ONE man's love affair with Liverpool Football Club will be captured in a hilarious play which is coming to the Island.

Beating Berlusconi! is based on the true story of Mark Radley, a 29 year old cobbler from Liverpool, who unexpectedly ended up sitting next to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the AC Milan director's box at the Champions League Final in 2005.

When Liverpool's unlikely equaliser hit the net Mark was unable to suppress his feelings and his Italian host turned nasty.

The two men squared up to each other before Mark was hauled off by Berlusconi's security guards into the Liverpool VIP area – after they mistakenly identified him as a Liverpool VIP. 

The play was written by BBC Radio 4 writer and former Hollyoaks star John Graham Davies and stars actor Paul Duckworth, Ringo in Backbeat, who takes on all 40 characters – including the ghost of Bill Shankley.

Beating Berlusconi! is one man's attempt to rediscover his belief in himself, his club and his city. Using the fortunes of Liverpool Football Club as a metaphor for broader concerns the comedy examines love, identity and friendship.

The play has had excellent reviews including this one from the Liverpool Echo: "You don't have to love football to love this play - but you do have to love Liverpool.

"On the surface the play is about the Reds' momentous final with AC Milan but writer John Graham Davies weaves in events including the Toxteth riots, Hillsborough and Heysel. It's not a play about football, it's a play about the heart of a city and how and why it beats."   

Beating Berlusconi! is on at the Palace Hotel and Casino on Saturday, March 5, at 8pm.

Tickets cost £10 and are on a strictly first come first served basis. For further information contact Keith Salmon on 07624 463327.