Artistic director Bill Brennan believes the play Heroes will be just right for the company's summer slot at South Stoke - and a nice contrast to some of the stronger pieces the company offers.

Depicting three veterans of the Great War, living in a retirement home in 1959, it comes from the pen of Frenchman Gérald Sibleyras. Originally staged as Le Vent Des Peupliers, Heroes is a translation by Tom Stoppard - a fact which makes it a particularly appropriate play for Drip Action to tackle.

Drip Action started life 21 years ago with the stage première of Stoppard's Artist Descending A Staircase.

They have now been given special permission to perform Heroes three months ahead of its general release, Bill is delighted to confirm.

"I spotted it as a French play before I realised that it had been translated. I often look at what is happening in the French theatre.
There is a little magazine in France called Pariscope, and I keep an eye out. I saw Le Vent Des Peupliers, and I thought 'three old chaps... we could manage that!'

"But when I put the French title in the computer, it came up as Heroes. Some sharp producer had got on to it and had got Tom to translate it. As Stoppard fans, we thought this could be just the job.

"It's a gentle play and I thought it would be a good one to offer something less demanding than we sometimes do - these three old chaps in the vets' home who are looked after by the nuns in rural France..."

They decide to try to escape to go off to the poplar trees of the French title: "The poplars represent freedom in fairly basic symbolism."

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Performances will be at Drip Action's summer home in the Chapel Barn, South Stoke. Directed by Paul Ward, it will feature Bill Brennan, Nick Rowling and David Williams. The play runs from Wednesday 18 to Saturday June 21, starting at 8 pm, though picnicking before and after the show is encouraged. There will be a bar.

Tickets are £8, £5 students, and can be obtained from Arundel Tourist Office, Crown Yard, or phoning 01903 885250, or email dripactioninfo@btinternet.com.