A TIMELY football-themed play is to kick off the summer season of repertory theatre in Darlington.

Four very different plays with star casts are to be staged at Darlington Civic Theatre over the next few weeks.

The plays have been directed by Ian Dickens and the season starts on Tuesday, June 13, with a topical football-related comedy - An Evening With Gary Lineker, by Arthur Smith and Chris England.

Emmerdale's Chris Tate, Matthew Cottle, from Game On, and Katherine Dow Blyton, from Hollyoaks, star in the play, which runs until Saturday, June 17.

Next there will be a version of Emily Bronte's classic novel Wuthering Heights. This runs from Tuesday, June 20, to Saturday, June 24.

Ray Cooney's Funny Money runs from Tuesday, June 27 until Saturday, July 1.

The final show is Star Quality, a Noel Coward play. This runs from Tuesday, July 4, until Saturday, July 8.

For information and tickets, telephone the box office on (01325) 486555.