Players pleased to back nurse

Oldham amateur theatre company the Lyceum Players will perform two of Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads” this weekend for charity — and an auction for two works of art will boost the fund-raising.

Proceeds from the event will help to finance local nurse Alex Sager on a six-week research project into respiratory diseases in Nepal.

Alex is currently studying for her degree in nursing at Salford University and intends to use Nepal’s unique environment to study the impact of high altitude on breathing disorders.

The Lyceum, where Alex’s father Graham is a member, was determined to help her cause. Raffles have been organised for both nights and the much anticipated auction will be held on Saturday night.

“We are pleased to say that the two nights are a complete sell-out,” said Players’ vice-chairman Nigel Marland. “Indeed, they sold out within two days of going on sale.”

The auction will see two works by internationally-acclaimed artist Paul Taggart go under the hammer.

Paul, now based in the Scottish Highlands, has strong links with Oldham and 25 years ago did a much-admired series of paintings at Oldham Theatre Workshop.

Among Paul’s famous work was a commission for a portrait of the opera star Luciano Pavarotti.

The two sketches up for auction are estimated to be worth thousands of pounds.

One is a signed original and depicts a fight between Peter Pan and Captain Hook from a Theatre Workshop production in 1987.

The other, titled “Warm Spirit” is a limited-edition print from Paul’s series “Highland Gems.” The pieces are already popular with bidders.

Anyone keen to place a bid can contact Nigel Marland at marlandnigel@hotmail.co.uk