A HOLT village production is hoping to overcome its first hurdle in a long race to win a place in the Royal Shakes-peare Company’s Open Stages event, celebrating next year’s Olympic Games.

New play Three In A Bard will have its premiere performances in Holt Village Hall between Thursday, November 17 and Saturday, November 19.

Three In A Bard has been selected to take part in the preliminary stages of the RSC’s Open Stages event, with the overall prize being an opportunity to perform the play in Stratford as part of the World Shakespeare Festival, during the town’s cultural Olympics next year.

Writer John Palmer, 62, of the Old Vicarage, Holt, said: “Back in the spring, the Holt Dramatic Society held a series of improvisation classes with 19 actors, creating very different characters.

“We’d already started the project and then we discovered the Open Stages event and thought it was a fantastic opportunity for us.”

To enter the Open Stages competition, submitted plays need a Shakespearean link and comedy Three In A Bard draws its influences from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night and Measure For Measure.

During its run at the village hall, representatives from the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton will be on the audience for one of the performances, prior to regional finals that will be held there next year.

Mr Palmer said: “There’s something in this show for everyone; it’s a farce comedy with quite a few scattered nods to Shakespeare in it.

“We have around 100 quotes from his various works, which true fans of his will notice.

“We’ve had great interest in the show so far. Nearly all the tickets have already been sold and it looks as if we are going to be sold out.

“Looking to the future, it would be great to be selected to take part in the Open Stages event next year. It would be such an honour but it is a long road.”

The cast, producer and backstage crew of the play are being trained and mentored by professionals, including one of the Nuffield Theatre directors. Mr Palmer said: “We are now at the latter stages of our rehearsals and everything is looking very professional.

“Being involved in this competition speaks volumes for Holt and the creative talent it has.”

To buy tickets, visit Holt Superstore, see the website www.holtdrama. org.uk or call Emily Rutter on 01225 783185.