THE show must go on for an amateur thespian who took the cliche break a leg literally.

Liz Moss will play the role of Adriana in the production of The Comedy of Errors by The Castle Players theatre company, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, next month. But she will have to perform her scenes on crutches having broken her leg on a walking holiday in Scotland at Easter.

Mrs Moss, the head of drama at Teesdale Comprehensive School, in Barnard Castle, initially thought the break would be healed in time for the opening night.

But the bone has not knitted properly and she is having to wear an orthopaedic boot and still has to use crutches.

Mrs Moss said: "We've been able to make quite a feature of the crutches, they're quite effective. My character's a shrewish wife, who's always nagging and quite petulant.

"I'm able to use the crutches to bang on the ground and hit people when she has tantrums and make people feel sorry for me.

"I've also got quite fast on them, and there's a few chase scenes, so I'm able to catch up with the people I'm chasing."

The open-air production takes place in the grounds of the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, between July 7 and 10, and features a cast and crew of more than 100 local people.

The play follows the adventures of twins, separated at birth, who find themselves in the Turkish city of Ephesus. The Turkish theme is continued through the evening with an extravaganza before the show, stalls and belly dancers.

To book tickets call 0800 0747080 or visit www.castleplayers.co.uk

Published: 24/06/2004