KEIGHLEY Playhouse presents a ‘tour de farce’ this month - the modern classic, One Man, Two Guvnors.

Richard Bean’s acclaimed comedy, which starred James Corden in the West End and on Broadway, is set in 1960s Brighton and focuses on Francis Henshall, an easily confused ‘bat-man-come-butler’ who becomes separately employed by two men.

On the one hand there’s Roscoe Crabbe, a local gangster, then there’s Stanley Stubbers, an upper-class criminal in hiding.

Francis Henshall finds himself working for both men, who are each linked to a web of schemes, extortions and romantic associations. To prevent discovery, the hapless Francis must do everything he can to keep his two employers apart. Simple! You might think so, but not when both bosses happen to be in town...

It is, of course, a recipe for near disaster for Francis - and a cracking evening’s entertainment, with fast-paced gags, funny stunts and audience banter.

Francis’s motivations throughout this corkscrew tale are primal - he wants food, and he wants a girl. The reasons for his actions are simple, but the consequences of them are the opposite.

The play is a slapstick adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s 18th century comedy, The Servant Of Two Masters. Breaking the fourth wall with an infectious sense of ‘wink-wink, nudge-nudge’, the laughter is infectious.

Director Kevin Moore says: “The secret to its success is an air of comic freedom within a disciplined structure. There’s a mixture of improvisation with immaculate planning and, yes, it’s a farce but this one is also verbally funny.

“The gags begin immediately when the curtain goes up and they never stop until it comes down.”

Kevin adds: “Adding to the production, the audience are greeted with live music ranging from skiffle to hillbilly supplied by Howlin’ Johnny and The Devil’s Rejects. Throughout the play the band move the storyline along between scenes, deliberately evoking an era of variety and music hall, which was immensely popular in the early part of the 20th century.”

* One Man, Two Guvnors runs at Keighley Playhouse from March 6 - 11. For tickets call 07599 890769.