A NEW theatre group has been launched ahead of the Darlington Arts Festival.

The No Name Theatre Company will be launching their first show Communication Breakdown at the end of the month.

Formed by Angela Pickering, Lesley Blundell and Sandra Spears, the collaboration has resulted in three plays dealing with the way different generations ‘communicate’ with each other.

Ms Blundell said: “It (the idea) came out of one of our writing classes when the task was about putting insertions into our writing other than prose. One of the classes was devoted to texting.”

As part of the writing session, they were asked to write something in ‘text speak’ which reduces words and phrases into letters, capitals, and numbers.

She said: “We were reading out our bits. Well, we got the giggles something rotten and we laughed so much we said, wouldn’t it be good to just try and do a piece? We should make it about communication and about how people communicate.”

The first of the three plays is ‘Text Lessons’ – explores the trials and tribulations faced by two teenage girls growing up today.

Ms Spears said: “They swear a lot and do things they shouldn’t. They have invented a text language of their own and it’s translated for the audience by an interpreter. An example of this unique text speak is – YOM? Y? HOWD HENO WUWE? which translates to ‘Your old man? Why? How did he know where you where?’”

The second instalment –‘Let Sleeping Dogs Lie’ – is about three 60-year-old men. Mick, who is happily married or thought he was. Larry who is a bit dull and just plods along. Lightbulb, who thinks he is God’s gift.’

Ms Spears added: “They are trying to re-live what they never had. They say they are going to do it, but blokes they never do really.”

She gave a little hint that all is not what it seems with Mick, Larry, and Lightbulb.

Finally, in ‘Waiting Game,’ three old ladies are living in a care home. They have ended up there for completely different reasons.

Ms Pickering said: “The character of Rosa has had a difficult life. Abused as a child she ran away and fell into a life of prostitution. She has had a child taken away from her and has ended up in the home because she is losing her memory.”

Communication Breakdown is being performed in The Elm Tree Room at the Friends Meeting House on May 31 at 7pm.

Tickets are £3 on the door or to book in advance email – nonametheatre9@gmail.com or call 07941213155 or 07880 801261. The event is unsuitable for under 16s.