SOAP stars are set to thrill the audiences this week as actors from Eastenders, The Bill, Emmerdale and Coronation Street join forces on the stage.The Civic Theatre in Chelmsford is showing Peter Whalley's thriller Dead of Night and the players include Christopher Ellison who fans will remember as DI Frank Burnside from the Bill.

SOAP stars are set to thrill the audiences this week as actors from Eastenders, The Bill, Emmerdale and Coronation Street join forces on the stage.

The Civic Theatre in Chelmsford is showing Peter Whalley's thriller Dead of Night and the players include Christopher Ellison who fans will remember as DI Frank Burnside from the Bill.

Ellison is no stranger to murder, mystery and suspense after his roles as a host of villainous hard-men and corrupt cops in dramas such as Minder and the Professionals.

Alongside him is Carol Harrison, who is probably most famous for her explosive storylines as Louise Raymond in EastEnders when she had an affair with her son-in-law, Grant Mitchell.

Also starring are Kevin Pallister, who was in Emmerdale and Clare McGlinn who appeared as Charlie Ramsden in Coronation Street.

And yesterday, Carol Harrison and Clare McGlinn took time out to go to Danbury Country Park to launch an Essex County Council campaign encouraging people to recycle cans.

Dead of Night, is at the Civic Theatre until Saturday and tickets are available from the box office on 01245 606505.