WEST End stars are set to perform a production of a cinema classic that has been adapted for village halls.

Richard Ede, who has recently starred as Richard Hannay in an Olivier Award-winning production of The 39 Steps, will be among a cast of four and will play George Bailey in Farnham Maltings' It's A Wonderful Life, at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall, which will be one of only two performances in Yorkshire.

The two-hour show has been secured for the town by Thirsk-based Rural Arts, as part of its ON Tour programme, which brings more than 60 live performances a year to unique and community settings.

It’s A Wonderful Life marks the end of what the charity describes as a "highly successful autumn/winter season", which just saw a band of three panto performers take Mother Goose to 20 village halls.

Show producers say they hope the audience in Thirsk will be able to relate to the heart-warming story the struggles and joys of 1940s small town America.

Director Gavin Stride said: “Making a piece of theatre for village halls is always a privilege, and even though we’re visitors to these familiar spaces, we hope people feel like they’ve spent an evening in the company of old friends.”

The show will be performed at 7.30pm at Grey Village Hall, Sutton on the Forest, on Wednesday (January 14) and at Thirsk next Thursday (January 15).

For tickets, costing £10 for adults and £8 for children, call 01845-526 536 or visit ruralarts.org