BIJOU Theatre Productions has secured the services of Ruth Bettesworth to direct its February production of Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn.

It is the first in the trilogy of plays known as The Norman Conquests.

In all the years Bijou has been operating, the company has chosen to perform many of Ayckbourn's plays, but surprisingly has never tackled any of this trilogy.

The play takes place during a single weekend in a family house and is centred around Norman, assistant librarian and sometime Lothario, and his attempts to woo both his sisters-in-law.

Interestingly, his particular foibles are all things the others to some extent encourage or need.

Reg enjoys Norma's jokes. Tom thinks he is wise in the ways of the world and gives good advice. Annie wants to be swept off her feet by someone and Sarah is badly in need of attention and understanding of some kind.

All Norman wants to do is to make the women in his life happy — but does he succeed?

Richard Bearne plays Norman, ably backed up by Rachael Saturley, Liz Lee, Nicola Samuel Stevens, Colin Baker and Andrew Prowse.