THE prestigious National Theatre Connections (NTC) is coming to Okehampton on March 16 with a cast featuring many past and present students from Okehampton College.

They will be performing the exhilarating drama ‘Basset’ by James Graham at the Octagon Theatre, Okehampton College at 7pm on Wednesday, March 16.

There will be additional performances at 7pm on March 17 at Throwleigh Village Hall and again at Chagford’s Jubilee Hall on Friday, March 18. The production moves to the Drum Theatre, Plymouth Theatre Royal on Tuesday, April 19.

The National Theatre launched its Connections programme 21 years ago to provide young people, schools and youth theatre groups with high quality, new, relevant plays. ‘Basset‘ is set in Wootton Basset, the town which came under a national spotlight in recent years as increasing numbers of fallen soldiers were repatriated there from war zones. It will be performed by Chagford Youth Theatre Group, whose members come from Throwleigh, Chagford, Drewsteignton and South Tawton.

Under the local direction of Jo and Paul Diffey, the 14 local young actors will convey the story of a class of students and the simmering tensions that arise when they are prevented from attending the repatriation of a former student.

Jo and Paul praised the hard work of the young cast, who are all aged 14 to 19. They said: ‘This is a very different type of acting for them. Some have not performed publicly before and they have done really well in bringing their characters and tensions to life so vividly.’

The play contains some dark humour, strong language and some scenes of violent behaviour, though on a level below some of Shakespeare’s violent plays. The minimum suggested age for seeing the play is 12 years.

The directors and producers expressed thanks to West Devon Borough Councillor James McInnes for his support via the locality fund for this project, together with the Globe Inn at Chagford and the Barefoot Barns, which have generously provided rehearsal space.

More information and tickets can be obtained from Kate Wilson at [email protected] or www.theatreroyal.co.uk