Imagine you are a struggling musician and one night you are offered a job in another band. You turn the job down, but the band go onto become one of the biggest acts in the world.

This is one of the true stories behind the play The 12 Inch Pianist, which opens at the Colour House Theatre next week as part of Abbeyfest.

The story revolves around Pete and Stuart, whose band, Agnostic Chocolate, breaks up after their lead singer dumps them to become one of the world's biggest pop stars.

Ten years later, Pete is a marketing executive with a tenuous grip on his sanity and Stuart is a socialist protest singer still living with his mum.

They now lead bitter and twisted lives, pretending to be happy with their lot.

The play has been written by Mark Stay, who won rave reviews for his play Me And My Monkey at last year's Abbeyfest.

"It's about a couple of musicians who get left behind when their colleague goes on to become on a par with the likes of Robbie Williams and Michael Jackson," Mark says.

And like a lot of good plays, there is an element of truth in the story.

"About 20 years ago a friend of mine was playing in a pub band and one night was approached by another musician who asked him to join his band," he remembers.

"He turned the offer down and has spent the past couple of decades kicking himself.

"The person who asked him to join his band was Paul Weller when he was putting The Jam together."

Along with friends who have turned down stardom, Mark has drawn on his own life as well.

"I'm approaching 30 now and starting to look back at all the opportunities I've missed out on and, if I had my time over again, which decisions would I make differently.

"It's also about ambition and wanting to come out on top. I used to be like that but I have mellowed since the birth of my daughter."

This is Mark's second Abbeyfest and this year the organisers asked him to put on a production.

"I had to ring round all the actors I know to see who was available and wanted to do it, before I thought about it.

"Someone I know is a fantastic musician and if he had turned it down, I doubt whether the show would have gone ahead."

For further details or to book tickets call the Abbeyfest box office on 020 8542 6644.

Gareth Foreman