A BOLTON Octagon twin production turned into triplets -- when inspiration struck the country's leading playwright on the spur of the moment.

Sir Alan Ayckbourn is visiting the town with three new plays this month, despite earlier this year telling the theatre to expect only two.

Britain's most popular playwright had been due to direct the Stephen Joseph Company from Scarborough in his new plays, GamePlan and FlatSpin, at the Octagon.

But with weeks to go, the prolific writer, with 60 plays to his name, contacted Octagon bosses, saying he had written a third play.

RolePlay is another new comedy by Alan which visits Bolton in what is being dubbed an "Ayckbourn laugh-athon" from Tuesday, October 23.

The three comedies will be playing at the Octagon as part of their "premiere tour".

Each play is entirely different but are linked by sharing the same set.

Alan said: "I think now, with the third play, the series has been made complete. Two were fine, but three is really nice."0

The plays will be staged on consecutive nights, with all three being performed on one day -- Saturday, October 27.

Further details are from the Octagon box office on 520661.