HAMPSHIRE’S railway history has been the inspiration behind a duo of plays that will be taken throughout the county by three thespians from the Forest Forge Theatre Company in Ringwood in March.

Leaves on a Line, written by Dinos Aristidou and directed by Forest Forge’s director Kirstie Davis, tells two tales about a young woman who abandons her baby on a deserted railway platform and the older woman who finds it.

The abandoned railway lines, heritage stations and derelict platforms of Hampshire’s railway history form the backdrop of these two new plays.

Artistic director of Forest Forge Kirstie Davis said: “This has been a fascinating journey into the history of the Hampshire railways, which has inspired lots of beautiful and witty stories about those moments in a person’s life when everything could change.

“I last worked with Dinos on the delight that was Bloom in 2012 and we have had such fun exploring this subject and meeting people who have then written us letters answering the question: What are you waiting for?

“Leaves on a Line is an emotional rollercoaster that will make you recognise those moments in your own life when tracks converge and in an instant everything you know could change forever.”

Dinos said: “It's always exciting to write for Forest Forge to create original theatre that will get audiences excited about theatre and that will play in interesting venues.

“Meeting and working with members of the community and hearing about their experiences of the railways, that form the backdrop of this piece, has been fascinating. Building their stories into the play as well as ideas from the letters that people have written about significant moments of waiting in their lives has also been inspirational.

“The railways provide a lot of material that works well theatrically because they mirror the arrivals and departures of our own lives and the moments of waiting and choice.”

Leaves on a Line tours from March 5 for five weeks. For details go to forestforge.co.uk.

Come and see the production on the following dates:

- March 5 - Ibsley Village Hall, near Ringwood.

- March 7 - Greyfriars Community Centre in Ringwood.

- March 24-26 - The Old Station Tea House, near Burley

- April 4 – Alderholt Village Hall.