IT'S jolly hockey sticks and gym slips at the ready for the first West Malvern Players performance in almost a decade - a play about a 1930s girls' boarding school.

The re-formed group's rendition of Daisy Pulls it Off, by Denise Deegan, should be memorable, with a man playing a school marm and ladies in their 50s playing school girls.

The comic play tells the story of elementary school girl Daisy (Sarah Creber) who wins a scholarship to Grangewood Girls' School and, as the new girl, has a hard time.

But the plucky youngster turns things around by leading the school hockey team to triumph, saving the lives of two friends and rescuing the school from financial ruin by finding its lost treasure.

Director Kate Wheaton, who plays schoolgirl Monica, had the idea to resurrect the West Malvern Players, who have been rehearsing in the garage of village pub The Brewers Arms.

"I wanted to start something off in the village, there's such a lot of talent in West Malvern," she said, adding she hoped the players would put on performances two or three times a year.

The cast of Daisy Pulls it Off has been learning the slang a 1930s school girl would use and have discovered "cold pigging," is a term for pouring cold water over someone early in the morning to wake them up.

Mrs Wheaton said it was such a funny play the actors sometimes had problems rehearsing.

"We have to keep on stopping to laugh," she explained.

Behind the scenes, the Colwall Players have helped out by providing lights which David Lee will operate. Michael Staiger is in charge of sound.

Daisy Pulls it Off plays in West Malvern Village Hall next Friday and Saturday (February 4 and 5) at 7.30pm. Tickets at £4 (concessions £2) are available on the door or by calling 01684 567328.