CORONATION Street's Derek Wilton will return from the dead for a reunion with devoted screen wife Mavis in the premier production of Settle's Festival of Theatre.

Dithering Derek was last seen on the TV soap suffering a fatal heart attack, but next week he will be back in the land of the living treading the boards in Settle.

Stars Thelma Barlow (Mavis) and Peter Baldwin (Derek), will be performing in "All The World's A Stage" at the Victoria Hall on Sunday June 10 at 7.30pm.

The show, a compilation of theatrical extracts with some comedy and variety, is the first production organised by the newly formed Settle Festival of Theatre.

Miss Barlow told the Herald: "I am thrilled at this exciting new venture and pleased to be able to take part in this new production."

Director Martin Lewton hopes the festival will become as established as the acclaimed Grassington Festival, now in its 21st year.

He said: "We are planning to stage a two week festival of theatre next April and will be staging various events running up to it. All The World's A Stage is the first production.

"Thelma and Peter will be doing a little bit of Coronation Street because people tend to expect it and like to see it and also a bit of comedy and variety."

TV's Richard Whiteley launched the festival, of which he is honorary president.

He said: "I have fond memories of the Victoria Hall from the days when Russell Harty used to perform there and I am delighted to be associated with the festival."

Only professional actors and established touring companies will be invited to appear at the festival, which will focus mainly on drama but will also feature opera and dance.

Mr Lewton, of The Mains, Giggleswick, is a playwright and director and script consultant for the Royal Exchange and the West Yorkshire Playhouse. He has also worked as resident dramatist at the Nottingham Playhouse.

He said: "We want the festival to be professional theatre to complement the strong amateur tradition in the town.

"Part of the idea for staging a festival came from the Grassington Festival and the idea is that the main festival will be similar to Grassington but will be drama based rather than music.

"Now the Victoria Hall has been refurbished we have a venue and this is what has made the festival possible."

The idea for the festival came from community meetings held over the past year, titled A Great Future for Settle.

Volunteers have drawn up various proposals they believe would benefit the town, including plans for a sports hall, which could attract European funding.

The festival is the first project to get off the ground requiring relatively little funding.

Organisers hope to receive funding from Europe but are also appealing for patrons to support the festival.

Anyone able to support the event is asked to contact 01729 822058.

The next production will be One Fat Lady, a comedy about the perils of dieting, which will run at the Victoria Hall in July.

Tickets for All The World's A Stage are available at Settle's Tourist Information Centre, and cost £8.50 in the balcony, £7.50 in the stalls and £5.50 for children or students.

There will be discounts available for party or group bookings.