Romantic comedy at its best falls from the pen of scriptwriting maestro Eric Chappell in Passing Strangers.

The Western Players have chosen the contemporary comedy, set in the bar of a hotel, as their next production at the Swindon Arts Centre from Wednesday, June 15 to Saturday, June 18.

Eric, the BAFTA award winning writer, has more than 200 television scripts under his belt including The Bounder, Home to Roost (all of which won PYE TV awards), Only When I Laugh, Duty Free and Rising Damp which began life as the stage play The Banana Box.

Annie Harvey from the Western Players said: "The plot in Passing Strangers is based around confirmed bachelor Malcolm and his recently separated friend Clive, who bite the bullet and attend a singles evening in the bar at The Royal Hotel. Clive, a hospital porter, is masquerading as a doctor while Malcolm is “big in imports” – really a market stall trader. In the deserted hotel bar, to the depressing soundtrack of the next-door ballroom, they meet two recent divorcees: upwardly-mobile Julie and cynical, defiant Liz. Malcolm is determined to break down Liz’s defences while trying to pair Clive off with Julie. But the women have a few tricks of their own.''

The show starts at 7.30pm nightly in the Old Town theatre in Devizes Road and tickets are £10, £9 concessions from 07575 711522. - Flicky Harrison