MIKE Burns and Nigel Forde are the best of friends. So much so, Nigel was best man at Mike's wedding and the reception was held at Nigel's house.

They have worked together many times on stage and the radio too. Now they are united once more for The Alchemist, the inaugural production of Riding Lights' first summer season at the Christian theatre company's new home at the Friargate Theatre (in Lower Friargate, York, on the site of Greyfriars, a Franciscan monastery).

York resident Burns is best known for Colin from The Brittas Empire (a TV role he recalls as being "like a paid holiday"); Forde, who lives near Pocklington, is a poet, playwright, actor, presenter of Radio 4's Bookshelf and co-founder of Riding Lights in 1977.

In Ben Jonson's topical satire on a society obsessed with hitting the instant jackpot in business, gambling, quarrelling or sexual conquests, Burns plays immoral housekeeper Face and Forde the chameleon con-man Subtle: partners in frantic fraud out to "shark the best".

Mike is not only enjoying performing in a Jonson comedy for the first time - "He's obviously a genius; I would love to have had a pint with him" - but he is also as happy as ever to work with Nigel. "We give each other space when we're performing together. We like each other an awful lot, so that side of the stage partnership is easy. It's when we have to turn on each other that's been harder! We've got there now, but the admiration comes much easier.

"In saying that, it's been an utter pleasure to rehearse. The more you dig into the characters, the more you find. Jonson is very funny, very modern."

Nigel speaks highly of Mike too. "He says, I'm very trustworthy on stage, I say he is! It's like Subtle and Face's partnership. We've known each other for years, and we're always feeding each other lines."

Together they should indeed turn The Alchemist to gold, from tonight until July 1. Performances: 7.30pm; box office: 0845 961 3000.