The Thornbury-based Downpour Theatre Company are set to bring their latest production to venues around the county.

The group was co-founded in 2016 by Sarah Cullyer and husband Andrew, and Sarah explains the motivations behind setting the company up.

She said: “We have been involved in drama and theatre since school and during our time at university – Andrew and I actually met in the theatre society at Southampton University.

“None of the existing drama groups in Thornbury wanted to stage a Shakespeare play, so we set up Downpour so that we could put on ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.”

The group was originally called Merry Mechanicals Theatre Company but rebranded as Downpour in 2017 “in honour of a particularly damp final performance of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'”.

And in the short time from the group’s inception to the present day, they have already performed in some memorable locations.

“We’ve done a number of one-off shows at Kingshill House in Dursley,” continued Sarah, “including an interactive production for Storytelling Week in January.

“We’ve also performed at Thornbury Castle who recently have opened up for more productions, it’s a stunning place.”

The group’s latest tour sees them return to both Thornbury Castle and Kingshill House, and also The Garden at Miserden, Rendcomb College in Cirencester, as well as the Stroud Shakespeare Festival at Museum in the Park.

“This is the second Stroud Shakespeare Festival, and we were really keen to get involved as we couldn’t perform there last year,” added Sarah. “The show will be concluding at Ashton Court Estate in July for the Bristol Shakespeare Festival.”

‘The Comedy of Errors’ tells the story of two sets of twins separated at birth, who all find themselves in the city of Ephesus. Over the course of a single day, mistaken identities lead to unfair beatings, wrongful arrests and false accusations of infidelity, theft, madness and even demonic possession.

“Rehearsals have been going really well, it’s such a funny show,” said Sarah. “It’s as close as Shakespeare got to Panto really. The actors are fantastic, we’ve got beautiful costumes, and we’re still laughing at the jokes which is always good when you do a comedy.

“I think everyone likes a more jovial production in the summertime.”

For more information on Downpour Theatre and the full line up of dates for ‘The Comedy of Errors’ visit www.downpourtheatrecompany.co.uk