The fourth book in the Blue Door series, which starts with The Swish of the Curtain, the classic story which inspired actors from Maggie Smith to Eileen Atkins

'I wanted to act before I read this book, and afterwards there was no stopping me' Maggie Smith

During the afternoon rehearsal Mr Chubb poked his nose round the door and called out, 'You'd better be good this evening. Mrs Potter-Smith has just rung up and booked three seats.' They groaned expressively.

'Is that woman still alive?' demanded Maddy.

The Blue Door Theatre Company has finally been launched in Fenchester, and if they can manage the money worries, the temperamental heating and the rumours spread by their old enemy Mrs Potter-Smith, the young crew might actually make it a success – success that seems assured when an unexpected helper arrives.

But is Lucky everything he seems – or is the brand-new Blue Door Theatre Company about to face its worst luck yet?

Pamela Brown (1924–1989) was a British writer, actor then television producer. She was just fourteen when she started writing her first book, and the town of Fenchester in the book is inspired by her home town of Colchester. During the Second World War, she went to live in Wales, so The Swish of the Curtain was not published until 1941, when she was sixteen. She used the earnings from the books to train at RADA, and became an actor and a producer of children's television programmes.