A KEEN amateur dramatist's first published play is to be staged in his home city later in the summer.

Just months after publication of The Artful Lodger, Tom Casling's stage adaptation will be premiered at The Gala Theatre, Durham, in August.

Set in Durham, it is based around the topical parochial theme of student accommodation, specifically a couple taking in a student lodger.

Mr Casling hopes it will go down well with the audience, featuring many local references, including the Miners' Gala, familiar locations in Durham - and even the 63 bus route.

Although he has written several plays and sketches over the years, it is the first submitted for publication.

He was delighted when he quickly received a positive reply, from New Theatre Publications.

He said: "You hear about people constantly being knocked back, but I was absolutely shocked when their judging panel quickly accepted it.

"It certainly gave me the bug, and I'm halfway through my next play now."

The 48-year-old married father-of-two recruited fellow Durham Dramatic Society member Gordon Bond as producer-director, with a cast of six drawn locally.

It is costing £4,000 to stage, but subsequent proceeds will be split between Cruse bereavement support charity, Make Poverty History, Durham Dramatic Society and Outlookers Theatre Company, for disabled people, of which Mr Casling is founder member.

He needs to sell 400 tickets to pass the break-even figure.

The Artful Lodger is on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 8 and 9, curtain up at 7.30pm, with a 2.30pm matinee on the Wednesday.

Tickets, costing £10 and £8.50 for concessions, are available from the theatre box office, on 0191-332 4041.