Theatre fans who seek out the next production by the Bancroft Players will be so close to the action that they’ll be able to smell the Guinness.

That’s the promise from director David Lester as he puts the final touches to Conor McPherson’s atmospheric Irish drama The Weir, which opens at the Queen Mother Theatre in Hitchin on Monday night.

The action is set in Brendan’s lonely Irish pub as friends are gathering for their evening pint.

The arrival of a stranger, a woman from Dublin, spurs them to impress her with their stories. But one story is more chilling than the rest…and nothing will be the same again.

David said “We want the audience to feel both the humour and the depth of this wonderful play.

“To create the right atmosphere, we are seating them as close as possible to the actors. They should be able to smell the Guinness and the whiskey!”

It’s not the first time audiences have seen a play ‘in the round’ at the Hitchin venue. Marketing manager Julian Newman Turner said: “It provides a unique theatrical experience – the kind that takes you out of yourself to somewhere else.”

The title of the play refers to the local weir that brought electricity to the area. It regulates the flow of water, but it has the power to drag us under...

With limited seating, early booking for the six-night run is advisable.

You can book online at www.qmt.org.uk or call the box office 01462 455166.