A TOURING show promises a hilarious and heartfelt look at the perils of modern life as the 21st Century need for speed hits the old ways head-on.

Badapple Theatre Company’s new comedy starts touring next month, and it is down to the audience to play its part.

The Last Station Keeper tells the tale of the station house at Honeypot Holt, which is under attack, and not just from the resident bees.

As the summer days drone on, the threat of closure creeps nearer and nearer as the new high-speed rail link threatens the bumbling ways of the station master and the railway cottage that has stood at the centre of the village for as long as anyone can remember. Will all the memories within those walls be lost to progress?

Thanks to Badapple’s resident writer, Kate Bramley, it will be up to those watching to vote to save or sacrifice the old Station House.

“Voting has been at the forefront of people’s minds this year, so no doubt some of the comedy will resonate,” said Bramley. “I came across an interesting article about a lady who is living like it’s the 1940s and has basically ripped out all the modern elements of her house to live a retro lifestyle. It started me thinking on what it means to renounce our high-speed society.”

The play, which stars Fiona Organ, features original songs and music written by Sony award-winning singer songwriter Jez Lowe, recently nominated for two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Venues on the tour include The Wilson Centre, Long Newton, near Stockton, on September 24, Kirkby Malzeard Mechanics Institute, near Ripon, on October 2, and Yarm Fellowship Hall on October 28.

Tickets, costing £9.50 and £5 for under-16s, are available from 01423-339168. For more information on tickets and venues, visit badappletheatre.com