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THERE was plenty of play-acting, amateur and professional, as stars of the stage took on local five-a-side football teams at Inverness Leisure on Wednesday night.

The true actors were cast members of the worldwide smash hit play The Barber Shop Chronicles which opened at Eden Court Theatre on Thursday.

Up against them in friendly action were three community groups invited along as part of Eden Court's audience development plan to encourage more men to attend the theatre.

They included Caley Thistle-backed Football Fans in Training, a team of 35-65 year-olds on a healthy living initiative, and two select sides from Sneckie Insomnia Soccer, which runs overnight football festivals to raise cash for childrens' hospices.

Amy Watt, Eden Court's engagement producer, said it went well and added: "The cast really enjoyed meeting people from the area and hopefully it will encourage men to come and see the piece. This is one of the ways we are trying to engage."

Lucy McGlennon, the theatre's head of engagement, said: "We want to present the very best work on our stages and, at the same time, challenge and diversify our audiences."

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