Ladies Day - Photo: Andi Sapey

Four women take a step outside their normal lives in this lively comedy drama.

Pearl, Jan, Shelley, and Linda work together in a shellfish factory but decide to take a day at the race’s when Royal Ascot comes to York and mark Pearl’s final days on the job.

It’s an eventful trip, with several unexpected encounters, uncovered secrets, and all the excitement of a big gamble.

Amanda Whittington’s script doesn’t so much rely on a deus ex machina as a whole pantheon of deities, which is a shame as the core exploration of the four ladies lives has a lot to commend it.

Susanna Harding as Pearl peels back some hidden depths of her character, and there is a perfect awkwardness to Grace Pennington’s portrayal of shy girl Linda. Natasha Culley is a suitably flash Shelley but also brings out the tenderness under the brash exterior. The female cast is completed by Dawn Finnerty as Jan, perhaps the least roundly-written character, leading her to lean in the melodrama.

Donald Forbes is dealt a tricky hand performing all the male roles, aided by a selection of outfits and accents – some more convincing than others. While his Irish brogue wanders a bit during his portrayal of jockey Patrick, the energy he brings to his monologue is spot on.

The design is simple but well considered, allowing for some funny exchanges between the cast and stage crew during scene changes.

The cultural references – Tony Christie, a not-especially disguised John McCririck, a newly united Charles and Camilla – feel more like nostalgia than dramatic handicap, but it might leave younger audience members a little bemused.

But for those of us of more advancing years, it’s a enjoyable canter round days past, with some sensitive character portraits in between the melodramatic flutters.