THE Beaux Stratagem, the wild Restoration comedy of love and cash is broadcast live from the National Theatre on Thursday, September 3 to screens including Malvern Theatres, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, The Conquest Theatre in Bromyard and The Regal Tenbury Wells. It will be shown at The Courtyard in Hereford on Saturday, September 5.

In Simon Godwin’s production of the fabulous period comedy, the 'Beaux': Mr Aimwell and Mr Archer, played by Samuel Barnett (The History Boys) and Geoffrey Streatfeild (Spooks) are two charming, dissolute young men who have blown their fortunes in giddy London. Shamed and debt-ridden, they flee to provincial Lichfield. Their 'Stratagem': to marry for money.

Lodged at the local inn, posing as master and servant, they encounter a teeming variety of human obstacles: a crooked landlord, a fearsome highwayman, a fervent French Count, a maid on the make, a drunken husband, a furious butler, a natural healer and a strange, turbulent priest.

But their greatest obstacle is love. When the Beaux meet their match in Dorinda (Pippa Bennett-Warner) and Mrs Sullen (Susannah Fielding) they are most at risk, for in love they might be truly discovered.

‘Fresh, relevant and unstoppably entertaining," declared the Observer

The Beaux Stratagem on screen at Malvern Theatres (01684 892277); Ludlow Assembly Rooms (01584 878141); The Conquest (01885 488575) and The Regal ( 01584 811442) on Thursday, September 3 at 7pm, and at The Courtyard (01432 340555) on Saturday, September 5 at 7pm.