MICHAEL Palin's comedy The Weekend debuts at the New Millennium Theatre, Waterfoot, next week.

The Rossendale Players are presenting the play by the ex- Monty Python star, which uses modern humour to look at family values but also has a much darker side to it as well.

All that Stephen Febble wants is a quiet life in retirement, and a family is not exactly his idea of fun.

So a visit from his daughter, her boring husband, their precocious child and incontinent dog has him reaching for the whisky and sarcasm.

When his wife announces a dinner party to include the neighbours, who also happen to bring along an uninvited guest, Stephen's weekend is complete and his long-suffering wife's patience is stretched to the limit.

Director is Mark Storton, who won an award for Best Actor in last year's North West Area Millennium Awards.

The Weekend will be showing on Saturday March 31, Sunday April 1 and then from Tuesday April 3 to Saturday April 7. Performances start at 7.30pm and tickets cost £5 adults/£4concessions. Bookings: 01706 228720.