JOHN Godber and Jane Thornton’s play, Shakers, is an ideal choice for Sale Nomads because, not only does the small cast fit neatly into the confined space of their clubhouse but it gives each of the four main actors a chance to shine.

Combined with excerpts from Bouncers by John Godber, it becomes a riot!

It’s a challenge because each thespian performs a main character and numerous small parts both male and female.

Their use of mime is spectacularly good.

The main characters are waitresses with very different personalities working in Shakers, a cocktail bar in the 1980s. Rachel Vose’s Carol is well educated but would like to marry and have a family.

Kathleen Valentine characterises Adele. She speaks lightly about her first affair when she was 16. There could be nothing wrong because he was a teacher!

Nikki (Sandie Cowle) is a would be actor who goes to pieces at auditions.

At one audition, she gives a heart-rending account of her granny’s stroke – the only serious moment in an otherwise comical show Jenny Hollinshead is Mel. She comes out with some amusing one liners.

All four of these parts are peripheral to a variety of other roles taken on by the girls. We see them trying on too tight clothes in a Department Store and preparing to go to a party in a truly feminine way.

They also replicate customers in the Red Lion. In the darts scene they even capture the gate of the players.

Three of them do well when playing TV producers and Sandie Cowle’s performance as their waitress is pure humour.

But the play is not completely dominated by girls. For outside the nightclub are the Bouncers – four tough blokes with their minds on one thing.

Ross Douglas as Eric, Ian Moore as Les, Howard Anson as Ralph and Stuart Harding as Judd deservedly receive full-blooded guffaws from the audience especially when they fake a porn movie.

Brilliant acting by all eight and brilliant direction by Anna Sillitoe.

Shakers is at the Nomads clubhouse, Friars Road, Sale until Saturday, April 1. For tickets, telephone 0161 969 5140. Star rating: * * * *