HOMELESSNESS, rural isolation and family relationships are explored in a new “immersive” play at Salisbury Playhouse.

Hansel has been written by Devon-based playwright Shiona Morton and won the first Theatre Fest West writer’s prize.

She was chosen as the winner from hundreds of entries from across the south west.

It is the tale of an elderly hoarder, Edith, who is visited by her daughter, Viv, for her quarterly clean-out.

Tensions rise when Viv discovers Edith’s friendship with a teenage boy sleeping rough in the woods outside Edith’s cottage in Cornwall.

Salisbury Playhouse associate director Jo Newman, who is directing Hansel, says: “Everything unravels and we discover that the cottage and Edith’s past is holding more than we expected.

“The boy is a catalyst for a big unravelling of everything between Edith and her daughter.

“It is an exploration of homelessness, rural isolation and family relationships.”

Shiona Morton’s work was chosen from hundreds of entries from across the south west for the Theatre Fest West award.

Her other work includes The Company of Wolves, an outdoor piece presented at Longleat as part of the 2015 Salisbury International Arts Festival.

Jo says: “It is really exciting to be actually working on it a year later.

“It is a really beautiful script, it’s so well written and rooted in the south west.

“It so intricately written and so atmospheric and very thoughtful and poignant and really funny. It is a great exploration of family relationships.

“There is a lot of observational humour in there - how families are and how people are.”

Elizabeth Counsell (Born to Kill) plays Edith, Zara Ramm (Grandpa in My Pocket) stars as Viv with Lee Rufford (My Brilliant Friend, BBC Radio 4) as the Boy.

The Playhouse’s Salberg theatre will be transformed to create the Cornish woodland and will be “quite immersive” explains Jo.

“It is going to be really atmospheric and beautiful play which is really accessible and resonates with all families and the region. It is also very joyful,funny and thought provoking.

“You are sucked into this magical and beautiful world.”

Although, Jo says it is not really connected to the story of Hansel and Gretel but has “resonances” with the popular fairytale.

Jo says: “I love new writing especially when the writer is in the room and it is so much more collaborative.

“It is a real privilege working with new writers and bringing it to life on stage is really exciting.”

Hansel runs in The Salberg until Saturday, March 24.

Tickets and more information are available by calling the box office on 01722 320333 or online at salisburyplayhouse.com