THEATRE-GOERS have been enjoying traditional seaside repertory entertainment in Swanage this month.

The 400-seat Mowlem Theatre, which last hosted rep theatre in the mid-1990s, is running a series of plays over several weeks performed by one company of actors starting with Yes, Prime Minister swiftly followed by The Secret Garden.

Bringing the season to a close is the final play, The Games Afoot - a Sherlock Holmes-style comedy thriller by Ken Ludwig which starts tomorrow night.

Actor Marcus Patrick said: “At the end of the day you have got three plays to learn and you’re not only learning your own dialogue, you have to really know and understand all three.

“When you get three plays like that, it is quite daunting because it is such a mass of work.

“I divide up pages per day. It all just slowly goes in, well that is what I’m hoping anyway.”

Described as “a good old traditional whodunnit with a generous dose of hilarity” this plays was also the winner of the 2012 Edgar Award for Best Play from the Mystery Writers of America.

The Games Afoot runs until Tuesday, August 29.

Tickets can be purchased online at swanagerep.com or are available from the Mowlem Theatre box office in person or on 01929 422239. Tickets start from £8.