NOEL Coward's classic comedy of manners, Hayfever, starring much loved TV personalities Stephanie Beacham and Christopher Timothy, comes to Malvern Theatres from Bank Holiday Monday, May 28.

According to his autobiography, the seeds for Hayfever came from an unusual weekend Coward spent at the New York home of Broadway star Laurette Taylor and her family in 1921. The play was first produced in the height of his career in 1925 to great acclaim.

It is set in the country home of the eccentric Bliss family; Judith (Stephanie Beacham) a recently retired stage actress, David (Christopher Timothy) a self-absorbed novelist, and their two equally bohemian children, all of whom live in their own world where the boundaries between reality and fiction are extremely blurred Upon entering this domain their unsuspecting weekend guests are repeatedly thrown into wildly melodramatic situations by their hosts.

Stephanie Beacham boasts a long and illustrious stage and screen career on both sides of the Atlantic.

Most recently seen as Phyl Oswyn in Bad Girls, Stephanie is also famed for playing roles such as Sable Colby in Dynasty.

Christopher Timothy became a household name playing vet James Herriot in All Creatures Great And Small. He has seldom been off our screens since, most recently creating the leading role of Dr Mac' Mcguire in the BBC hospital drama Doctors.

Hayfever will be at the Festival Theatre Malvern, from Monday, May 28, until Saturday, June 2, evenings at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2:30pm. Tickets are £16-£26 (under 25's £8) and can be booked on 01684 892277 or from www.malvern-theatres.co.uk.