Frank Moorby will be directing the play which centres around Hester Collyer (Rachel Conyers) who has been found by neighbours after a failed suicide attempt, having left her respectable High Court Judge husband for a semi-alcoholic RAF pilot with whom she has shared a passionate and physical relationship in which he no longer shows an interest.

Frank Moorby started in the world of theatre as a stage electrician then moved on to stage construction and management.

He came to Harrogate in 1969 and joined the HDS almost immediately.

During the 70s he helped backstage at Harrogate Theatre working with professional directors such as Mark Piper and Keith Taylor (who later joined the RSC). Frank's knowledge and expertise has always been admired, respected and appreciated by the cast and crews of all the productions he has been involved with.

Having acted in many plays usually in a 'cameo role' in a comedy, Frank turned to directing – ironically not comedies but more serious plays. He particularly enjoys directing Studio productions as he feels it is possible to have a greater range of acting and that he is able to focus the audience's attention on stage position and attitude in both a physical and emotional sense.

Frank is looking forward to directing The Deep Blue Sea and has worked with several cast members before.

He says he enjoys Rattigan as a playwright as he constructs his plays so well, moving smoothly between the different elements of the plot and developing characters as he goes, giving nuggets of information just when we need them.

The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan runs at Harrogate Theatre Studio from Wednesday, March 3 to Saturday, March 6 at 7.45pm with a Saturday matinee at 2pm.

Tickets are available now from Harrogate Theatre Box Office on 01423 502116