THE Moscow theatre siege of 2002 shocked the world.

Chechen militants stormed the theatre and took 850 people, including many children, hostage. Images were beamed around the globe as a 57-hour stand-off ended when special forces officers entered the building, with 117 people losing their lives.

Not the most promising premise for a play, you could be forgiven for thinking.

But Company of Angels is not a theatre group that shies away from challenging subject matter – the last production they brought to Salisbury Playhouse was Anne and Zef, in which Anne Frank interacted with a fictional teenage victim of a blood feud in Albania.

And Adam Barnard, the director of Nordost – named after the musical the siege audience was watching before the theatre was invaded – says the subject matter should not put people off watching it.

“People might think it sounds very miserable and that they don’t want to see it,” he said. “But rather than being heavy it is very beautiful and life-affirming.”

The play shows how events unfolded through the eyes of three very different women, one a hostage, one a doctor who is outside the building not at first realising that her child is inside, and the third a young Chechen suicide bomber whose belief is that she is fighting for the freedom of her people and that no one is going to be killed.

“It is about a terrible situation but what motivates the characters is love,” says Barnard.

The three main characters are played by professional actresses Emily Bowker, Nia Davies and Ellie Turner but a silent chorus is made up of two groups of six members of the Playhouse youth company Stage ’65, aged from nine to 17.

“They are just fantastic,” says Barnard.

“The first thing I asked them when we met was how much they knew about the siege and most of them didn’t know anything.

“Some of them weren’t even born. But they have been fascinated by it and I do think it is important for young people to be involved in something like this and to see it and learn about it. There is a lot of work in theatre that can patronise young people and we want to challenge that.

“Having them involved has really enriched the piece. There is something quite beautiful about seeing them in this show. It makes it very poignant.”

Torsten Buchsteiner’s Nordost has been translated into 14 languages and performed in 16 European countries. The play is at Salberg Studio, Salisbury Playhouse from April 15 to 27. The play is suitable for those aged 14 and over.

For tickets, call the box office on 01722 320333 or visit salisburyplayhouse.com.