A THEATRE group in Cornwall has announced their next production will be a satire written during the Cold War.

Gweek Players' next production will be 'The Body,' written by Nick Darke in 1983, around the time of the Cold War between Russia and the West.

The group has also given a synopsis for the production, saying: "Two rivals in a north Cornish parish separately discover a dead body while cockling under The Old Iron Bridge.

"But they’re not the only ones to claim possession: the Rector wants to bury it and the policeman wants to arrest it!

"And what is the real interest of the Americans from the airbase?!"

Gweek Players have also said the play was written at a time "when American Cruise missiles were deployed to RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire amid protest from the Women’s Peace Movement.

"It was high profile news material at the time.

"What was less well known was that American nuclear weapons, specifically US Navy nuclear torpedoes, guarded by US Marines, were deployed to RAF St Mawgan which now shares real estate with Newquay Airport.

"So, the setting for The Body is in a Cornish parish that backs onto an airbase, somewhere near the coast."

Nicholas Darke (1948-2005), was born in Wadebridge, educated at St Merryn Primary School and Truro Cathedral School, and lived much of his life at Porthcothan, on the north coast of Cornwall.

Gweek Players will be donating £500 of its profits from this production to the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) towards humanitarian support in Ukraine.

Evening performances will take place on Tuesday, April 26 to Friday, April 29 at 7.30 pm; matinee on Saturday, April 30 at 2.30 pm.

The group will be offering its usual array of desserts in the interval, Covid permitting, and wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages can be purchased at the bar.

Tea and coffee will also be available.

Tickets from gweekplayers.co.uk or the Cornish Riviera Box Office (crbo.co.uk, tel. 01726 879 500).

Ticket price: £12, or £13 including an electronic programme.