South Devon, 2001. As disease ravages the countryside, local dairy vet Jeff arrives with a dire warning for his friend Michael, a widowed farmer.

Michael must make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve all that he holds dear. As he barricades his farm and home against a tide of devastation only Jeff can clear a way through the falling ash.

Set against the backdrop of the Foot and Mouth pandemic, And Then Come The Nightjars charts the struggle of one farm amidst a crisis that saw the slaughter of 4 million animals and the postponement of a General Election. Bea Roberts’ play is a story of enduring friendship and a requiem for rural England.

And Then Come The Nightjars was selected from over 1,600 entries as joint winner of the inaugural Theatre503 Playwriting Award and will be a co-production with Bristol Old Vic. Artistic Director Paul Robinson has directed numerous award-winning productions for Theatre503 including Land of Our Fathers and A Handful of Stars.

2-26 September