JOIN Cornish theatre company cube this month as it marks 100 years since the end of the First World War with a powerful look at friendship, incredible struggle and ultimately the vulnerabilities within us all.

Returning this June to the Minack Theatre - where two years ago it staged The Crucible to rave reviews - cube essential theatre is presenting possibly its most ground-breaking production yet: the 1928 play Journey’s End.

Written by RC Sherriff, the entire story plays out in an officers’ dugout in the trenches of Northern France, over four days leading up to the real-life events of Operation Michael. Yet the themes explored in the play – fear, chaos, friendship – are as relevant as ever.

What breaks boundaries is that this is the first known telling of Journey’s End to feature a cross-gender cast, in a play where the characters are universally male.

Ben Symes, cube’s artistic director, who also appears on stage in this production, said: “The characters are still all men but I believe this will give a fresh relevance and universality to the play, particularly in a year which is also significant for its centenary of women’s suffrage.

“We have always been a company, rightly, to support women in the theatre industry, as evidenced by our director, designer, stage manager and assistant director all being female for this show.”

Local artist Gabriel Vyvyan will be live-drawing on stage, and selling his art to raise money for children affected by war.

The play runs from June 18-22 at 8pm, with 2pm matinees on June 19 & 21. For tickets: minack.com.