Northumberland-set chiller to show at Hexham

It tells of psychiatric nurse Ruth who gives up hospital work to take up the seemingly easy job of live-in carer for Angel who lives a rather eccentric existence with an elderly housekeeper in an isolated Northumberland house.

But cooped up indoors together, the three women begin to doubt each other when a threatening figure spotted lurking outside raises questions such as: is it a figment of a hysterical woman's imagination; an intruder; or even a previous master of the house?

As the question of who will be queen bee comes to the fore, the play's quirky sense of humour surfaces, although the creeping unease of the play echoes James's ambiguous ghost tale.

In writing it, Margaret, who is a senior lecturer on Newcastle University's creative writing MA course, was also inspired by the cult classic documentary Grey Gardens, made in 1975 and featuring the lives of an eccentric mother and daughter in a run-down New York mansion.

Queen Bee is presented by North East Theatre Consortium and stars Karen Traynor as Ruth; Rachel Donovan as Angel; and Joanna Holden as housekeeper Eusapia.

After opening at the Customs House (0191 454-1234) at 7.30pm tomorrow, with performances nightly until Saturday, and a Saturday matinee at 2pm; it goes to Leeds then Lancaster before heading back to the North East, to run at Northern Stage, Newcastle (0191 230-5151) from May 13-16 with a post-show discussion on May 14; Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham (01434 652-477) from May 18-19; and Darlington Arts Centre (01325 486-555) May 20-22.