FORMER Emmerdale star Peter Amory will star as Mr Rochester in an adaptation of Jane Eyre to launch next month's summer repertory season at Darlington Civic Theatre.

Mr Amory was at the Civic yesterday with ex-Coronation Street actress Sally Ann Matthews, who will close the four-production run with Noel Coward's Present Laughter.

The shows' producer Ian Dickens said: "We see this season as a testament to the people who support the theatre all year round."

For the first time since 1999, the Civic is offering Wednesday matinees so that schools, colleges and the elderly can attend productions more easily.

The run of plays is: Jane Eyre, June 14 to 18; thriller I'll Be Back Before Midnight, June 21 to 25; Ray Cooney farce Caught In The Net, June 28 to July 2 and Present Laughter, July 5 to 9.

To book tickets, call (01325) 486555.

Published: 19/05/2005