A NEW play placing the spotlight on the Catholic priesthood being staged by award-winning amateur theatre company.

The Problem with Fathers, written by local playwright Tom Casling, will be premiered by the Matchbox Theatre Company, based at the Ouston Community Centre, near Chester-le-Street.

The production will be staged at the Washington Arts Centre at 7.30pm on Friday April 22 and Saturday, April 23.

The play is about an ageing Irish Catholic priest notorious for his “fire and brimstone” views, who gets asked by the Bishop to take an unconventional young curate under his wing.

The younger leather-clad motorcycling priest takes his priesthood literally and keeps healing people, creating a dilemma for the older priests who do not know what to do with him.

The cast of 10 includes the elder priest and his housekeeper played by husband and wife Ken and Val Martin, and the young priest played by Calum Cameron.

Matchbox Theatre, which has been running for 18 months, last year won the best play category in the north National Operatic and Dramatic Association awards, with the play Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones.

Tickets for The Problem with Fathers are £8.50 (cons £7) and are available on 0191-219 3455. It will then be staged at the Ouston Community Centre at 7.30pm on Saturday May 7. Tickets are available on 0191-410-5183. The show will then be offered to community and arts centres in the region.