Sand Castles, Bolton Little Theatre. Runs until October 21

AN Englishman's beach hut is his castle. And the sand outside it is his territory.

That's the basic idea behind a new play by Bob Larbey premiered at Bolton Little Theatre on Saturday as part of the BT Biennial 2000 scheme which encourages specially commissioned plays.

Steve Gill has done an excellent job of directing a large cast in this production which examines the way in which people relate to others and the perimeters -- physical and mentally -- they draw around themselves.

Michael Tatman and Christine Pierce-Jones are wholly believable as the Pattersons, the posh pair who own one beach hut.

Mike Jeffries as the overbearing Stan Billet, another owner, is equally good and well matched by Alison Critchley as his wife, Bernice.

Cath Blower is at her scene-stealing best as Bernice's mother, the irascible Mrs Sharp.

Dave Parkes as Doug, the incomer who only "rents" a beach hut maintains the high standard.

Heliene Godding, Carol Butler and Jennifer Lee are like three cackling witches from Macbeth as they stake their claim to the sand outside the beach huts.

All three are hilarious as they make the point that the beach is for all not just the owners of the huts.

The set is very good and provides a backcloth before which class, morals and the interaction among people are cleverly examined by Larbey.

This is a very funny and sometimes poignant play which is given first class treatment by BLT.

The final moments between the Pattersons are very moving.