Barrow Amateurs went to the local MFI store in 1994 to have their pictures taken.

PRODUCTION: Director Jane France with props sourced after an article in the Evening Mail for Barrow Amateurs 1997 production of Habeas Corpus

PRODUCTION: Director Jane France with props sourced after an article in the Evening Mail for Barrow Amateurs' 1997 production of Habeas Corpus

They were lent the store for the evening because they needed three kitchens in which to take publicity shots for their forthcoming production of Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular.

The comedy is about three couples who meet for drinks every Christmas. Each pair takes it in turn to host the event and the action always takes place in the kitchen.

The six protagonists are Sydney the shop owner and his wife Jane, played in 1994 by Bill Calvert and Beryl Dixon; Rodney the bank manager and his wife Marion, played by Kevin Kneale and Bridget Brice; and architect Geoffrey and his wife Eva, played by Kenny Smith and Kenny Shipley.

In 1997 Barrow Amateurs' director Jane France had good reason to be delighted with the power of the Evening Mail.

She badly needed some unusual props for the drama group's forthcoming show Habeas Corpus at Forum 28.

HISTORY: A publicity shot for Absurd Person Singular in 1994 taken in the MFI store

HISTORY: A publicity shot for Absurd Person Singular in 1994 taken in the MFI store

On her list were a swish stick that would have been used by someone in the Far East during the war, a pair of Jesus sandals size six or seven, a boxing helmet and a pith helmet.

After her team had tried trying many avenues, they contacted the Mail.

A reader in Coniston came up with a genuine swish stick which he had bought in Burma during the war.

The mother of society member Hazel Matanie read the story and said: "I've still got your old Jesus sandals."

Barrow's boxing coach Pat Ryan came up with two helmets and the pith helmet arrived from the costumiers.

"It's absolutely wonderful," said Jane.

ACT: Some of the cast of Me and My Girl in 1997

ACT: Some of the cast of Me and My Girl in 1997

"There was no way we could have got in touch with so many people other than through the Mail.

"Even Hazel's mother would never have known we needed the sandals if she hadn't read it in the paper.

"The props will add so much to the show."

Also in 1997 Barrow Amateurs presented Me and My Girl at Forum 28.