Prolific Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh tackles his subjects with bite and humour, and his talents have won him a string of awards.

The Comet: The Electric Ballroom takes to the stage at Hitchin's Queen Mother TheatreThe Electric Ballroom takes to the stage at Hitchin's Queen Mother Theatre (Image: Archant)

He had a hand in the script for Hunger, Steve McQueen’s gruelling film about IRA prisoner Bobby Sands, and his many plays – including Disco Pigs, also filmed, Bedbound and Pondlife Angels have earned him a reputation for sparky pieces which make for intriguing entertainment.

Charles Compton takes on directing duties when Hitchin’s Bancroft Players stage Walsh’s The New Electric Ballroom, with the production running from Wednesday next week through to Saturday.

The play is being performed in the Richard Whitmore Studio space at the group’s Queen Mother Theatre in Walsworth Road.

It’s a a dark comedy that revolves around two sisters in their twilight years in a remote southern Ireland fishing port.

They constantly relive episodes from their youth in the form of stories which they relate to their younger sister by way of cautionary tales.

They’re keen to make sure she doesn’t make the same mistakes they did, warning her about the likes of Roller Royle, a touring musician from their youth who visited the New Electric Ballroom each month.

They bicker and taunt each other with their saucy and intimate stories while their little sister is courted by a strapping young fishmonger, and audiences will be delighted by the twist in the tale.

Tickets for the show, which starts at 7.45pm each night, are £8 and you can reserve yours by calling 01462 455166 or visiting the website at qmt.org.uk.