Daphne and Dennis Breakspear are again heading the production team of the spring comedy by the Phoenix Players.

Daphne is directing and Dennis is the front of house manager for Ladies of Spirit written by Georgina Reid.

The story is set around a private school for young ladies where the headmistress Miss Rowe, nicknamed Hard Rowe, gives her teachers a tough time.

Ladies of Spirit runs until Saturday, April 29 from 7.30pm at the Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road, in Old Town.

Clare Brown who plays Jane Cox in the drama said: "It is an all female cast set in the staff room and concerning the teaching staff (alive and dead!) of a school in the 1960s.

Joinign Clare in the cast of eight ranging in age from 20 to 70-years-old are: Emily Roberts as Sally Burgess, Stephanie Trinci as Mrs Thorpe, Margaret Price as May Danvers, Jean Belt as Miss Maudesley, Sally Lovejoy as Miss Rowe, Elly Beint as Mrs Emmett and Mariene Poole as Miss Harriet.

Clare said: "There are two ghosts who we aren't supposed to see and they have some rather funny lines so trying not to laugh has been challenging!''

The Phoenix Players began in 1954 springing from the success of the Poetry Circle Players, which was formed shortly after the opening of the Arts Centre in 1946.

Daphne, from Wroughton, has been on board since 1957. She was awarded the MBE for services to amateur theatre in 2013 and a lifetime commitment award at the Swindon Does Arts Hero Awards.

One of the younger members of Phoenix, Emma Skane-Lawrence, has also scooped an award in the recent One Act Harold Jolliffe Play Festival for her performance in the Commonweal School production of Playhouse Creatures. She won the Beryldene Hunt Cup for the best performance by a junior actor.

Tickets to see Ladies of Spirit are £10, £9 concessions from 07517 698083. The show is not suitable for children 12 years and under. - Flicky Harrison