AN all-female cast from Studio Theatre in Salisbury begins its bid to win this year’s All England Theatre Festival on Saturday,  March 5.

The amdram group will present the first act of Caryl Churchill’s ground-breaking feminist play Top Girls in Shaftesbury in the first round of the competition.

The play features regularly on the syllabus of AS and A-level drama courses but is rarely performed.

Set in the 1980s, high-flier Marlene is celebrating her promotion to managing director by throwing a dinner party.

Her invitation list includes a female Pope, a Victorian lady traveller, a Japanese Emperor’s concubine, a character from a Breughel painting and Chaucer’s infinitely patient wife.

The cast of eight will be competing against three other groups from the west of England.

Director Lesley Bates said: “It’s a tricky piece to do but a great opportunity to show off the wealth of female talent we have at Studio.”

Studio’s cast features Sue Bale, Claire Brooks, Sandra Desfontaines, Rachel Fletcher, Pam Goldsbrough, Louise Leavy, Linda Luetchford, and Emma Young.

* Local supporters get the chance to see the entry, which Studio performs twice at the group’s Ashley Road theatre the following week.

The performance on March 11, aimed at students studying the text, will be followed by a Q&A session and a theatre quiz follows the performance on March 12.

Both evenings at Studio start at 7.20pm and tickets, at £5, are available from Salisbury Information Centre in Fish Row, Salisbury ( 01722 342860) or, if available, on the door.

The Q&A session is free and entry to the quiz is by donation.