All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. So goes the famous line from one of Shakespeare’s humblest masterpieces.

And standing on this particular stage, swinging from the rafters, in fact, is a couple who are more than mere players.

Theatre lovers Dave and Sheila Hobbs, from Ramsbury, have, it’s fair to say, been through rather a lot as of late. Last Christmas 82-year-old Dave almost shuffled off this mortal coil after passing out at home.

But thankfully, due to the care he received from professionals at the Great Western Hospital, Dave declined to venture into that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns.

In January Dave was hit with the awful news that he had bowel cancer.

“The diagnosis was terrible, but it gave me a great sense of determination,” said a lively and spirited Dave.

“I was very positive from the day I went into hospital. Having said that, there were times when I did think my end had come.”

Luckily he made a full recovery and was able to return home at the end of March.

“I had lost an awful lot of weight – at one point I was down to just nine stone,” he said.

“But I was so glad to be home.”

In 1977, Sheila, a keen performer of warm and vivacious nature, founded the Ravensbury Players to advance her love of acting.

The couple, who have lived in Ramsbury for most of their lives, have appeared in many plays throughout the years and have thoroughly enjoyed treading the boards.

But it was their experience at the GWH that made them want to do something for Brighter Futures, to “give something back,” as Sheila described it.

“The doctors and nurses at the hospital were absolutely wonderful,” said Dave. “When I got home I wanted to show my appreciation to everyone who had looked after me.”

It was out of this deep sense of gratitude that ideas started to form regarding fundraising activities.

The couple’s daughter, Jules Hobbs, a professional actor, decided to stage a charity performance of her show Bard Heads for the Brighter Futures radiotherapy appeal later this year.

Sheila said: “We thought it would be brilliant to do something for Brighter Futures and we would be so happy if we could make a few more pennies for the charity.”

The show asks this simple but original question: Have you ever wondered what became of your favourite Shakespeare characters after the plays ended?

Inspired by Shakespeare’s most famous plays and with a nod to Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads, the show follows the time travelling journey of one of Macbeth’s lesser known Weird Sisters. Now a successful cookery writer and astrologer can she ever forget Macbeth and that Scottish heath?

Sheila said: “It’s a brilliant play, and you don’t have to know about Shakespeare to enjoy it. And it will be even better if we can use it to help Brighter Futures.”

Speaking about the need to bring radiotherapy to Swindon, Sheila, who had to travel to Oxford for treatment in 2004 after being diagnosed with breast cancer, said: “We are the lucky ones. But there are so many people who have to make that journey every day.

“It will make such a difference to people’s lives if we can have a radiotherapy centre in Swindon, not just for the people who live in the town but for all those from the surrounding area as well.”

Next year the pair celebrate 60 years of wedded bliss, and they certainly plan to mark it in style.

Sheila said: “We like a party; we always have a house full. We are hoping to go on a cruise next year, so we’re really looking forward to that.”

To buy tickets for the play, which takes place in Ramsbury Memorial Hall on September 23, log on to www.billetto.co.uk.

So far £1,539,135 has been raised for Brighter Futures. The team is very grateful for every single donation and wish to thank everyone for their support.

To donate you can send cut out and send in the attached form or log on to: www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk.