Taunton Thespians’ spring production at the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton is a double bill of music and comedy – Noël Coward’s Red Peppers, followed by  Quartet by Ronald Harwood.

Coward’s one-act comedy, written for himself and Gertrude Lawrence, is a lively look behind the scenes at George and Lily Pepper’s dressing room, eavesdropping on their off-stage quarrels and witnessing their on-stage performances, complete with barely disguised spats. 

Quartet touches on the lives of stage performers who have left their best years behind them. Wilf, Cissy, Reggie and Jean are retired opera singers, whiling away their time in a bespoke home, which puts on an annual concert to celebrate the birthday of Giuseppe Verdi in October. 

It seems only natural the four ex-performers should choose to perform the quartet from  Rigoletto for which they were justifiably famous. 

But will they remember the words? Fit into their costumes? And know what day it is? Harwood’s poignant, beautiful script is set to have audiences sighing and chuckling in equal measure.  

Performances run from Tuesday, March 12, to Saturday, March 16, at 7.15pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2.15pm.

Tickets are priced £16, £12 and £5 (concessions) and are available from 01823 283244 or visit www.thebrewhouse.net