The performance, featuring eight actors and actresses, was funny and compelling.

The play, written by Amanda Whittington, tells the tale of four jaded fish filleters who decide to treat themselves for once to a day at the races.

As the day unravels so do secrets the group has been keeping from one another.

Retiring Pearl (Arline Evenden) has been having a seven-year affair and goes to the races to find lover Barry, who has disappeared.

Jan (Jackie Stone) has fallen for her work supervisor, who is leaving for Australia.

Catty Shelley (Cathy Mellor) is up to her high heels in debt and Linda (Samantha Hunt) has brought her ill-mannered mother back to live with her.

The foursome enjoy meeting jockeys, television crews and high-powered aristocrats as the day hots up, with a multiple bet they have placed on the races promising half a million pounds.

The four main stars complement each other well with some hilarious exchanges and a great musical piece where they get changed from fish stained overalls into glad rags to the song "Is This The Way to Amarillo".

One scene was particularly poignant as Barry (Peter Breach) returned to reassure Pearl about their relationship, which could never come to fruition, to enjoy a last dance which faded into darkness.

It was a heart-warming story played to an appreciative audience who got involved as well as any I have seen at the centre in quite some time.

Credit must go to everyone involved.

The next St Nics show is The Likes of Us in October, by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice, which until recently had never been performed.

Not to be missed!