WILKINSON’S Crew presents one of the great English comedies, Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals, at the York Theatre Royal Studio for one night only on Tuesday.

Written in 1779, this charming tale of Lady Malaprop and her comic misuse of the English language will be revived in a full rehearsed reading with a company of nine actors.

Director Edward Pearce says: “Our talented and interesting cast won’t be relying upon props and costumes, but will let the language speak for itself.” He is confident that the plain clothes and few props will only add to the experience of a performance that will be far from sparse.

“Rehearsals have been taking place at The Yorkshire Terrier in Stonegate since before Christmas, and eight or nine rehearsals in, we were still falling about laughing,” says Ed.

Tuesday’s 7.45pm audience can look forward to a tangle of language and love affairs when the verbally challenged Mrs Malaprop (Ruth Ford) pursues the discreetly hard-up baronet Sir Lucius O’Trigger (Edward Pearce), while Sir Anthony Absolute (Tim Holman) furiously orders his son, Captain Jack Absolute (Daniel Wilmot) to marry an unseen, nameless heiress, who happens to be his fiancee already.

At a bound, everyone will end up married in a rehearsed reading that also features Anna Rogers as Lydia Languish, Samuel Valentine as David/Coachman, Matthew Wignall as Faulklan, Richard Johnston as Bob Acres and Alan Flower as Fag.

This summer, cast members Ruth Ford and Tim Holman will be appearing in the York Mystery Plays in the York Museums Gardens.

Looking further ahead, director Pearce has sets his sights on the next Wilkinson’s Crew performance: “We want to do another comedy, possibly William Wycherley’s The Country Wife, a risqué drama from 1690,” he says.

Tickets for The Rivals cost £5 on 01904 623568 or online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk