AN ACCLAIMED theatre company is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a tour taking in west Dorset.

East Midlands based New Perspectives begin their 50th anniversary season with a tour of their brand-new satirical comedy, Model Village, and are set to perform in community venues and village halls across the UK, including three special performances in Dorset with Artsreach, the county’s touring arts charity.

They will perform Model Village at Litton Cheney Community Hall on Sunday, November 19 at 3.30pm.

Welcome to the model village, an acre of idyllic 1930s England. Cricket is always played on the green, the miniature railway runs on time. But the waist-high houses that have brought joy and wonder to generations of kids are in decline and visitor numbers are low.

Model-makers Brian and Holly are joined by Cutler, a radical urban artist, to help save the attraction and put the village back on the tourist map.

However, not all is quite as it seems as the miniature villagers rebel and an emergency council meeting brings model-makers and residents eye-to-eye at grassroots level. If both worlds are to survive, they must learn to collaborate across divides. But first, they must round up the wolves…

Model Village creator Anita Sullivan is a stage and radio playwright whose 2022 BBC radio drama, End of Transmission, won the Tinnswood Award for writing, the BBC Audio Drama for Best Single Drama, and was a finalist for the Writer's Guild Award. Other recent work includes Silos and Heart of Darkness for BBC Radio 4.

Anita said: “I grew up in a rural community and first encountered theatre in the village hall. I’m delighted to be turning that full circle with Model Village.

"It’s written with heart and playfulness. What is a model village today? What do the little people want? I hope you’ll sing along, vote for the village you want to see.”

New Perspectives tours to Child Okeford Village Hall (01258 860621) on Friday, November 17, Lytchett Matravers Village Hall (07795 467666) on Saturday, November 18 and Litton Cheney Community Hall (01308 482514) at the earlier time of 3.30pm on Sunday, November 19.

It's suitable for ages 14 and above. Tickets and further information are available online at www.artsreach.co.uk