THE Castle Players – Barnard Castle’s well-known community theatre company – will stage RC Sheriff’s acclaimed First World War play Journey’s End over two nights this autumn.

Written in 1928, this intense, at times humorous and ultimately tragic drama is set in a dugout near the front line in France. As the young captain and his battalion await orders for the final push, the audience sees their reactions and the interplay between the men upon whom conditions in the trenches take their toll.

The play will be performed at The Witham in Barnard Castle on Friday, October 31, and Saturday, November 1.

In the summer, the group's novel approach to Romeo and Juliet attracted audiences of more than 2,500 to performances in the grounds of the Bowes Museum. Rehearsals are also under way for the annual small-scale winter show, this year a potted adaptation of The Thirty Nine Steps, which will tour village halls in January and February.

For its latest project, the company received funding from the BCC Performing Arts Fund, which helps amateur theatre companies develop in innovative ways.

Andrew Harrison, spokesman, said: “We saw this as a great opportunity to encourage new talent from within the group, as well as do something over and above our usual summer and winter shows.

"We have more than 100 regular members, and many more on our mailing lists and among our Friends' group, but of those, only three have ever directed our main summer show.

"We feel it is vitally important to invest in our talented members and encourage others to step forward to take the lead."

Once funding had been awarded, a small steering group was established to oversee the project and applications were invited from Castle Players’ members.

Steven Bainbridge, who played Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, submitted a proposal to direct Journey’s End, which was considered an apt choice for this anniversary year commemorating the start of the First World War.

His mentor during rehearsals is Jill Cole, who directed this year's open air Shakespeare and was the director for 17 plays with The Turrets Youth Theatre.

She said: “It is great pleasure to be working alongside Steven, who was in The Turrets for eight years from the age of ten. He is immensely capable and has a very strong cast of eight, who are all thoroughly enjoying rehearsals and rising to the challenge of acting in a serious play. He has some fantastic ideas and I think Journey’s End promises to be a very powerful production indeed."

Now in his twenties, Mr Bainbridge works for an accountancy firm in Newcastle and lives in Staindrop.

Tickets cost £8 or £6 concessions, available at The Witham or by calling 01833 631107 or from thewitham.org.uk. They are also on sale at The Old Well and NeST Gallery in Barnard Castle.