A TENDER and pertinent portrayal of rural life, unemployment, friendship and a cow called Sandy comes to the Playhouse from February 26-28.

Milked will arrive in the city on a national tour.

The play has earned emerging playwright Simon Longman, a Channel 4 bursary.

The Pentabus company is touring this comic and moving depiction of rural unemployment, which was first staged in 2013.

The work tells the story of two men in their twenties – Paul, who can’t find a job, and Snowy, who can’t find himself. Inspired in part by the playwright’s own experience of growing up in the countryside, the story explores the realities of life and opportunity for those at the beginning of adulthood, and the pressures facing young people living in rural communities today.

Longman said: "I think the overwhelming feeling you have growing up somewhere like that is a sense of unfairness,” said Simon. “There’s a lack of public transport, jobs are few and far between and there are very limited opportunities for young people. This country is very city-centric, and when you live in the countryside it seems a world away – it’s completely out of your reach.”

Director Elizabeth Freestone said, “Simon’s writing is witty and humane, honest and playful.

“Milked is a terrific new play about what it’s really like for the 20-something generation who are trying to carve out a future in places outside of big shiny cities.”

Performances are at 7.45pm and 2.45pm and tickets cost £13.50 with £9 concessions.

Call 01722 320 333 or go to salisburyplayhouse.com to book.