THE Malvern Theatre Players are bringing Imogen Stubbs’s We Happy Few back to the Malvern stage next month.

The play, first premiered at Malvern Theatres in 2003, tells the story of a troupe of mainly female players, the Artemis Repertory Company, who toured the length and breadth of Britain during the Second World War.

The Artemis Repertory Company is based on the real-life Osiris Players which was founded by Nancy Hewins in 1927 and toured extensively until 1963.

During the Second World War they toured continuously from 1939 to 1945, presenting 1,500 performances of a repertoire of nearly 40 plays.

We Happy Few has a fine sense of comedy while not ignoring the sometimes grim reality of the lives of the actors and the deprivations of war.

The play was premiered at the Malvern Theatres Forum Theatre directed by Stephen Rayne and was subsequently transferred to the West End, where it was directed by Trevor Nunn.

Malvern Theatre Players, the resident company of Malvern Theatres, was deeply involved in the original production providing set construction, properties and costume and is therefore very excited to have the opportunity to present the play themselves. We Happy Few runs at Malvern Theatres between Wednesday and Saturday, July 4-7, at 8pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost £14 (over 60s/ unwaged receive a £2 concession) and are available from the Malvern Theatres box office on 01684 892277.

In addition to presenting the play in Malvern, the group will also be giving two performances at Brixham Theatre on July 14.