BADAPPLE Theatre’s brand new production The Thankful Village shows clearly what this Yorkshire-based company has learned, after spending a fruitful decade honing their skills in presenting original and inspirational theatre in a small-scale.

The impact of the First World War’s 100th anniversary has inevitably borne a number of lavish and much-acclaimed current theatrical productions, such as War Horse and Birdsong.

Now, Badapple is inspired by this same subject from a fresh and original viewpoint, tailored to suit smaller scale touring.

Away from the horrors and deathly din of the trenches, the women of a rural English community faced the prospect of being left behind, to cope as their menfolk march off to Flanders. Each one has a challenge to face producing resilience, humour, a sense of duty and whatever vestiges of hope a woman can muster.

As the years pass, and they wait anxiously for news of their loved ones far away, they cannot know that their village will end the war as one of a very few similar communities, for which fate has reserved a special place in history.

Established in 1998, Badapple specialise in inventive new comedy specifically designed for rural touring, with shows premiering at their Theatre On Your Doorstep network in its native North Yorkshire, and Teesside, before embarking on national tours.