ROBERT Powell and Liza Goddard will star in Alan Ayckbourn's classic comedy Relatively Speaking at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday to Saturday.

In Ayckbourn's early play, Greg only met Ginny a month ago but already has made up his mind that she is the girl for him. When she tells him that she is going to visit her parents, he decides this is the moment to ask her father for his daughter’s hand.

Discovering a scribbled address, he follows her to Buckinghamshire where he finds Philip and Sheila enjoying a peaceful Sunday morning breakfast in the garden, but the only thing is, they are not Ginny’s parents.

Beautifully crafted and charmingly English, Relatively Speaking was originally entitled Meet My Father when written in 1965 and went on to become Ayckbourn’s first great West End success, turning him into a household name. After opening at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 1967, it was hailed by critics as the arrival of a great new comic talent.

"We’re delighted to welcome two great stars in one great production,” says Ian Sime, Leeds Grand Theatre's general manager, welcoming Powell and Goddard. “Post summer holidays, an evening of comedy is just what we all need.”

Powell and Goddard previously appeared together in The Official Agatha Christie Company's production of Black Coffee, on tour at the Grand Opera House, York, in April 2014. Powell played Belgian detective Hercule Poirot; Goddard, maiden aunt Caroline Amory, in Christie's story of the murder of eccentric inventor Sir Claud Amory at his English country estate.

Goddard also has starred in Ayckbourn's repertory productions of his plays If I Were You, Life Of Riley, Communicating Doors, Snake In The Grass and Life & Beth at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.

Relatively Speaking is directed by Robin Herford, who directorial credits include Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce and Season’s Greetings and most notably Stephen Mallatratt's The Woman In Black, a production that has celebrated 25 years in the West End and been seen by more than seven million people.

Tickets for the 7.30pm evening performances and 2.30pm Wednesday and Saturday matinees of Relatively Speaking are on sale at leedsgrandtheatre.com or on 0844 848 2700.