There’s an old theatrical saying to wish folk good luck - ‘break a leg’.

However, Chester playwright Gail Young decided to go one stage further and break a hip in the rehearsal room. The nasty accident could have resulted in the two shows she was directing having to be cancelled.

Luckily for Gail, various colleagues stepped up to the plate to keep both the November show for Guilden Sutton Players on track and also her latest full length play Bothered and Bewildered which is being premiered by Tip Top Productions at the Forum Studio Theatre from October 14-18.

Bothered and Bewildered is a comedy drama about life, love, and loss.

As the audience watch Irene and her family struggle to come to terms with her Alzheimer’s, Irene’s past passion for romantic fiction blurs with reality and she discusses with her unseen companion Barbara Cartland (Irene’s favourite and now deceased world famous romantic novelist) how best to write her ‘memory book’.

This is a very poignant comedy drama about what some experts describe as ‘the long goodbye’.

As with her internationally acclaimed hit play Cheshire Cats, the premiere of Bothered and Bewildered is being staged as a fundraiser for a very good cause.

Cheshire Cats initially raised a considerable amount of money for the breast cancer unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The Walk the Walk charity and other performing groups across the UK and the world have since gone on to use the play as an effective fundraising platform for breast cancer and other cancer related charities.

Proceeds from the premiere of Bothered and Bewildered will be used to support the wellbeing of patients with dementia at both The Countess of Chester Hospital and Ellesmere Port Hospital.

The hospital’s charity exists to provide enhanced facilities and additional pieces of equipment that are over and above core NHS provision to ensure every patient’s stay in hospital is as comfortable as possible.

Head of fundraising at the Countess, Janet Ratcliffe, said: “We are delighted that Gail has once again decided to support our charity in this way. I went to the first play reading a few months ago and was really moved by this comedy drama and the characters that Gail has created.

“We have already had a great deal of interest in tickets and I would urge people to book early to avoid disappointment.”

Tickets are on sale now from Tip Top Productions. Ring the box office on 01244 341296,or order online at www.tiptopproductions.co.uk .