JUST like that elusive bus you’ve been waiting for… nothing arrives at the stop for ages and then along come two - usually together!

That’s about to happen at Malvern shortly with the arrival of two comedies from the excellent and usually reliable pen of playwright Alan Ayckbourn.

Appearing at one of the town’s lesser known stage venues is his considerably dark Neighbourhood Watch, which will be running for two nights only at The Coach House Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16 and 17, while the comical chaos that is Round and Round the Garden will be just around the corner that same week at Malvern’s Festival Theatre when it opens a for a five-night run from the Tuesday through to Saturday, February 20.

Neighbourhood Watch, which is Ayckbourn’s 75th play, is being brought to the county by the Huddersfield-based company, Dick and Lottie. It’s a cautionary tale of an innocent mistake on an estate leading to an alarming escalation of events as the residents of Bluebell Hill Development take extreme measures to protect themselves.

Brother and sister, Martin and Hilda Massie, live together, leading a quiet, Christian existence in the confines of the Bluebell Hill Development. Just as they are preparing for a housewarming gathering, their peace is shattered by a young trespasser in their garden.

The Massies' neighbours congregate in their living room and together they agree to form a neighbourhood watch group to safeguard against further incidents. But after the Massies' beloved garden gnome - Monty, is thrown through their window, matters swiftly escalate, complicated by Martin's burgeoning romance with Amy, wife of Gareth, who was formerly involved with Luther, husband of Magda…

What begins as a well-intentioned scheme for a safer community ends in violence and acrimony - it will also see Monty, who featured in Ayckbourn's original production at the Stephen Joseph Theatre and then went on tour around the country. He even crossed the Atlantic to appear off Broadway.

Dick and Lottie, was formed by John Cotgrave and Richard McArtney in 2004 to perform Ayckbourn’s works and all their productions are premiered at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield.

Over the last 11 years they have established a company of actors who have performed, on average, three Ayckbourn plays each year. They have developed a wide audience base, have won considerable praise from Ayckbourn himself, and usually attract full capacity at each production.

John Cotrgrave says: “I bought Monty last May from the SJT with the intention of staging Neighbourhood Watch and letting him once again have his 15 minutes of fame”.

So all seven-foot of him will be back on stage at The Coach House.

Round and Round the Garden at the Festival is from Ayckbourn’s The Norman Conquests and features Norman, his in-laws and the local vet over one summer weekend in a Sussex country house.

It’s a cautionary tale which addresses modern hang-ups such as law and order, health and safety and is being presented by talking Scarlet and Jordan Productions.

Assistant librarian Norman is intent on making all the women in his life happy - simultaneously attempting to seduce his sister-in-law Annie, charm his brother’s wife Sarah and still keep his own wife, Ruth, happy.

Oblivious to the repercussions of his actions, he leaves a trail of havoc, misunderstandings and comedy consequences.

At times wildly comic with hints of poignancy, Round And Round The Garden brilliantly portrays the complicated relationships amongst these six intertwined characters. Whatever happened to a peaceful weekend in the country?

This award-winning play expertly highlights Ayckbourn’s sharp, acerbic wit to reveal the secrets, lies and deception which simmer beneath the surface of family relationships.

This production will star Natasha Gray (Emmerdale) and Kevin Pallister (Emmerdale).

Tickets are on sale at the Box Office 01684 892277 and on-line at malvern-theatres.co.uk.