A much loved classic comedy 'Para Handy Tales', performed in a new live theatre format starring Largs actors, is 'chust the job' having attracted sell out audiences in Largs, Greenock. and there are plans to take the event further afield.

No Nonsense Productions's 'Para Handy: The Wireless Show' was performed to great acclaim, including from one of the family members of the original tv series, when it was performed in Ye Old Anchor Inn last year.

And the new crew of the 'Vital Spark' are back in action at The Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock on Sunday July 23. Tickets are sold out for the afternoon show, but some are currently still available for the evening performance which includes a fish tea for £25, 7.30pm start - website beaconartscentre.co.uk/events/para-handy-the-wireless-show

Join the Master Mariner, Dougie, MacPhail and Sunny Jim along with a host of other characters for classic tales from Neil Munro. Performed as a 1950s radio broadcast against the stunning backdrop of the Clyde, this new production features live sound effects and period music.

Calum McVittie, a regular with Largs Players over the years, and Kevin Jannetts have both been involved and star in the production, and say it is great to bring back the famous characters for the shows.

Kevin said: "We were interested in the Para Handy tales and the live radio performance format which has been a hit with other plays such as 'It's A Wonderful Life' and did an internet search to find that Gordon Neish, the editor of the Dunoon Observer, had made a radio script. He had written it away back in the days before computers, so we arranged to get a hard copy of script, and donated money to a charity, and adapted it from there. The charity chosen was the RNLI which seemed rather apt."

With only three actors, the leads share a number of characters with Kevin the narrator of the piece as well as McPhail, while Calum McVittie stars as Sunny Jim and Dougie the mate, with Stewart Phillips as Para Handy. Valerie Barr provides musical accompaniment as the accordionist.

Kevin said: "When we performed it in the Anchor, one of the relatives of the original cast of Para Handy came to see it, and told us they loved it, and it was a great way to perform it. That was nice as there is a huge pressure on us as it is such a beloved thing. It has a huge audience, spanning three different tv versions, Neil Munro's books and the short stories."

Calum added: "It is a simple format, people love the stories so much, and to have it read out and acted in front of them it is still as funny today as when they were originally written."

There are hopes of taking the show further afield, with Rothesay having expressed an interest in hosting the comedy classic.