MIS-MATCHED lovers Julie-Ann and Justin are set to introduce their families in their London apartment, in the ‘hilarious’ comedy being staged by Blackburn Drama Club this week.

The Alan Ayckbourn play is the third work in his Damsels In Distress trilogy.

The lovers plan to announce their engagement, with Justin’s upper-crust alcoholic mother and ‘man-friend’ Olaf and Julie-Ann’s bigoted Yorkshire father and prim mother attending.

A drama club spokesman said: “Into this doomed scenario drops, literally, via the balcony upstairs and the river, Paige Petite, a former lap-dancer with suicidal tendencies and her thick, gun-toting minder who is employed by her violent boyfriend.”

The play is being directed by Dorothy Perkins, and features Rowen Cameron and Matt Jolley as the lovers.

Also featuring are Roger Boardman and Muriel Eccles as her parents, and Claire St Pierre as Petite Paige.

The play is the last in the club’s season, with weekly readings having taken place for the 2014-2015 productions.

Next year the club will tackle Duets by Peter Quilter, Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett, Ladies Day by Amanda Whittington and Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones.

n Role Play, Blackburn Drama Club, Thwaites Empire Theatre, tomorrow until Saturday, 7.30pm. Tickets cost £9 from 01254 685500.