A NEW play will premiere in Blackburn this week.

YOLO, which stands for ‘you only live once’, by young writer Joel Barton, is being put on by Blackburn-based company Stage Door Theatre Productions.

The two-man play tells the story of a young man, called Harry, and his battle with life, love and loss.

The play follows Harry as he looks for answers and a way to cope with disease, and portrays the unlikely friendship he develops with his counsellor.

Producer and director Maryrose Swarbrick decided to stage the production after her daughter gave it rave reviews after seeing it at the Manchester fringe.

She contacted writer Joel Beavon, and he agreed to let her put the play on in Blackburn.

The script has since had some rewrites, and the world premier of YOLO in its newest incarnation will be tomorrow at Thwaites Empire Theatre.

The production stars Alan French, who has previously appeared on television in Coronation Street and Emmerdale, and Duncan Burt, who has just finished playing the lead in Little Shop of Horrors in Manchester.

Maryrose said: “The big thing is that everybody in it is northern.

“We want to give jobs to northern actors through our theatre company.

“I think the play is something every age group can enjoy. It makes the audiences laugh and cry, and the ending is a big surprise.”

The play will be shown on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week, at 7.30pm.

Tickets, costing £10, are available from thwaitesempiretheatre.co.uk, or by calling 01254 685500.

Maryrose is also offering 15 half-price tickets per show day to the first 15 people who call 07801 579657 after 10am, and give the code “QUOTE 001” .