A NIGHT-TIME taxi ride through Merseyside is about to take centre stage in a new comedy production.

Night Collar, a revived stage comedy by former cabbies Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power, will run at St Helens Theatre Royal from Friday, 26 September to Sunday, 5 October 2025.

Set on Christmas Eve, the play follows a cabbie on the late shift as he picks up a series of unusual passengers across Merseyside, including a naked stag party reveller, an Elvis impersonator, a quarrelling couple, and a Santa Claus with digestive troubles.

John May stars as the taxi driver(Image: Supplied)

Chantelle Joseph, manager and director at St Helens Theatre Royal, said: "We've been having a lot of fun bringing Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power's story to life in the rehearsal room and now I can't wait to see it on the Theatre Royal stage.

"It's a rollercoaster ride, but there are also some heart-warming and unexpectedly poignant moments too.

"Although very sadly Tony Furlong passed away 11 years ago, his work lives on, and I'm absolutely thrilled we're able to present this new and updated version of what is a brilliant and popular comedy to our audiences at St Helens this autumn."

John May stars as the taxi driver at the heart of the story.

He is joined by Emma Grace Arends, Jenna Sian O'Hara, John O'Gorman, and Sam Jones-Arthur.

Mr May is well known for his comedy characters Turkey Teeth, Kenny and Karen Corona, and Derek.

His screen credits include Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Time, and Little Boy Blue.

Earlier this summer, Mr May appeared as Wayne in The Legend of Rooney's Ring at Liverpool's Royal Court.

Ms Arends' stage work includes The Duchess of Malfi, The Scouse Jack and the Beanstalk, and Twopence to Cross the Mersey.

She also performs in Peppa Pig's Big Surprise and recently appeared alongside Mr May in The Legend of Rooney's Ring.

Jenna Sian O'Hara is familiar to Theatre Royal audiences, having played Sue in Rita, Sue and Bob Too!

She will return to the St Helens stage as Tommi the cat in Dick Whittington this Christmas.

John O'Gorman, who began his career at Everyman Youth Theatre, is best known for his role as Michael 'Tommo' Tomlinson in Brookside.

His other credits include Coronation Street and Peaky Blinders.

Sam Jones-Arthur is a Liverpool-based actor and writer whose recent stage work includes California Dreaming and Someone You Love.

He is the founder of SevenBlu3, a production company focused on developing original material for stage and screen.

Night Collar will be directed by Chantelle Joseph.

Regal Entertainments previously staged the comedy at St Helens Theatre Royal in 2010 and 2011.

Performances begin at 7.30pm on Thursdays and Fridays, with shows at 3pm and 8pm on Saturdays, and 6pm on Sundays.

Tickets are priced at £24.50, which includes a £1 per seat booking fee.

Online bookings will incur an additional 50p per seat processing fee.