IN the year of the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, Pentabus has commissioned Each Slow Dusk, a new work for village halls written by Rory Mullarkey. The production, directed by Elizabeth Freestone, will tour to 25 village halls, theatres and arts centres all over the country this autumn, starting on October 14 in All Stretton village hall.

Playwright Rory Mullarkey immediately made an impact on the UK theatre scene with his debut full length play Cannibals in 2013. In the past year, he has won three prestigious awards for playwriting: the Harold Pinter Award, George Devine Award, and the James Tait Black Prize. He is currently under commission to write plays for the National Theatre and Headlong, and his new work The Wolf from the Door can currently be seen at the Royal Court Theatre. Each Slow Dusk is his first play written especially for village halls.

Focusing on people from rural communities, their experiences of the Great War and its legacy, Each Slow Dusk charts the experiences of three young men serving on the Western Front, linking their stories to a woman today, just home to her village after a tour of the battlefields.

Elizabeth Freestone is artistic director of Pentabus Theatre for whom she has directed Milked, In This Place, For Once, Blue Sky, This Same England, Stand Up Diggers All and The Hay Play. Other credits include The Rape of Lucrece for the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring Camille O’Sullivan, which toured internationally.

The cast includes Joanna Bacon, who has performed with the RSC and at the National Theatre, as well as appearing regularly in films and on TV, including a recurring role as Janet in BBC sitcom Him and Her. Joanna will be joined by Lee Rufford, whose experience includes extensive rural touring with Forest Forge Theatre Company and Paddy Consadine’s debut feature film Tyrannosaur. The set, which will transport audiences to the era of the First World War, is by award-winning designer Ellan Parry, whose credits include Fuel’s Electric Hotel as well as international commissions for theatre and opera.

Pentabus Director Elizabeth Freestone said: “Pentabus is committed to bringing the highest quality work to rural audiences. Rory Mullarkey is a serious talent and we’re thrilled he’s chosen to write a new play specifically for the village hall circuit.

Playwright Rory Mullarkey said: “It's so exciting to write for a company which brings bold work to intimate spaces right in the heart of communities across the country. It's allowed me to write something both local and national, epic and personal, and I can't wait to see how audiences respond."

Each Slow Dusk can be seen at Ledbury Market Theatre on Friday, October 24 at 8pm and at Leintwardine Community Centre on Saturday, October 25 at 7.30pm. For details of other tour dates, visit pentabus.co.uk or facebook.com/PentabusTheatre