THE Ebor Players are to celebrate Frankie Howerd's centenary with some springtime hanky panky next month.

The Bishopthorpe company will stage Up Pompeii! at Bishopthorpe Village Hall, near York, from May 18 to 20 in honour of one Francis Alick Howerd, who was born at 53 Hartoft Street, York, on March 6 1917.

He went on to become one of Britain's best-loved comedians and comic actors, not least for his television show Up Pompeii!, and the Ebor Players settled on the stage adaptation for their tribute.

The company has performed pantomimes to sell-out audiences for the past 22 years and in 2015 decided to branch out and by putting on a spring production too. "We chose 'Allo 'Allo!, which was an instant hit, so much so we had to put on an extra performance," says Players' leading light David Rose. "This year, we've chosen the stage version of another television gem, Up Pompeii!, and last weekend the cast met up with the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Dave Taylor, for a photo opportunity at 53 Hartoft Street, where Frankie spent the first years of his life."

In 1988, Frankie Howerd asked Miles Tredinnick, one of his writers, to write an updated stage version of Up Pompeii! but the play was shelved when Howerd reprised his role as Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum in the West End. Howerd died in 1992 but the stage play eventually was revised and updated and had its premiere in January 2011.

Up Pompeii! finds Lurcio, the head slave, Senna, the soothsayer, Ammonia, Voluptua and co romping through ancient Pompeii with jokes, puns, innuendo and misunderstandings aplenty. As Lurcio attempts to deliver his prologue and begin proceedings, he is quickly caught up in the myriad of sexual liaisons in all quarters of his master’s house.

Why does Ludicrus not leave for the Senate meeting in Rome? Why does his wife return so quickly from the country? Who will take care of the escaped slave girl, Voluptua, and will Nausius’s love poetry improve? The answers can be found at Bishopthorpe Village Hall, where seating will be café style, with the opportunity to by wine and food.

"We're also encouraging people to dress up in their 'Roman finery' and there will be a prize each night for the best dressed Roman or slave," says David, who will play Lurcio.

Joining him in Philippa Parrish's cast will be Dave Hardman as Ludicrus Sextus, a senator; Miranda Thew as Ammonia, his wife; Steph Marshall as Erotica, their daughter; Paul Brook as Nausius, their son; Alex Schofield as Corneous, a footman; Sarah Frankland as Suspenda, a well-known nymphomaniac; Helen Dowson as Voluptua, a slave girl; Lisa Beadle as Senna, a soothsayer; Jack Lay-Flurrie as Treacherus, a slave master, and Josh Wren, Kretinus, his inept assistant.

Tickets for the 7.30pm performances are on sale at £10 at ticketsource.co.uk/ebor-players, on 07842999847 or by calling in at Bishopthorpe Village Hall on Sunday afternoons during rehearsals.