A SUITCASE left behind by George Harrison after The Beatles played in Wirral more than 40 years ago is the subject of a new play which premieres this week.

Featuring the late Liverpool-born singer's words and music, Hand In Hand Theatre Production's latest work will be staged as part of a double-bill at the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight on Thursday, September 17.

It is a fictional account of what may have happened to the suitcase if it had been discovered and passed from hand to hand, with a story all of its own. Just suppose the magic and spirit of George was in that case and influenced the lives of the people it touched.

The play is neither biographical nor a musical, but contains excerpts from the singer's catalogue which are performed live.

The Fab Four appeared at the Irby Village Hall on September 7, 1962.

It was one of Ringo Starr's first appearances with the band and a month before their first hit Love Me Do.

Afterwards, the case was found by Jim Irlam, who was tidying the small room they had stored their belongings in and noticed a suitcase marked GH Speke.

Speke is the area of Liverpool that George lived in.

Jim phoned their manager Brian Epstein’s office the next day and was told someone would collect it from the hall. But no one ever did and Jim took it home and retained it for over 40 years. It was sold at auction and is now part of the Merseybeat museum at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton.

The play was based on an idea by Birkenhead-born writer and performer John Gorman, who brought together seven local writers, each of whom penned a short vignette.

Hand-in-Hand Productions' award-winning Remembrance Day will also be staged at the venue on the same night.

The performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets are from the box office 0151 643 8757, gladstonetheatre.org.uk or www.handinhandtheatreproductions.co.uk for further details.