Beowulf: Warriors, trolls and dragons brought to life by South Devon Players

A classical 10th century epic poem with heroic warriors, legendary trolls and dragons is brought to life for the stage at Brixham Theatre next month and the new Royal Lyceum Theatre in Torquay in December.

Award-winning Brixham-based South Devon Players will present Beowulf, an action drama suitable for all ages and based around Saxon and Norse/Viking mythology.

A chieftains magnificent royal hall in Denmark is ravaged by a newly woken creature of the night, and Beowulf, a warrior hero, alongside his small band, travel to the hall to destroy the creature.

He is successful, although encountering two such creatures instead of only the one, before travelling back to his homeland, where war and strife between clans eventually lead to him being crowned king.

But there are other creatures that dwell in the dark places. An escaped slave stealing a golden cup, awakes the dragon, and Beowulf is called upon to defend the people once more...

Staged with drama, action and larger-than-life puppetry, as well as excerpts of the original poem, this is an all-new retelling of the drama.

With both regard for production costs and for the environment, the shows set, props and costumes are all created from recycled and salvaged materials, with no loss of quality in the production itself.

Similarly, the cast - drawn from Torbay and Plymouth - range in experience from those who have performed professionally for decades, to those who are completely new to performing but are seeking to launch their career as actors, with a wide range of ages and skills.

The show is created around the performing strengths of each actor.

The actors and crew for Beowulf have worked on the show since August, in and around their wider lives, jobs, studies, family commitments, creating the costumes and props mostly from recycled materials, choreographing the action scenes, as well as working on the technical logistics for touring this show including soundscapes and creature suits - and all on a budget of selling secondhand books to raise funds.

Now, with a show in the final stages of rehearsals, the case and crew are beyond excited to bring this ground-breaking show to the public at long last.

Laura Jury, who adapted the script from the original poems, has been an actor since 1996, and directing since 2000.

She is also one of four theatre directors nationally on Equity's directors and designers committee, which meets regularly to discuss and advise on best practice and improving theatre working conditions on a national basis.

Laura has an especial interest, born of experience, in championing regionally and rurally created theatre on a national scale. Laura breaks many stereotypes, as an autistic woman of colour in a professional leadership position.

The show - and theatre company - itself breaks down barriers for creatives.

Laura also founded the South Devon Players, a not-for-profit theatre company based in Brixham in 2005, and led it to national and international arts awards for previous shows.

The show is at Stoke Damerel Church, Plymouth, on November 4, Brixham Theatre on November 18 and 19, the Barnfield Theatre in Exeter on December 2 and the new Royal Lyceum Theatre in Torquay on December 9. For all dates and tickets, visit www.southdevonplayers.com