A POPULAR festival is marking its 80th anniversary by commissioning a comedy play about the emotional roller coaster of pre-wedding nerves.

The Malvern Festival is showcasing the original production entitled Jitters by MalvernBard, which ends tomorrow tonight at Malvern Theatres.

Billed as a light comedy-drama, Jitters follows the ever more complicated life of Chris Station who after a bitter divorce re-enters the world of dating that could lead him to the alter for a second time.

Nick Wilkes, writer and producer, explained the play was about the struggle finding the right person to pop the question to.

“It's a big step, and it's perfectly natural to be nervous, especially when it's the second time around and the first ended in disaster,” he added.

“A groom with a past, a best man losing his best mate, and a father of the bride with just a little too much pride. It's fair to say they all have jitters.”

Audiences will have to watch for themselves to discover how the drama ends.

Mr Wilkes said he was “honoured” to have been commissioned by the festival as a new writer.

The show runs at the Forum Theatre, Malvern Theatres, in Grange Road. Tickets are £6 and can be bought from the box office on 01684 892277, or booked by visiting malvern-theatres.co.uk