The murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard have inspired a new play which will be performed by 14 actors, aged 15-70, from Pembrokeshire this weekend.

The ground-breaking play, Maryland will take place at the Queen’s Hall Narberth on Saturday (November 27) at7 pm.

Directed by Cherylee Barker, the play was written by Olivier-award winning playwright Lucy Kirkwood in response to the devastating killings.

Kirkwood has taken the unusual step in inviting theatre companies and drama groups across the United Kingdom to perform the play to raise money for Rape Crisis England and Wales.

Kirkwood said: “This play was for many years a private conversation with myself. The horrific murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa this year have galvanised me into making it public.

“I hesitate to even call it a play when it is simply a howl, a way of expressing what I feel about a culture of violence against women, but I am sharing it because I wonder if it might express a little of what other people feel about it too.

“It was written very quickly, and I am grateful to the Royal Court for snatching up a gauntlet thrown down last Friday night with such energy, care and seriousness.’

Barker said: “This play has brought together 14 talented actors, from across Pembrokeshire.

“For the past three weeks we have rehearsed, online and face to face, to be able to hold the fundraiser for Rape Crisis.

“Not only have we all been inspired by what Lucy has written but feel passionate about the right to creatively protest, for all women, to be able to go out alone and feel safe.”

Welsh theatre company Dirty Protest theatre has staged one reading of Maryland in Theatr Clwyd in North Wales, and now in collaboration with Cherylee Barker will mount a new reading of the play with 14 local actors from Act Your Shoe Size.

“The performance is 30 minutes long and a Q&A with cast and creatives will take place after the performance.

Dirty Protest Theatre is Wales’ only dedicated new writing theatre company. The company tours new plays around Wales, the UK and beyond.

More information on how to get tickets can be found at: thequeenshall.org.uk