A KEIGHLEY woman has spoken of her delight as she prepares to direct a classic comedy-drama.

Deborah Mouat is directing A Taste of Honey for Bingley Little Theatre.

Next month's production will be the latest addition to an impressive CV for Deborah, who most recently has directed hugely successful performances of Sweeney Todd at Keighley Playhouse and just before Christmas won high acclaim for her portrayal of Mrs Northrop in JB Priestley's When We Are Married, at Bingley.

Looking forward to her next 'challenge', Deborah says: "I was delighted to be offered A Taste of Honey to direct.

"Written by Shelagh Delaney, it is a wonderful portrait of sexuality, working-class life and mothers and daughters in the 1950s.

"When I re-read the play, it was immediately clear that it has the same emotional bite now as it did when it was written.

"It is a tough, tenacious play and more than raucous comedy."

At the heart of A Taste of Honey – a story which now features on the GCSE curriculum – is a mother-daughter bond, made famous in the film version by Dora Bryan and Rita Tushingham.

Taking the roles at Bingley are Liz Hall and Jessica Chewins.

Other cast members include Jonathan Tate – well known for his regular outings as the dame in Keighley Musical Theatre’s annual pantomime – and Elliott Matthews, who recently played Alan Bennett in The Lady in the Van at Keighley Playhouse.

Deborah adds: "I am blessed with a wonderfully versatile cast who have all played a range of genres, including musicals and pantomime!

"A lot of the sadness of the play comes from the suggestion of being trapped in cycles of repeated mistakes, poverty and toxic relationships. So it is just as poignant for today’s audiences as it was 50 years ago! But it is not a hysterical 'screech fest'. Perhaps the greatest sadness of the piece is how the two women end up having only each other."

Bingley Little Theatre is also striving to ensure maximum 1950s period accuracy for the play by carefully sourcing items including furniture, costumes, handbags and crockery.

A Taste of Honey runs at Bingley Arts Centre from Monday, April 8, until Saturday, April 13.

Seats can be reserved online at bingleyartscentre.co.uk or by contacting the theatre box office – call in person or phone 01274 567983. The box office is open weekdays, between 10am and 1pm.