A play set in the week following the death of comics Benny Hill and Frankie Howerd is performed by Bingley Little Theatre next week.

Dead Funny, by Terry Johnson, follows the trials and joys of the Dead Funny Society, set up by a bunch of comedy fans, who are planning a tribute party to give their comedy heroes a proper send off'.

The action takes place over a week in 1992 when both Hill and Howerd were found dead. An impromptu memorial meeting is called in the living room of Richard, who is the chairman of the Dead Funny Society.

His wife Eleanor would rather be saving their marriage, but Richard is absorbed with celebrating the genius of Max Miller, Frankie Howerd, Morecambe and Wise, Tony Hancock and, now, Benny Hill.

Fellow Dead Funny Society members Nick and Lisa and bachelor neighbour Brian turn up for a proper send off and their plans to celebrate Hill's life with a tribute party bring all kinds of skeletons, real and metaphorical, clattering in and out of cupboards.

The play stars Gilly Rogers, Phil Jordan and Mark Brown, and is directed by Paul Chewins.

Paul says the play switches moods in an instant, swapping from humour to suffering. He says: "The play is tremendously funny and painfully sad in equal measures. It has laughter and pain, devastatingly intertwined and only ever a heartbeat away from each other.

"The action of the play results in a contemporary, hard-hitting tragi-comedy that examines the British sense of humour while laying bare the fragilities of relationships."

Paul says that comedy is a hard skill to master: "It is always a real challenge directing comedy but I have loved every minute of the process, working with such great cast and crew, and I hope that the audience will love every minute of the performance."

Paul's last role as director in the region was A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum for Heaton Amateurs, which won several awards at the Wharfedale Festival.

As well as directing, Paul also acts, appearing regularly with the Bingley Little Theatre. His recent roles include the King of Siam in The King and I with Bingley Amateurs and Razor in Games Night with More2Come theatre company.

Playwright Terry Johnson has won the Olivier Award on three occasions and is regarded as a major influence on the world of stage, television and film.

His West End productions as both writer and director include, The Graduate, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Entertaining Mr Sloane. He also wrote and directed Channel 4 drama Not Only But Always, starring Rhys Ifans.

Dead Funny runs at Bingley Arts Centre from next Monday to Saturday. For tickets ring (01274) 432000.