REHEARSALS are well underway for Tissue with tickets now on sale.

The play, which is directed by Salisbury actor and director Dan Avery, is being staged at Studio Theatre and is raising funds for the Stars Appeal Breast Cancer Campaign.

Based on a woman who has breast cancer, the production will open on May 2 with a black tie gala night.

Dan, who also works as a nursing assistant at Salisbury Hospital, said: “The rehearsals in London are going extremely well, Tissue is taking great shape.

“While there are some extremely poignant and quite solemn scenes, the play is a very energetic, visual feast with moments that will make you laugh out loud.

“The important thing is the resilience of the human spirit - the strength that comes from smiling through bad times.

“We will hopefully bring a better understanding of how women cope with breast cancer. The dedicated breast care unit at the hospital will help people so they don’t have to go through what our protagonist, Sally, does in the play.

“All the actors are extremely talented and are undergoing a journey of discovery, finding out exactly what it’s like to be in that situation and how clinical staff work and cope.”

Dan, who has just been named as the male lead in a production of The Seagull at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall in June, is thrilled with the the support he has received for the play.

He said: “We’ve had some wonderful donations for the opening gala night silent auction, which Salisbury Mayor Jo Broom is attending, from expensive jewellery to spa and massage vouchers along with tickets to the City Hall and Playhouse and various other wonderful things.

“It’s been amazing the support we have received for this.”

Tissue will be on stage at Studio Theatre in Ashley Road from May 3 to 9 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 with a special gala night on May 2 which will be £20 and will include a champagne reception and the silent auction.

For tickets visit ticketsource.co.uk/tissue or collect tickets from Moore Stephens on the Salisbury Business Park or call 01722 335182.

n The Stars Appeal campaign, which is backed by the Journal aims to raise £750,000 for a dedicated Breast Unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

The unit will enable the hospital to offer faster diagnosis and treatment for patients, with same day diagnosis and state-of-the-art equipment along with purpose-built waiting, diagnostic and treatment rooms, and counselling rooms for women who have just been told they have cancer.