A THEATRE group will mark 50 years of treading the boards with a special performance in the presence of their royal patron.

The Queen’s cousin HRH Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, will attend the musical Radio Times which is being staged by Theatre West Four on May 22.

He will meet the cast backstage after the show.

The Chiswick based company has members from all over West London who meet throughout the year for workshops, readings, rehearsals and productions.

Set in London’s Criterion Theatre during the blitz of 1941, Radio Times follows the ups and downs of the cast of Variety Bandwagon, a BBC light entertainment show broadcasting for the first time, live, to America.

With unrequited love, missing cast members and the disruption of the arrival of a Hollywood star, the show features the music of Noel Gay including classics such as Run Rabbit Run and Who’s Been Polishing the Sun.

It was originally devised by Gay’s grandson, Alex Armitage.

The group welcomes enthusiasts interested in performing, directing, producing, stage management and all aspects of theatre production.

The show runs from Tuesday May 20 to Saturday May 24, including a Saturday matinee

It takes place at Ealing’s Questors Theatre, Mattock Lane.

For tickets go to the website http://www.questors.org.uk/event.aspx?id=451

Or telephone the box office: 020 8567 5184

To join Theatre West Four go to http://www.theatrewestfour.co.uk