NOEL Coward’s classic farce Blithe Spirit is revived as Clacton Amateur Dramatic Society return to the West Cliff Theatre stage next week.

The smash supernatural comedy hit of London and Broadway stages sees cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine re-married but haunted - quite literally - by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira.

Charles invites local clairvoyant and happy medium Madame Arcati to give a séance so he can learn some of the tricks of the trade for his new novel.

Unfortunately trouble lies ahead when his plan backfires and Elvira returns with an agenda all of her own.

Suddenly Charles has two wives to contend with and the fun and games begin.

As both worldly and unworldly personalities clash, Charles’ current wife Ruth is accidentally killed.

She passes over and joins Elvira in the afterlife, only for the two blithe spirits to haunt the hapless Charles for ever more.

The play was first aired in the West End in 1941, creating a new record for non-musical British plays of 1,997 performances.

It moved to Broadway later that year, running for 657 performances, before being adapted by Coward for the 1945 film starring Rex Harrison.

The CADS production stars Lisa Winterford as Ruth, Alex Bass as Charles, Rosie Meloy as Elvira, Fiona Heaton as Madame Arcati, Claire Townley as Enid, Shaun Potter as Dr Bradman and Rosemary Sturgiss as Mrs Bradman.

Blithe Spirit opens on Wednesday and runs until November 26, with shows at 7.30pm and a 2.30pm Saturday matinee.

Tickets are £10 (£9 opening night and matinee performances) from the box office on 01255 433344.