Police were called to the rehearsal for a new dark comedy play, after a passer-by mistook the action for a real incident.

Hastings-based theatre company It's Not Us were running through the script for Time Please when three police cars descended on the pub they were practicing in.

The play focuses on Keith Goodman, a 'wronged man' who has lost his wife, kids and house. A drunken Keith hatches a plan to share his plight with the world and so begins a night that sees ever-appeasing barman Steve and his feisty wife Cath in a lock-in like no other... a hostage situation.

Writer and performer Kate Tym, who plays Cath, told Broadway World: "The play is a bit shouty and sweary. It seems it was a bit too real. Someone passing called the police saying there was a 'woman in distress'."

Co-creator John Knowles, who plays Steve in the play, added: "Hats off to the police for a speedy response. Fortunately, there was no trouble afoot and police were greeted by three jolly thespians, albeit with one dressed in a fake bomb vest."

Garry Fox, who plays the unhinged Keith, concludes: "We're taking it as a testament to the realism of the play."

The cast were practicing ahead of a run at the Brighton Fringe Festival. Time Please will be staged at The Bee's Mouth pub in Hove from the 25th to 29th May, before moving on to Eastbourne and Islington.

Below is a short promotional film:

Find out more about the cast and play at time-please.co.uk