One of the best loved television comedies is to be re-staged by a local amateur dramatics company.

Three episodes of the classic series ’Dad’s Army’ is to be performed by the Service Players at the Gaiety Theatre, in a string of dates starting on Thursday, June 29, and running for three nights until July 1.

Playing the lead character of Captain Mainwearing is Geoff Collier, who is making his stage acting debut.

Although he is no stranger to performing on stage, he is more often heard singing musical theatre numbers and operetta pieces rather than reciting lines.

Elsewhere, former winner of the young Actor of Mann, John Walker, plays Sergeant Wilson, and the multi award-winning stage actor Nigel Harrison plays Lance Corporal Jones, complete with the famous catchphrase ’Don’t Panic!’.

Andrew Halstein plays the ’stupid boy’, Private Pike.

The overly-dramatic Private Frazer is played by long-time society member, Ian Torbet, and the gentle Private Godfrey is played by Mark Coxhill, who first trod the boards at the age of four in 1942.

Wheeler-dealer Private Walker is played by Karl Bovenizer.

Directing is Alex Brindley, who has also directed the Service Players previous comedy shows Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Allo Allo and last year’s hugely successful The Vicar Of Dibley.

Alex said: ’As always, it’s enormous fun directing this team of talented comic actors, and it’s wonderful to have several new faces in this large cast.

’After 75 years of putting on shows for the island, it’s great to see that the Services Players is encouraging new talent.

’I’m looking forward to watching this cast on stage. With Geoff in the role of Mainwearing, it’s sometimes like having the great Arthur Lowe in the room . It’s spectacular!

’It’s sure to be a fantastic night’s entertainment, suitable for all the family.’

The three episodes to be performed are ’Mums Army’, ’The Godiva Affair’ and the legendary episode ’The Deadly Attachment’, featuring the immortal lines ’Don’t Tell Him, Pike!’.

Tickets for the shows are £15, with seniors, under 16 and groups of 10 or more £10 each, available from the Villa Gaiety box office.

The Frday night performance will feature subtitles.