A COMEDY thriller with a "bit of everything" is heading to the Salisbury Playhouse stage.

Graham Seed, who is best-known as Nigel Pargetter from The Archers, returns to city in The Ladykillers and plays the character of Major Courtney.

The play follows the escapades of a group of crooks as they plan a heist.

"It is a comedy thriller really," explains Seed. "It is about a group of rather incompetent crooks who plan a heist at Kings Cross Station. They all board at a little old lady's house and pretend that they are musicians and the little old lady falls for it.

"It all goes spectacularly wrong."

The role of Professor Marcus will be played by Steven Elliott, whose film credits include the title role in The Watcher in the Woods with Anjelica Huston, and whose theatre appearances include The Winter’s Tale at the Royal National Theatre, Measure For Measure at Royal Shakespeare Company and The Devil Inside Him at National Theatre Wales.

The cast will also include Marcus Houden as Constable Macdonald/Mrs Jane Tromleyton (Nominated for Best Leading Actor in a Play in the BroadwayWorldUK West End Awards 2015 for The Tempest), Sam Lupton as Harry Robinson (Boq in Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre, West End), Damian Williams as One Round (Ginger Gahagan in Billy Webb and Alfonzo Bonzo, presenter of Damian’s Are You Smarter Than Your 10 Year Old) and Anthony Dunn as Louis Harvey (Calamity Jane, UK and Ireland Tour).

Seed says: "It is quirky and some people call it farce; some people call it a comedy thriller - it is a bit of everything."

Talking about his character, he says: "I play Major Courtney who of course is probably not a major he's a fake and he's got a skeleton in the cupboard which is great fun to play."

He adds: "It is a joy to play because the last few things I have done haven't been so comedic."

Seed returns to Salisbury following his appearances in Bedroom Farce and Separate Tables both at Salisbury Playhouse in 2014.

He is joined by Ann Penfold whose theatre credits include The Lady in the Van at Salisbury Playhouse, The Taming of the Shrew with Royal Shakespeare Company, Deep Blue Sea at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Saturday Sunday Monday at the National Theatre.

"I am so looking forward to coming back to Salisbury because I was there about three years ago and I love the Playhouse and I love the city. I'm excited," says Seed.

The original 1950s film, which the show is based on, starred Alec Guinness.

"[The show is] quirky, completely off the wall excitement. There is a fantastic story with all heists and are they going to get away with it?" says Seed.

"You become very fond of all the characters because they are so stupid. It has got enormous charm and we have got a wonderful set too."

The Ladykillers runs in the Main House at Salisbury Playhouse from Tuesday, October 31 to Saturday, November 18. It is a co-production with New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch directed by New Wolsey Artistic Director Peter Rowe.

For tickets call 01722 320333 or go to salisburyplayhouse.com.