THE world premiere of The Last Post, commissioned by Newcastle's Live Theatre and the County Durham Drama Initiative Elements, will open at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday.

The play, written by writer, novelist and poet Julia Darling, is an offbeat look at the power and importance of letters in people's lives.

It asks questions about how people communicate in the age of computers and what part letter writing still continues to plays in people's relationships.

The cast of the play are all actors from, or based in the region - Madeleine Moffatt, Donald McBride, Judi Earl, Joe Caffrey, Sharon Percy and Gez Casey.

Julia Darling said: "I have always loved letters. I think most writers do. I like everything about the post - the stamps, the post office itself, post boxes, postmen.

"I spent some time working in post offices and sorting offices during a residency as part of the year of the artist. So when The Last Post was commissioned, I already had a wealth of stories and characters that I wanted to write about."

Tickets for the play, which is being staged on Friday and Saturday, at 7.30pm both nights, cost £6 and £4.

They are available from the town hall box office on (01388) 602610.