The Tewkesbury Arts and Drama Society (TADS) have been putting on productions in the town for over 45 years.

Throughout this time they have put on a huge variety of different performances, from comedy to drama, Shakespeare to original shows.

“I first got involved with TADS in 1994 – or it might have been 1993,” said Brenda Read-Brown, TADS secretary and director of their latest production.

“I’ve always liked the fact that TADS puts on productions that aren’t just the usual amateur drama things, we try to be adventurous.”

This month the group will be taking on a production from one of Britain’s best loved writers – Terry Pratchett.

‘Wyrd Sisters’ will be at the Roses Theatre on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March, and tells the story of three witches, a murdered king and a whole lot more.

Brenda continued: “It owes a lot to Shakespeare, but is much, much funnier. It sounds as if it’s some weird fantasy, but Terry Pratchett really writes about people just like us.

“And did I mention that it’s really funny? There are some great lines! Pratchett was a very clever writer.”

Brenda, who lives just over the county border in Bredon, Worcestershire, is a freelance writer and also the Gloucestershire Poet Laureate.

The writer of several award-winning plays, she has directed a number of one-act plays, but as she puts it, “never anything this big”.

“I’ve wanted for some time to direct this play, but I thought it would be impossible for a small group such as TADS,” she explained.

“I’ve reached the point now where, as I knew it would, it has taken over my life. I wake up at 4am thinking of a new task to add to my list.

“I do have an associate director who has never directed before and is learning. He’s a great help with ideas and with taking on some of the work. And my crew are wonderful – if they weren’t, I’d probably have given up by now!”

The society has a core membership of around seven people who regularly attend meetings, but as Brenda explains, the numbers grow when it comes to a production such as this.

“We have all sorts of people – a mathematician, a van delivery driver, a gardener, a bookshop owner, and so on. It’s a real mix, but when it comes to drama nobody cares about anybody’s job.

“Having said that, it’s always useful if somebody owns a van!”

Anyone familiar with the work of Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series will know that the characters and landscapes he creates are often surreal, and Brenda admits that recreating them has been a challenge.

“Rehearsals are going very well. The cast are pretty well word-perfect now,” she said.

“But this is an extraordinarily challenging play – we have 20 people in the cast, and there are 23 scenes, so staging it and getting the transitions between the scenes smooth and quick isn’t easy. Plus the soundscape and all the effects and the costumes – it takes a lot of managing.

“There are magic effects, a soundscape, wonderful lighting effects and some pyrotechnics as well. It should be spectacular, as well as being a great performance.

“It will all be worth it in the end, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, which is really important. I’m very much aware that everyone involved is doing this in their spare time, and I’m really looking forward to the performances. I’ve got a terrific cast and a wonderful crew.”

For tickets and more information visit www.rosestheatre.org