BOLTON's Octagon Theatre starts the New Year with the cash boost of £290,000 from the North West Arts Board. Lawrence Till, the theatre's Artistic Director is delighted with the grant and sees it as a vote of confidence in the Octagon. "The North West Arts Council has recognised that the Octagon has done some of the most exciting work in the region," he said.

"I am glad they have taken this opportunity to award the money in this way. The Arts Board have always recognised the success of the Octagon."

The money, which will be spent on productions and staffing, comes at a time when the theatre is enjoying a successful festive run with the Wizard of Oz.

This production has played to great critical acclaim and there are still some tickets left for the remainder of the run which finishes on January 23.

On January 28, Victoria Wood's Pat and Margaret opens and runs until February 20.

The play, adapted by Till, is directed by Joanna Read.

Pat and Margaret was first broadcast on television in September 1994, starring Victoria Wood and Julie Walters.

Pat Bedford is an American soap star with three houses, a pool and an an open top car. Margaret Mottershead, her sister, lives in a bedsit over a Lancashire shop. But they are about to be reunited on a popular television show.

"It's two hours of absolute joy," Till said. Victoria Wood writes some wonderful one-liners"

Among the cast of eight will be Romy Baskerville who has been seen regularly in Coronation Street as Sue Jeffers.

The Octagon season continues with a programme of comedies about families, friend and the fun they have together.

Among the plays is Alan Ayckbourn's How the Other Half Loves which runs from February 25 to March 20 and this is followed by the Manchester-based Rocket Theatre Company's award-winning production of Farnworth playwright Jim Cartwright's I Licked a Slag's Deodorant which has been memorably described as "Bleak, hilarious and filthy".

Jean Fergusson - Marina in Last of the Summer Wine - brings her splendid show about Farnworth-born comedienne Hylda Baker to the theatre from March 25 to April 10.

And there's the world premiere of Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis by the Octagon's writer-in-residence, Charlotte Jones. This is being described as "A riotous and life-affirming comedy" runs from April 15 to May 8.

Arguably the greatest comedy of the English language, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde run from May 13 to June 5.

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