, complete with plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

Tickets are £5 and concessions £3 on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with all tickets £5 on Friday and Saturday. They are available from Bolton 597055 or 847878.