Theatre company OVO has phoned a friend to ensure total authenticity in its forthcoming production of The Ladykillers.

The play, based on the much loved 1950s Ealing comedy, tells the story of a criminal gang posing as a string quintet whilst planning a heist in the home of a sweet but oblivious old lady.

Director, Adam Nichols, explained: “The phone box is critical to the success of the dastardly mob’s robbery plans and we wanted to bring this important plot element to the stage. However, red phone boxes are sadly close to extinction and we struggled to find an iconic K6 kiosk in the local area.

“Having scoured St Albans for a fully operational K6 in good condition, we were delighted to find a perfect specimen preserved for posterity in the St Albans Museum. We’re very grateful for their help in ensuring we can achieve historical accuracy in the production.”

The Ladykillers is being performed at 8pm from March 13 to 15 and from March 19 to 22 at the Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans. Tickets can be purchased in person from St Albans Tourist Information Centre, online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo or by telephone on 0333 666 3366.