MAGICIAN Peter Clifford sharply flicks the corner of a queen of hearts playing card and, "just like that", it turns into the two of clubs.

He is teaching two local actors, Simon Grover and Robin Simpson, how to master the mystical arts and other card tricks so they can bring Tommy Cooper and his little known sidekick Frankie Lyons to life.

Simon and Robin star in Frankie and Tommy, a new production coming to the Swan Theatre which charts the early days of Tommy Cooper when he was in a double act to boost morale after the Second World War.

The play contains routines that would have been performed by Frankie and Tommy in 1946 and Simon and Robin have to learn an array of magic tricks to pull it off.

"I'm teaching them both sorts of magic," said Peter, drafted in by the Worcester Theatre Company as a magic adviser.

"The comedy magic - which is more of a trick - and the magic which is real.

"What is less well known is that Tommy Cooper was a member of the Magic Circle and an accomplished magician."

Dotted around the rehearsal space are all manor of props, including a rubber woman in a box ready to be sawn in half, and, of course, a couple of obligatory fezzes.

Sketch

"We have to do the Sand Dance, a boxing ring sketch, some juggling and, of course, the magic," said Robin.

Frankie and Tommy charts the chaotic and destructive relationship which develops when Tommy is forced to team up with novice performer Frankie.

"The play is set in Egypt, just after the war, and is about a young Tommy Cooper before he became famous," said director Kim Greengrass.

"It's very fast moving.

"It moves from a ship, to Cairo, to a seedy eastern theatre."

Being Tommy is a challenge for Peter because the legendary comedian is so well known and so often impersonated and caricatured.

"You have to be able to put all that aside and stick to what is in the script," he said.

"And you have a responsibility to Tommy Cooper as a real person."

"At the end of the day, this is a play and not tribute show or an impression show," said Robin who plays Frankie.

"I have much more freedom because most people will have no idea who he is."

However, the role of Frankie has its own pressures because his son, Gary Lyons, wrote the play.

"Everybody has got their own family story," said Robin.

"Gary Lyons must have grown up with his dad telling the story of how he was in a show with Tommy Cooper.

Story

"At some point as an adult he must have realised that this was an interesting story about a chaotic relationship with someone who became very famous.

"Most importantly, it's a very good story that isn't very well known."

Frankie and Tommy is staged by the Swan's professional Worcester Theatre Company and runs at the theatre from Thursday, September 26, until Saturday. October 12.

Tickets prices range from £7 to £14.95 and are available on 01905 27322. Friday, October 11, is pay what you can night.