ALWAYS up for a challenge - St Johns Players will be celebrating their 65th anniversary this year by resurrecting a character originally brought to life by comedian Dawn French.

Life in the sleepy Oxfordshire village of Dibley is set to be turned upside down once again when the ancient Rev Pootle dies and the diocese sends a chocolate-loving female vicar, Geraldine Granger, as his replacement.

Director Christine King, who has been a member since 1981, revealed why this year's show The Vicar of Dibley, which opens at the Swan Theatre on Tuesday, October 14, has proved such a challenge.

She said: “The rehearsals have been great fun and all the cast have enjoyed rehearsing this wonderful series of episodes from the original television show.

"In fact, there are no official scripts so this has proved more a challenge than most plays."

All the well-loved characters from the television show, which ran for 13 years, appear with Sam Charnock donning the dog collar to play Geraldine, Jade Busby playing the ditzy Alice Tinker and the the intolerant David Horton played bySimon Atkins.

Newcomer Chris Hopkirk will play the irrepressible Owen Newitt, made famous by the late Roger Lloyd Pack.

In the show, the arrival of “The babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom”, who has a decidedly irreverent attitude to religion, is met by a mixture of wonder, shock and horror from the eccentric characters that make up the parish council.

The audience can relive Geraldine’s arrival and her attempts to improve the village and community life.

Mrs King added: “It has been a pleasure to direct and I hope that all those who come along to this very funny show will enjoy the performances as much as we have enjoyed rehearsing them.”

St John's Players was originally founded in 1949 by a small group of enthusiastic amateur actors.

Since its inception, the group has performed in many venues around the city and county.

Initially, it was predominantly shows in schools and church halls but since the building of The Swan Theatre in the sixties, one production a year has always been performed in the theatre.

The performance of The Vicar of Dibley will be the Players' 49th show at the venue and all royalties from the production going to support Comic Relief.

It will run until Saturday, October 18 with performances at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £10 and are available by calling 01905 611427.