AWARD-WINNING Salisbury playwright Barney Norris’ play features in the 2017 line-up at Salisbury Playhouse.

Echo’s End will run in the main house from March 29 to April 15 and is set on the edge of Salisbury Plain in 1915 as a young couple finds themselves caught up in the turmoil of the First World War. It is directed by Alice Hamilton.

Norris, winner of the Critics Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright, and Hamilton are former members of Salisbury Playhouse’s Stage 65 Youth Theatre and jointly run Up in Arms theatre company.

The Playhouse has also commissioned Hattie Naylor (Radio 4’s The Diary of Samuel Pepys) to write As the Crow Flies — a co-production with Pentabus Theatre Company (March 28 to April 8). Based on a true story of a woman who struck up an unlikely friendship with a wounded crow.

And following a sell-out run in 2014, Salisbury Playhouse’s first Original Drama production, Worst Wedding Ever, returns.

Written by Broadchurch-creator Chris Chibnall, Worst Wedding Ever is once again directed by Salisbury Playhouse’s artistic director Gareth Machin and runs in the main house at Salisbury Playhouse from February 2-25.

The cast includes Olivier Award-nominated Julia Hills (Calendar Girls, Chichester Festival Theatre, West End and national tour; 2point4 Children) and Lloyd Gorman (Sunny Afternoon, West End). Appearing alongside them will be Elizabeth Cadwallader, Ben Callon, Derek Frood, Kieran Hill and Chris Talman. Full casting will be announced at a later date.

And Theatre Fest West (February 10-25) returns for a sixth year. Companies taking part this year include Theatre Alibi, Pipeline Theatre and, for family audiences, Stuff and Nonsense.

The season also sees a revival of Rodney Ackland’s Before the Party in May. There will also be touring productions including The Play That Goes Wrong (February 27 to March 4), The Verdict starring Clive Mantel, Jack Shepherd and Richard Walsh (March 6-11), Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (April 20-22 April) and The Watermill Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night (June 20-24).

Artistic director Gareth Machin said: “Salisbury Playhouse continues to balance high quality revivals of classic English drama with a bold commitment to new work that celebrates the unique perspective of the South West region. Alongside this home produced work we are proud to offer our audience the very best in touring theatre on the small and mid-scale.”

For tickets or more information call 01722 320333 or go to salisburyplayhouse.com.