TWO Redditch entertainers are performing in a new musical play of love, deception and betrayal which starts this month.

Radio presenter Malcolm Boyden and Karen Heard, both of Astwood Bank, star in Balfour, which premieres at Solihull Arts Complex tonight and runs until September 22.

Malcolm has appeared in pantomime at Birmingham's Hippodrome Theatre alongside Karl Howman, Frank Bruno, Brian Conley and Danny La Rue, and plays Mr Stoker the butler in Balfour.

Karen's theatre credits include Bertha Rochester in Jane Eyre, Helen in Up 'n' Under and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. She stars as Molly the maid in Balfour.

The singer has performed on cruise ships and also played the lead in productions such as My Fair Lady and Cabaret.

Karen said: "Molly is a simple, downtrodden character who is given quite a hard time by one of the males in the play.

"Rehearsals have been intense but have gone very well and ticket sales are already proving to be successful."

Karen added: "It's good to be performing near home because I'm often away touring."

The play, produced by Katch 22 and Peanut Productions, is set in an old mansion, Balfour, during Christmas in 1907, where Sir William Balfour has fallen on hard times and is desperately trying to revive his flagging finances.

Meanwhile, his two daughters have fallen for working lads Jim and Fritz, whose friendships are torn apart by the onset of the First World War.

Jim is fighting for Britain while Fritz has to return to Germany to fight and the Balfour family is their only ally when they meet face-to-face in the trenches on the Christmas Day ceasefire.

Back at Balfour, the household is rocked by its terrible past, which only few people know about - and one man is ready to take his revenge.

The play is written by Steve Kray and directed by John Greenwood, with music and lyrics by Adam Bird.

The cast also includes Steve Kray, Aisling O'Reilly, Tracey Gardiner, Jason Summerfield, David Danson and Lorraine O'Leary.

Tickets cost £10 or £9 (concessions) from the box office on 0121 704 6962.