MEMBERS of Stage ’65 Youth Theatre are tackling politics, class wars and family division head-on with a dramatic double bill of plays by two of the country’s leading playwrights.

The young actors are staging Philip Ridley’s Moonfleece and Bryony Lavery’s Discontented Winter: House Remix in The Salberg at Salisbury Playhouse from next Thursday (March 26) to Saturday (March 28).

The double-bill has been programmed as a counterpoint to Laura Wade’s Posh, which is running in the Main House at the Playhouse at the same time. While the characters in Posh enjoy upper class privileges and luxuries, Moonfleece and Discontented Winter focus on people at the other end of the social spectrum.

Moonfleece is set in an East London flat taken over by members of the far-right Avalon Party. But it soon transpires the meeting is spiritual not political with one member, Curtis, hoping a séance will help him contact the spirit of his brother.

As family secrets are revealed and with friendships and loyalties stretched to breaking point, Curtis must make life-changing decisions set against a backdrop of poverty, hatred and political extremism.

Discontented Winter: House Remix is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Richard III, with two young princes kidnapped by two groups with very different ambitions. Incorporating elements of popular culture, revolutionary ideas and new technology, the play is presented as a series of short scenes with the language being remixed.

Both plays have been written for young people to perform and some members have chosen behind the scenes roles with Benjamin CS Wilkinson composing a score for Moonfleece, Megs Slark being assistant director for Discontented Winter and Ella Potter being assistant designer. Salisbury Playhouse youth theatre director Dave Orme said: “Both plays are challenging, fast paced, entertaining and gritty and it’s great to see young people so engaged.”

Stage ’65 Youth Theatre offers weekly workshops for people aged four to 25 giving them the chance to increase self confidence, perform in front of an audience and learn more about theatre production at Salisbury Playhouse.

Performances take place in The Salberg from next Thursday to Saturday at 7.45pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.45pm.

To book contact the playhouse ticket office on 01722 320333 or salisburyplayhouse.com.