A DARK comedy performed by award-winning actors will take to the stage at the University of Chester this week.

Oysters, a play about Johannes Brahms by Neil Salvage, will be performed at the Kingsway campus on Thursday, January 24, at 8pm.

It features award-winning actors Nicholas Collett, Neil Salvage and Kate Stafford, and violinist Eleanor Ryan of the Hallé Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic.

Johannes Brahms is attending a party to celebrate the first performance of his violin concerto – but his genius is overshadowed by his self-destructive ego.

His friends are all there, but everyone is caught in a seething cauldron of passionate recriminations – and darkly hilarious outcomes.

Everyone has their own agenda - the arthritic, embittered and ageing Clara Schumann from his past: jealous, unstable virtuoso Josef Joachim; pompous and waspish critic Hanslick - and gentle friend and disciple Von Herzogenberg.

As the evening progresses and emotions turn on a sixpence, the play moves to its extraordinary conclusion fuelled by turbulent feelings and farcical misunderstandings.

Actor/writer Neil Salvage is a veteran of over 160 productions, working with famous names Antonio Banderas, Liam Neeson, Jim Broadbent and others.

Actor/producer Nicholas Collett has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in London’s West End, while actor Kate Stafford trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has worked in film, theatre and TV.

Eleanor Ryan is originally from Wellington, New Zealand and has regularly worked with many top UK ensembles including the Hallé Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and Northern Sinfonia.

Amy Bonsall lives in Chester. She has been a theatre director over 15 years and her work has been seen around the world.

Oysters is scheduled to run for 65 minutes. Tickets are priced £10, £5 concessions. To book, visit storefront.chester.ac.uk or pay on the door.