LESSONS in being a lady do not come easily to some actors, particularly when it comes to walking in very high heels.

Members of the Western Players threw themselves into intense, but fun, rehearsals to conquer the high stiletto peaks and are now ready to tread the boards without tottering.

Swindon’s Arts Centre, in Devizes Road, Old Town, plays host to Shady Business a madcap farce by Robin Hawdon, from Wednesday, March 11 to Saturday, March 14, from 7.30pm.

The play is set in the seedy side of London’s Soho, in the flat of two struggling nightclub dancers. The familiar comedic crisis of waking up with a lover, when your boyfriend’s about to walk in, is the centre of the plot but, like all great farce, nothing is quite what it seems, and havoc ensues as the cast tries to prevent Big Mack from finding out.

Under the guiding hand of director Julia Edwards, are Maria Hiscock as Mandy, Zoe Roberts as Tania; Matt Hemmings as Gerry; Tom Freegard as Terry; Steve Summers as Big Mack; Adrian Peace as Harry The Hammer and John Fisher as Dozer.

Julia said: “We have had great fun rehearsing this, and it has provided some new challenges for several of the actors, including walking confidently in very high heels. It has taken several of them outside their comfort zone and they have all risen to the challenge, and embraced their characters.’’ Tickets for the comedy are £9, £8 concessions and they are available from 07575711522 or www.wegottickets.com - Flicky Harrison