NOEL Coward’s champagne-fuelled comedy Fallen Angels opens at Salisbury Playhouse next Thursday, September 10.

The play which caused shock and outrage when first performed in 1925 is one of Coward's lesser performed pieces.

Jackie Clune whose recent productions include Henry IV at the Donmar Warehouse and the West End productions of Mamma Mia! and Billy Elliot, stars as one of the two leading roles.

She said: "When Fallen Angels first came out, it caused quite a stir - there's quite a lot about marital infidelity in so far as these two very happily married women receive a postcard from a very mysterious Frenchman who it turns out they both had an affair with before getting married to their husbands seven years ago.

"They realise they are not in love with their husbands anymore. All the passion of their first love has gone and they realise how much they miss that.

"At that time being married was a bit like living in a gilded cage - you stayed at home and told servants what to do while your husband went out to play golf."

Jackie who worked with the play's director Jessica Swale four years ago says she has been learning her lines while walking to the Playhouse from Harnham having managed to find a free place to park.

"What's awful about Salisbury is you can't park anywhere for free," she said, "but what has been great is that as a result of parking the other side of town along the Town Path, I get to walk along with my earphones in and look at the stunning cathedral and sheep in the meadows."

Having been a comedienne for many years before becoming an actor, she says the stand-up skills taught her to be unafraid of the audience although she does have to remember to now listen to other people when they are talking.

"Fallen Angels is a very technical and difficult play and it is a great challenge," she says.

"There are just two women on stage for all of the second act and the lines involve physical comedy - there is a very lavish dinner scene where we get horrendously drunk waiting for Maurice to turn up.

"The costumes are very chic, very 1920s. I get to waft around in kimonos and evening dresses which have to be quite robust as we get into a big fight.

"It's going to be riotous and really good fun.

"I think it will be a great show for people to come with their partners."

Fallen Angels comes to the Main House at Salisbury Playhouse from Thursday September 10 to Saturday October 3. Evening performances start at 7.30pm with matinees at 2.15pm.

For tickets call Salisbury Playhouse ticket office on 01722 320333 or visit salisburyplayhouse.com.