A local theatre troupe is ready to entertain residents and tourists alike with the opening of their spring season of comedies and thrillers.

Bermuda-based J.B. Productions is a theatre company that has been in existence for little over a year, although collectively the players have more than 20 years experience. The company had their debut in Dockyard last year in an effort to provide the West End with much needed entertainment.

And now, having snagged a contract with Canadian Pacific's Hamilton Princess Hotel, J.B. Productions will be filling the gap at the Gazebo Lounge following Jabulani's closure last year.

Co-producer Ian Birch said the group was looking forward to the new season and new venue.

"This is a big break for us, and we're delighted... We set up on our own because we felt there is a place for live theatre in Bermuda,'' he said.

This season's plays are a combination of the old and the new, the comedic and the thrilling.

The first play of the season, "Wrong For Each Other'', starring Helen Coffey and relative newcomer Nick Moore, received very good reviews when it opened in Dockyard last year.

The second play, "Marriage Is Murder'' starring Helen Coffey and Philip Jones, is a comedy about two murder-mystery writers -- married, divorced, and on the verge of getting back together -- who act out the plots of their books on each other.

Theatre veteran Carol Birch will be directing three of the four plays. Keith Madeiros, perhaps best known for directing "Little Shop Horrors'', will be taking a second crack by directing "Month of Sundays''.

"Month of Sundays is a humourous look at life in an upscale retirement home.

It revolves around a sarcastic and high-witted elderly gentleman played by Richard Fell, who's also no stranger to theatre in Bermuda,'' said Mr.

Madeiros.

"It looks at this man's life in the nursing home and how he copes with age and people around him aging,'' he added.

The fourth play, entitled "Woman in Black'' is a Gothic ghost thriller starring Brian Webb -- a well-known member of the arts community who is currently working on the Bermuda Festival.

"Wrong For Each Other'' will play January 28 to 30, February 4 to 6, March 31, April 1 and 3.

"Marriage Is Murder'' will play February 11 to 13, February 18 to 20, February 25 to 27, April 7 to 10, April 14 to 17 and May 26 to 29.

"Month of Sundays'' will play March 4 to 6, March 11 to 13, April 21 to 24, April 28 to 30 and May 1.

And "Woman in Black'' will play March 18 to 20, March 25 to 27, May 5 to 8, May 12 to 15, May 19 to 22.

Dinner and theatre tickets are $60, theatre tickets only are $25. Doors open at the Gazebo Lounge at 8.30 p.m. and show time is at 9 p.m.