A LOCAL theatre company is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary by putting on a show of five short plays at Crediton Arts Centre.

Brown Paper Bag’s Baggage Collection will be performed on Thursday, January 23, Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25 at 7.30pm each day.

Three of the five short plays in the production have been written by members of the company, another by a local writer based on improvisation from the cast and the last by American playwright Floyd Dell.

Beth Robson's play Under Pressure is described as “a playful take on song lyrics”; Mary Stephenson’s The Whole Truth “a courtroom drama in which the audience will be the jury each night”; Floyd Dell's work The Angel Intrudes “a very funny angelic visitation to New York”; Jack Robson's We Come One “a domestic crime drama with a twist in its tail”; and Glen Chudley's The Great Pumpkin Disaster as “a classic English comedy romp”.

Each play is directed by a different member of the company, and 14 actors will play 34 roles and also provide live incidental music and songs.

“This is a chance to see a local theatre company at its most versatile, with a fitting celebration of its big anniversary,” a spokesperson said.

“It is also a bold step for a company which is never afraid to push the boundaries with their material, and is guaranteed to intrigue and delight in equal measure.”

The Brown Paper Bag theatre company was formed in the wake of the Crediton community play Today of All Days in 1983. It presented its first show, A Tale of Two Cities, 40 years ago at the beginning of 1985.

It is based at Crediton Arts Centre as its resident theatre company and is open to new members over the age of 14.

Its objective is to produce “new and original theatre” and most of its productions are devised, scripted and produced by members of the company.

It aims to have at least one production each year which is open to everyone who wants to take part.

Brown Paper Bag always welcomes new members, regardless of experience, as actors, musicians, writers, directors or backstage helpers.

There are no annual subscriptions, only a fee to take part in a production as a performer (but it is company policy for this to be a pay-as-much-as-you-can-afford fee).

Recently Brown Paper Bag has put on “high-production and highly praised” performances of Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood, Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Friedrich Durrenmatt's The Visit.

Tickets for the show Baggage Collection cost £12. You can buy them by telephoning 01363 7732660 or online by visiting: ticketsource.co.uk/creditonartscentre.