A powerhouse of talent lies at the heart of this new production, a tragi-comic tale of family ties.

Written by Carmel Morgan, creator of countless episodes of Coronation Street and Brookside, and directed by Kathy Burke, Smaller stars Dawn French and Alison Moyet as the disillusioned Clulow sisters, struggling to cope with their disabled mother and come to terms with their rotten life choices.

Dawn plays Bernice, a school teacher who, at work, is the life and soul of the staff room but at home could not be more miserable.

For 25 years she has devoted her life to looking after her demanding and domineering mother, a widow suffering from rheumatoid arthritis who is obsessed with the minutiae of life.

Bernice deals with the weeping leg ulcers, the piles, the incontinence and her mother's relentless questions, but is never thanked.

She receives nothing but abuse from her mother who prefers her other daughter Cath (Alison Moyet). She calls Cath her "breath of fresh air", despite the fact she is never around.

A revolving stage is cleverly designed to contrast the two sisters' lives: While Bernice carries the burden of responsibility, Cath lives in Spain, footloose and fancy-free - at least, that's how it appears to Bernice.

In reality, Cath's singing career is far from glamorous. Rather, she has ended up in Marbella, belting out karaoke classics to vomiting hen parties. It is an amusing and ironic discrepancy.

Following her mother's death, Cath flies home to find her sister full of resentment, repressed rage and bitterness. A dramatic showdown ensues.

Having been friends in real life since the Eighties, Dawn and Alison had been looking for the right project to work together on and Smaller is an ideal vehicle for their talents. The acid script provides ample comic opportunities for Dawn and it is an impressive showcase too for the former Yazoo singer, allowing her voice to shine.

A bonus for her fans, Alison has written three new songs for the play.

"One is funny and embittered," says Carmel, "one is just really gorgeous and one is more like a hymn."

It is the first time Alison has appeared on stage since her role in the musical, Chicago. "It has been an interesting experience so far," she says.

"I have felt elated and defeated all at once. I have also felt incredibly intimidated.

"It is odd to be doing something I have next to no experience in, after years of feeling sure-footed, but I am surrounded by strong, brilliant women (and men) who teach me so generously and do not allow me to cop out.

"I don't know what people may be expecting from this play," she continues.

"I am certain it will make you smile but it is not without its edges."

"We've known each other for such a long time," says Dawn of her friendship with Alison. "We've been through a lot of things together and sought each other's counsel on many an occasion.

"I have no worries about us playing sisters at all because it's as if we are sisters anyway."

Starts at 7.45pm (Sat mats 2.30pm). Tickets cost £18-£25. Call 08700 606650