HAVING heard reports of Dirty Dusting since it was first produced at the Customs House, South Shields, in 2003, I was delighted to have the opportunity to see it for myself.

Written by two local lads, Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, and featuring local actors, this is a real North-East production whose dialogue might, like Billy Elliot, have to be sub-titled if the play moved South.

Leading ladies Gwen Doran, Helen Russell and Jean Southern fly the flag for the Grey Panthers as 'environment enhancement operatives' who are on the brink of being retired against their wishes. They don't know how they'll cope without the few bob their cleaning jobs bring in, and then Olive has a brainwave. Elsie, Gladys and Olive become the Telephone Belles, fulfilling the sexual fantasies of pervy men who ring the hotline number to speak to Kylie, Madonna and Marilyn.

The 'girls' revelled in their performances, and so did the audience, largely female, who were shrieking with laughter to the extent that some of the lines were lost. The lady behind me wiped away tears of mirth as she repeated each funny line, followed by: "Oh, dear!"

David Whittaker is the cleaning supervisor eagerly looking forward to the departure of his feisty charges, who gets his comeuppance in the end.

There's an engaging naivety about the whole thing, which makes the risque dialogue funny when it might have caused offence, and the cast, bless them, appeared stunned by the enthusiastic applause from a packed Theatre Royal. I wish them every success.

* Runs until Saturday. Booking Office: 0870 905 5060

Published: 17/06/2004