AN all-star cast features in an 18th century British comedy classic at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre this month.

Michael Jayston, Gabrielle Drake, Kate O'Mara and Arthur Bostrom will appear in the British Actors Theatre Company production of Sheridan's The Rivals, which runs from Tuesday, September 10 until Saturday, September 14.

Gabrielle Drake, whose credits include Present Laughter with Tom Conti, is Mrs Malaprop, with the company's artistic director Kate O'Mara, who co-starred with Gabrielle in television series The Brothers, as Lucy the manipulative maid.

Michael Jayston is Sir Anthony Absolute and Arthur Bostrom Sir Lucius O'Trigger.

An Alexandra Theatre spokesman said: "The play is set in Bath, the fashionable spa town in the 18th century, where the world comes to be cured of all ills, to find a rich wife or a remedy for gout, to fall into the arms of a dream lover and elope or simply to make money at others' expense.

"This sparkling and lavish new production with sensational period costume and set marks the British Actors Theatre Company's return to major touring.

"A plot teeming with mistaken identity, amorous confusion and laughter is played out by a cast of wonderful characters in this best-loved and most accessible of 18th century British comedy classics."

Performances are at 7.30pm with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost £7.50-£18.50 from the ticket hotline on 0870 607 7544.