Members of Shenley Drama Club are celebrating a recent surge in membership by putting on a number of new performances this year.

The group recently faced closure owing to a lack of actors, but a recruitment drive over the last few weeks has got numbers back up.

However, women are still under-represented and with auditions for the upcoming production having already started, the acting company are urging people to come and support them.

Nathalie Lewis, a member of the club, said: "We recently had a huge influx of new members, which is fantastic, but we still haven't got enough women.

"We also need a bank of people who are happy not to act but be part of the process, helping with the props and rehearsals."

Beating the Blues, which is set in an old people's home, will be staged in September. Rehearsals will be on Monday at 7.30pm, in Shenley Village Hall, in London Road.

The club is also inviting writers to submit short plays on the theme of the seven deadly sins. Entries should be under 10 minutes long, and feature two or three characters.

To submit a piece send it to shenleydramagroup@ hotmail.com or bring a copy to the meetings, which are held every Monday between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, at Shenley Village Hall. To be considered, scripts must arrive before September.