FOUR young actors are taking to the stage to portray a futuristic battle of the classes as a civil war looms.

Bishop Auckland-based Jacuzzi Theatre thrilled crowds with its debut performance of Bouncers at the town hall last year.

Now the company is back with its latest production, Classical X-tremes, which has been written by 19-year-old Paul Charlton.

He said he was hoping it would enjoy the same level of success as Bouncers, which drew sell-out audiences.

Paul said: "This is a bit different to Bouncers. It is very funny and very disturbing at times. A little bit off the wall.''

He stars in the production with John Nodding, 28; Matthew Saunders, 17; and Stephen Brownson, 16.

The play is directed by Stephen Elliott, Paul's partner in the company and founder of the popular Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans company.

The play, which runs for one-and-a-half-hours, depicts a Britain in which the poverty gap has widened to the extent that a civil war is looming between North and South.

It tells the story of four upper class men trapped in a derelict factory, surrounded by the advancing working class army.

The play is being performed at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Thursday and Friday, September 13 and 14, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5, or £4 for concessions. They are available from Paul Charlton on 07773 780321.