Two actors who started their careers at the Priestley Centre are bringing one-man productions to its stage to help put the theatre on the map.

George Layton is staging An Audience With... in which he will read from his books The Fib and The Swap about his childhood in Bradford.

As a teenager George spent Saturday mornings at the Priestley's drama classes and says it "got me through adolescence".

"I started my acting career there - the Priestley kept me sane," he said.

George, who starred in television classics Minder and It Aint Half Hot Mum, was inspired to try to help the Little Germany theatre when he learned of its recent financial troubles through the Telegraph & Argus's Save the Priestley campaign.

"I was very sad to hear that it's been struggling. The Priestley was a big part of my life when I was young and I wanted to help," he said.

"I thought a book-reading would be ideal - I did some in London and they went down a storm."

Edward Petherbridge, who was born in West Bowling, was a student at the renowned Northern Theatre School, based at the Priestley, appearing in such productions as Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.

He went on to join the National Theatre, where he was appointed, along with Ian McKellen, by Sir Peter Hall as co-controller of one of five separate companies working within the National.

Earlier this year Edward brought his one-man show Defending Jeffrey...? to West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, and later this month he will bring it to the Priestley Centre.

The play is based on Jeffrey Archer's infamous court case and was inspired by Petherbridge's role as counsel for the defence in Archer's play The Accused.

Closer to home, poets and performers from a Bradford writers' group will stage a special one-off fundraising performance at the Priestley Centre tonight.

The show, called An Evening of Poetry, Prose and Music, is being organised by Interchange (Bradford Writers Network), which meets at the Priestley each week.

Interchange spokesman Lynette Shaw McKone said: "Some of the region's top performers, veterans of the local performance scene as well as talented newcomers, will be on stage in the Priestley's Studio Theatre.

"Unlike previous Interchange events, this will not be an open mic session."

Proceeds from a raffle drawn at the end of the evening will go to the Priestley Centre.

Doors open for the performance at 7.45pm and the event will start at 8pm. Tickets are £1.

Edward Petherbridge will perform Defending Jeffrey...? on November 23 and George Layton will An Audience With George Layton on December 9.

For tickets of all events ring (01274) 820666.