DENNIS Potter’s play, Blue Remembered Hills, is brought to life by the cast of Off Centre Theatre at The Savoy in Monmouth from this Thursday (June 8).

Producer of the play, Judith Rossiter, said: “This classic Dennis Potter tale is set in war-torn Britain.

“Blue Remembered Hills centres on a group of children playing in the hills and fields of the Forest of Dean in 1943. Their carefree antics and horseplay at first conceal the underlying insecurities and vindictiveness that pervade the relationships. The sad and sinister outcome destroys their innocence forever.

“Potter’s famous work was originally penned for television and was first broadcast in 1979. One of the famous features of the play, at the insistence of the writer, is that adults play all the roles of the children.

“Getting adults to perform as children wasn’t easy for director, Geoff Manning, but the actors have thrown themselves into it with gusto and have really got into the mindset of children during the second world war.

“The play is so important as it was set in the Dean by Potter, who was from the Forest and knew it so well. This is very much a local piece and the story will ring true for a lot of people. We’d particularly like to thank Hopewell Colliery and Clearwell Caves for their help and support.

“The first half of the evening will feature one of the Forest’s favourite entertainers, the poet and writer, Keith Morgan, who will present extracts from his poems, tales and anecdotes skilfully capturing the wit and passion of the Foresters.

The production will be staged over three nights at the Savoy Theatre, Monmouth at 7.30pm from Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 June. For more information about the group, visit www.offcentretheatre.org.uk

Tickets are available from the Savoy. “We anticipate over 100 people at each performance, so we recommend getting tickets in advance,” Judith added.