MARK Payton has stepped in at short notice to replace Robert Pickavance in A Cloud In Trousers at York Theatre Royal.

Robert suffered a slipped-disc in the last week of rehearsals, forcing the postponement of the opening night on October 1.

Initially, he had been expected to recover in time for Steve Trafford's play to open on October 8 but his injury has now ruled him out.

Mark Payton, who has appeared regularly in Theatre Royal and Riding Lights productions in York, will play the role of Osip, the husband in a troubled mnage a trois with his wife Lili and Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky.

Damian Cruden's production of Trafford's tragic-comedy about sex, art, politics and love will run in the Studio from October 20 to 23 at 7.45pm. Box office: 01904 623568.

Updated: 16:18 Thursday, October 14, 2004