North Norfolk drama group Stage Direct has emerged from two previous mergers and is planning new productions at Wells and Sheringham.

Stage Direct was established by Derek and Val Bull in 1997, with a view to offering actors and audiences something off the beaten track.

It kicked off in 1998 with a production of Dennis Potter's controversial TV play Brimstone and Treacle which received high praise from both audiences and reviewers.

The merging of Stage Direct with Cromer-based Crowsmere Community Drama Group brought a lot of talent under one roof for the production of plays such as Steaming, Habeas Corpus, Entertaining Mr. Sloane and Abigail's Party as well as numerous plays by Alan Ayckbourn.

In 2003 a mutually beneficial merger with Sheringham Players meant that the new, larger group nurtured several directors, a wealth of artistic talent and adequate funds for the numerous and varied plays which they have produced at Sheringham Little Theatre since then.

Now, seven years later, there has been an amicable parting of the ways and Stage Direct is once again standing alone. The company is currently rehearsing three of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads monologues, which they will be performing in October at The Granary Theatre, Wells.

A Chip in the Sugar features the repressed and vulnerable Graham, whose relationship with his mother is both vital and destructive.

Susan struggles with alcoholism, while her neighbours turn a blind – and disapproving – eye. She eventually finds comfort in the bed of an Asian shopkeeper, while wannabe actress, Lesley, will do anything to further her career.

Stage Direct will be performing Talking Heads at The Granary Theatre, Wells, on October 16 and 17 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost �5 each and are available from the box office – 01328 710193.

Stage Direct will also be staging a production at Sheringham Little Theatre next May.