NORTH Tawton's thespians are taking on their greatest challenge yet after being selected as one of 90 theatre groups across the UK to premier a new play by a top TV and theatre writer.

North Tawton ANTS (Actors of North Tawton Society) will be taking part in the biggest amateur dramatics festival in the UK — BT Biennial 2000 — which is a major celebration of community theatre.

On October 14, 'Sand Castles' by Bob Larbey will be premiered simultaneously in venues throughout the country and ANTS are thrilled to be part of this 'amazing project.'

They are one of four groups in Devon to be chosen from the applications which totalled 400 throughout the country.

Secretary of the group, Janine Warre, said it was quite a challenge performing a new play that nobody had ever seen before.

'We did have a conference with the author where we were given a synopsis of how the characters should be and anything we want to know along the way, we just have to ask,' she said.

'We are very pleased to be taking part for the first time.'

BT Biennial is now in its fifth cycle, having started life in 1989. It was originally designed to encourage amateur dramatic societies to perform new works and develop membership and audience.

Over the years, hundreds of groups have taken part from across the UK and the initiative has created a legacy of six new plays. ANTS has just embarked on several months of rehearsals in preparation for Biennial week which runs from October 14-21.

Bob Larbey, who co wrote 'The Good Life' with John Esmonde in 1976 and has also written numerous other smash hit sitcoms including 'A Fine Romance' and more recently 'As Time Goes By' starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, said of his new play: 'It's about chaos on a British beach and full of strong characters. I think the audience and cast will easily be able to identify with it and hopefully have a damn good laugh in the process.'

There will be a cast of 18 from ANTS performing the play in North Tawton Town Hall in October but this Sunday the whole society will be at Woolacombe Beach promoting the play and rehearsing, fellow beach people permitting.