THE early years of the Second World War may have seemed an inappropriate time to stage a comedy about the ghosts of people recently dead, but Noel Coward was a shrewd man. When he wrote his great farce, Blithe Spirit, he reasoned that the story would be thoroughly heartless – “You can’t sympathise with any of them. If there was a heart it would be a sad story.” More than 80 years on, it still makes us laugh – catch a new production at Salisbury Playhouse to 25th October.

The title of the play is taken from Shelley’s poem To a Skylark, (“Hail to thee, blithe Spirit! / Bird thou never wert”). Coward’s principal ghost, Elvira, is certainly blithe as she ruthlessly (pun intended) upsets the relatively recent marriage of her former husband, novelist Charles Condomine, and his newish wife Ruth.

Searching for character inspiration for his next book, Charles and Ruth invite the eccentric Madame Arcati, to hold a seance at their home. Inadvertently conjuring up the ghost of his first wife Elvira, Madame Arcati lands Charles and Ruth in an unlikely love triangle where life and the afterlife collide.

This other-worldly comedy is brought to life by former National Theatre associate director, Anthony Banks and veteran designer, Terry Parsons. The cast is headed by Susan Wooldridge as the psychic, with Adam Jackson-Smith as Charles, Bridgette Amofah as Elvira, and Jenny Rainsford as Ruth.

Susan Wooldridge will always be remembered for her leading role in the acclaimed television series, Jewel in the Crown; her long CV also includes Tamara Drewe and Hope and Glory. Bridgette Amofah appears in the recently released Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Jenny Rainsford was Boo in Fleabag, and also appeared in Call The Midwife, Showtrial and Persuasion. Other parts are played by Michael Cusick, Gabriella Foley and Fiona Tong (EastEnders; Taggart; Silent Witness) as Mrs Bradman.

Anthony Banks has nicknamed the play “One Man Two Ghoulies!” He says the play is as fresh as ever: “It’s a complete treat to direct this timeless, provocative fable with such a razor-smart cast – and proof that ghosts never go out of date!”

This production will be touring nationally after its seasons at Salisbury and co-producer Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Rehearsal photographs by Eliza Naden