A PROVOCATIVE, award-winning play will take centre stage at a major theatrical festival opening in Darlington this week.

The politically-charged Ballad of the Burning Star will be performed on Saturday, October 4 as part of Jabberwocky Market, a festival bringing small-scale, world class theatre to the North-East.

The cabaret-themed production tells the story of an Israeli man brought up in a Jewish settlement in occupied Palestinian territory.

Staged by Theatre Ad Infinitum, the show has been welcomed by critics and recently won The Guardian’s Best of the Edinburgh Fringe award.

Nir Paldi, artistic director of Theatre Ad Infinitum, said: “What excites me the most about Ballad is that we’ve found a theatrical language which will let the audience experience the violence, the dark humour, the unpredictability, the love of a family, loss, laughter, and pain/heartache - things that are everyday norms in the Middle East.

“Some of the stories are based on things that happened to me, some of them are true stories that happened to other people, but with a slight dramatisation - a push to the extreme.”

The show will be performed at Polam Hall School’s Liddiard Theatre on Saturday, October 4 at 2pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets range from £7 to £9 and can be purchased online, at the Festival Hub in Darlington’s covered market or at the door.

Jabberwocky Market will be staged at venues across Darlington from Thursday, October 2 until Sunday, October 5.

For more information or to book tickets, visit jabberwockymarket.org.uk.