MALVERN'S Coach House Theatre sees the return to the stage of Huddersfield-based Dick & Lottie with Alan Ayckbourn's Neighbourhood Watch, a cautionary tale of an innocent mistake leading to an alarming escalation of events as the residents of Bluebell Hill Development take extreme measures to protect themselves.

Brother and sister Martin and Hilda Massie live together, leading a quiet, Christian existence in the confines of the Bluebell Hill Development. Just as they are preparing for a housewarming gathering, their peace is shattered by a young trespasser in their garden. The Massies' neighbours congregate in their living room and together they agree to form a neighbourhood watch group to safeguard against further incidents. But after the Massies' beloved garden gnome Monty is thrown through their window, matters swiftly escalate, complicated by Martin's burgeoning romance with Amy, wife of Gareth, who was formerly involved with Luther, husband of Magda… What begins as a well-intentioned scheme for a safer community ends in violence and acrimony

Dick & Lottie was formed by John Cotgrave and Richard McArtney in 2004 to perform the works of Alan Ayckbourn, and all their productions - they average three Ayckbourn plays a year - are premiered at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield.

Neighbourhood Watch is at The Coach House Theatre, Malvern, on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16 and 17 at 7.30pm. Book online at .wegottickets.com/DickandLottie