AN acting company is bringing repertory theatre to a town for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Although Middlesbrough Theatre has co-produced professional shows in the past, this will be its first continuous season of weekly rep.

From this week until Saturday, September 22, a permanent company of actors will present four plays - two comedieds and two thrillers - at Middlesbrough Theatre.

The season opens with Alan Ayckbourn's comedy, Bedroom Farce, and continues with the thrillers Trap for a Lonely Man, by Robert Thomas, and Francis Durbridge's Suddenly at Home.

It concludes with a 60th anniversary production of Noel Coward's classic comedy Blithe Spirit.

The season is being co-produced with Charles Vance, who presented more than 300 plays at the Spa Theatre, in Whitby, in the 70s and 80s.

A Middlesbrough Theatre spokesman said: "The season marks a major step forward for us in expanding our professional programme."

Tickets, priced from £5, are available from the box office on (01642) 815181.