Letchworth's Settlement Players are showcasing two new one-act plays as part of their centenary celebrations.
The 100-year anniversary is particularly special for the Players after the Letchworth Settlement, home of their 'Little Theatre', was nearly forced to close in 2020 due to lack of funds during the pandemic.
These challenging times even inspired one of the plays, Fake or Fortune, which was specially commissioned for the occasion by the Players' own Claire Hogan.
Although Claire only started writing in lockdown, her work has already been shortlisted for the SKY Comedy and Birmingham Reps Comedy playwright competition.
Claire's play takes a light-hearted look at what could have happened if the community and funding had not been forthcoming, asking to what lengths will a dysfunctional group of actors go to save their performance venue?
The situation is looking dire until the appearance of a small rat graffitied on the wall of The Settlement. Is it a Banksy? Could this provide enough publicity for the arts centre to remain open?
Will the rat be the answer to their financial prayers or set off a spiral of events they can't control?
Describing the play, director Stephen Charles said: "It has the pathos and humour of Ian Hislop's A Bunch of Amateurs crossed with the misguided fundraising attempts of the Calendar Girls.
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"Not to mention standout performances from the ensemble cast. Even the Comet plays its part in the fast-moving plot!"
Fake or Fortune will run alongside Here Comes the Sun, written by another Settlement Players member Stuart Cocks.
In the play, it's 1968 - and in a small rural laboratory two scientists ponder their latest results when some unexpected visitors arrive.
Who are these visitors? What's so interesting about the results? The play will keep the audience on their toes as we find out what's going on at this unassuming backwater research facility.
The plays will take place at 8pm on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9 - celebrating theatre and the arts as they thrive against all odds.
Tickets are £5, and are available at http://settlement-players.co.uk/box-office/ or on the door.
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